Night 1- Echoes (2/3)

Echoes 2/3

Claire followed, her breath catching in her throat as she glanced at the pictures. They depicted a family—smiling faces, bright eyes—standing in front of the very cabin they now occupied. But as she examined the photos closer, a chill crept down her spine. In the background of one picture, a dark figure loomed behind them, its features obscured by shadow.

"Guys, look at this," she said, pointing at the photo. "Do you see that?"

Mark leaned in closer, squinting. "That's weird. Is that some sort of ghost?"

"Probably just a trick of the light," David said dismissively, but Claire could see the unease in his expression.

"Let's keep looking," Jenny suggested, her excitement returning as she turned away from the photos. "Maybe there's something cool hidden in here!"

But Claire remained transfixed by the photo, feeling the eyes of the shadowy figure bore into her. It was as if the past was reaching out, warning them to leave before it was too late.

Suddenly, a rustling sound echoed from outside the cabin, sending a jolt of fear through Claire. "Did you guys hear that?" she whispered, her heart racing.

"It's probably just an animal," Mark replied, though his bravado was wavering.

"Let's just go back to the house," Claire urged, a sense of urgency gripping her.

But before anyone could respond, the door slammed shut behind them, the sound reverberating through the small cabin. Panic surged within Claire, and she rushed to the door, trying to yank it open, but it wouldn't budge.

"Guys, help!" she cried, her voice rising in pitch.

"Hold on, let me try," David said, pushing against the door. "It's stuck or something."

Jenny joined him, both of them pulling and shoving, but the door remained firmly shut. "This is not funny!" Claire shouted, fear creeping into her voice. "Let us out!"

Suddenly, they heard it—a low whisper that drifted through the room like a cold breeze. "Leave… while you can…"

The words wrapped around Claire like a vice, paralyzing her with dread. "What was that?" she breathed, her eyes wide with fear.

"It's just the wind," Mark said, though his voice shook slightly. "It's probably the trees making noise."

"No, it was a voice!" Claire insisted, feeling the walls of the cabin close in around her. The whispers grew louder, filling the space with a cacophony of warning and dread.

"Get away from the door!" David yelled, and they all stumbled back as he threw his weight against it one last time. The door burst open, sending them sprawling into the cool night air.

They scrambled to their feet, gasping for breath. The night felt thicker, the shadows longer, and a sense of impending doom hung heavy in the air. "What the hell was that?" Mark panted, glancing back at the cabin.

"I don't know, but we need to get out of here," Claire said, her heart pounding. She turned to see the darkness closing in around them, the trees shifting as if they were alive.

As they ran toward the path leading back to the farmhouse, Claire felt a presence behind them—a prickling sensation that made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. She risked a glance over her shoulder and froze.

A figure stood at the edge of the clearing, shrouded in shadow, its form indistinct but menacing. Its eyes glinted in the moonlight like two coals burning with malevolence, locked onto her with a chilling intensity.

"Run!" Claire screamed, her voice slicing through the night. The others followed her lead, sprinting toward the safety of the farmhouse, but Claire felt the weight of the darkness pressing down on her, urging her to stop, to surrender.

The footsteps behind them quickened, echoing through the woods, and Claire's breath came in ragged gasps. They burst through the underbrush, their feet pounding against the ground, desperate to escape the terror that pursued them.

As they reached the porch of the farmhouse, Claire glanced back one last time. The figure stood still, watching them with an otherworldly gaze, a predator savoring its prey. The door creaked open, and they stumbled inside, slamming it shut behind them, hearts racing and minds reeling from what they had just witnessed.

"What… what was that?" Jenny gasped, her face pale as she leaned against the door, trying to catch her breath.

"I don't know," Claire whispered, her heart still pounding in her chest. "But we need to leave. Now."

The shadows of the farmhouse loomed around them, an oppressive reminder of the darkness that lingered just outside. Claire could feel the weight of the night closing in, and the whispers from the woods echoed in her mind—a warning of the horror that awaited them.

The heavy silence of the farmhouse pressed down on Claire and her friends as they huddled together in the dimly lit living room. The wooden walls creaked ominously, and the wind howled outside, adding to the oppressive atmosphere. Claire's heart raced, the memory of the figure in the woods fresh in her mind.

"We need to talk about what just happened," Claire said, her voice barely above a whisper. She glanced at David, whose face was pale and drawn. "What the hell was that thing?"

"I don't know," David admitted, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "But we need to stay calm. We're safe inside, right?"

"Safe?" Jenny echoed, her eyes wide with fear. "Did you see its eyes? It felt like it was trying to drag us into the dark."

Mark, who had been pacing back and forth, finally stopped. "Maybe it was just some local freak trying to scare us. This is the countryside, after all. People do weird things out here."

"That's not what it felt like," Claire insisted, the memory of the shadowed figure sending a chill down her spine. "It felt… hungry."

"Hungry?" Mark scoffed, but there was an edge to his voice that suggested he didn't quite believe his own bravado. "Look, let's just get some flashlights and head back to the cabin. We can figure this out together."

"Are you crazy?" Jenny exclaimed, shaking her head. "That thing could be waiting for us out there. I don't want to go back."

David looked between them, concern etched on his face. "Maybe we should just call for help. We can't stay here and do nothing."

Claire's mind raced. "What if it doesn't let us leave? What if it's already watching us?"

