Zoya hears her mother call her name from downstairs, so she gets up and heads down.
As she gets to the top of the stairs, her mother pulls her back and whispers, "Don't go there, I heard it too."
Zoya Zinadine, an executive interior designer of Gate...
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*Lia's POV*:
"Zoya, we need to get something for dinner," Adiva said, combing her brown silky hair.
"Yup, what would you guys like to have?'' She asked, looking for her phone.
"Shrimp pizzas from Pizza Hut?" I asked, raising one of my brows.
"Okay," Diva and Zoya said in chorus.
Zoya dialed to Pizza Hut and placed the order. She switched on the speaker because her phone was on charge and mama has warned us to not meddle with the phone when in charge.
"Can I get your address, madam?" The man on the other line asked. Zoya gave him the address and waited for him to reconfirm the order.
"Sorry madam, we don't deliver to that address," he said in a hurry.
"What w-why" She asked in confusion, but he hung up without a word.
We looked at each other in complete shock.
"Adiva, get three plates. The instant noodles are ready," I said, coming out of my thoughts.
"Okay," she said, leaving the cutleries on the kitchen counter.
While I was about to transfer the noodles to the plates, I felt someone watching me. While I was washing my hands, I saw an old lady with long white hair standing in front of the window with a rope in her hand. I was trying to get an unobstructive view of her face, but the lights went off suddenly.
"Zoya!" I screamed my lungs off and began running until I saw a girl with a torch standing in front of my room with her pink tongue out. I'm sure my eyes popped out of the socket.
"Lia, it's me," Adiva said, laughing.
"Adiva, you're not supposed to do this. I actually assumed it was a ghost. My intuition keeps telling me that there's something wrong in this house," Zoya spoke seriously.
"What do you mean? I encountered a strange situation on the very first day we moved here. And one night, I heard a female cry. It didn't sound like that of a human," I said, holding Zoya's hand tightly.
"Oh, my god. I had to use the washroom at two in the midnight yesterday, and while I was washing my face, a black, burnt, thin hand with scars was coming towards me. I screamed and ran to mama's room. She assured me that there's nothing wrong here, and she asked me to sleep with her," Adiva said, with tears forming in her eyes.
My sister and I sat there dumbfounded. I couldn't believe a single thing I just heard. What if there is a ghost or a spirit living here with us? What if all these are true?
"Shush," Zoya whispered, suddenly.
"Can you remember the day I told you that Adiva came to me and told that mama wants me downstairs, but when I asked you and mama about it, both of you said no," Zoya said, flipping the torch.
"Yes, I remembered. I swear it wasn't me," Adiva said, looking around the dining room.
"I bet there's something wrong here. Adiva and Lia, take the dinner upstairs to my room. I will double check with the main doors and make sure I lock them. Anyway, we haven't got the power yet," Zoya said, walking towards the main door with the torch on.
We were having dinner on Zoya's bed, silently drowning in our own thoughts.
"We've to tell this to mama as soon as she comes home from Tanish's wedding. I cannot live in this house anymore," Adiva cried, hugging us.
"Don't worry Diva. We are all there for you and when mama comes home, we will speak to her about this," Zoya said, caressing her cheeks and I patted her head.
*****
"Why do my gorgeous girls look dull and upset?" mama asked, unwrapping her hijab.
"We-we have to talk to you about something important," Diva said as soon as mama entered the house.
"Yay, we got the power back," Zo said, smiling.
"Go ahead," mama said, settling on the couch.
We began confessing all what happened to us since day one. I could see the expressions on my mother's face change now and then.
Fear written all over her face.
"Listen girls, these are all your imaginations. This house is perfect and you guys are just overthinking every little thing happening here. Sleep early today and if any of you need anything, I'm just a phone call away," mama said, embracing us into a hug.
"Lia and I are sleeping with Zo today," Diva said, unsatisfied with mom's reply.
I was trying to fall asleep, but I couldn't. The face of the lady who was in front of the kitchen window appeared on my head for the hundredth time. It was half-past twelve when I woke up and headed downstairs to fill water, as the water bottle was empty and I was thirsty. After quenching my thirst, I walked upstairs to my sister's room, and I saw huge red footprints following me.
"Mom," I screamed, dropping the bottle on the ground.
My parents and sisters came running.
"What happened Lia?" my father asked, hugging me.
"Th-the red footprint," I said, crying.
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