*"No One is Home"*

*Episode 2: The Basement*

I sprinted out of Emily's room, my heart racing. The whisper seemed to follow me, echoing in my mind: "No one is home... except you."

I reached the front door, but it wouldn't budge. The whisper grew louder, more menacing. I was trapped.

Suddenly, the lights flickered and died. Darkness enveloped me.

I fumbled for my phone's flashlight and began to descend into the basement, the creaking stairs beneath me echoing through the silence.

With each step, the whisper grew louder:

"You shouldn't be here."
"Leave while you still can."
"You'll never leave."

At the bottom, I found myself in a damp, dimly lit room. Cobwebs clung to the walls. A single, flickering bulb cast eerie shadows.

In the center of the room, a large, metal door loomed. It looked out of place, like it belonged in a prison.

I approached the door, my heart pounding. The whisper stopped.

Suddenly, the metal door creaked open by itself.

A chill ran down my spine. What was inside?

As I stepped forward, a faint light spilled out. I saw:

- Emily's family photos, torn and burned.
- A journal belonging to Emily, filled with cryptic messages.
- A single phrase, scrawled on the wall: "They're waiting."

Waiting for what? For who?

I heard footsteps, heavy and deliberate, coming from the shadows.

"No one is home..." The whisper returned, now a menacing growl.

Suddenly, the light went out. I was plunged into darkness.

And then, I saw Emily.

Her eyes were black as coal. Her skin was deathly pale.

"Welcome home," she whispered, her voice not her own.

_To Be Continued..._