Story 928: Beneath the Floorboards

The world lurched as the house swallowed the light, plunging them into unnatural darkness. The only sound was the rasping breath of the Forsaken Girl, still bound in chains.

Draven gritted his teeth, tightening his grip on his shotgun. "Stay together!"

The walls twitched, shifting like living flesh. From beneath the warped floorboards, something stirred, scraping, clawing—as if something was trying to get out.

Mira clutched the Cursed Book, her fingers trembling as the ancient leather pulsed. The symbols across the girl's skin glowed faintly, reacting to its power.

“She’s a tether,” Mira whispered. “A conduit. This house is alive because of her.”

Elias exhaled sharply, revolver in hand. “Then we cut the connection.”

The floor splintered, and skeletal hands burst from the cracks, dragging themselves upward. Mouths split across their fingers, whispering in voices that weren’t their own.