Chapter 135: Haunted Experince Of Perron Family.

Next day...

Sunlight trickled through the curtains of the Perron household, casting a soft golden glow over the wooden floors.

The peaceful morning stood in stark contrast to the eerie tension of the previous night.

The house, despite its rustic charm, carried an unusual weight in the air—subtle, but lingering.

In the kitchen, Carolyn was already awake, standing by the stove as she prepared breakfast.

The smell of sizzling bacon and fresh eggs filled the air, momentarily masking the unease she had been feeling since their arrival.

She glanced toward the back door, her eyes unconsciously drifting to the spot where their dog, Sadie, would have stood at their previous house.

thought shifted to the sight of their dog Sadie had been found lifeless the night before.

A shiver ran down her spine for some reason she felt like her intuition said some thing was not right, and she quickly turned her attention back to the pan.

"Morning, Mom,"

Andrea greeted groggily as she walked into the kitchen, rubbing her eyes.

"Morning, sweetheart,"

Carolyn replied, forcing a warm smile.

Andrea poured herself some orange juice before leaning against the counter.

"Did you sleep well?"

"Not really,"

Carolyn admitted, stirring the eggs with a wooden spoon.

"Kept waking up… Felt like someone was walking around the house."

Andrea frowned but didn't say anything.

She had felt something too—

a strange heaviness in the air, almost like being watched.

But she shook the thought away, unwilling to fuel her mother's anxiety.

Soon, the rest of the family began to stir.

Roger walked in, stretching his arms as he yawned.

Yawn~ 

"Smells good,"

he said, placing a kiss on Carolyn's cheek before grabbing a coffee.

Christine and Cindy ran into the room, already in the middle of some playful argument,

while Nancy trailed behind them, looking half-asleep.

April was the last to enter,

her small frame slouched as she hugged a worn-out stuffed animal close to her chest.

"Good morning, sleepyheads,"

Roger greeted, ruffling April's hair.

"Morning,"

April mumbled, taking a seat at the table.

Her eyes were puffy, evidence that she had cried herself to sleep over Sadie's sudden death.

The family settled into breakfast, the usual chatter filling the air.

For a moment, everything felt normal—

until Cindy spoke up.

"Mom, I heard something last night,"

she said, pushing her eggs around her plate.

Carolyn glanced at her.

"What do you mean, honey?"

"In my room,"

Cindy said.

"It sounded like someone was clapping."

A beat of silence fell over the table.

"Probably just the wind or something,"

Roger said, trying to brush it off.

"But it was inside the house,"

Cindy insisted.

Andrea looked up sharply.

"Wait, you heard it too?"

Cindy nodded.

"It sounded like… like a game of hide and clap."

A chill ran through Carolyn, though she forced a reassuring smile.

"It's an old house, sweetheart. It makes noises."

Cindy didn't look convinced, but she nodded anyway.

Roger cleared his throat, trying to lift the mood.

"Alright, girls, after breakfast, we need to start unpacking the last of the boxes. The sooner we're settled, the sooner this place will start feeling like home."

"Yeah, sure. Home,"

Andrea muttered under her breath, her unease still lingering.

As the morning went on, the Perrons pushed their worries aside, trying to adjust to their new life.

After breakfast as Carolyn scrubbed the dishes at the sink, her mind drifted back to the odd rash she had discovered on her body while bathing the night before.

Pale dark, irritated patches had formed along her arms and back, and no matter how much lotion she applied, the itching persisted.

She had kept quiet about it at first, but when Roger noticed her scratching absentmindedly, he had insisted she visit a doctor soon.

"It's probably just allergies,"

she had reasoned.

"Maybe the dust from the move?"

But deep down, something about it unsettled her.

The rash had appeared suddenly, and there was no logical explanation for it.

Shaking her head, she pushed the thought aside and focused on breakfast, trying not to let her growing unease show.

Meanwhile, Roger sat at the kitchen table, sipping his coffee, his mind replaying an unsettling memory from the night before.

No—two nights before.

He had been woken up by a sound in the middle of the night, a faint, distant wailing that echoed through the house.

At first, he thought it was one of the girls, maybe having a bad dream, but as he searched through the dark halls, the sound only grew stranger.

