A Door That Shouldn’t Open

The morning arrived with an eerie stillness. The air in the house felt thick, as though it had absorbed something unseen in the night. Ethan sat at the kitchen table, staring blankly at the steam curling from his coffee. His hands wrapped around the mug, seeking warmth—not just from the drink but from anything that could chase away the cold that had settled deep in his bones.

Anna moved quietly around the kitchen, her gaze flickering to him every so often. He could tell she wanted to ask if he had slept, but she didn't. Maybe she already knew the answer.

Daniel sat at the table, shoving spoonfuls of cereal into his mouth, swinging his feet beneath his chair. Ethan watched him absently, his mind still circling the events of the night before. The closet. The voice.

"He's waiting for you."

The words had clung to his skin, lingering like a stain.

Anna finally broke the silence. "Are you okay?"

Ethan forced himself to nod. "Yeah. Just tired."

She didn't look convinced. "I heard you walking around last night."

"I couldn't sleep." He took a sip of coffee, letting the bitterness ground him.

Anna sat down across from him, resting her chin in her palm. "Ethan… is something going on?"

The way she asked made his stomach twist. There was something cautious in her voice, something that suggested she already suspected the answer.

Ethan hesitated. He had promised himself he wouldn't drag her into this, not until he was sure. Not until Noah saw it for himself.

"Just work stuff," he lied.

Anna studied him for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then she sighed, rubbing her temples. "Okay."

He could tell she didn't believe him.

Daniel suddenly perked up, his spoon pausing halfway to his mouth.

"There's a man outside."

Ethan's head snapped toward him. "What?"

Daniel pointed toward the window that overlooked the backyard.

Ethan's stomach dropped. He stood so quickly that his chair scraped against the floor. He strode to the window, peering through the glass.

The yard was empty.

The wind stirred the trees, shaking brittle leaves from the branches. A thin layer of mist clung to the grass, but there was no sign of a person.

Ethan turned back to Daniel. "Where?"

Daniel's little brows furrowed. "He was standing by the trees. But now he's gone."

Ethan's skin crawled. He exchanged a glance with Anna, who frowned. "Probably just a neighbor walking by," she said, though her voice held an edge of doubt.

Ethan forced himself to nod. "Yeah. Probably."

But deep down, he knew better.

The day crawled by in a haze. Ethan busied himself with small tasks—checking emails, fixing the leaky faucet in the bathroom, trying not to stare at the closet door in Daniel's room every time he passed it.

At exactly 7:00 p.m., a car pulled up in the driveway.

Ethan was already at the door before Noah could even knock.

Noah raised an eyebrow. "Eager much?"

"Get inside," Ethan muttered, pulling him in and shutting the door behind him.

Noah shrugged off his jacket, glancing around. "Well, it looks normal so far."

"Give it time."

Noah dropped his bag on the couch and unzipped it. "I brought a few things—an EMF detector, a thermal camera, a spirit box, and some motion sensors. Nothing fancy, but it should help us figure out if we're dealing with a something or just a bunch of bad wiring."

Ethan crossed his arms. "You really think this could just be bad wiring?"

Noah didn't answer. He pulled out a small flashlight and turned it on, waving it toward the hallway. "Let's start with the kid's room."

Ethan's stomach tightened, but he nodded.

They stepped into Daniel's room, and immediately, the temperature seemed to drop. Noah must have felt it too, because he let out a low whistle. "Damn. It's colder in here."

Ethan didn't respond. His eyes were already on the closet. The door was shut, but it felt open.

Noah pulled out the EMF detector and clicked it on. The device hummed softly, the small green light flickering. He waved it around the room, frowning when it remained mostly still.

"Not much here," he muttered.

Ethan exhaled, but before relief could settle, something shifted behind them.

Both men froze.

The closet door had moved.

It hadn't opened, not entirely, but it had shifted just enough to be noticeable.

A slow, quiet creak filled the room.

Noah turned to Ethan. "Tell me you saw that."

Ethan swallowed. "I saw it."

Noah moved cautiously toward the door, placing a hand on it. He gave it a light push—it barely moved. "It's not loose," he murmured. He pressed harder. "The hinges are fine."

Ethan barely heard him. His heart pounded in his ears.

Then—

A single, quiet knock.

From inside the closet.

Ethan took a step back. "Noah."

Noah's head jerked toward the door. "Did you just—"

The knock came again.

Then, the doorknob twisted.

Noah lunged forward, gripping the handle. He yanked the door open.

Nothing.

The closet was empty.

A heavy silence hung in the air.

Ethan let out a shaky breath. "I told you."

Noah's face was pale. "Yeah. Yeah, you did."

The EMF detector in his hand suddenly spiked, the green light flashing to red.

Then, from deep inside the closet—so faint it could almost be imagined—came a whisper.

"Not yet."

The temperature in the room dropped even further.

Noah slammed the closet door shut.

Ethan exhaled shakily. "Do you still think this is bad wiring?"

Noah didn't answer.

Because now, he wasn't so sure anymore.