The letter arrived at midnight.

That was the first thing that frightened Amelia Vane.

The second was the fact that it had been waiting for her.

She had just returned home after another exhausting day at the city newspaper when she found it lying on the floor inside her apartment.

Not in the mailbox.

Not beneath the door.

Inside.

Amelia stood frozen in the hallway.

Rainwater dripped from her black coat onto the wooden floor.

The apartment was dark.

Silent.

She was certain she had locked the door that morning.

She always did.

Amelia was a journalist.

She had spent the last eight years investigating crimes, corruption, missing people, and murders.

Paranoia was part of her profession.

She didn’t trust unlocked windows.

She didn’t trust strangers.

And she definitely didn’t trust mysterious letters appearing inside locked apartments.

Slowly, she closed the door behind her.

“Hello?”

Nothing.

Amelia reached for the light.

It didn’t work.

She frowned.

The electricity had been fine when she left.

She took out her phone and turned on the flashlight.

The beam moved across the room.

Sofa.

Table.

Bookshelf.

Kitchen.

Nothing.

Then she looked down.

The envelope.

Her name was written on it.

AMELIA VANE

The handwriting was familiar.

Very familiar.

Her heart stopped.

She knew that handwriting.

She hadn’t seen it in fifteen years.

Amelia picked up the envelope.

Her hands began trembling.

The name beneath hers was written in smaller letters.

From Daniel.

She dropped it.

The envelope landed on the floor.

“No.”

Amelia stepped backward.

Daniel Vane.

Her younger brother.

Missing for fifteen years.

Officially presumed dead.

The police had found his bicycle near Blackwater Lake when he was seventeen.

They had searched the lake.

The surrounding forest.

The roads.

Everywhere.

Nothing.

No body.

No evidence.

No Daniel.

Eventually…

The case became cold.

Amelia’s parents never recovered.

Her mother died believing Daniel was still alive.

Her father spent years searching for him.

And Amelia…

She had stopped believing.

Until tonight.

She picked up the envelope.

Her fingers shook as she opened it.

Inside was a single sheet of paper.

Only six words were written.

You were wrong about the night.

Amelia stared.

Then she read the second line.

He did not drown.

Her breath stopped.

A sound came from the hallway.

Amelia turned.

The apartment door was still locked.

She grabbed the nearest object.

A heavy glass vase.

“Who’s there?”

Silence.

She moved toward the hallway.

Her phone flashlight shook in her hand.

Nothing.

Then…

A noise.

Three knocks.

From inside her bedroom.

Amelia froze.

The bedroom door was closed.

She hadn’t closed it.

She always left it open.

Slowly…

She walked toward it.

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

Amelia raised the vase.

“Who are you?”

The knocking stopped.

She opened the door.

The room was empty.

The window was closed.

The curtains moved slightly.

Amelia stepped inside.

Then she noticed something.

Her bedroom wall.

There was a photograph hanging above her desk.

A photograph she had never seen before.

Amelia walked closer.

It showed three children.

Amelia.

Daniel.

And a third child.

A girl.

Amelia stared.

She knew the girl.

Her heart began beating violently.

It was her.

But that wasn’t possible.

Because the photograph had been taken fifteen years ago.

And the girl standing beside Daniel…

Was Amelia.

Only younger.

Much younger.

The photograph showed Amelia at around ten years old.

Daniel was twelve.

But there was something wrong.

Amelia remembered that photograph.

She remembered the day.

She remembered the location.

Blackwater Lake.

She remembered Daniel standing beside her.

But she didn’t remember the third child.

The girl.

Amelia touched the photograph.

A name was written on the back.

She turned it over.

Mara.

Her blood turned cold.

Mara.

The name appeared in one of the oldest files she had ever investigated.

A missing girl.

Seven years old.

Disappeared from Blackwater Lake.

The same year Daniel vanished.

Amelia dropped the photograph.

“No.”

She stepped backward.

Her phone rang.

