CHAPTER 2 — The House That Is Never Empty
1014 Words
The rain had not stopped when the funeral was dismissed. People go home earlier than they should.
No one dared to approach the chest again after the sound of the knock was heard. The tomb guard tried to explain that maybe the wood of the coffin was expanding due to the humid air, but no one really believed it because everyone heard the sound of the knock.
Three knocks from inside the chest sounded softly like someone was asking to get out.
Now the tomb area is getting quiet.
A thin mist descended with the smell of wet soil.
Alena stood under the cambogia tree with a cold hand holding her phone. The last message is still displayed on the screen.
Lena, I'm still at that house.
Raka stood beside him while lighting a cigarette.
"Does anyone know you're close to Mira?"
Alena shook her head slowly.
"We haven't been in touch for a long time."
"How long?" Raka made sure.
"Seven years."
Raka looked at him for a moment.
"And during those seven years, Mira never contacted you?"
Alena wanted to immediately answer no but her throat felt choked again, because there was actually one incident.
Four years ago, when it was exactly two in the morning, an unnamed number called him.
When picked up, there was no sound only soft breathing and the sound of tapping.
TOK.
TOK.
TOK.
Just like before, but Alena never told it to anyone, including the police because she thought she was just stressed.
"I once got a strange call," said Alena.
Raka immediately turned his head.
"When is that?"
"Four years ago." Alena while remembering it clearly.
"What's on the phone?"
"I can only hear the sound of breathing."
"And?"
Alena gulped, hanging her words.
"There was a knocking sound."
Raka was silent.
His gaze turned serious.
"How many times?"
Alena's body suddenly got goosebumps.
"Three times, the sound is almost the same as the sound that was heard earlier."
Silent, only the sound of rain and the rubbing of the leaves blown by the wind, then Raka extinguished his cigarette.
“I think we should go to that house.”
Alena immediately raised her head to look at Raka.
"What?" Alena was surprised.
"Mira's House." Answer Raka for sure.
"Are you crazy?" Alena raised her voice a little.
"If there is someone there, we have to know." Raka tried to convince.
"It's an empty house." Alena sat back down with her knees covered like a scared person.
"Not necessarily." Riko denied.
Alena hugged herself because she hated the house, it even felt like she really hated her. The old two-story house at the end of that narrow alley always feels wrong, even since they were little, the walls are damp, the windows are always closed.
And every night there are always footsteps from the upper floor. Even though Mira lives alone with her mother.
There was never anyone else.
"Or are you afraid?" Raka asked slowly.
Alena stared sharply.
"I just don't want to waste time on stupid things."
"Are you sure?"
Alena didn't answer because she was actually scared. Afraid of one memory that always appears every time I think of that house.
The hallway was dark, the lights were flashing and a woman's voice whispered,
"If you want to come out alive, don't look back."
Suddenly,
BRAKKK! The loud noise made them turn their heads. One of the tombstones collapsed by itself. Some people who hadn't left immediately panicked, a mother screamed softly.
At that time Alena's body froze, not because of the tombstone but because of the name written there.
MIRA ADISTY
The tombstone is cracked right in the name.
Raka walked closer slowly, his knees bent to examine the ground around the tomb, then his expression changed.
"There is a trace." said Raka softly.
"What?"
“Someone was standing here last night.”
Alena approached slowly. The muddy ground behind the tombstone shows shoe marks.
It's still new and strangely the trail is only one way.
There was no trace of leaving, as if someone stood there for a long time and then disappeared.
The cold immediately spread to Alena's neck.
"Let's get out of here," he whispered.
Raka was still staring at the trail.
"The person who sent the message may be overseeing the funeral."
"Stop talking like that." Alena pulled Raka's hand.
"Are you afraid?" Raka turned her head towards him
"Of course I'm scared!"
Alena's voice raised unconsciously and at that moment several people turned to her. Alena immediately lowered her head, her breathing became unstable. Raka looked at him for a few seconds, then his voice softened.
"I'm sorry." Raka held Alena's hand.
Alena closed her eyes for a moment, her head hurt again. Lately the pain has come more and more often and every time it appears there is always a strange piece of memory.
Samar, patag-patah like a broken video.
Suddenly a flash appeared in his head.
Night.
Mira's House.
The basement door opened slightly, it was dark and someone was crying down there.
And there was a child's voice saying,
"Who's next?"
Alena immediately flinched.
His breath is hunting.
"Lena?"
Raka let go of his grip and moved to hold Alena's shoulder.
"You are pale."
"I..."
He held his head. The shadow disappeared as quickly as it appeared but his fear was left behind.
"We're leaving now," he said quickly.
But when they walked towards the parking lot, Alena's phone vibrated again.
New message from the same number before..
His hands trembled as he opened the screen.
The photo was sent in his phone. The photo looks blurry but slowly Alena's eyes try to focus her gaze.
The photo shows a narrow hallway, damp walls, dim red lights and at the end of the corridor there is an iron door.
Alena immediately recognized him.
The basement of Mira's house.
Under the photo there is a writing,
I'm still waiting downstairs.
Alena's blood felt cold because there was one thing she had never told anyone, even the police.
Mira's house actually never had a basement.
- Writer
