Narrator

I hesitated, holding my breath, listening intently. Nothing. Convincing myself it was just the aging wood, I moved up another step, carefully this time. Another creak, deeper, more resonant, echoed from above. I paused again, heart rate picking up slightly. Suddenly, clearly and deliberately, I heard footsteps. Slow, heavy steps pacing across the floorboards directly above me.

I hesitated, holding my breath, listening intently. Nothing. Convincing myself it was just the aging wood, I moved up another step, carefully this time. Another creak, deeper, more resonant, echoed from above. I paused again, heart rate picking up slightly. Suddenly, clearly and deliberately, I heard footsteps. Slow, heavy steps pacing across the floorboards directly above me.

I stood frozen, my rational mind frantically trying to explain away the sounds. It was impossible that anyone else was here. I was utterly alone, miles from another living soul. Yet there they were, unmistakably human footsteps. Then came a loud thud, forceful enough to vibrate through the ceiling and down my spine. My instincts took over.

I stood frozen, my rational mind frantically trying to explain away the sounds. It was impossible that anyone else was here. I was utterly alone, miles from another living soul. Yet there they were, unmistakably human footsteps. Then came a loud thud, forceful enough to vibrate through the ceiling and down my spine. My instincts took over.

Rational thought abandoned me, replaced by raw, primal fear. I spun around, leaping down the stairs in two strides, nearly tripping as adrenaline surged through my veins. Bursting out the front door into the cold afternoon air, I ran without looking back, legs pounding through moss and marsh until my lungs burned and I finally reached the defender.

Rational thought abandoned me, replaced by raw, primal fear. I spun around, leaping down the stairs in two strides, nearly tripping as adrenaline surged through my veins. Bursting out the front door into the cold afternoon air, I ran without looking back, legs pounding through moss and marsh until my lungs burned and I finally reached the defender.

I threw myself inside, locked the doors and sat panting, watching the distant farmhouse through the windshield. It stood silent and still, offering no answers. When I finally calmed enough to inspect my camera's photographs, my fingers trembled. Flicking through images, I paused at the last picture, taken just before I ascended the stairs.

I threw myself inside, locked the doors and sat panting, watching the distant farmhouse through the windshield. It stood silent and still, offering no answers. When I finally calmed enough to inspect my camera's photographs, my fingers trembled. Flicking through images, I paused at the last picture, taken just before I ascended the stairs.

At the very top of the staircase, blurred yet unmistakably present, was a dark silhouette. Someone or something had been watching me. I spent a restless night parked far from the farmhouse, wrapped in my sleeping bag inside the Defender. The rhythmic drumming of rain and the shrill whistle of wind battered against the vehicle's roof, keeping sleep distant and uneasy.

At the very top of the staircase, blurred yet unmistakably present, was a dark silhouette. Someone or something had been watching me. I spent a restless night parked far from the farmhouse, wrapped in my sleeping bag inside the Defender. The rhythmic drumming of rain and the shrill whistle of wind battered against the vehicle's roof, keeping sleep distant and uneasy.

By morning, the storm had subsided, but the cold persisted, creeping through the gaps in the windows. Shivering, I tried turning the key in the ignition, desperate to move farther away from that place, but the engine only sputtered helplessly, refusing to start.

By morning, the storm had subsided, but the cold persisted, creeping through the gaps in the windows. Shivering, I tried turning the key in the ignition, desperate to move farther away from that place, but the engine only sputtered helplessly, refusing to start.

My frustration mounted with each failed attempt, accompanied by the sinking realization that without cell service and miles from civilization, I had few options. After half an hour of futile efforts, I resigned myself to the grim reality. I needed supplies to attempt repairs. Tools, wiring, anything salvageable from that abandoned farmhouse would be better than nothing.

My frustration mounted with each failed attempt, accompanied by the sinking realization that without cell service and miles from civilization, I had few options. After half an hour of futile efforts, I resigned myself to the grim reality. I needed supplies to attempt repairs. Tools, wiring, anything salvageable from that abandoned farmhouse would be better than nothing.

every rational part of me protested the idea of returning yet desperation made it impossible to ignore steeling myself against lingering anxiety i trudged back through the damp cold landscape toward the farmhouse my boots squelched loudly through the water-logged earth and with each step closer tension tightened in my chest

every rational part of me protested the idea of returning yet desperation made it impossible to ignore steeling myself against lingering anxiety i trudged back through the damp cold landscape toward the farmhouse my boots squelched loudly through the water-logged earth and with each step closer tension tightened in my chest

As the structure reappeared through the mist, it felt more forbidding than before. Colder somehow, though the temperature hadn't changed. Its dark windows reflected nothing but grey skies, revealing no hint of what waited inside. Taking a deep breath, I stepped once again through the creaking front door. Inside, the chill bit deeper than before, seeping into my bones.

As the structure reappeared through the mist, it felt more forbidding than before. Colder somehow, though the temperature hadn't changed. Its dark windows reflected nothing but grey skies, revealing no hint of what waited inside. Taking a deep breath, I stepped once again through the creaking front door. Inside, the chill bit deeper than before, seeping into my bones.

the air had grown heavy with moisture overnight and the faint metallic scent that i had noticed yesterday was now stronger mingling unsettlingly with the smell of mould and decay carefully i moved toward the staircase again eyes darting between shadows I knew the upper floor would be my best chance at finding spare wiring or scrap metal.

the air had grown heavy with moisture overnight and the faint metallic scent that i had noticed yesterday was now stronger mingling unsettlingly with the smell of mould and decay carefully i moved toward the staircase again eyes darting between shadows I knew the upper floor would be my best chance at finding spare wiring or scrap metal.