When he reached the stairs, his heart nearly leapt out of his chest—

Andrea stood at the top, barely visible in the dim moonlight.

"Jesus, Andy,"

he had whispered harshly.

"What are you doing?"

Andrea, seemingly just as startled, furrowed her brows.

"Dad? What's wrong?"

"I heard something—crying. Was that you?"

Andrea shook her head.

"No, but Cindy was sleepwalking again. I just helped her back to bed."

Roger had exhaled, running a hand through his hair.

"So it was Cindy, then."

Andrea didn't answer right away, looking uneasy.

"I guess so… but she wasn't crying."

Roger had brushed it off then, convincing himself that it was just Cindy mumbling in her sleep.

But now, sitting at the breakfast table with his family, a lingering doubt crept in.

With the morning routine settled Carolyn gathered the girls' laundry into a basket, humming softly to herself.

The house was quieter now—

Roger had left for work, and the girls had gone off to school.

Just as she was about to head downstairs, a faint murmur caught her attention.

She frowned.

Frown~ 

"____"

The voice was light, cheerful, and unmistakably April's.

But the way she spoke… it wasn't the usual childish babbling.

It was measured like she was actually having a conversation.

Carolyn followed the sound, stopping just outside April's half-closed bedroom door.

Peering in through the gap, she saw her youngest daughter sitting cross-legged on the chair.

She was giggling softly, whispering in between, as though responding to someone.

Carolyn gently pushed the door open.

"Sweetheart?"

she called.

April turned, eyes wide with excitement.

"Mommy! Come see!"

She patted the floor beside her.

"What are you up to, silly girl?"

Carolyn chuckled, stepping inside.

Her gaze fell on the old, decorative music box in front of April—crafted like a miniature circus tent.

The faded red and white stripes stretched around its cylindrical shape, while tiny carved horses and clowns decorated the sides.

A small, golden crank rested at the base, ready to be turned.

"I'm playing with my new friend, Myrey!"

April announced proudly, pointing at the music box.

Carolyn blinked, her smile faltering just a bit.

"Who's Myrey?"

she asked, glancing at the reflection.

April beamed.

"She lives in the mirror! You have to wind the box and look real close—then you can see her, too!"

Carolyn hesitated but knelt beside her daughter, playing along.

"Alright, let's see."

She twisted the tiny key on the side of the music box, and the eerie, tinny melody began to play.

The slow chimes filled the quiet room as Carolyn fixed her eyes on the glass, expecting nothing.

And yet…

As the tune played, the reflection in the mirror seemed to darken.

A strange weight pressed against her chest.

The longer she stared, the more it felt like something—

someone—was right behind her.

Just as unease crept into her spine, April suddenly lunged forward, grabbing her mother's shoulders.

"BOO!"

Carolyn yelped, jerking away, while April erupted into laughter.

Hahaha~ 

"April! You scared me!"

Carolyn scolded, but she couldn't help but chuckle at her daughter's mischievous grin.

April giggled, unfazed.

"You didn't see her, did you?"

Carolyn shook her head, ruffling her daughter's hair.

"No, honey. Maybe Myrey's shy."

April pouted, then perked up with an idea.

"Let's play Hide and Clap! Myrey said she loves that game!"

Carolyn hesitated.

"Sweetie, I have chores—"

"Please, Mommy! Just one round!"

April pleaded, eyes big and hopeful.

With a sigh and a playful eye-roll, Carolyn smiled.

"Alright, just one."

April clapped excitedly and ran to grab a blindfold.

Carolyn tied it around her eyes, the world fading into darkness.

April giggled.

"Okay, Mommy—count to ten!"

Carolyn turned on the spot, pressing her palms together as she counted.

"One… two… three…"

She reached five, then called out,

"First clap!"

A single clap echoed through the room, just slightly to her left.

Carolyn grinned, reaching out toward the sound.

"Seven… eight… nine… Second clap!"

Another clap—

this time, from across the room.

Carolyn carefully inched forward, hands extended.

"I'm gonna find you!"

she teased, laughing.

Her fingers brushed against a tall wardrobe.

She felt her way around it.

"Are you in here?"

