Traditional art go brrrrrr
Aria's POV
My hands shook as I slowly approached my night stand. The setting sun coming through the old windows gave my room a dingy glow.
I stared down at it, blinking. I blinked once more just to make sure I wasn't seeing things.
I definitely left that in the attic.
I promptly left the room, deciding I was not going to touch it with my bare hands. I stormed into my kitchen, grabbing some tongs.
I burst back through my bedroom door, a scowl on my face as I approached the small leather book.
I picked it up with the metal tongs, holding it as far away from me as physically possible before once again storming downstairs.
I walked up to the fireplace, aggressively tossing the little book in before snatching the little box of matches I'd placed on the mantle.
I grabbed one of my magazines off the coffee table, crumpling up a few pages before piling them on top of the book. I lit a match and tossed it into the badly made kindling.
Slowly it lit the paper, the edges curling as the heat rose.
I watched, my mouth set in a thin line as the book beneath the papers easily caught fire.
Once I had watched it burn to nothing but a pile of smoldering remains, I turned on my heel, heading back up to my room.
So, not only is my house the relic of a serial killer, it's also fucking haunted.
I grabbed the knob to my bedroom, twisting it and entering with a heavy, disgruntled sigh. I shut the door and turned to face my bed once again but every bone in my body froze in place.
There...surrounded by blackened ashes and with smoke rising from it...was the fucking journal.
Except this time it's open.
Cautiously I shuffled over to it, breathing heavily through my nose.
I bent over slightly to see what page it was open to...needless to say I almost threw up.
It was open to one of the blank pages...except written in dark red ink...I hope to god it's ink...were the words 'that wasn't very nice.'
Immediately I snatched the little book up, closing it and chucking it across the room with a distressed yell.
It is my first night. I haven't even slept in this house yet, and this shit is already happening?
It hit the opposite wall with a dull thud, falling to the floor with an even softer thud.
After that I grabbed my tape gun, storming out of my bedroom once more. I made my way towards the back hall where the attic was, and once I reached it I stopped in my tracks.
The fucking door is open.
My heart pounded against my chest, I could feel it pulsing through my fingertips and in my ears it was beating so hard.
I quickly grabbed the hook, slamming the attic door shut. I threw open my storage closet, snatching a little step ladder and getting up onto it.
The sound of the tape pulling was way too loud, making me wince as I placed layer after layer over the door. Once I felt safe, I stepped down, staring up at my masterpiece.
My smug smile fell and every hair stood up on my neck when there was a low chuckle right behind me.
My body started to tremble and I slowly turned around.
Nothing.
I stared into the empty hallway a moment more before bolting up the stairs. My feet hit the hardwood, creating a dull thud as I carried myself towards the safety of my room.
I could faintly hear that laugh resonate below me through the house, and my ears started ringing. I yanked my door open and then slammed it closed, pressing my back up against it.
The ringing in my ears ceased, replaced by a deafening silence. The only noise I could clearly hear was the sound of my own labored breathing.
I shut my eyes tightly, "one..." I breathed in, "two..." I exhaled. My heart slowly calmed.
"Three..." I said softly, the scrunch in my face lessening, "four..." my voice was much calmer now.
"Five."
A scream tore from my throat at the sound of a voice right next to me. I looked in the direction of the voice but there was nothing there.
Am I hearing things?!
No, no, there was definitely a voice...
"Leave me alone!" I screamed in the direction the voice had come from.
"Why?"
My eyes widened and I spun around to face the voice that was now behind me. Still nothing. Frustrated tears sprung to my eyes as I spun around hopelessly.
"Why? What do you mean why! This is my house!" I yelled back at the nothingness in my room.
A chill set in the atmosphere just as the sun set behind the trees, cutting off the last strand of golden light leaking into my room.
I trembled slightly, breathing heavily and just waiting for something to happen.
Nothing did, though.
Even though I felt like I was being watched, still, I couldn't see anything. I was alone in this room...or was I?
I took a deep breath, closing my eyes, "I knew there was something fucking wrong with this house..." I grumbled under my breath.
"Such an unladylike mouth."
My entire body tensed, the hair on my neck standing up once again. My eyes were still shut, but the voice coming from right next to my left side...barely even inches away...had some sort of static behind it.
I began breathing heavily, keeping my eyes shut. This was different. I could feel something standing there, right next to me. I could feel it breathing down my neck.
"Open them."
I jerked my head side to side, trembling heavily.
My mouth clamped shut, my body unable to move or speak. I never understood the term "paralyzed by fear" until this moment.
I jumped sharply at the feeling of something brushing up against the side of my head by my temple. I could feel it's breath against my cheek, it's lips brushing over my upper cheekbone.
It breathed in deeply and a low growl sounded during its exhale.
Oh, my god.
"Go away." I squeaked out, my voice small.
What felt like fingers brushed against my cheek, making my trembling increase as I whimpered and leaned away from it. My body was still frozen, my limbs feeling like they were on fire from how tense I was.
"Now why would I do that...?" It asked me lowly, right next to my ear.
Every nerve in my body was telling me to keep my eyes closed. Yet, that innate human curiosity wanted me to open them. Like some sort of Medusa effect.
I sincerely wanted it to be another trick, and for the monster to disappear before I could see it.
Slowly, my eyes opened. I kept them staring straight forward, my bottom lip quivering from how scared I am.
In my peripheral, I could see it. It was standing...or he, rather, it sounds male...right next to me still.
What looked to be a smile on his face widened at the sight of my eyes opening.
I decided to just bite the bullet, and used every ounce of force I could muster to turn my body towards this monster in my house.
As soon as I could see him clearly my eyes widened, and he slowly stood up to his full height, making me crane my neck up to continue looking into his eyes.
"Hello."