book-cover
The House The People Built
Gloria Sunday
Gloria Sunday
6 months ago

In the quaint town of Netiza, nestled among sloppy hills and rivers that sang soothing melodies, a sense of unease settled over the residents. On this seemingly beautiful day, children played joyfully, while women gathered, exchanging whispers and glances. "Did you hear about the arrival of Amy?" a pale, slim woman asked, her dull blonde hair pulled back into a tight bun. "My kid told me they saw her drive through town.”


The attractive woman with unique features gasped, her eyes darting with a mix of shock and anger. "That can't be true! She should never set foot in this town again after what she did!" She stared unblinkingly, her thoughts racing furiously. "How dare she show her face after everything she's done?…she’s evil” She nodded to the other woman, her mind elsewhere, as the conversation continued without her attention.


Amy arrived at her old, damp house, a place she never thought she'd return to. She never seems to move on after these years, it felt like a part of her was here and she needed to come. It took all her courage to step foot in this town again. "If it wasn't for Jane, I would never... or should I just turn back? I can’t do this “. Tears streamed down her face as she frantically searched her bag for her phone, feeling a panic attack looming. "Where the hell is my phone?" she cried, her voice trembling. "Oh my god, I can't breathe!" Within seconds, dizziness washed over her, and she slumped to the ground. Unconscious


Amy woke up amidst a pungent smell of sickness and death, unable to recall the previous incident or how she got there. Her thoughts were disoriented, and she felt weak and dizzy when she tried to stand. Just then, a nurse walked in, smiling, "How do you feel now?" Amy wanted to respond but couldn't open her mouth, so she just stared at the nurse. "How did I get here?" she asked weakly. "You fainted, darling; you should feel better after these pills," the nurse replied, eyeing her suspiciously. "Who brought me in?" Amy pressed. "A gentleman did and sorted the bills," the nurse responded, still scrutinizing her.


Amy felt uneasy and wanted to press the nurse for more information, but the nurse's watchful gaze made her hesitant. She decided to wait for another nurse or doctor who might be more forthcoming. 

After being discharged from the hospital, Amy still had no idea who had brought her there. She stepped out of the car into her driveway, feeling unrefreshed despite her hospital stay. As she approached the front door, she noticed something strange. The windows were boarded up, and the door was covered in cobwebs. She could have sworn it wasn't like that yesterday, and she had only spent 24 hours in the hospital.


With a racing heart, Amy pushed open the creaking door and stepped inside. The air was thick with dust and the stench of rot. "Hello, is anyone here?" she called out, but the only response was the creaking of the old wooden floorboards beneath her. As she moved deeper into the house, her eyes adjusted to the darkness, and she saw a message scrawled on the wall in red paint: "You should not have come back." Amy's breath caught in her throat; she knew then that she was not alone, and they had been waiting for her. They would stop at nothing to keep the secrets buried.


Suddenly, the lights flickered and died, plunging Amy into darkness. She heard heavy, deliberate footsteps but couldn't pinpoint their source. Amy knew she had to escape before it was too late. But as she turned to run, she realized the door was no longer there. The walls had shifted, and she was trapped. The house had been waiting for her all this time, waiting to claim her as its own, just like her family many years ago. 


She had escaped once, but not this time.

Loading comments...