Silence.

Then—

Clap. Clap.

Right in front of her face beside her ears.

Carolyn's heart skipped.

The sound had been close—too close.

Almost right against her face.

A cold shiver traced her spine.

She hesitated, fingers hovering in the empty air.

"April…?"

"____"

No answer.

She reached forward—

And the closet door creaked open a pair of hands emerged from the dress and clapped.

Clap. Clap.

"____"

"I can hear your breathing."

Carolyn moved forward to the closet which had opened and brushed through the clothes.

Thud~ Thud~ 

Carolyn heard footsteps coming far from her she immediately yanked off the blindfold, eyes darting around the room.

April stood by the doorway, grinning.

Grin~ 

"You didn't find me! I win I was in Nancy and Christine's room."

she chirped.

Carolyn blinked, then glanced at the open closet.

Her stomach twisted.

"Then… who clapped?"

She informed Roger about it when he arrived but he didn't take it seriously.

Night arrived...

A deep hush settled over the farmhouse.

The only sounds were the rhythmic ticking of the grandfather clock and the occasional creak of the wooden floorboards as the house settled.

Then—

A faint thump echoed through the hallway.

Then another.

Andrea stirred in her sleep, her brows furrowing.

She turned over, pulling the blanket up to her chin.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Her eyes fluttered open.

She held her breath, listening intently.

The noise sounded heavy… deliberate.

Like footsteps.

Her heart pounded.

Slowly, she turned her head toward the bedroom door, which was slightly ajar.

The hallway beyond was shrouded in darkness.

Andrea swallowed.

Maybe it was Cindy?

Carefully, she pushed back the covers and stepped onto the cold wooden floor, feeling her way toward the door.

She peeked outside.

Nothing.

The hallway stretched into blackness,

but something felt… off.

A chill ran down her spine as she hesitated, hand resting against the doorframe.

Then, she heard it.

A whisper.

Low. Almost unintelligible.

Andrea's breath hitched.

Her pulse spiked as she stared into the yawning darkness.

She swore she saw movement, just barely—a shifting shadow, as if something had pulled back when she looked.

Andrea slammed her own door shut and jumped into bed, pulling the covers over her head.

She squeezed her eyes shut, praying she was imagining things.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then—

A quiet, dragging breath came from the other side of her door.

She didn't dare move.

Besides her bed, Cindy's bed was empty.

Her small feet padded silently over the wooden floor as she walked in slow, steady steps.

Her hands hung limply at her sides, her head tilted slightly downward.

She moved as if in a trance.

Meanwhile on the other bedroom where Christine and Nancy sleeping Christine shivered, pulling the blankets tighter around her body.

The room was freezing.

A chill settled over her skin, raising goosebumps along her arms.

She frowned, rubbing her arms and glancing at Nancy, who was sound asleep beside her.

The window was closed—

so why was it so cold?

Then, the smell hit her.

A rancid, rotting stench.

Christine gagged, covering her nose.

The air felt thick, suffocating.

It was like something dead was in the room.

As she sat up, a soft creaking sound made her freeze.

Her eyes darted across the room.

The door was closed.

She felt something moving under her bed.

When she looked under there was nothing.

Then—

A wheezing breath came from the darkness behind the door which opened automatically.

Christine's blood ran cold.

She stared, wide-eyed, at the closet, unable to look away.

Then, ever so slowly—

Something moved.

Christine whimpered, clutching the blanket over her mouth to stifle her scream.

Then—

A voice.

Low. Ragged.

"I see you."

Christine bolted upright, scrambling across the bed and shaking Nancy awake.

"Nancy! Nancy, wake up!"

she hissed, her voice trembling.

Nancy groaned, rubbing her eyes.

"What—?"

Before she could finish, Christine pointed at the darkness behind the opened door.

Nancy turned—

She looked at the opened door.

Nancy frowned sleepily.

"Go back to sleep, Chris."

Christine couldn't.

She sat awake the rest of the night, too afraid to close her eyes.

Something was in the house.

And it was watching them.

**********************************************************************************************************************************************************

(Author's POV)

(A/N): 

Thanks for reading the chapter!

Please give a review and power stone!!!