The darkness lasted only a few seconds.

But to Amelia…

It felt like years.

She stood frozen at the bottom of the stairs.

Somewhere in the darkness, someone was breathing.

Slowly.

Quietly.

Too close.

“Daniel?”

No answer.

“Elias?”

Nothing.

“Whoever is there…”

Amelia’s voice trembled.

“…come out.”

A soft laugh answered her.

A child’s laugh.

Mara.

Amelia turned toward the stairs.

She could no longer see the little girl.

“Where did she go?”

Daniel grabbed Amelia’s arm.

“Don’t move.”

“Why?”

“Because she wants you to follow her.”

“Who?”

“Mara.”

Amelia pulled her arm away.

“You said she was inside the house.”

“She is.”

“She’s a child.”

Daniel’s face became pale.

“No.”

Amelia stared at him.

“What do you mean?”

Daniel looked into the darkness.

“She was a child.”

A cold wind moved through the hallway.

Then…

The lights came back.

Amelia blinked.

The house was empty.

Elias stood near the front door.

His gun was raised.

Thomas was gone.

Amelia stared at the stairs.

Mara was gone too.

“Where is my father?”

Daniel didn’t answer.

“Daniel.”

“He’s not here.”

“He was standing right there.”

“I know.”

“Then where did he go?”

Daniel looked toward the basement.

“He went back.”

Amelia followed his gaze.

The basement door was closed.

She walked toward it.

Daniel stepped in front of her.

“No.”

“Move.”

“Amelia.”

“Move.”

“You don’t understand.”

“My father has been dead for ten years.”

Daniel stared at her.

“Yes.”

“I just saw him.”

“Yes.”

“Then tell me what is happening.”

Daniel looked at Elias.

Elias lowered his weapon.

“This house doesn’t follow the rules.”

Amelia turned toward him.

“What does that mean?”

Elias looked around.

“Things that are dead can appear.”

“People who disappeared can return.”

“Memories can become real.”

Amelia shook her head.

“That’s impossible.”

Elias smiled bitterly.

“That’s what I said fifteen years ago.”

Amelia stared.

“What happened fifteen years ago?”

Elias didn’t answer.

“Tell me.”

“Not here.”

“Why?”

“Because the house is listening.”

Amelia looked around.

The walls.

The windows.

The ceiling.

The old wooden floor.

She suddenly noticed something.

The walls were covered with photographs.

Hundreds of them.

She walked closer.

Photographs of people.

Men.

Women.

Children.

Some looked terrified.

Others were smiling.

Some were crying.

Amelia moved along the wall.

Then she stopped.

A photograph showed Daniel.

He looked seventeen.

The same age he had been when he disappeared.

Amelia touched it.

“This is impossible.”

Daniel stared at the photograph.

“It was taken after I disappeared.”

Amelia looked at him.

“What?”

Daniel stepped closer.

“I found it in the basement.”

“Who took it?”

“I don’t know.”

Amelia looked at the date.

Her blood ran cold.

October 14.

“That’s two days after you disappeared.”

Daniel nodded.

“Yes.”

“But how?”

Daniel didn’t answer.

Amelia moved to another photograph.

Her father.

Thomas Vane.

Standing beside the lake.

The date was fifteen years ago.

The day Daniel disappeared.

But Thomas was looking directly at the camera.

As if he knew someone was watching.

Amelia felt a strange pressure in her chest.

Then she saw another photograph.

Her mother.

Margaret.

Amelia’s breath stopped.

“Mom.”

The photograph showed her mother standing inside the house.

She was crying.

Behind her…

Was a little girl.

Mara.

Amelia stepped backward.

Her mother had always told her that she had never seen Mara.

That there was no missing girl.

That Mara was only a name Amelia had invented after Daniel disappeared.

But the photograph proved otherwise.

Amelia turned toward Daniel.

“She knew.”

Daniel nodded.

“Yes.”

“My mother knew Mara.”

“Yes.”

“Why did she lie to me?”

Daniel’s eyes became dark.

“Because your father told her to.”

Amelia stared.

“Why?”

Daniel looked at the photograph.

“Because Mara wasn’t missing.”

“Then where was she?”

Daniel whispered:

“Here.”

Amelia looked at the house.

“No.”

“Yes.”

“For how long?”

“Since before we were born.”

Amelia’s heart began beating faster.

“What are you saying?”

Daniel stepped closer.

“Mara lived here.”

Amelia shook her head.

