1 Chapter 1

The eyes in the painting followed me down the corridor, their gaze piercing through my soul.

The air grew heavy with an eerie silence as I waltzed into my bedroom, seeking comfort from the haunting presence that lingered within the house.

With trembling hands, I shut the curtains tightly, hoping to shield myself from the malevolence that lurked inside the house.

But the shadows behind the trees continued to taunt me, their twisted forms dancing in the moonlight. No matter what I did, they remained fixated on me, their insatiable hunger evident in their relentless stare. It was as if they yearned for something more than just my presence, something darker and more sinister.

As I mustered the courage to leave my bedroom, a faint knocking emanated from my wardrobe. Fear gripped my heart, its icy tendrils spreading throughout my body. I hesitated, my mind consumed by a torrent of unsettling thoughts.

With trembling hands, I reached for the broom, its wooden handle providing a feeble sense of security. Sweeping the dusty floors, I began my descent down the long hallway, the sound of the bristles softly brushing against the floor echoing through the desolate house. Each step I took seemed to amplify the creaking of the floorboards, as if the house itself was whispering secrets that I was not meant to hear.

Suddenly, the door to the laundry room swung open, its rusty hinges groaning in protest. My heart skipped a beat, and I turned my head towards the sound, my senses on high alert. The tips of my soft and fluffy hair grazed against my eyebrows, a gentle reminder of the tension that hung in the air.

And then, I saw him. Akurei, my best friend.

His presence was an enigma, an anomaly that defied all logic. I had never invited him to my house, yet he was always there, lurking in the shadows, his eyes fixed upon me with an unsettling intensity. A chill ran down my spine as I realized that he seemed to revel in watching me, especially when I was vulnerable, when sleep claimed me in its clutches.

I mustered a feeble grin, a pathetic attempt to mask the unease that gnawed at my insides.

Akurei stepped out of the laundry room, his unnaturally pale arms reaching out towards me. The coldness that emanated from him was bone-chilling, freezing my very essence. His embraces, though seemingly affectionate, sent shivers coursing through my body, as if his touch carried with it a sinister energy.

I continued to clean the dusty floors, my movements mechanical, my mind clouded with a sense of foreboding. Akurei's unyielding gaze never wavered, his eyes like twin abysses, devouring my every move. There was something unnerving about him, something that defied comprehension.

And why did he choose me as his 'friend'.