Subu sits in the back seat, wide-eyed, clutching a faded stuffed animal. The silence in the car is thick, broken only by the hum of tires on the narrowing road. "Was that there before?" Jason glances out the window, trying to sound casual. "Probably an old rental. People forget these places exist."

Subu clings to Lena’s hand, eyes darting from shadow to shadow. Jason pushes deeper into the house, his bravado waning as the silence grows oppressive. "Feels like nobody's lived here for years," "Can we go back outside?"

Subu lies awake, listening to the shallow breaths of the house. Lena whispers comfort, her voice trembling, while Jason insists it’s nothing, his confidence fading. "It's just the wind. Old houses always make noise."

Subu stands near Lena, staring wide-eyed at the marks. The basement door, newly appeared at the end of the hall, beckons with its worn, dark wood. "My name... it's here. How did it get here?" "Someone's playing a trick. Has to be."

Subu and Lena clutch each other, hearts pounding, as the house settles into a quiet that feels final. "We need to leave. Now."

Subu[/@ch_1] step into the cool morning, never looking back. Weeks later, the road is different—the house is gone, replaced by a freshly painted home with a “For Rent” sign swaying gently. As their car passes, a phone buzzes with a message from an unknown number, the past lingering just beneath the surface.] Subu peers out the window, silent and thoughtful, while Lena drives past, hands tight on the wheel. "Let's not ever come back here,"