With slow cautious steps and shallow breathing Maya walked toward the iron box in the corner of the room.

She didn't wanted to to open it, see it but also couldn't stop her racing curiosity and rushing adrenaline.

It's been a week since she moved to this house in the countryside area, far from the city. Aim was only one, to run away from the painful memories of her dead parents.

Maya's parents were murdered no more than a month ago by a group of robbers who came in at night. Maya got the news the next day from one of her neighbours who also happened to be a police officer.

All the murderers were caught along with some more involved with the group from outside but all this was too much for her, she couldn't stay there, she couldn't go back  she had to move somewhere far and so she did.

This house seemed mysteriously strange since the day she came, no other house withing 500 meters of radius, suspiciously silent and rooms with all kind of weird stuff lying in almost every dark corner of the rooms.

Maya still sleeps on the couch in the hall, she couldn't bring herself to do all the cleaning and make one room habitable during this emotionally fragile condition.

Binding up all the courage in one hand Maya lifted the iron lid of the box, a sudden surge of electricity cursed through her palm, immobilized with shock Maya screamed in pain when she felt something grab her  hair from behind and pulled with a jerk.

Losing balance of both the feet she fell to the ground, the grip on her hairs started dragging her back.

"Aaaaaaaa." She screamed again and again demanded the identity but there was no response other than brutality that was being inflicted on her. She twisted trying to look behind but was helpless. She didn't knew what was happening to her, confused and scared she just waited for all this to stop at once.

After what seemed like an eternity she felt her hair loosen up, the hard grip was gone. Taking a few calming breaths she opened her eyes and came face to face with a pale skinned, smokey eyed beautiful beautiful woman sitting on the rocking chair cross legged.

She was smiling but Maya was freaked out off her normal self. Few minutes passed, still neither the woman in front spoke a word nor did Maya.

"Who are you?" Maya's voice shivered along with her whole body as the woman stood up in a swift elegant motion.

"Glad you said something, I was ready to drag you another mile." Maya stopped breathing at this.

"Just kidding. I'm someone who's house you infiltrated, someone you never should have come near." The woman talked and circled Maya who was giving out the feeling of immense horror and distress.

"I'm so sorry. I was told nobody lives here. I'll leave, I'll right now."

Maya begged unaware of another option in the basket. This woman was definitely dangerous, who know if she's even a human.

"I'm not."

"What?"

"I'm not a human. You suspicion is correct." The woman creased Maya's left cheek with her index finger leaving a mark by her razor sharp nail.

Maya immediately collapsed the pool of scary slime.

"Maya honey? Wake up little girl." Maya heard her mother calling softly in her ear, she sighed with relief, all that was a dream. She thanked God for turning this into a mare nightmare.

Slowly she opened her eyes to a dimly lit room, she smelled dust and smoke.

"Felt like home, didn't it?" The voice the same woman was back, not just voice but she herself was staring at her sitting uncomfortably close.

"I can do many more voices. Want to listen?"

So this was not a nightmare, this was the reality. Maya knew she can't escape this woman by begging or pleading.

Being or looking frightened won't work with this non human woman.

"Listen lady." Maya, gathering up all the courage within, spoke up.

"You are here, I'm here, why don't we both stop messing around and get to the point. I have been through what I never thought I could handle but I did so I'm sure whatever you have for me, is a cake."

The woman started gasping for breath, fear in her eyes was undeniable.

That's when Maya realized what she's been living in. She was living in fear and this was just another level of it. This house is not haunted, her mind was haunted.

"Are you sending me away?" The woman sobbed, now her voice fading and echoing.

"Not really. You are leaving yourself. I must say my life won't be that difficult without you." Maya smiled and the woman disappeared, her echoing voice still ringing in the room but she was gone.

Maya knew what to do next and that was, move back to the city, back to her old life, back to the people who were still there, missing her, wishing well for her. Back to her family that was still left.

A fictional short story written by me