Stuck in the Holloway House

David tightened his coat around his body as the wind howled through the deserted street. Black Hollow had always been a sleepy town, but tonight it seemed completely dead. As he got closer to the old house at the end of the road, his footsteps reverberated against the cracked pavement.

David had heard tales of the Holloway House since he was a child. According to some, it was cursed. One night, according to others, a family disappeared inside, leaving only a dinner table set. He was about to learn the truth, whatever it was. Together with his friends, he had wagered that they would spend the night in the house and demonstrate that it was not supernatural.

The windows of the house resembled vacant eye sockets as it loomed before him. The cold air caused his breath to cloud as he hesitated for a moment. Then he stepped onto the creaking porch, steeling himself. With a gentle moan, the door, which had been unlocked, swung open, seemingly inviting him inside.

The smell of decay and dust filled the interior. White-sheeted furniture created the appearance of spectral beings hiding in the shadows. The beam of David's flashlight pierced the darkness as he clicked it on. The house appeared to be old and forgotten, but otherwise normal.

But he heard it—a whisper—as he moved farther inside. Soft, barely noticeable, but unmistakable. His heartbeat accelerated. He called out, trying to sound assured, "Hello?" Quiet. Outside, only the wind.

He headed for the grand staircase, ignoring the chill that was chilling him. He would check the upstairs rooms, prove there was nothing to fear, and then return to his friends. The steps creaked under his weight as he ascended, each one sounding like a warning cry.

At the top, he could see the corridor with doors on either side. He grabbed the closest one and twisted the knob. The bedroom appeared to be stuck in time as the door creaked open. A doll sitting upright on the bed and an antique rocking horse in the corner of a child's room. As he entered, its glassy eyes appeared to follow him.

He spun around when he heard a sudden thud from behind. The door had shut itself.

He gasped for air. He stepped forward to open it once more and muttered, "Just the wind." However, the handle refused to move. It was secured.

He felt cold. That was not feasible. On the inside was the lock. He rattled it more forcefully. Nothing has changed. The whisper then came again, closer, this time near his ear.

"David."

His blood became icy. With his flashlight flickering, he swung around. The doll had toppled over on the bed. Was it previously sitting up? He tried to think of a logical explanation. It might have simply slipped.

The rocking horse then made a movement.

Not insignificantly. Not even a shudder. Slowly, deliberately, it rocked back and forth.

With his back against the door, David staggered off. He tried to tell himself he was dreaming, but his heart was hammering in his ears. However, then—

A kid's laugh. directly behind him.

He turned quickly, but nothing was there. He could now see his breath in the icy air. His hands were shaking, and he fumbled for his phone, trying to text his friends, but the screen would not turn on. When he got there, the battery was full.

The doll then made a movement.

This time, it failed to fall. It moved, reaching for him with its small plastic arm.

David slammed his shoulder against the door and screamed. It exploded, and he fell into the corridor. The house was different when he clambered to his feet and ran down the stairs. He felt as though he had traveled back in time because the furniture was no longer covered. From the dining room, where a dinner table was set, candlelight flickered.

And there they were.

The family of Holloway. seated at the table, motionless. Their eyes were dark and sunken, their mouths stretched into hideous smiles, and their skin was pale. They all turned their heads at once, staring at him with vacant eyes.

Together, they muttered, "Stay."

With a choked scream, David fled to the front door. It refused to open. His screaming reverberated throughout the house as he tugged and beat on it. His shoulder was touched by a chilly hand.

He turned around and saw a young girl wearing a nightgown. Her lips curled into a smile, and her eyes were black voids. "You must stay," she muttered.

He was swallowed by darkness.

His friends showed up the following morning, approaching the Holloway House with laughter. They anticipated David boasting about his uneventful night inside once the bet was up.

But there was no sign of him.

The house was silent inside. The sheets covering the furniture remained intact, and the dust remained undisturbed. There was absolutely no indication that anyone had been there.

aside from a single new dining table place setting.