“That’s impossible.”

“She was born here.”

“Her parents?”

“I don’t know.”

“Then who was she?”

Daniel looked toward the basement.

“That’s the question.”

Suddenly…

A loud bang came from upstairs.

Everyone froze.

Elias raised his weapon.

Daniel looked at Amelia.

“Stay here.”

“Where are you going?”

“To check.”

“I’m coming.”

“No.”

“Daniel.”

He looked at her.

“You’ve already forgotten once.”

Amelia frowned.

“What?”

Daniel’s eyes filled with fear.

“I won’t let it happen again.”

Before Amelia could ask what he meant…

Daniel disappeared up the stairs.

Amelia followed.

Elias grabbed her arm.

“Don’t.”

She turned.

“Let go.”

“You need to trust me.”

“I don’t trust you.”

“Good.”

Amelia stared.

Elias released her.

“Because you shouldn’t.”

That answer surprised her.

“Then why are you here?”

“To make sure you remember the truth.”

“What truth?”

Elias looked toward the staircase.

“The night your family disappeared.”

Amelia felt a chill.

“I was there.”

“No.”

“What?”

“You weren’t supposed to be.”

“Then why do I remember it?”

Elias stepped closer.

“Because someone wanted you to.”

Amelia stared.

“Who?”

Before Elias could answer…

The house screamed.

Not a person.

The house itself.

The walls shook.

Windows shattered.

Amelia covered her ears.

A terrible sound came from somewhere beneath them.

Then…

Silence.

Elias looked toward the floor.

“The basement.”

Amelia’s heart sank.

“Daniel.”

She ran.

“Amelia!”

She ignored him.

She reached the basement door.

It was open.

Darkness waited below.

“Daniel!”

No answer.

Amelia descended the stairs.

One step.

Two.

Three.

The air became colder.

She reached the bottom.

A single light bulb swung above her.

The basement was enormous.

Much larger than the house should have allowed.

Amelia looked around.

Old furniture.

Boxes.

Broken toys.

Photographs.

Then she saw blood.

A trail of blood crossed the floor.

Amelia followed it.

“Daniel?”

Nothing.

The trail ended beside a wooden door.

The door was covered with scratches.

Hundreds of them.

Amelia touched the wood.

A child’s voice came from behind it.

“Amelia.”

She froze.

“Mara?”

“Yes.”

Amelia stepped closer.

“Where are you?”

“Inside.”

“Inside where?”

“The room.”

Amelia looked at the door.

“Can I come in?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because you won’t like what you see.”

Amelia looked at the blood.

“Is Daniel with you?”

Silence.

“Mara.”

“He came.”

“When?”

“Before you.”

“Where is he?”

“He went to find your father.”

Amelia’s heart stopped.

“Why?”

“Because Daniel wants to know the truth.”

“What truth?”

The girl laughed softly.

“The same truth you’re looking for.”

Amelia reached for the door.

“Open it.”

“No.”

“Mara.”

“Do you remember the night?”

Amelia froze.

“No.”

“Yes, you do.”

“I don’t.”

“You just don’t want to.”

Amelia stepped backward.

“Tell me.”

Mara became silent.

Then…

A small hand appeared beneath the door.

Amelia stared.

“Give me your hand.”

Amelia hesitated.

“Why?”

“So I can see if you’re really Amelia.”

Amelia slowly knelt.

She placed her hand against the child’s.

The moment they touched…

Everything changed.

---

A house.

Rain.

Screaming.

Amelia was ten years old.

She stood in the hallway.

Her mother was crying.

Daniel was shouting.

Her father was holding a knife.

And Mara…

Mara stood at the bottom of the stairs.

Amelia heard her own voice.

“Don’t hurt her!”

Her father turned.

“Amelia.”

The little girl ran toward her.

“Don’t come near me.”

Mara stopped.

Thomas looked at Amelia.

“Go upstairs.”

“No.”

“Amelia.”

“Leave her alone.”

Thomas stepped closer.

“She’s not human.”

Amelia shook her head.

“She’s a child.”

“No.”

Her father raised the knife.

“She’s a monster.”

Amelia screamed.

“Stop!”

Daniel grabbed their father.

The knife fell.

Thomas pushed him away.

Daniel hit the wall.

Mara ran.

She grabbed Amelia’s hand.

“Run.”

They ran toward the basement.

Amelia heard her father shouting behind them.

“AMELIA!”

They reached the basement.

Mara opened a hidden door.

