Echoes of the Silent Realm

Chapter 28 : Allens Wrath

**Chapter 28: Alan's Wrath**

The wedding had already come and gone. Kelsey and Jason were now officially married, and the house had returned to its quiet, everyday rhythm. But for Kelsey, the peace was deceptive. There was something unsettling lurking in the air—something that had grown worse since the day she said her vows to Jason. It was as if a dark cloud had settled over the home she and Alan once shared.

At first, it had been subtle. A picture frame would be out of place, a window left open that she was sure she had closed, the faintest whisper of a voice when no one else was in the room. But now, Alan's presence was undeniable. Kelsey could feel him—angry, vengeful, restless.

It started the night after the wedding. Kelsey and Jason had returned home after a brief getaway, ready to start their new life together. But the moment they walked through the door, the house felt different. Colder. As if it hadn't welcomed this new chapter in Kelsey's life.

The first sign was the wedding photo. Kelsey had placed it on the mantle, a picture of her and Jason, both smiling under the golden light of the spring sun. The next morning, the glass was shattered. Jason shrugged it off, saying it must have fallen. But Kelsey knew better—the frame hadn't moved from its spot, and there was no logical explanation for how it had broken.

Over the next few days, more things began to happen. The television would turn on by itself in the middle of the night, always to the same channel—the static, buzzing sound filling the silence of the house. Doors slammed without a breeze, and Kelsey swore she could hear Alan's footsteps in the hallways, the heavy tread that used to comfort her now filled her with dread.

She didn't tell Jason at first, not wanting to burden him with what she felt was her guilt. She had loved Alan deeply, but he was gone. It had taken years for her to let go and to find love again. She never imagined that Alan wouldn't rest peacefully, that he would return to torment her for moving on.

One evening, as Kelsey was alone in the kitchen, preparing dinner, the temperature in the room plummeted. Her breath formed clouds in the suddenly icy air. She turned, startled, and saw the cabinet doors slowly creaking open on their own. The pots and pans inside rattled, then crashed to the floor with a deafening clang.

"Alan," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Please, stop."

But there was no answer, only the cold, suffocating presence growing heavier around her. She could feel him. He was angry, and his anger was directed at her.

That night, Kelsey lay awake in bed beside Jason, unable to sleep. The room felt wrong. The shadows seemed to stretch unnaturally, flickering in the corners of her vision. Then, the whispering began. At first, it was faint, almost like a breeze rustling through the trees, but as it grew louder, Kelsey could make out the words.

**"You forgot me... You replaced me..."**

Her heart pounded as she sat up in bed, clutching the sheets. The voice was unmistakable—it was Alan's. Tears filled her eyes as she scanned the room, desperate to see if it was just her imagination. But then the door slammed shut with a force that shook the walls.

Jason stirred, mumbling in his sleep, unaware of the turmoil surrounding them.

Kelsey jumped out of bed, rushing to the hallway. The air was thick with an oppressive energy, and she could feel Alan's presence growing stronger. The family photos on the wall began to shake violently, rattling in their frames before falling one by one to the floor. It was as if he was tearing apart the life they had built together, punishing her for daring to move on.

Kelsey fell to her knees, sobbing. "Alan, I'm sorry," she choked out. "I didn't mean to replace you, but I had to keep living. I had to find happiness again."

The house groaned in response, as if Alan himself was replying, his anger a palpable force that filled every corner of the home. Kelsey could feel him close, closer than he had ever been since his death. And for the first time since his passing, she realized that Alan was not resting. He was here—trapped, bitter, and unwilling to let go of the life he had once known.

With a sudden gust of wind, the lights flickered, then went out completely, plunging the house into darkness. Kelsey stood, trembling, her breaths coming in short gasps. The only sound was her pounding heartbeat and the faint, ghostly whisper that still lingered in the air.

"You belong to me..."

She staggered back, her chest tight with fear, and whispered into the dark, "Alan, please... let me go."

But the silence that followed felt like the cold grip of a hand around her heart.