The Whispering House

An old, decaying house stood at the edge of Blackwood Forest. It had been forgotten by time. Under years of rain and neglect, its roof sagged, and its windows were cracked like glass webs. Millersfield, a nearby town, was afraid to approach it. Inside, children talked about ghosts, and adults told them not to get too close. It was dubbed "The Whispering House" by them. The house was alive, not haunted, according to the legend. You could also hear it whispering every night if you stood near the overgrown gate at night. Some said it called your name. Some claimed it pleaded for assistance. You were allegedly threatened by others with a fate worse than death. As part of a dare, four Millersfield High classmates decided to spend the night inside in spite of warnings. On Halloween's eve, October 30, it was the ideal time for something terrifying. Sam, Jordan, Emily, and Max were their names. They climbed over the rusted fence and made their way toward the front door, armed with flashlights, snacks, and bravado. Emily pressed her ear to the door and said, "I don't hear anything." Max chuckled, "Probably just stories to scare kids." He opened the door with a push. It groaned on its hinges, sounding like something had fallen asleep for a long time. The air inside was cold and thick. Under their feet, the wooden floorboards creaked. Strange symbols carved into the plaster below were exposed as the worn wallpaper on the walls began to peel off. Broken furniture and long-forgotten artifacts were danced across by their flashlight beams. The door slammed shut behind them suddenly. Like a gunshot, the sound reverberated throughout the empty house. It remained stationary as Sam attempted to open it. Okay, that's not funny! Jordan whirled around as he yelled. The whispers then began. They were initially faint, like wind passing through cracks. However, they increased in volume and surrounded them from all directions. "Leave... get out... before it's too late..." Who spoke that? With a pale face, Emily spoke in a whisper. Sam said, wildly directing his light, "I don't know." Let's just find a way out, shall we? But as they moved, the house seemed to change. Brick walls were behind doors. Back into the same room, hallways twisted. It was like going deeper into a maze with each step. They were followed by whispers, which became more audible with each passing minute. After that, Max vanished. He was walking alongside Jordan for a while before disappearing. There was no scream or sound—it just vanished. “Max?!” Jordan yelled while spinning around. Sam's arm was grabbed by Emily. "We must leave immediately!" The house was no longer understandable after they retraced their steps. The walls appeared to be breathing. The whispers became voices that called their names. They were plunged into near-darkness when Emily's flashlight flickered and died. Jordan then vanished. Clasping Sam's hand, Emily screamed. "We cannot remain here!" A door suddenly appeared in front of them. Before, it wasn't there. It shone with light from underneath. Sam yanked it open in a desperate attempt and discovered Max inside, with his back to them. “Max!” Emily wept. Max, however, did not turn around. His face was upside down as he slowly and unnaturally tilted his head back, staring at them with hollow eyes. "Why did you abandon me?" He spoke in a whisper that was not his own. The door closed violently. Emily hit it hard. “Sam! We need to—" Sam, on the other hand, was gone when she turned around. She was by herself. Screaming, laughing, and chanting broke out of the whispers. With her ears covered, Emily sank to her knees. The voices then stopped abruptly as they had come. A broken window let in the morning light. The door opened by itself, creaking. Emily was found staring blankly into the forest at sunrise by a search party sitting on the porch. She was silent. Never again, not that day. Some say that the house released her. Some say that she never completely disappeared. They also claim that at midnight, if you stand near The Whispering House, the voices can still be heard calling out the names of those who entered but never left.