The mansion stood like a dream sculpted in stone-elegant, timeless, bathed in golden light. Its creamy façade was lined with tall arched windows and delicate iron balconies. A grand staircase swept up to the entrance, where climbing roses framed the doorway in soft pink and white.
The garden was breathtaking-flower beds in perfect bloom, not a single tree to block the view. A white gravel path wound through the hedges, dotted with antique lanterns. In the center stood a marble fountain, its gentle trickle echoing in the stillness. Butterflies floated between blossoms.
Everything was quiet. Peaceful. Too peaceful.
I caught Dreck studying me. His eyes searched my face like he was trying to read the depths of me-like I was a well he wanted to dive into.
"What?" I asked, suddenly shy.
"Nothing." He turned away and walked up to the front door like he owned the place-and opened it.
"Hey! What are you doing? Get back here!"
He ignored me and went in.
"Dreck!" I hissed after him, peeking inside like I was walking into some haunted movie scene.
The moment I stepped in, it felt like time froze.
The marble floor gleamed with gold inlays. A crystal chandelier scattered starlight over the vast foyer. The air smelled faintly of garden flowers, polished wood, and old books.
To the left was a luxurious drawing room, velvet sofas in cream and rose tones, draped windows, porcelain vases, and a grand piano in the corner. To the right, a long oak table stretched through the dining room, surrounded by floral-upholstered chairs and glittering china displays.
I followed the echo of Dreck's footsteps.
"Dreck?" I whispered.
"Here," he called loudly from upstairs.
I tiptoed up the stairs.
Upstairs, the bedrooms felt like something from a royal fantasy-canopy beds, embroidered linens, golden bathroom fixtures, and balconies overlooking the garden.
The library smelled of lavender and old paper, filled with leather-bound books and soft armchairs by the fireplace.
And there I found a long hallway stretched before me-lined with closed doors. And then, I froze.
I knew this hallway.
I remembered it. The walls, the layout. This was where I'd seen that girl in the dream-or vision-whatever it was.
But at the end of the hallway, where the door should've been, there was... nothing. Just a blank wall.
Still, something pulled me forward.
"Tat..." A whisper. A girl's voice.
I stopped.
"Who are you?" I whispered. Curiosity will be the death of me. But it's time to have some answers.
"Find me."
"Where?"
"You're close. Open your eyes."
"My eyes are open. Who... what are you?"
No response.
"Hello?"
Suddenly, crying. Low, broken sobs.
This is the part in the movie where I yell at the screen: Don't go in there, you idiot!
"Dreck?" I called again-but no answer.
The crying grew louder as I approached the wall. My heart pounded.
Was there someone behind the wall?
I pressed my ear against it.
Yes. Crying. Breathing. A girl.
"Tat," she whispered again-only this time, older. A woman's voice.
"What do you want?" I snapped, more scared than brave.
"Help me."
"How?"
"Help me. Help me. Help me..." she repeated over and over. Nails scratching at the wall.
"HELP ME" she screamed.
I backed away slowly.
Then, her voice shifted. Sweet. Mocking.
"Hey, Tafukt..."
I didn't answer.
"ANSWER ME!" she screamed.
The sound stabbed through my ears like knives. I dropped to the floor, clutching my head as pain exploded through my skull.
"What do you want?!" I shouted.
Silence.
Then, quietly-a man's voice.
"Run."
Suddenly, a face tried to reach for me from the back of the wall. I could see his face and hands pushing on the wall as if it turned to fabric.
I stumbled to my feet, disoriented. I bolted down the hall, turned toward the stairs-and slammed into someone.
Arms wrapped around me. A hand covered my mouth.
Dreck.
He pulled me into a room and shut the door.
It was dark. Tight. A storage room?
I could feel his breath, steady but shallow. He held me against his chest.
Footsteps echoed downstairs.
We didn't move. Barely breathed.
I could hear his heartbeat, and mine slamming against my ribs like a trapped bird. But his? Calm. Controlled.
I'd always admired that about him-how he could go from 100 to 0 when things got real.
Light flicked on. His face was inches from mine.
He looked at me like he saw something sacred. My breath caught. His hands moved slowly to my back, pulling me even closer.
Our eyes locked.
My heart stuttered. His gaze softened. Then turned... hungry.
He leaned in-slowly, giving me the chance to pull away.
And then-
The door opened.
My heart skyrocketed. I was honestly shocked I hadn't had a heart attack by now.
We were exposed. No way to hide.
I looked at Dreck in panic.
Don't worry, he said.
In my head.
"Didn't I tell you not to talk in my head? How are you even doing that?" I snapped mentally.
"Good question. Bad timing," he replied. "Taty, do you trust me?"
"Do I have a choice?," I answered honestly.
Outside, the voices of two women echoed.
"I'll bring the broom and clean the rooms-you hit the kitchen," one said.
"You always give me the kitchen," the other grumbled.
"Stop complaining. I've got 15 rooms to clean."
"The rooms are already clean! I know you're just walking around doing nothing."
"Excuse me?"
"You think I didn't see you running out of Dreck's room?"
"What do you mean? I was downstairs!"
"Yeah, yeah..."
Their voices faded as they walked away, still bickering.
I shoved away from Dreck and stumbled out of the closet.
She said Dreck's room.
Is this his place?