THE HOUSE

THE HOUSE

CELIA

I stared at the screen for too long.

It’s funny how something as simple as a phone call can feel like skydiving without a parachute. My finger hovered over her name, Naya…the last person Elias ever wanted me talking to.

But he’s dead now and so are his rules.

I tapped the call icon before I could overthink it. Two rings in, then I heard her groggy voice, “Hello?”

My chest tightened with fear, “Naya…”

There was a long pause and I could practically hear her sitting upright. “Wait…Celia? Are you serious right now?”

“Yeah, it’s me.”

“Girl! You vanished off the face of the earth, you didn’t call, or text. I thought maybe you’d gotten abducted or something!”

I winced, guilt crawling into my stomach. “I know, I know, I’m sorry.”

“What happened?”

I didn’t know how to start, so I just dropped it plain.

“Elias died.”

More silence, a longer one this time.

“What…? You mean Elias Elias?”

“Yeah, a car accident, a few nights ago.”

“Oh my God,” She sucked in a breath, “Are you okay?”

“No,” I whispered, “Not even a little.”

“Where are you?”

“At his place, but not for long. His company reclaimed everything, I don’t know where I’m supposed to go.”

“Girl, why didn’t you just call me from the start?” Her voice softened, “Come and stay with me, my couch is still ugly but comfortable.”

I almost cried right there.

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

Naya opened the door before I even knocked, she looked the same as ever, same fluffy braids, same glittery nails, and the same annoyed-with-life face. The only thing that changed was how tightly she hugged me.

“You’re so damn skinny,” she said, pulling back. “And pale, Elias had you living like a ghost, didn’t he?”

I laughed weakly, “Something like that.”

She handed me a glass of water and pulled me to a bear hug. Her apartment still smelled like sage, cocoa butter, and incense and I didn’t realize how much I missed this space until now.

“You didn’t call because he told you not to, right?”

I nodded slowly.

“Figured, I hated that man.”

“I know.”

We both smiled, the kind of smile that had sadness tucked beneath it.

“You’re safe now,” she said. “You’re home.”

“Not for long, I can’t impose.”

“Don’t talk like that, you’re not an imposition.”

“Well,” she sighed, “Unless my landlord finds out. He’s already sketchy about guests.”

I gave her a look. “What do you mean, sketchy?”

She made a face, “He’s… kind of a sneaky link.”

I stared at her, “Excuse me?”

“Don’t judge me! It’s not like I planned it. One night there was no electricity and…look, details don’t matter. He doesn’t like extra people, and if he sees you here too long, he’s gonna flip.”

I burst out laughing, “You’re unreal.”

“But I’ll help you find a place, I promise.”

We both sank into the couch, our legs curled up like old times. Naya handed me a chipped mug of hot chocolate and leaned back with a sigh.

“You remember that time in uni,” she began, grinning, “when we crashed that law conference just for the free food?”

I snorted. “Oh my God, and you flirted with that bald lecturer to get us in?”

“He was not bald, he had a buzzcut.”

“He had a halo of hair at best.”

We laughed until our stomachs hurt.

Then came the silence, the kind that didn’t need to be filled, only felt.

“I missed you,” she finally said.

“I missed you too.”

“It was weird not having you around, I thought maybe you outgrew me.”

“Never, I just... I let him build a cage around me, and I locked the door.”

Naya shook her head. “I wish you had told me sooner. I would've burned the cage down.”

I smiled faintly, “You still would?”

“Hell yeah, with petrol and a match.”

We clinked our mugs together, a toast to ruined plans, real friendship, and second chances.

“I don't know what I would’ve done without you these past few days,” I said softly.

“Well,” she grinned, “You would’ve probably moved into a rat-infested apartment alone, spiraled into depression, and started naming the cockroaches after Elias.”

I gasped, laughing harder than I had in weeks,“You’re the worst.”

“And yet, you love me.”

“I do, I really do.”

We spent the next two days hopping from place to place. Most options were either falling apart or located in neighborhoods and that made me question my will to live.

But we finally found a studio apartment that smelled like bleach and desperation. It wasn’t much, just one room, a leaking faucet, and windows that refused to shut fully, but it had a lock, and it was mine.

“This is a box,” I told her as we walked through.

“It’s your box,” she grinned. “And that’s what matters.”

I nodded, “Thank you, for not giving up on me.”

“I should be the one thanking you for finally returning from the land of the lost.”