Amelia stared.

“What’s inside?”

Mara looked at her.

“My room.”

They entered.

The door closed.

Amelia looked around.

The room was filled with drawings.

Hundreds.

Every drawing showed the same thing.

A black house.

A red moon.

And a tall figure standing beside it.

“Who is that?”

Amelia asked.

Mara whispered:

“The man who lives beneath the lake.”

Amelia stared.

“What man?”

Mara looked afraid.

“He doesn’t have a name.”

A loud bang came from outside.

Thomas.

“Amelia!”

The door shook.

Mara grabbed Amelia’s hand.

“Don’t answer.”

Thomas shouted:

“Open the door!”

Amelia covered her ears.

Mara whispered:

“He’s going to kill us.”

Amelia looked at her.

“Why?”

“Because we know.”

“Know what?”

Mara looked at the drawings.

“The truth.”

The door broke open.

Thomas entered.

He grabbed Mara.

Amelia screamed.

“NO!”

Thomas pulled the girl away.

Mara cried.

“Amelia!”

Amelia attacked her father.

She hit him.

Once.

Twice.

He fell.

The knife landed on the floor.

Amelia picked it up.

Thomas stared at her.

“Put it down.”

“Let her go.”

“Amelia.”

“Let her go!”

Thomas laughed.

“You think you can stop me?”

Amelia raised the knife.

“Yes.”

Thomas stood.

He moved toward her.

Then…

A shadow appeared behind him.

A tall figure.

Thomas stopped.

His face became terrified.

“No.”

Amelia looked behind him.

The figure was standing in the corner.

Watching.

Thomas stepped backward.

“No…”

The shadow moved closer.

Thomas screamed.

The basement door slammed shut.

And everything went black.

---

Amelia opened her eyes.

She was lying on the basement floor.

Elias was beside her.

“Amelia!”

She sat up.

“Where’s Mara?”

Elias stared.

“Who?”

“Mara.”

“There’s no one here.”

Amelia looked toward the door.

It was open.

The room was empty.

“Where is she?”

Elias grabbed her shoulders.

“Amelia.”

She looked at him.

“What?”

“You’ve been unconscious for twenty minutes.”

“What happened?”

“I found you here.”

“Where’s Daniel?”

“I don’t know.”

Amelia stood.

“We have to find him.”

Elias blocked her.

“Wait.”

“Move.”

“Your hand.”

Amelia looked down.

There was blood on her palm.

A small cut.

She remembered Mara.

The child.

The door.

The shadow.

Then she noticed something else.

A word had been written on her skin.

RUN.

Amelia stared.

Elias saw it.

His face changed.

“What?”

He stepped backward.

“What does it mean?”

Elias whispered:

“She’s awake.”

Amelia felt cold.

“Who?”

Elias looked at the ceiling.

“The woman beneath the lake.”

“What woman?”

Elias turned toward her.

“The one who built this house.”

Amelia shook her head.

“You’re not making sense.”

“Listen to me.”

Elias grabbed her hand.

“We need to leave.”

“No.”

“Now.”

“What about Daniel?”

“We can’t save him.”

“He’s my brother.”

“He’s already dead.”

Amelia stared.

“What?”

Elias looked at her.

“I saw him die.”

“When?”

“Fifteen years ago.”

Amelia’s heart stopped.

“You’re lying.”

“I watched him disappear.”

“Then why is he alive?”

Elias didn’t answer.

Amelia suddenly understood.

“You’re not Detective Ward.”

Elias froze.

Amelia stepped backward.

“The real Elias Ward died.”

His face changed.

“What?”

“I remember.”

Amelia looked at the scar above his eyebrow.

“You’re not him.”

The man smiled.

For the first time…

His eyes looked different.

Completely black.

Amelia screamed.

The creature grabbed her.

She fought.

“Let me go!”

Elias’s face twisted.

“You’re finally remembering.”

Amelia kicked him.

He fell.

She ran toward the stairs.

But the basement door slammed shut.

The creature laughed.

“You can’t leave.”

Amelia grabbed a wooden chair.

“Stay away from me.”

The creature stood.

“You’ve been here before.”

“No.”

“Fifteen years ago.”

“No!”

“You killed your father.”

Amelia froze.

“What?”

“You killed your mother.”

“No.”

“You killed your brother.”

“Stop!”

“You killed Mara.”

Amelia shook her head.

“No!”

The creature stepped closer.

“And then…”

It smiled.

