NO ONE IS HOME

Episode 1: The Empty House

As I walked up the path to my best friend Emily's house, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. The curtains were open, and the front door was slightly ajar, creaking gently in the wind. I pushed it open and called out, "Emily? Are you home?"

Silence.

I stepped inside, my heart racing. The house was spotless, but an eerie feeling lingered. Every step echoed through the empty halls. I checked the living room, kitchen, and bedrooms. No sign of Emily or her family.

Suddenly, I heard a faint whisper: "No one is home."

I spun around, but there was no one there. The voice seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere. I tried to convince myself it was just the wind, but the words sent chills down my spine.

I decided to leave, but as I turned to exit, I noticed:

- Emily's phone on the coffee table, displaying a text: "I'm right behind you."
- A family photo with Emily's face scratched out.
- A child's drawing on the fridge: "Mommy went away. Daddy went away. I'm alone."

A chill ran down my spine. Where was Emily? Why was her phone still here?

I ventured deeper into the house, searching for clues. The air grew thick with tension. In Emily's room:

- Her bed was made, but with an unsettling precision.
- Her favorite doll lay on the floor, its glassy eyes staring up at me.
- A piece of paper on her desk read: "Don't look in the basement."

My heart pounded. What was Emily hiding?

Suddenly, footsteps creaked from below. Heavy. Deliberate.

"No one is home... except you," the whisper seemed to come from the basement.

Fear gripped me. I had to get out.

As I turned to flee, I saw Emily's face in the window reflection, standing right behind me.

But when I spun around, no one was there.

_To Be Continued..._