Lila
I heard it again—that deep, guttural groan echoing from below, vibrating through the floorboards like a secret summons, pulling me from the haze of my own restless thoughts. My room felt quiet and still, with curiosity clawing at me, insistent as a lover's hand.
Ever since I unpacked in this room, I’d been aware of the small hole in the floorboards. It hid beneath the chair in the corner, a subtle defect in the aged wood that had been half-heartedly patched over, as if silence could erase its existence.
But tonight, with that sound slithering up like smoke, I couldn't resist. With my heart pounding, I slid the chair aside quietly, the wood scraping softly against the planks, and knelt down, peering through the narrow gap.
My breath caught in my throat as I took in the sight below:
