the house is freezing (9)

Its arms hang limply at its sides, but its head tilts toward her, as if studying her. Ellie freezes, unable to move or even scream. The air around her feels like ice, each breath a struggle. The figure takes a step forward, and the shadows seem to ripple and twist around it.

Ellie’s legs finally obey her, and she stumbles backward, hitting the stairs hard. She scrambles up them, her flashlight clattering to the ground. In the dark, the whispers follow her, a cacophony that seems to press against her skull. She reaches the top and throws herself against the door.

It doesn’t budge. Behind her, the sound of footsteps on the stairs makes her blood run cold. She pounds on the door, screaming, and it finally gives way, sending her sprawling into the hallway.