Shadows of the Past

The days passed quietly, and for a while, Bella allowed herself to believe the nightmare was over. The diary was gone, and her life began to regain a semblance of normalcy. She spent more time with Eliza, took long walks through the town, and even started revisiting her old hobbies—gardening, reading, and painting.

But deep down, a gnawing unease lingered.

It started with small things—objects moving from their usual places, shadows flickering at the edges of her vision, and a persistent chill that never quite left her house. Bella brushed it off as paranoia, remnants of the trauma she had endured.

Until one night.

Bella sat by the fireplace, a book in her lap, trying to lose herself in its pages. The warmth of the fire should have been comforting, but she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. Every creak of the house made her tense, her eyes darting to the dark corners of the room.

She sighed, setting the book down. "Get a grip, Bella," she muttered. "It's over."

Just as she stood to head to bed, a soft knock echoed through the house. It wasn't from the front door—it was coming from the back. Bella froze.

Her heart pounded as she crept toward the kitchen. The knocking continued, slow and rhythmic, sending chills down her spine. She reached the door and hesitated, her fingers hovering over the handle.

*Maybe it's Eliza,* she thought, trying to calm herself. But something felt off. Why would Eliza come to the back door in the middle of the night?

Taking a deep breath, Bella unlocked the door and opened it a crack. The cold night air rushed in, making her shiver.

No one was there.

She stepped outside, her eyes scanning the yard. The moonlight bathed everything in a pale glow, and the trees swayed gently in the wind. Nothing seemed out of place.

Then she saw it—something small and white lying on the porch. Bella bent down, her breath hitching as she realized what it was.

A bone.

Her hands shook as she picked it up. It was smooth, polished, and engraved with the same symbols she had seen on the dog's bones. A chill ran down her spine as she clutched it tightly.

*This can't be real. I destroyed everything.*

She stumbled back inside, locking the door behind her. The bone felt heavy in her hand, radiating a faint warmth. She placed it on the table and stared at it, her mind racing.

Suddenly, a faint whisper echoed through the room. Bella's breath caught as she spun around, but no one was there. The whisper grew louder, filling her ears.

*"You thought it was over… but the circle is not broken."*

"No," Bella whispered, backing away from the table. "I ended this. I destroyed the diary."

The whispering intensified, and the room grew colder. The fire in the hearth flickered and died, plunging the room into darkness. Bella grabbed a candle, lighting it with trembling hands.

As the flame steadied, she noticed something else—the bone on the table was glowing. Symbols began to etch themselves into the wood beneath it, forming a circle. Bella watched in horror as the circle expanded, the symbols pulsing with an eerie red light.

*"The gate remains open. The heart is gone, but the price must still be paid."*

Bella screamed, sweeping the bone off the table. It clattered to the floor, but the glowing symbols remained. The whispers surged, surrounding her, pressing into her mind.

*"Balance must be restored. A life for a life."*

"No!" Bella shouted, clutching her head. "I won't do it!"

But the whispers didn't stop. They grew louder, more insistent, until Bella felt like her skull would split. Desperation took over, and she ran outside, throwing the bone into the woods. She watched it disappear into the darkness, her chest heaving.

Silence returned. The whispers stopped. The cold eased. Bella stood there, trembling, waiting for something else to happen.

When nothing did, she let out a shaky breath and turned back to the house. But just as she reached the door, she heard it again—soft, rhythmic knocking.

Her blood ran cold.

Slowly, she turned back to the woods. The knocking wasn't coming from the house. It was coming from the trees.

*Knock. Knock. Knock.*

Bella's heart pounded as she backed into the house, slamming the door shut. She locked it, bolted it, and leaned against it, trying to calm her breathing. But the knocking continued, relentless and steady.

And then, the whispers returned, louder than ever.

*"You cannot escape. The circle must be completed."*

Bella sank to the floor, covering her ears. Tears streamed down her face as she rocked back and forth. "What do you want from me?" she sobbed. "I've done everything you asked!"

The whispers faded, leaving only one chilling response:

*"The circle is waiting. And so is Shane."*

Bella froze, her breath hitching. Her heart twisted in her chest. Shane. Was this truly about him? Had she severed the wrong bond?

Her eyes drifted toward the woods. She had to find out.

With trembling hands, she grabbed a flashlight and stepped outside once more.

The knocking stopped.

The woods were silent. But Bella knew—something was waiting for her out there.