Chapter 3 : The Message

Ayla POV:-

I stare at the message on the bedside table, my heart racing with fear. How did this get here?

I'm still trying to process the events of the past 24 hours. The strange noises, the moving shadows, the message on the wall. It's all too much to handle.

And now, this. A message in my hotel room, taunting me.

I feel a surge of anger and determination. I'm not going to let whoever is doing this push me around. I'm going to find out who they are and what they want.

I start by examining the message more closely. The handwriting is familiar, but I can't quite place it.

And then, I notice something strange. The message is written on a piece of paper that looks eerily familiar. It's the same type of paper that my grandmother used to write on.

Suddenly, the pieces start to fall into place. Could it be that my grandmother's death is connected to these creepy messages?

I feel a shiver run down my spine as I make the connection. My grandmother's death was ruled an accident, but now I'm not so sure.

I start to think back to the days leading up to her death. Was there anything unusual that happened? Anything that could have been a warning sign?

As I rack my brain, I remember something. A strange conversation I had with my grandmother a few days before she died. She was acting nervous and on edge, and she kept looking over her shoulder.

I remember asking her what was wrong, but she just brushed it off. Now, I wonder if she was trying to tell me something.

I'm determined to get to the bottom of this. I start by searching my grandmother's old room, looking for any clues that might have been missed.

As I search, I notice something strange. A small, hidden compartment in the back of my grandmother's dresser. Inside, I find a note, addressed to me.

My heart racing, I open the note and read the words, written in my grandmother's familiar handwriting:

"Ayla, I'm sorry. I should have told you the truth. Be careful. They're watching."

I feel a chill run down my spine as I read the note. Who are "they," and what do they want from me? I look around the room, feeling like I'm being watched.

I try to shake off the feeling, telling myself I'm just being paranoid. But the words of the note keep echoing in my mind.

I decide to keep searching the room, hoping to find more clues. As I search, I notice that the window is open, just a crack. I'm sure I closed it before I started searching.

I feel a shiver run down my spine. Did someone open the window while I was searching? And if so, why?

I try to push the thoughts aside, focusing on my search. But I can't shake the feeling that I'm being watched, that someone is waiting for me to make my next move.

As I continue to search, I start to feel a sense of unease. I'm not sure what I'm looking for, but I know I need to find it.

And then, I hear a faint noise. A creaking sound, like someone is stepping on a floorboard.

I freeze, my heart pounding in my chest. Who's there?

I hold my breath, waiting to see if the noise will come again. And then, I hear it. A faint creaking sound, followed by the soft rustle of clothing.

My heart racing, I slowly turn around, trying to locate the source of the noise. That's when I see him. A figure, standing just beyond the edge of the room.

He's shrouded in shadows, making it impossible to see his face. But I can sense his eyes on me, boring into my skin.

I try to speak, but my voice is caught in my throat. I'm frozen with fear, unable to move or speak.

The figure doesn't move either. He just stands there, watching me. I can feel his gaze on me, like a weight pressing down on my skin.

And then, just as suddenly as he appeared, he vanishes. The room is silent once again, except for the sound of my own ragged breathing.

I'm left standing there, wondering if I really saw him. Or if it was just my imagination playing tricks on me.

I take a deep breath and try to calm myself down. I tell myself it was just my imagination, that I'm just spooked because of the strange note and the creepy atmosphere of the old house.

But as I turn to leave the room, I notice something that makes my blood run cold. On the dresser, right next to the note, is a small piece of paper with a single sentence scrawled on it:

"I've been waiting for you."

My heart skips a beat as I realize that someone has been in the room with me, watching me. And they're still here, waiting for me.

I spin around, but I'm alone. The room is empty, except for the ominous message on the dresser.

I know I need to get out of there, fast. I grab my bag and make a run for the door, not stopping until I'm outside, gasping for air.

But as I look back at the house, I could swear I see a figure watching me from the window.