INTRO
Screams and cries echoed from the Marhathan house.
In the middle of the chaos stood a young woman in her mid-twenties Emma drenched in blood, clutching a sickle in one hand and an axe in the other.
Her breathing was heavy. Her steps were unsteady as she staggered toward the exit door.
She looked completely drained exhausted, terrified, yet determined.
Suddenly, behind her, a dark figure crawled out from the shadows, moving along the wall with twisted limbs its head bent unnaturally between its hands and feet.
It called her name in a haunting voice.
"Emma… are you tired of playing?"
Emma froze. Slowly, she turned around.
Her grip tightened on the axe and sickle as her eyes locked on the figure.
The creature dropped from the wall, landing gracefully on the floor.
It stood upright and smiled a chilling, unnatural grin that sent shivers down Emma's spine before fading into the darkness.
Emma's body tensed. She stood her ground, her eyes darting around the room.
From the shadows, the creature's voice whispered softly, almost childlike:
"Emma, it's time to die… darling."
The words echoed from every direction. Emma spun around, trying to locate the source of the voice.
Then out of nowhere Lily leaped at her.
PRESENT DAY
Just before sunset, Emma was on her way home from work when a group of strangers stopped her on the street.
Though she didn't recognize any of them, one of the girls a cheerful woman around her age stepped forward.
She had a warm, inviting smile.
"Hi! I'm Lily," the girl said sweetly, placing a hand on Emma's shoulder.
"Would you like to come to our party? It's my boyfriend's birthday, and I thought it'd be nice to invite you. Bring your friends too the more, the merrier!"
Her voice was light, but something about her tone felt… off.
Emma frowned, uneasy.
"You don't even know me," she replied, stepping back cautiously.
"How can you just invite me to your house like that? Stuff like that only happens in movies and it never ends well. You guys aren't planning to do something weird, are you?"
Lily laughed a strange, unsettling laugh.
"Wow! What a wild imagination you have! No, nothing like that. I've just been observing you for a few days. You seem nice, that's all."
Emma's expression hardened.
"Wait so you've been spying on me?"
Lily only smiled.
"Well…" she began, but Emma interrupted sharply.
"Forget it. I'm not interested in your party. Leave me alone. Good night."
She turned and walked away.
Lily watched her disappear into the distance before turning back to her friends with a quiet smirk.
Together, they walked off into the night.
When Emma got home, she couldn't stop thinking about what had happened.
Who were those people?
Why were they watching her?
After pacing around for a while, she brushed it off. Maybe they were just weird.
She fixed herself a quick meal and sat down to check her email.
She was waiting to hear back about her application to Star High Art School.
No new messages.
She sighed heavily, disappointment washing over her.
As she changed her clothes, she caught a glimpse of her back in the mirror the burn mark.
Her fingers gently brushed against the scar, and a flood of painful memories rushed back.
FLASHBACK
Six-year-old Emma ran into the kitchen, holding a small bowl of ice cream her aunt had given her.
She dragged a stool to reach for a spoon on the top shelf.
But she didn't notice the boiling kettle on the gas stove.
As she stretched out her hand, she accidentally tipped the stool, knocking the kettle over.
Scalding water spilled down her back as she screamed in agony and collapsed.
Her parents, hearing the noise, rushed in.
Her mother's face went pale. She ran to Emma, scooped her up, and sped to the hospital.
Hours later, the doctor emerged.
"She's stable," he said softly. "But the burns on her back will leave a permanent scar."
Her parents exchanged a silent, heavy look.
"You can see her once she regains consciousness," the doctor added before walking away.
END OF FLASHBACK
A sudden knock at the door jolted Emma back to the present.
She froze, listening.
Another knock soft, deliberate.
Cautiously, she opened the door.
No one.
The hallway was empty.
A chill ran through her as she slowly closed the door and locked it.
Without another thought, she walked straight to the bathroom for a shower trying, and failing, to shake the unease that had settled deep in her chest.
To be continued…