We hugged, and this time, I held her tighter.

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

Walking through the glass doors of my office building felt like stepping into a past life. I could almost see the ghost of who I used to be, brisk heels, with a confident smile, and purpose in every step.

Now, I moved like smoke, quiet and uncertain.

The receptionist did a double take, “Celia? You’re… back?”

I nodded, offering a small smile. “Just trying to ease into things.”

She gave me a gentle smile, “Welcome back.”

I stepped into the open-plan office. Desks, coffee cups, and soft chatter. Nothing had changed and somehow, everything had. My seat felt colder than I remembered.

Before I could log in, Mr. Keene, our team supervisor, appeared by my desk. His expression was unreadable.

“Celia,” he said, “Can we talk in my office?”

Panic flared in my chest.

Inside, I sat down slowly as he took his usual seat behind the desk.

“I won’t waste your time,” he said. “We’ve all heard what happened and I wanted to say, I’m sorry for your loss, I knew Elias… vaguely. We weren’t friends, but I know he mattered to you.”

“Thank you,” I whispered, eyes fixed on my lap.

“I also wanted to tell you that your job is still here, I don’t believe in kicking people out when they’re down.”

I blinked, “I…I don’t know what to say.”

“Just take it slow, ease back in. You’re not expected to be at one hundred percent overnight.”

I nodded, “I’m grateful, I really am”.

As I stood to leave, he added, “Celia, you’re stronger than you look. Don’t let grief make you forget that.”

His words followed me back to my desk like a warm echo.

That afternoon, when I opened my inbox, I found a single message from a coworker, Damien, the one I had shared an umbrella with the other day, It simply read:

I’m sorry for what you’re going through. If you ever need anything, coffee, company, or someone to scream into the void with, I’m always here

Just like that, I remembered what kindness felt like, and bit by bit I started to feel human again.

That night, I came home later than usual.

The pasta I heated barely had taste, but I ate every bite. I washed the dishes, scrubbed the kitchen counter, even wiped down the microwave like I had guests coming over. It was my ritual now, if I stayed busy then I wouldn’t have to think.

After my bath, I slipped into a worn T-shirt and soft cotton shorts. My bed didn’t have the luxury of space or fluff, but it was warm.

Then the doorbell rang and I froze.

It was nearly midnight, who the hell could that be?

I walked slowly toward the door, glancing at the time again just to make sure I wasn’t losing it. I peeked through the peephole.

No one.

I frowned and carefully opened the door.

Still no one, but there was a box, I was skeptical about picking it up but I did anyway, it felt heavier than it looked.

I shut the door quickly, my heart thrumming with unease as I set it on the table. There was no name on the outer packaging, just my own scribbled across the top, but no return address.

I hesitated before opening it.

Inside was a sleek black envelope, tucked within gold tissue paper. My fingers trembled slightly as I slid it out. The envelope was sealed with a deep crimson wax emblem, an unfamiliar crest of intertwined vines and thorns.

I broke the seal and pulled out the contents: a letter written on thick parchment paper. The handwriting was elegant, almost old-fashioned.

Miss Celia Vans,

You have been selected.

Life rarely offers second chances, and rarer still does it hand them to those who have fallen through the cracks. We see potential in you, raw, and unpolished, but real.

You are hereby invited to take part in a private, exclusive offer extended to a select few. You will be granted temporary residence in a private estate located off the coast, where a wonderful experience awaits you, but you will not be alone.

Participation guarantees exposure to elite opportunities, personal transformation, and the chance to reclaim your life with a reward unlike any you’ve ever imagined.

The conditions are simple. You must arrive alone, tell no one and stay for the full duration.

Everything will be provided, transport, lodging, wardrobe, and compensation.

At the end of your stay, if successful, you will be offered a formal contract with one of our elusive billionaires, A ten billion dollar cash prize and a lavish estate in any country of your choice. The terms? Confidential. The rewards? Life-altering.

We are watching and waiting.

Your car arrives in three days.

Details enclosed.

The House

At the bottom was a sleek invitation card. Black and gold again. This one simply said:

THE HOUSE

A journey awaits.

I stared at it for minutes.

My mind refused to wrap around what I had just read. Was it real? Some sick joke? A scam?

But somehow… it didn’t feel like a joke. Everything about it….the cold elegance, the weight of the envelope, and the tone…it all felt real.

And despite everything I’d been through, or maybe because of it, something deep in me spoke calmy…

Say yes.