Ciara.
My house was built in the eighteen hundreds.
The owners before me wanted a quick sale, so I basically got the house for a steal.
It started the second week after moving in.
I was putting some boxes in the garage, downstairs. There was a door that led from the kitchen area directly into the garage, and that was where I usually went to enter the garage.
Anyway, I was putting boxes away after unpacking more of my ornaments and knick-knacks for the lounge room. I looked around at the other boxes until I found one that was full.
I decided to take another box upstairs, hoping it had something more important inside, like my novels or even my photos.
As I stepped onto the fourth step, I heard a weird sound.
"Scratch, scratch, scratch."
I paused for a few seconds, waiting to see how long it would last.
When it stopped, I continued moving up the stairs.
"I hope there aren't any mice in here," I mumbled as I made my way back into the kitchen.
Three hours later, I was sitting in front of the TV with my dinner. The news was playing, and it showed a police officer explaining how they had found a known serial killer hiding inside a woman's walls.
A cold shiver ran through my body as I listened intently. I did love a good true-crime story.
I decided to turn on Netflix and look for some crime movies or shows to watch. Clicking on the first one that popped up, I lay back and relaxed, eating my food as I watched.
"BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!"
I shot upright on the couch.
I realised I'd fallen asleep while watching TV.
Confused about what had woken me up, I glanced around, checking my surroundings. My plate and glass were still sitting on the coffee table where I'd left them.
I stretched and was about to stand.
"BANG! BANG!"
I froze halfway to standing.
An icy feeling rushed over my face.
"What the fuck?" I whispered.
Slowly, I stretched the rest of the way up.
I moved cautiously towards the closest window, which happened to be near the front door. I carefully pulled the curtains aside and peered outside.
I looked around near the doorway and then down towards the front lawn.
Nothing.
I stood there for about five minutes, my chest feeling tight as I struggled to breathe.
Slowly, I moved backwards.
I was just about to close the curtain when I saw it.
A reflection.
Someone tall was standing behind me.
My entire body froze.
I couldn't breathe.
I didn't dare turn around.
For a few seconds, neither of us moved.
Then I heard it.
"Scratch... scratch... scratch."
The sound was coming from directly behind me.
My eyes widened.
I stared at the reflection in the window, trying to make sense of what I was seeing.
The figure was tall and unnaturally still. I couldn't make out a face, only the outline of a person standing in the darkness behind me.
I swallowed hard.
Slowly, I reached for my phone.
The figure tilted its head.
I stopped moving.
My heart hammered against my chest.
Then my phone slipped from my hand.
"BANG!"
It hit the floor.
The figure disappeared.
I spun around.
Nothing.
The lounge room was completely empty.
"Hello?"
My voice sounded small.
I looked behind the couch.
Nothing.
I checked the hallway.
Nothing.
I rushed to the front door and grabbed the handle.
Locked.
I tried it again.
Still locked.
My hands were shaking as I pulled out my keys and unlocked the door.
I yanked it open and ran outside.
The cold night air hit my face.
I stood on the front lawn, breathing heavily, staring back at my house.
Every window was dark.
I pulled my phone out and called my sister.
She answered after three rings.
"Hey, what's up?"
"Can you come and get me?"
There was silence.
"Why? What's wrong?"
"I think someone's in my house."
"Are you sure?"
"No," I whispered. "But I saw someone."
My sister immediately told me to stay outside and said she was on her way.
I didn't take my eyes off the house.
Ten minutes later, headlights appeared at the end of the street.
My sister pulled up and jumped out of her car.
"Where are they?"
"I don't know."
She looked at the house.
"Did you call the police?"
"Not yet."
She frowned.
"Stay here."
Before I could stop her, she walked towards the front door.
I watched as she unlocked it and disappeared inside.
A minute passed.
Then another.
"Sis?"
No answer.
I took a step towards the house.
"Sis?"
Still nothing.
Then I heard something from inside.
"Scratch... scratch... scratch."
My stomach dropped.
The sound wasn't coming from upstairs.
It wasn't coming from the garage.
It was coming from the walls.
I slowly stepped inside.
"Sis?"
The house was silent.
Then, from somewhere upstairs, I heard my sister scream.
I ran.
I raced up the stairs, taking two steps at a time.
"SIS!"
I reached the top and stopped.
Her bedroom door was open.
My sister was standing in the middle of the room, staring at the wall.
She didn't move.
She didn't even seem to notice me.
"What happened?"
She slowly raised one trembling hand and pointed.
I looked at the wall.
There were scratches in the paint.
Hundreds of them.
Long, deep scratches that ran from the floor all the way up to the ceiling.
My sister finally looked at me.
"How long have you lived here?"
"Two weeks."
Her face went pale.
"Then you need to leave."
"What?"
She stepped backwards.
"Right now."
A loud bang came from inside the wall.
We both jumped.
"BANG!"
Then another.
"BANG!"
My sister grabbed my arm.
"We're leaving."
We ran downstairs.
But before we reached the front door, the scratching started again.
Only this time...
It wasn't coming from the walls.
It was coming from underneath the floorboards.
"Scratch... scratch... scratch..."
We stopped.
The house went completely silent.
Then a voice whispered from inside the wall.
My voice.
"I hope there aren't any mice in here."
I stared at my sister.
She stared at me.
Neither of us spoke.
Because suddenly, I understood.
The house hadn't been making those noises because something was trying to get in.
Something had already been inside.
And it had been listening to me the entire time.
