The old farmhouse stood empty for years, a skeletal landmark at the end of a long dirt road. Locals swore the air around it felt cold, no matter the season. One crisp autumn night, drawn by a foolish dare, a young man named James pushed open its sagging front door.
Inside, dust motes danced in the moonlight that pierced the grime-caked windows. The air was heavy with the scent of mildew and decay. He climbed the creaking staircase to the second floor, each step a groan of protest against his weight. He stopped outside the master bedroom, where the air was noticeably colder.
A child’s rocking horse sat in the corner, motionless. James scoffed at his rising fear, stepping into the room. A faint, almost inaudible hum began, growing in intensity. It wasn't electricity, but the sound of tiny voices, chanting a nursery rhyme he didn't recognize.
Suddenly, the rocking horse began to move. Not a gentle sway, but a violent, rhythmic rocking that mirrored the rising tempo of the whispers. The shadows in the corners seemed to deepen and writhe. A porcelain doll on the dusty dresser turned its head slowly, its glass eyes locking onto James.
He stumbled back, his heart a frantic drum against his ribs. The chanting stopped abruptly. A cold hand clamped over his mouth, and a voice, dry as dead leaves, whispered directly into his ear, "You shouldn't have come."
He never made it down the stairs. Only the rocking horse kept moving, under the light of the pale moon, until the first gray light of dawn.
Stake ID: kecoucestmoi