The sudden sound made her jump.

Unknown number.

She answered.

“Hello?”

Nothing.

“Who is this?”

Breathing.

Slow.

Heavy.

Amelia’s grip tightened.

“Who are you?”

A man’s voice finally spoke.

“Do you remember the house?”

Amelia froze.

“What house?”

“The one you promised never to return to.”

She swallowed.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

The man laughed.

“You always were a bad liar.”

“Who is this?”

“You have until sunrise.”

“For what?”

“To remember.”

The line went dead.

Amelia stared at the phone.

Then it rang again.

Same number.

She answered.

“Hello?”

This time…

A different voice.

A child’s voice.

A little girl’s voice.

“Amelia?”

Her heart stopped.

“Who is this?”

The girl whispered:

“Don’t trust Daniel.”

The call ended.

Amelia stood completely still.

Her mind was racing.

Daniel was dead.

Or maybe alive.

A mysterious girl knew her name.

A photograph showed a person she couldn’t remember.

And someone wanted her to return to a house she had supposedly forgotten.

Then Amelia noticed something else.

The rain had stopped.

She looked toward the window.

Across the street…

A black car was parked beneath a dead streetlight.

Someone was sitting inside.

Watching her.

Amelia turned off the flashlight.

She moved away from the window.

The car didn’t move.

Her phone buzzed.

A message.

Unknown number.

LOOK OUTSIDE.

Amelia stared at it.

Another message arrived.

HE IS STILL THERE.

She slowly looked through the curtain.

The car was empty.

The driver’s door was open.

Amelia stepped backward.

Her apartment suddenly felt too small.

She grabbed her coat.

She needed to leave.

Now.

But as she reached the door…

She heard a voice behind her.

“Going somewhere?”

Amelia spun around.

A man stood in the darkness.

She screamed.

He raised his hands.

“Wait!”

Amelia grabbed the vase.

The man stepped into the light.

He was around forty.

Tall.

Dark hair.

A scar crossed his left eyebrow.

Amelia stared.

She knew him.

She had seen his face before.

Not in person.

In a photograph.

A photograph from a murder case.

“You’re…”

The man smiled.

“Detective Elias Ward.”

Amelia’s grip tightened.

“You died.”

Elias stopped smiling.

“That’s what they wanted you to believe.”

Amelia stepped backward.

“Why are you here?”

“To keep you alive.”

“From who?”

Elias looked toward the window.

Then back at her.

“Your brother.”

Amelia shook her head.

“Daniel is dead.”

“No.”

“He disappeared fifteen years ago.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you saying—”

“Because I found him.”

Silence.

Amelia stared.

“Where?”

Elias reached into his coat.

He pulled out a photograph.

Amelia looked at it.

A man stood in front of an old house.

The picture was blurry.

But the face was clear.

Daniel.

Older.

Alive.

Amelia’s heart stopped.

“Where is this?”

Elias looked at her.

“Blackwater Lake.”

Amelia dropped the photograph.

“No.”

“Yes.”

“That’s impossible.”

“Not anymore.”

Elias stepped closer.

“You need to listen carefully.”

Amelia stared at him.

“Why?”

“Because you’re in danger.”

“From Daniel?”

Elias shook his head.

“From the house.”

Amelia frowned.

“What house?”

Elias looked at the photograph.

“The Vane House.”

Amelia felt a strange pressure in her chest.

“I don’t remember any house.”

“You will.”

“Why?”

Elias looked directly into her eyes.

“Because you lived there.”

Amelia froze.

“No.”

“Yes.”

“My family never lived near Blackwater Lake.”

“Your family did.”

“No.”

Elias stepped closer.

“Your father owned the house.”

Amelia shook her head.

“My father was a schoolteacher.”

“That’s what everyone believed.”

“You’re lying.”

Elias reached into his coat again.

This time…

He pulled out an old newspaper.

Amelia took it.

The headline was faded.

