⚫️ Part Four: "The Nightmare Begins"

Doors Leading to Nothingness

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The next day, Ella sat at the breakfast table, but the food in front of her was tasteless, as if her mouth had lost the ability to perceive flavors. She hadn't slept all night, and every time she closed her eyes, she saw the rusty key and heard the whispers.

Ethan was watching her from across the table.

"Ella, are you okay? You look pale."

She lifted her head toward him, her hazel eyes clouded, as if she were still trapped in her nightmare.

"Ethan... do you ever feel like something is wrong in this house?"

He hesitated for a moment before replying in a low voice:

"Something strange happened to me last night…"

She stared at him sharply. "What do you mean?"

He hesitated a little longer before saying:

"I woke up past midnight to get some water, but I heard laughter coming from the bathroom. I thought it was Mom or Dad, but when I got closer, I saw…"

He swallowed hard before continuing.

"I saw the mirror… it was covered in scratches, like someone had carved into it with their nails."

Ella froze. "Were there any words?"

Ethan nodded slowly, his voice barely above a whisper:

"I am here…"

A chill ran down Ella's spine.

At that moment, a loud thud echoed from the basement.

Both of them jumped from their seats, turning toward the door leading downstairs.

"Did you hear that?" Ethan whispered.

Ella nodded, feeling something heavy press against her chest.

The door was open.

The Descent Into the Basement

The door hadn't been open yesterday. Their father always kept it locked, insisting the basement was too old and dangerous, the floorboards unstable.

But now, it stood wide open.

The two stood at the top of the stairs, staring into the pitch-black darkness below.

Ella whispered, "Don't go in."

But Ethan ignored her and took a step forward.

"We need to know what's happening."

He grabbed a flashlight from the nearby table and started descending.

Ella followed, though every cell in her body screamed for her to run.

The further they went down, the stronger the stench became. It was a mix of mold, blood, and stagnant water.

Ethan swept the flashlight across the basement. It was filled with old boxes and dust-covered shelves.

But there was something that hadn't been there before.

In the center of the room lay an old book, covered in dirt, but left open to a particular page.

Ella approached it cautiously, then read the words carved into the paper:

"Marianna Black… I am waiting..."

The moment she read the name, a strange crackling sound echoed from the walls.

And then…

The flashlight went out.

The Endless Room

Ella's voice trembled. "Ethan…?"

"I'm here…" he replied, but his voice sounded distant, as if coming from far away.

Then, in the darkness, they heard breathing.

Heavy. Close.

"Who's there?!" Ethan shouted, fumbling to turn the flashlight back on, but the batteries were completely drained—even though they had been full minutes ago.

And then, suddenly…

Candles flickered to life.

No one had lit them.

But now, the basement was dimly illuminated by a soft yellow glow, shadows of the flames dancing along the scratched-up walls.

Ella covered her mouth to muffle her gasp.

The walls… they were moving.

As if something beneath the surface was trying to break free.

Ethan grabbed her hand and pulled her back. "We need to get out. Now."

But when they turned toward the stairs…

The stairs were gone.

The door was gone.

There was no way out.

They were trapped… in a basement that no longer belonged to reality.

Then, behind them…

They heard footsteps approaching.

"You cannot escape."

Slowly, they turned.

She was there.

Marianna Black.

Standing before them in her tattered black dress, her hair floating as if caught in an unseen storm.

Half of her face was rotting. The other half was stretched pale skin, as though she was neither fully dead nor fully alive.

But her eyes… they burned with red fire, like embers glowing in the darkness.

She lifted her hand and pointed at Ella.

"I've finally found you."

And in the next instant, the light vanished…

And the two of them fell into endless darkness.