I never believed in stories about ghosts or demons.
But that night… my beliefs were completely shattered.
The old house stood deep inside the forest, as if darkness itself had built it with bricks and stone. There was silence all around—so deep that I could hear my own breathing.
Standing beside me was Ira.
Fear was clearly visible on her face, though she tried to stay strong.
"Are you sure we have to go inside?"
Her voice was trembling.
I forced a false confidence and said,
"Where else can we go? Everyone in the village said it all begins in this house."
The moment I pushed the door, it opened with a loud creak—
Creeeak!
As soon as we stepped inside, icy air brushed against my skin. Strange symbols were carved on the walls, as if someone had scratched them using their nails—written in a language I couldn't recognize.
Suddenly, Ira tightly grabbed my hand.
"Do you hear that?"
I listened carefully.
Thump… thump… thump…
Heavy footsteps—from the upper floor.
We both stared at the staircase.
From the darkness, a shadow slowly began to move.
First, its eyes appeared.
Red—burning like fire.
Then its face.
It was not human.
An unnaturally large mouth, broken and sharp teeth, and a body that seemed to be made of smoke and shadows.
Ira tried to scream—but no sound came out.
I couldn't move my legs.
The demon growled,
"After so long… humans again."
The door slammed shut on its own.
And at that moment, I realized—
Entering this house was the biggest mistake of our lives.