"Don't go back inside."
Ethan's voice was firm now.
Serious.
Almost… urgent.
Lina didn't answer.
Her eyes were locked on the house.
The front door stood open.
Wider than before.
Darkness stretching inside like a mouth waiting to swallow her whole.
But something pulled at her.
Deep.
Invisible.
"I have to," she whispered.
Ethan grabbed her wrist.
"Lina."
His touch was warm.
Real.
Grounding.
"You don't understand," he said. "That house—once it marks you, it doesn't just watch anymore."
Lina's chest tightened.
"…It already started," she said quietly.
Ethan's grip loosened slightly.
His expression darkened.
"What did it do?" he asked.
Lina hesitated.
Then—
"It spoke to me."
Silence.
"And it used my mom's voice."
Ethan closed his eyes for a brief second.
Like he already knew.
"…Then it's worse than I thought."
Behind them—
CREAK.
The door opened wider.
Lina flinched.
"Lina…"
The voice came again.
From inside the house.
Her mother's voice.
Soft.
Calling.
"Come inside, sweetheart."
Lina's breath hitched.
Ethan stepped in front of her.
Blocking her view.
"That's not her," he said sharply.
"I know!" Lina snapped—but her voice shook.
Because part of her—
Still wanted to believe it was.
"Then don't listen," Ethan said.
Another pause.
Then—
"…Stay with me instead."
Lina looked at him.
Really looked this time.
There was fear in his eyes.
But not for himself.
For her.
Something in her chest shifted.
But then—
"Lina…"
The voice came again.
Closer.
Too close.
Lina turned—
The house.
Something stood in the doorway.
A figure.
Shaped like her mother.
But wrong.
Too still.
Too pale.
Too… empty.
"Why are you ignoring me?" it asked.
Lina's body moved before her mind could think.
"Mom—"
Ethan grabbed her again.
Harder this time.
"LOOK AT ITS FEET!" he shouted.
Lina's eyes dropped.
Her blood turned to ice.
It wasn't touching the ground.
It was floating.
Just slightly.
Her scream tore through the air as she stumbled back.
The thing tilted its head.
Smile widening unnaturally.
"Come inside," it repeated.
Then—
Its neck snapped sideways with a sickening crack.
Ethan pulled Lina back.
"Run."
This time—
She didn't hesitate.
They didn't stop running until they reached the end of the street.
Lina bent over, gasping for air.
Her whole body shaking.
Ethan stayed close.
Not touching her this time.
But ready.
"You saw it," he said quietly.
Lina nodded weakly.
"That wasn't my mom…"
"No," he said.
Silence.
Then—
"Thank you," Lina whispered.
Ethan looked at her.
Surprised.
"You didn't have to help me."
He hesitated.
Then said softly—
"I did."
Their eyes met.
And for a moment—
The fear faded.
Just a little.
"You said you lived there," Lina said.
Ethan nodded.
"What happened to you?"
His expression changed.
Darkened.
"It didn't let me stay," he said.
Lina frowned.
"What does that mean?"
A pause.
Then—
"It took someone else instead."
A chill ran through her.
"Who?"
Ethan didn't answer.
But the silence said enough.
The wind picked up again.
Stronger this time.
Both of them turned.
The house stood in the distance.
Watching.
Even from here—
Lina could feel it.
Its attention.
Its hunger.
And then—
Slowly—
The front door closed.
SLAM.
Lina flinched.
Ethan's voice came low.
Tense.
"…It's not done with you."
Lina's hands trembled.
"…I know."
Because deep down—
She could still feel it.
Watching.
Waiting.
And now—
It knew she tried to escape.