"Then we need to find a way to defend ourselves," Mark said, his bravado faltering. "There has to be something in this house we can use."

As if on cue, a loud thump echoed from upstairs, reverberating through the floorboards. They froze, the air thick with tension. "What was that?" Jenny whispered, her voice trembling.

"It came from the attic," Claire said, her stomach dropping. "What if it's up there?"

"Then we should check it out," Mark said, trying to sound confident but failing miserably. "We can't let it control us. We have to take action."

"Are you insane?" Jenny cried, backing away from the staircase. "What if it's just waiting for us?"

"I'd rather face whatever's up there than sit here and wait for it to come down," Mark insisted, determination flickering in his eyes.

Reluctantly, Claire nodded. "Okay. But we stick together. No one goes off on their own."

As they approached the staircase, the air grew heavier, a palpable sense of dread wrapping around them like a noose. The wooden steps creaked under their weight as they ascended, the shadows seeming to stretch and twist in the flickering light of their flashlights.

The attic door loomed ahead, an old wooden barrier that felt like a threshold between their world and something far more sinister. Claire's heart pounded in her chest as Mark reached for the doorknob, hesitating just for a moment.

"Ready?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.

"No," Jenny replied, her eyes darting nervously. "But we don't really have a choice."

Mark took a deep breath and twisted the knob. The door creaked open, revealing a dark space filled with cobwebs and dust. The light from their flashlights barely pierced the gloom, illuminating scattered boxes and old furniture shrouded in white sheets.

"Hello?" Mark called out, his voice echoing in the silence. "Is anyone up here?"

There was no answer. Only the sound of their breathing and the faint rustle of the wind outside. Claire stepped into the attic, the wooden floor creaking beneath her. "Let's look around. Maybe we can find something useful."

As they moved deeper into the attic, Claire's flashlight caught a glimpse of something glinting in the corner. She approached cautiously, brushing aside a thick layer of dust. It was an old hunting knife, its blade dulled with age but still formidable.

"Look at this," Claire said, holding it up for the others to see. "We can use this for protection."

Mark reached for it, but Claire held it tight. "No, I'll keep it. I don't want you accidentally cutting yourself or something."

"Fine, just be careful," Mark said, irritation creeping into his voice. "We don't have time for arguments."

Suddenly, a loud crash resonated from downstairs, followed by a series of guttural growls that sent chills racing down Claire's spine. They exchanged terrified glances.

"What the hell was that?" David gasped, eyes wide with horror.

"It's coming from the living room," Claire said, heart pounding. "We need to go now!"

They bolted for the staircase, but as they reached the top step, Claire felt an icy breeze wash over her. The attic door slammed shut with a deafening bang, trapping them inside. Panic surged as they rattled the door, but it wouldn't budge.

"Let us out!" Claire screamed, pounding against the wood. "This isn't funny!"

"Shh!" Mark hissed, his voice barely above a whisper. "Do you hear that?"

They fell silent, listening intently. From behind the door, they could hear the guttural sounds growing louder, mingled with the scraping of claws against the floor. It was a sound that sent ice coursing through Claire's veins, and she pressed her back against the door, terrified of what awaited them.

"Is it trying to get in?" Jenny whimpered, her face pale and eyes wide.

"I don't know!" Claire cried, desperation creeping into her voice. "But we can't stay here!"

"Maybe we can find another way out," David suggested, looking around the attic. "There's got to be a window or something."

"Over there!" Mark pointed to a small window at the far end of the attic. It was covered with grime, the glass barely transparent.

Claire nodded, urgency fueling her movements as they rushed toward the window. It was small, but if they could break it open, they might be able to escape. As they reached it, Claire grabbed the knife and swung it against the glass, but it barely made a dent.

"Come on, help me!" she urged, and they all began pounding against the window, adrenaline coursing through their veins.

But the sound of scratching grew louder, and a sickening realization settled over Claire. The creature was no longer outside. It was in the house.

With a final, desperate blow, the glass shattered, and Claire felt a rush of cold air fill the attic. "We did it! Let's go!" she shouted, but as she turned to climb out, a horrifying screech echoed through the room, sending shivers down her spine.

The door burst open, revealing the dark figure from the woods, its eyes glowing with a malevolent hunger. Claire froze, paralyzed by fear. It was larger than she had imagined, its body cloaked in shadow, twisting and writhing as it approached.

"Run!" Mark shouted, and they all scrambled toward the window, adrenaline pushing them forward as the creature lunged at them, its claws scraping the floor.

Author's Note:

Thank you for diving into "Echoes" in "Hundred Nights of Fear." I'll be updating this story over the next three days, so prepare for more chills and thrills! If you want to read the entire story and enjoy exclusive content, consider joining my Patreon at [patreon.com/MrFlashXO](https://patreon.com/MrFlashXO).

Here's how you can join the horror fun:

- $3 - Watcher: Get access to all my updates and feel like a ghostly observer, lurking in the shadows while you enjoy the spine-tingling tales!

- $7 - Warper: As a Warper, you'll not only watch but also help shape the nightmares! Suggest story ideas and influence future horrors.

- $15 - Architect: Become the Architect of Fear! This tier allows you to have a hand in building terrifying tales and may even grant you a character in a future story—if you dare!

It's all incredibly affordable, and your support is crucial to me. I believe I can deliver some crazy stories, both horror and fanfiction, that will keep you on the edge of your seat! Join me on this thrilling journey, and let's create some nightmares together!