House
The room was silent, but her mind raced, her heart aching with every word he had spoken. She stared at him, the weight of his confession pressing down on her chest.
"I can't believe... you went through all that," she whispered, her voice trembling.
He looked away, shame and regret etched into his face. "You must think I'm a monster," he said softly.
She reached for his hand, her fingers trembling but resolute. "No. I don't," she said firmly.
His eyes darted to hers, surprise flickering in his expression. "How could you not? After everything I've done?"
Tears welled in her eyes, but she didn't let them fall. "Because... you didn't have a choice. You were just a kid trying to survive. And even when the house pushed you to your breaking point, you still fought back."
Her words hit him like a blow, and he swallowed hard, his shoulders shaking. She reached out, cupping his face gently.
"You're not a monster," she repeated, her voice soft but steady. "You're someone who's been hurt and used... and still found a way to care about someone else."
His breath hitched, and for the first time in years, a tear slipped down his cheek. "I don't deserve your kindness," he said, his voice cracking.
"Maybe not," she said with a small, sad smile. "But you have it anyway."
She leaned forward, resting her forehead against his. "Thank you for telling me. For trusting me."
They stayed like that for a moment, the only sound the faint creaks of the house around them.
Finally, he broke the silence, his voice a low murmur. "There's more you need to know."
She pulled back slightly, her gaze steady. "What is it?"
"The house," he began, his voice darkening. "It's not just a house."
Her heart quickened, but she didn't let go of his hand. "What do you mean?"
The room fell silent except for the faint creaks of the house, as if it were alive and listening. He turned to her, his expression both solemn and vulnerable.
"The house isn't just wood and stone," he began, his voice low. "It's sentient. It breathes. It watches. It feeds."
She frowned, her gaze darting to the walls. "Feeds? On what?"
"Emotions," he said. "Energy. Every thought, every fear, every ounce of hope—it takes it all. That's how it survives. How it grows stronger."
She shivered, suddenly aware of how heavy the air felt, like it was pressing down on her chest. "And you?"
He smiled bitterly. "It spared me. But only to trap me. My soul is part of the house now. I can't leave. I can't die. It uses me to lure others here, like a spider spinning its web."
She backed away slightly, her heart racing. "So... you're part of its trap?"
"I was," he admitted, stepping closer. "But then you came. And you're different."
"Different how?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
He hesitated, his dark eyes searching hers. "You haven't let it break you. Most people crumble under its weight, but you... you fight back. The house sees you as something more. And so do I."
Her breath hitched, unsure whether to feel flattered or terrified.
"I don't want to lose myself to this place," she said softly.
He cupped her face gently, his touch warm despite the chill in the room. "You won't. Not if you stay with me."
Her eyes widened. "Stay? Why would I stay in a place like this?"
"Because I need you," he said, his voice cracking. "I've been alone for so long, waiting, hoping... You're the only light I've seen in all this darkness. I don't want to lose that."
Tears pricked her eyes as conflicting emotions surged within her. The thought of leaving terrified her as much as staying. She glanced around, the walls seeming to shift and breathe.
"Do you love me?" she asked suddenly, her voice breaking.
He paused, his gaze softening. "Yes," he whispered. "But more than that—I need you. I need your light. I can't face this place alone anymore."
The weight of his words crushed her, and for a moment, she was frozen. Finally, she whispered, "I need time to think."
He nodded, his expression filled with understanding. "Take all the time you need. Just... don't leave without telling me."
The house creaked, almost as if it were laughing, and she couldn't shake the feeling that it already knew her answer.
YOU ARE READING
Veil of Shadows
Paranormal--The world fell into darkness as she called to it, her voice swallowed by shadows before her words even reached her lips. She fell, hands dragging her downward, as if they would finally end the desire, she felt for the creature that had tormented h...