“You killed yourself.”

Amelia’s heart stopped.

The basement disappeared.

The house disappeared.

Everything disappeared.

Amelia stood in complete darkness.

Then she heard a voice.

Her own voice.

“Wake up.”

Amelia opened her eyes.

She was lying in a bed.

A hospital room.

White walls.

Machines.

A doctor stood beside her.

“Amelia?”

She stared.

“Where am I?”

“St. Mary’s Hospital.”

“What happened?”

“You were found unconscious near Blackwater Lake.”

Amelia sat up.

“Daniel.”

The doctor frowned.

“Who?”

“My brother.”

“You don’t have a brother.”

Amelia froze.

“Yes, I do.”

The doctor looked at the nurse.

“She’s confused.”

Amelia looked around.

“My family.”

“What family?”

“My mother.”

“My father.”

“Daniel.”

The doctor shook his head.

“Amelia…”

“What?”

“You’ve been unconscious for fifteen years.”

Silence.

Amelia couldn’t breathe.

“What?”

“You were ten years old when they found you.”

“No.”

“Your family died.”

“No.”

“You were the only survivor.”

“No!”

The doctor stepped closer.

“Amelia…”

She screamed.

“NO!”

The hospital lights flickered.

The walls began to shake.

Then…

A little girl appeared in the corner.

Mara.

Amelia stared.

The doctor didn’t react.

Nobody seemed to see her.

Mara smiled.

“Don’t listen to him.”

Amelia whispered:

“Where am I?”

Mara pointed toward the window.

“You’re still inside the house.”

Amelia looked outside.

There was no hospital.

Only the dark forest.

And beyond it…

Blackwater Lake.

Mara stepped closer.

“You haven’t woken up yet.”

Amelia’s heart raced.

“What do you mean?”

Mara smiled.

“This is the dream.”

Amelia stared.

“Then where is the real me?”

Mara’s smile disappeared.

“Still in the basement.”

Suddenly…

Amelia heard screaming.

Daniel.

“AMELIA!”

She turned.

The hospital room vanished.

She was back in the basement.

Daniel stood behind the locked door.

“Amelia!”

She ran toward him.

“Daniel!”

He grabbed the door.

“Listen to me!”

“What happened?”

“Don’t trust anyone!”

“What?”

“Not Elias.”

Amelia froze.

“He’s not Elias.”

“I know.”

“Who is he?”

Daniel looked terrified.

“I don’t know.”

“Where is Mara?”

Daniel stared at her.

“She’s the reason we’re here.”

“Why?”

Daniel whispered:

“Because she brought us back.”

Amelia frowned.

“Back from where?”

Daniel looked at the darkness behind her.

His face turned white.

“Amelia…”

“What?”

“Don’t turn around.”

Amelia froze.

“Why?”

“Because…”

Daniel’s voice trembled.

“…your father is standing behind you.”

Amelia slowly turned.

Thomas stood in the darkness.

But he wasn’t alone.

Mara was beside him.

And between them…

Was another figure.

A woman.

Tall.

Pale.

Her face hidden beneath long black hair.

Amelia couldn’t move.

The woman raised her head.

Amelia saw her face.

And screamed.

It was her own face.

Older.

Scarred.

Dead.

The woman smiled.

“Hello, Amelia.”

Amelia stepped backward.

“Who are you?”

The woman walked closer.

“I’m you.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“You’re dead.”

The woman laughed.

“So are you.”

The basement doors slammed shut.

Thomas disappeared.

Mara disappeared.

Daniel disappeared.

Only Amelia and the woman remained.

The woman leaned closer.

“You have one night left.”

“For what?”

“To decide.”

“Decide what?”

The woman whispered:

“Which version of you gets to leave this house.”

Amelia stared.

“I don’t understand.”

“You will.”

The woman stepped away.

“Because tomorrow…”

She smiled.

“…the house will choose.”

Amelia’s voice trembled.

“Choose who?”

The woman pointed toward the basement door.

Three figures appeared behind it.

Daniel.

Elias.

And Mara.

All three were standing in silence.

The woman whispered:

“One of them is alive.”

Amelia stared.

“Which one?”

The woman smiled.

“That’s your game.”

The lights went out.

A clock began ticking.

One.

Two.

Three.

Amelia heard the woman’s final whisper.

“Choose correctly…”

The ticking stopped.

“…or everyone dies.”

And somewhere beneath Blackwater Lake…

Something opened its eyes.

To Be Continued…