FAMILY OF FOUR DISAPPEARS FROM BLACKWATER LAKE HOME

Her eyes moved down.

The names.

She read them.

Thomas Vane.

Her father.

Margaret Vane.

Her mother.

Daniel Vane.

Her brother.

Amelia’s breathing stopped.

Then she saw the fourth name.

Amelia Vane.

She stared.

“That’s me.”

Elias nodded.

“Yes.”

“But I didn’t disappear.”

“Exactly.”

Amelia looked at him.

“What happened to me?”

Elias’s face became serious.

“That’s what I’ve been trying to discover.”

Amelia’s voice trembled.

“Where is the house?”

Elias didn’t answer.

“Tell me.”

He looked at the clock.

“It’s 1:17 a.m.”

“So?”

“You have four hours and forty-three minutes.”

“Until what?”

“Until sunrise.”

Amelia stared.

“What happens at sunrise?”

Elias whispered:

“The house chooses someone.”

A cold wind moved through the apartment.

Amelia looked toward the window.

The black car was gone.

Elias walked toward the door.

“Where are you going?”

“To the lake.”

“Now?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Elias opened the door.

“Because if Daniel is alive…”

He looked back.

“…he knows where the house is.”

Amelia grabbed her coat.

“I’m coming.”

“No.”

“You’re not leaving me here.”

“You don’t understand.”

“I understand enough.”

Elias stared at her.

“You’ve forgotten the house.”

“Then I’ll remember.”

“You may not like what you find.”

Amelia stepped closer.

“My brother has been missing for fifteen years.”

Her voice became firm.

“If he’s alive…”

“I’m going to find him.”

Elias nodded slowly.

“Then we should hurry.”

---

The drive to Blackwater Lake took almost two hours.

Neither of them spoke much.

Rain covered the windshield.

The road became narrower.

The city disappeared.

Trees surrounded them.

Amelia stared through the window.

Something about the road felt familiar.

Very familiar.

She had been here before.

She was certain.

“Stop.”

Elias looked at her.

“What?”

“Pull over.”

“Why?”

“Just stop.”

He stopped the car.

Amelia looked outside.

A small wooden sign stood beside the road.

BLACKWATER LAKE — 12 MILES

Her stomach tightened.

She remembered.

A bicycle.

Daniel laughing.

Her father shouting.

A house.

A woman screaming.

Amelia gasped.

Elias looked at her.

“What happened?”

“I remember.”

“What?”

“The lake.”

“What about it?”

Amelia looked terrified.

“My brother didn’t disappear here.”

Elias waited.

“He ran.”

“From what?”

Amelia looked at him.

“From our father.”

Elias became silent.

“Why?”

Amelia’s memory came back.

A door.

A basement.

A little girl.

Mara.

And her father’s voice.

Don’t let her out.

Amelia covered her mouth.

“Oh God.”

Elias grabbed her shoulder.

“What?”

“I know where Daniel went.”

“Where?”

Amelia looked toward the dark forest.

“The house.”

Elias nodded.

“Yes.”

“No.”

“What?”

“He didn’t run to the house.”

Amelia’s eyes filled with fear.

“He ran from it.”

Elias stared.

“Then why did he go there?”

Amelia whispered:

“Because Mara was still inside.”

Suddenly…

A light appeared between the trees.

A house.

Old.

Abandoned.

Waiting.

Amelia stared.

She knew that house.

She had seen it in her dreams.

Every night.

For fifteen years.

Elias looked at her.

“Amelia.”

She didn’t answer.

The house lights turned on.

One by one.

Then the front door opened.

A figure stood inside.

A man.

Older.

Tired.

Alive.

Daniel.

Amelia stepped out of the car.

“Daniel.”

The figure raised his head.

“Amelia.”

She ran toward him.

Elias shouted:

“Wait!”

But Amelia didn’t stop.

She reached the house.

Daniel stood before her.

Her brother.

The boy she had lost.

The man she had spent fifteen years mourning.

She touched his face.

