The wind howled outside, rattling the windows of the old farmhouse. Inside, Sarah sat by the fire, trying to stay warm. She had arrived at her grandmother’s secluded home in the woods earlier that day, eager to spend time with her. But now, as the evening stretched on, something felt off. Her grandmother had often told her strange stories about the house—whispers in the night, shadows moving in the corners—but Sarah had never believed her. Until now.

A loud thump echoed from upstairs, breaking the silence. Sarah stiffened, her heart pounding. She glanced at the dark staircase leading to the second floor. Another thump followed, then a dragging sound, as if something heavy was being pulled across the floor. Her stomach tightened.

“Grandma?” Sarah called, her voice trembling. No response.

The temperature in the room suddenly dropped, and Sarah could see her breath in the cold air. The house seemed to groan and shift, as if it were alive. The noises from upstairs grew louder, closer. Something—or someone—was coming down the stairs.

Frozen with fear, Sarah’s eyes were glued to the staircase. A figure began to appear in the shadows above. It wasn’t her grandmother. The figure was hunched over, its skin pale and stretched tight. Its eyes were dark and hollow, like empty pits. It dragged one leg behind it, moving slowly and unnaturally.

Sarah’s pulse raced. “Grandma?” she whispered again, but the figure didn’t answer. It stepped down, one slow creak after another, its jerky movements growing closer with each passing second. When it reached the bottom, it turned toward her. Its face twisted into a cruel grin, revealing sharp, jagged teeth.

“You shouldn’t have come back,” it rasped, its voice dry, like dead leaves scraping against stone.

Sarah’s throat tightened. She wanted to scream, to run, but her body was paralyzed with fear. The figure took a step closer, its cold, bony hand reaching out. When it touched her shoulder, everything went black.

When Sarah awoke, it was morning. The house was quiet, the air warm again. She stood shakily and walked toward the mirror above the fireplace. As she looked into it, she froze. The reflection staring back at her wasn’t her own—it was her, but her eyes were empty, hollow, just like the thing that had touched her. And in the reflection, she saw it standing behind her.

That's all for today. I hope you like this story.