In a small town strewn with autumn leaves and shrouded in fog, something strange happened every year on Halloween night. The city has long been known for its celebrations, but that night was always special. People said that at this moment, when everything peaceful and bright goes into shadow, something dark wakes up. One of the most anticipated events was the decoration of the house of the old Lambert family. Their house, surrounded by tall trees and an old fence, became the epicenter of the holiday every year. Pumpkin-shaped light bulbs burned on the porch, and the windows were covered with cobwebs. But this year, ten years later, it was decided to reopen it to the guests. Young Mia, the daughter of an old friend of the Lamberts, has always been in love with this house and its atmosphere. She remembered wandering around this house as a child, getting lost in its corridors, and the strange smell of old books and mown grass. Now, as she got older, she decided to visit this mysterious house again. The teenagers were whispering about the strange events taking place in it. It was said that you could meet ghosts in this house — not the ones that just scare you, but those who are waiting to take your soul. On the evening of October 31, Mia came to the Lamberts' doorstep. The screams and laughter of children dressed in costumes came from the street, but it was quiet inside. There was no sign of the owners. Only dim light flickered through the antique window panes. Mia entered the house. She immediately felt the cold touch her skin. It was dark inside, despite the many candles burning, and the air was saturated with the smell of mold and old wood. As before, the paintings on the walls seemed barely alive, their eyes following her every move. "Hello?" Mia called out. The echo of her voice sounded like a whisper. Silence. Everything was in shadow. She walked on, unable to tear herself away from the alluring darkness of the house. In one of the rooms, hidden behind heavy curtains, she found Lambert's old grandmother sitting in a rocking chair. Her eyes were closed, but Mia felt like she was watching her. "Aren't you afraid, baby?" Grandma whispered. Mia froze, feeling a chill run down her spine. She was ready to leave, but Grandma continued: "You're one of us now. You can't get out. Suddenly, Mia felt cold fingers running over her skin. She looked around and noticed that the shadows around her began to move, crawl, and squirm. Suddenly, other shadows came out from around the corner in the room, figures with faces distorted by pain and fear. These were the ones who once tried to leave the house, but stayed forever. And they were alive only until it was the last hour of the night. Mia tried to run away, but her legs wouldn't obey her. The shadows were shrinking around her, and the house was getting darker and darker, as if swallowing up all life. At the last moment, before the shadows enveloped her, Mia heard a voice, but did not understand where it came from. It was as deep as the fog itself: — This Halloween, all debts will be paid. The shadows covered her, swallowing up everything bright and alive. From that moment on, she became a part of the old house, its eternal shadow of the night, roaming the dark corridors in search of new souls who would get lost on this cursed night. And outside, on the street, the children continued to cheerfully shout, unaware that this time the shadow in the Lambert house had taken their shadow forever.
ID-Chieftain