“You’re alive.”

Daniel smiled.

“Yes.”

Amelia began crying.

“Why didn’t you come back?”

Daniel looked behind her.

At Elias.

Then back at Amelia.

“Because I couldn’t.”

“Why?”

Daniel’s smile disappeared.

“Because every time I tried…”

He stepped closer.

“…the house brought me back.”

Amelia looked inside.

Darkness filled the hallway.

“Where is Mara?”

Daniel froze.

Amelia’s heart stopped.

“You remember?”

Daniel stared.

“How do you know that name?”

“I saw the photograph.”

Daniel stepped backward.

“Which photograph?”

“The one of us.”

Daniel’s face became pale.

“Amelia…”

“What?”

“You can’t be here.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re not supposed to remember.”

A sound came from inside the house.

Three knocks.

Daniel turned.

Amelia stared.

“Who is that?”

Daniel whispered:

“The house.”

The front door slammed shut behind them.

Amelia screamed.

Elias ran toward the door.

Locked.

Daniel stepped backward.

“She’s awake.”

“Who?”

Daniel looked at Amelia.

“Mara.”

A child’s laughter echoed through the hallway.

Amelia felt cold.

Then a little girl’s voice whispered from somewhere upstairs.

“Amelia…”

She looked up.

The voice continued.

“You came back.”

Daniel grabbed her hand.

“Don’t answer.”

The house began shaking.

Elias raised his weapon.

“Where is she?”

Daniel pointed toward the basement.

“Down there.”

Amelia stared.

“Why?”

Daniel looked at her.

“Because that’s where your father left her.”

Amelia’s heart stopped.

“My father?”

Daniel nodded.

“He didn’t disappear.”

“What?”

“He was never missing.”

Amelia felt the room spinning.

“Where is he?”

Daniel looked toward the basement door.

Then whispered:

“He’s still here.”

The basement door slowly opened.

Darkness appeared below.

Then…

Footsteps.

Someone was climbing the stairs.

One.

Two.

Three.

Amelia stepped backward.

A man appeared.

Old.

Thin.

Pale.

Amelia recognized him immediately.

Her father.

Thomas Vane.

Dead for ten years.

He smiled.

“Hello, Amelia.”

Amelia couldn’t breathe.

Her father stepped closer.

“You finally remembered.”

Daniel moved in front of her.

“Stay away from her.”

Thomas laughed.

“You still think you can protect her?”

Daniel raised his weapon.

Thomas looked at Elias.

Then at Amelia.

“Ask him.”

Amelia frowned.

“Ask who?”

Thomas pointed at Elias.

“Ask Detective Ward what happened fifteen years ago.”

Amelia looked at Elias.

He had gone completely pale.

“What is he talking about?”

Elias said nothing.

“Tell me.”

Thomas smiled.

“Ask him who killed your family.”

Amelia looked at Elias.

“Who?”

Elias finally spoke.

His voice was barely a whisper.

“Your father didn’t kill your family.”

Amelia stared.

“Then who did?”

Elias looked at her.

“You did.”

Silence.

Amelia shook her head.

“No.”

Elias continued.

“You were the only one who survived.”

“No.”

“You were ten years old.”

“No.”

“You killed them.”

Amelia stepped backward.

“You’re lying.”

Elias shook his head.

“I wish I was.”

The house began to shake violently.

Thomas laughed.

Daniel shouted:

“Amelia, don’t listen to them!”

The little girl’s voice came from upstairs.

“He’s lying.”

Everyone froze.

Amelia looked up.

A little girl stood at the top of the stairs.

Mara.

Seven years old.

Pale.

Beautiful.

Dead.

She looked directly at Amelia.

“You’re not the killer.”

Amelia whispered:

“Then who am I?”

Mara smiled.

“You’re the one who survived.”

The lights went out.

A scream echoed through the house.

Then…

The front door locked itself.

And the house whispered one final sentence.

“Let the game begin.”

To Be Continued…