The Voice

Eliza White pulled the shopping bags out of the silver 04 Nissan and with a heavy sigh headed up the street to 13 Axe road. The reason did she agree to get shopping for Mrs. Figg was beyond her. God knows going up to that house gives her the creeps. She would much rather own millions of cats and wear huge old woolly sweaters every day than ever go near that house again.

Just thinking about it sent shivers down her spine. No. Maybe Monica would do it. She had no sense of self-preservation and surely, she wouldn't mind going into a creepy dark house just to deliver some shopping. Of course, she would spend the next couple of weeks making fun of her and bringing it up every chance she got.

Not like she didn't make fun of her anyway. Ever since she left the institute the nightmares had started up again. She looked like a death sack. Her skin was a pasty white and the large black bags under her eyes were the reason she was currently wearing sunglasses. She couldn't remember the last time she had a wink of sleep. The nightmares awaited her every time she closed her eyes. There are times when they ended up getting so bad, she had to physically scream herself awake. Although at times she ended up falling asleep during the day. It was those times she hated the most. She physically couldn't decipher the dream from reality.

She remembers the first time this all started happening, it was around the time she and Amber went to this house. Around the time of the accident. If the nightmares started up now, maybe that meant that she had to face her fears. Face the triggers. Which meant Eliza had to do this herself.

Scared, Are we?

The voice was her constant companion nowadays. Whether it be in a dream or reality, her companion was there. She never told anybody in fear of being sent back to the institute, she kept getting louder though. At points of no control she couldn't even hear her thoughts over the voice. It was partially the reason she became known as a control freak. Not that anybody knew that reason. She let them make their own conclusions.

Ignoring the voice once again, she stepped into the driveway of 13 Axe road. The house itself, looked more like a manor and if she didn't know that somebody lived here, she would think it was abandoned. Ivy covered the walls and some of the windows were cracked and others boarded up. The grass reached up to her hips and the grey cobblestone pathway was the only access route to the house. The wooden wrap around porch looked like it had been there for hundreds of years and was just about ready to fall apart. The door looked like one knock could shatter it into thousands of pieces. A faint smell of mould lingered in the air and it made Eliza scrunch up her nose in distaste.

A sudden crack behind her had her spinning around brandishing her shopping bag as a weapon. Only to see absolutely nothing. Everything looked exactly as it had before. Not a single branch out of place. However, the creepy feeling hadn't subsided. She turned back only to see the sharp movement of a curtain on the second-floor window.

You remember it don't you. You know how it goes first-

Once again, she blocked out the voice. Now was not the time for her mind to be playing tricks on her. Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the door and with a large creak, very slowly the door swung open. Eliza stepped forward to greet the owner only to be met with complete darkness.

Nothing. Nobody stood behind that door. Yet the door had opened. For a split-second Eliza wondered if this was another dream. Another moment where she couldn't decipher whether it was reality or not. She stepped into the cold, damp hallway, only illuminated by the sunlight coming from the open door. An eerie feeling washed over her. She didn't like it. It was just like last time when-

Deep breath in and out.

Nervous?

The voice was followed by a giggle.