whisper through the window

Shadow at the gate

Shadow at the gate

Chapter 4

The twins’ birthday party filled the house with laughter, music, and the sweet smell of food. Children ran through the living room, balloons floated across the ceiling, and Stella tried her best to smile despite the worries she had been carrying. She stayed close to Josephine and Jeremiah most of the evening, feeling safer with them around.

When the party finally ended, most of the guests left with smiles and gift bags in their hands. Jeremiah excused himself early because he was still recovering from his cold. Josephine, however, stayed behind to help Stella clean up the mess. Plates were stacked on the table, crumbs of cake scattered the floor, and balloons had already begun to deflate.

As they carried the trash outside, Stella froze. Her eyes widened. Across the street, under the shadow of a tree, stood the same dark figure she had seen before. The man in the hoodie.

“Josephine!” Stella’s voice shook. “Josephine, look! There! Do you see him?”

Josephine turned quickly, scanning the street. “Where? Where is he?”

Stella pointed desperately, her hands trembling. “There! Right there! He’s watching me!”

But Josephine saw nothing. Only an empty patch of darkness and a swaying branch. “Stella…” she said softly, “there’s no one there.”

“Yes, there is!” Stella’s voice cracked. “I told you something is haunting me. Why can’t you see it?!”

Josephine stepped closer, trying to calm her friend. “Listen, maybe it’s just your mind playing tricks. You’ve been so stressed—”

“No!” Stella cut her off, tears forming in her eyes. “It’s real. I know what I saw.”

And then, as suddenly as he appeared, the figure vanished into thin air. Stella gasped, her heart pounding so hard it hurt.

Terrified, she dropped the broom in her hands and ran inside the house, slamming her bedroom door shut. She crawled under her blanket, shivering uncontrollably, whispering to herself, Why me? Why only me?

Josephine knocked gently on the door. “Stella… please open up. You’re scaring me. I didn’t see anything, but I believe you. We’ll figure this out together.”

Stella buried her face in the pillow, too shaken to answer. Deep down, she knew one thing for certain: the haunting wasn’t over. It was only just beginnings

Josephine waited outside the door, knocking softly again and again, but there was no reply. The silence made her even more worried. She finally decided to call Stella’s parents.

Moments later, Mr. and Mrs. Williams hurried upstairs. “What’s wrong with Stella?” her mother asked anxiously.

Josephine looked helpless. “She ran into her room after seeing something outside. She kept saying there was a man in a black hoodie watching her, but I didn’t see anyone. I’m really worried, ma’am.”

Mrs. Williams’ heart sank. She turned the doorknob but found it locked. “Stella! Stella, it’s Mommy. Open the door, please.”

No response.

Her father joined in, knocking harder. “Stella, talk to us! What happened? Open this door right now!”

Inside, Stella sat frozen on the floor, her face pale, tears streaking down her cheeks. She could hear their voices but couldn’t find the strength to move. The image of that figure—still standing there, staring—kept replaying in her mind like a nightmare that refused to end.

Finally, her trembling voice came through the door. “Mom… Dad… I—I saw him again. The man in the hoodie. He was watching me. I swear he was right there.”

Her mother’s face softened with concern. “Oh, honey,” she said gently, “you’re safe now. No one is here. Please, open the door.”

After a long pause, Stella slowly stood up and turned the knob. The door creaked open, revealing her terrified face. Her parents rushed to hug her tightly.

“It’s okay,” her father whispered. “You’re safe. We’re here.”

But as Stella looked over their shoulders, toward the dark window behind them…

she thought she saw a faint shadow move.

That night, after dinner, the house was calm. The twins were already asleep, and the only sound in Stella’s room was the quiet hum of the fan. She turned in bed, trying to forget what she saw earlier.

She took out her notebook and began to write, hoping it would help her feel better. Maybe I’m just imagining things, she wrote. Maybe I’m only scared because of what happened.

Just then, she heard a soft tap on her window.

Her heart jumped, but she told herself, “It’s just the wind.”

Still, she got up and peeked through the curtain. Outside, the streetlights glowed faintly, and everything looked normal. No strange figure. No shadow.

She sighed with relief, smiled a little, and went back to bed.

As she closed her eyes, her mother’s voice called gently from the hallway, “Good night, Stella.”

“Good night, Mom,” she replied, pulling the blanket close.

But as she drifted to sleep, she couldn’t shake the feeling that someone—or something—was watching over her.

The next morning, Stella woke up suddenly, her heart still racing from the night before. For a moment, she sat on her bed, trying to calm her breathing. The sun streamed gently through her curtains — but even daylight couldn’t wash away the fear completely.

As she stepped out of her room, her mother was already waiting by the dining table, watching her closely.

“Stella, are you okay?” her mother asked with concern. “You looked so frightened last night. I hope you’re fine now.”

Stella rubbed her eyes and tried to smile. “I’m calm now, Mom. But… I’m still terrified. I’m tired of being scared, and I’m tired of that school. When will I ever transfer? I just can’t keep doing this.”

Her mother sighed and came closer. “I know, dear. But just hold on a little longer — only two more years and you’ll be done. After that, you can start fresh somewhere better. Don’t let those people break you.”

Stella nodded weakly. “I’ll try, Mom. But facing them every day… it’s not easy.”

Her mother brushed her hair gently. “Be strong, my love. You’re not alone in this.”

As Stella walked to school, she heard someone calling from behind.

“Stella! Wait for me! Stella!” Josephine’s voice echoed down the street. She was running, her bag bouncing against her side as she tried to catch up.

Just then, Stella’s phone rang. She stopped, smiled, and turned. “Oh, Josephine! What a coincidence—we met after all!”

Josephine caught her breath and grinned. “I actually waited for you. I wanted to walk with you, so you wouldn’t feel so afraid today.”

“Thank you,” Stella said softly. “That really means a lot.”

They walked side by side, the morning sun just beginning to rise. Children hurried past them, laughing and chatting, their school bags swinging. But Stella’s eyes kept drifting to the corners of the street, her steps slowing every now and then.

Josephine noticed. “You’re still thinking about that thing you saw yesterday, right?”

Stella nodded slightly. “I don’t know, Josephine. It felt so real. The way it stared at me… I can’t forget it.”

Josephine placed a hand on her shoulder. “Maybe it was just your mind playing tricks. You were tired after the party.”

“Maybe,” Stella said, though her voice was low. “But what if it wasn’t?”

They reached the school gate just as the bell rang. Students rushed in, but Stella paused at the entrance, her hand trembling slightly. For a brief moment, she thought she saw a shadow move across the window of her classroom.

She blinked hard.

It was gone.

“Come on,” Josephine urged gently. “Let’s go before we’re late.”

Stella forced a smile and followed her inside—but deep down, she knew something wasn’t right.