3 Ways

Speaking of the Dead

>_____<;;

Victoria pulled the tape free from the box she had emptied out. At least she had unpacked half of her things. She turned to look at the dusty room and decided she would dust it out in the early morning, but now she was so ready to call it a day. Walking over to another box she pulled the flaps apart and searched for her night gown. After changing she turned the lamp off and climbed into bed. Her last thought before falling asleep was how much she hated the house.

It was around 1 in the morning when she awoke. Only half an hour had gone by since she'd closed her eyes. Slowly sitting up in bed Victoria stared out into the dark hallway from the crack underneath her door. No one should be up at this time and she was certain that Chorong had turned the lights out when she left. Namjoo wouldn't be dumb enough to try to sneak out at her age either. But Victoria's heart was thumping fearfully.

There were footsteps quietly tiptoeing down the hallway, at least that's what it sounded like to Victoria.

"Hello?" Victoria called out. "Chorong? Is that you?"

Silence.

Victoria blinked her eyes, convinced herself to take a deep breath, and told herself it was nothing. Still feeling paranoid she pulled her blanket over her some more and tried to close her eyes before they shot open again.

There it was again.

Footsteps.

Slowly creaking down the hallway as if in secrecy.

The door downstairs should be locked; no one should be able to get in. Victoria pressed her lips together and sat up again. She was feeling very disturbed.

"Stupid Chorong and her stupid ghosts," Victoria muttered angry, yet scared.

Gulping she searched for a weapon, any weapon just in case it was a thief in the house. She reached for her phone and searched for the flashlight app she had downloaded a few months ago, but never used. Victoria never thought it would come in handy as much as now.

"It's nothing, you're just hearing stuff," Victoria whispered to herself, "but I'll just go check in case."

The last thing she ever wanted was to be murdered in her own home. Gripping tightly onto the little hair straightener she'd decided as a weapon she crept toward the door as quietly as possible. Fear was gripping at her throat and her heart was pulsating so fast. Victoria had never had to deal with any bad guys before and she was hoping tonight's intruder wasn't going to be the first, but if it was she hoped it would be the last.

Her hand shook vividly as she reached for the brass doorknob. She couldn't help, but pause halfway out of horror that she might really have to fend off an intruder.

"You can do this, you can," Victoria whispered to herself.

Clearing her throat and pulling herself together she suddenly grabbed the doorknob and yanked the door open. Victoria immediately flashed the flashlight back and forth down the hallway.

Nothing.

No one.

"Dark, empty hallway," Victoria breathed a sigh of relief, "ok." She nodded and said to herself, "It was nothing. You were just hearing things, stupid."

Victoria stepped back into her room and just about closed the door when she heard footsteps again. Halting at once she held her breath consumed by more fear than ever. It suddenly hit her that there might really be something in the house or how else could she explain that gust of wind when she entered the home?

If Chorong was right about the ghost she was so going to kill her.

Victoria shut her eyes to ready herself again and swung open her door. A loud scream escaped her and doubled in the hallway with another voice when her flashlight landed on a pale face. They both screamed for about half a minute until Victoria slowly recognized the ghost as Chorong, who was just peeking her head out the doorway.