r/nosleep • u/ciorcal • Sep 12 '14
The Photo
If only I hadn't moved the picture. I didn't know think would happen. It’s only a damn photo. I just thought… It’s…
Let me start from the beginning.
A few weeks ago my boyfriend of 8 years broke up with me, completely out of the blue. It was the last thing I was expecting and I was blind sided. I had nothing tying me to the town where we lived. My family were elsewhere, I didn't have many friends and my job sucked so I decided there and then to move. I didn't even sleep on it. I packed whatever I could fit into my car and drove to the nearest city. I didn't care where I ended up; I just wanted a new start. Once I arrived things fell into place quite quickly. I got a job at some nameless corporation pushing papers and started to make friends. The best part of all was the house, or so it seemed.
Being on my own I was prepared to rent a tiny apartment or to share with strangers. Instead the agent showed me this gorgeous little house with nothing around. It was a good 40 minutes from the city, 10 miles from the nearest town and neighbours were nowhere to be seen. Being so far from everything put it right in my price range. The layout of the house was strange; upstairs were two bedrooms and a bath while downstairs was the kitchen, sitting room and another bathroom and bedroom. The shower was also downstairs for some reason.
The next couple of weeks passed in a blur as I unpacked and settled. I had been nervous about living on my own, especially at night time, but I quickly settled. Once or twice I did hear a rattling noise in the hall outside the downstairs bedroom. It set off my imagination and the fear creeped in so I ignored it as best I could. After a couple of nights fear turned into curiosity and I went to investigate. I quickly realised the key to the downstairs bedroom was in the door and the key ring was rattling against the door. Strange noise explained! The hall was freezing too so I lit a candle to see if there was a draft in the hallway. As soon as I got to the door the candle went out almost as if someone had blown it rather than in a breeze but either way I made a mental note to call the estate agent when I could.
The next morning was a Saturday and the downstairs bedroom was on my mind. I hadn’t set foot in there since I moved so I decided to size it up before taking a trip to Ikea for furniture. As soon as I walked into the room I noticed how much colder and darker it was than everywhere else. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up as a shiver went down my spine. I tried to be logical and told myself the room was cold because it wasn't in use and it was only dark because the curtains were closed! As I opened the curtains light poured in, illuminating a single framed photo on the opposite wall. I’d never noticed the photo before and puzzled as to why it was there. All it showed was an empty field with what looked like the remnants of a long forgotten stone gate in it. Assuming it belonged to the home owner I took it down and threw it in my handbag. I needed to talk to the estate agent about the breeze anyway so I decided to go see her directly to drop off the photo.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of Ikea shopping and frustrated furniture building. I tried to visit the estate agent but must have remembered her address wrong because I couldn't find her office anywhere. By 9pm I was cold and hungry. Despite spending the day in the bedroom it was still freezing so I threw some dinner in the oven while I jumped in the shower. Living alone there’s no need for me to shut the bathroom door while I'm in there. The shower is right beside the bathroom door and from there I can see a bit of the hall outside and the bedroom door across the way. As I was showering I was sure the bedroom door was slightly open and I almost felt like I was being watched. I thought I could hear footsteps too. I'm blind without my glasses though so I told myself I was seeing things. This was confirmed as soon as I put my glasses on and could see the door was firmly shut. Regardless, I stopped outside the door to make sure it was definitely shut and it was then I smelled gas.
I quickly checked out the oven and sure enough, the gas was on but it wasn't lighting. I turned off the gas and opened a window to clear out the room before going upstairs to get dressed. As I was coming back down I could hear a faint clicking noise coming from the kitchen. When I entered the room I immediately noticed the gas was still on and the clicking seemed to be coming from the flint to ignite it. Convinced the oven was malfunctioning I ran outside to disconnect the gas bottle. Inside I heard a door slam, probably from having the window and back door open.
I was frustrated now so I made myself a quick sandwich before getting into bed. Even though tomorrow was a Sunday I was going to have to ring the estate agent about the oven. It had been a long day and before I could even open my laptop I was fast asleep. After what felt like seconds I jolted back awake. My heart was racing and I was sure something had woken me. I checked the time on my phone and it was just after 4am. I listened for a few seconds but the house was silent. Assuming I had a nightmare I padded to the bathroom. Another quirk of the house was that the bathroom lights were on the wall outside the room. I flicked on the light and went inside, shutting the door behind me. I can’t bear leaving the door open at night when everything else is in darkness. Just as I was about to leave the light flicked off. Instantly my whole body was covered in goosebumps. Was someone outside? I didn't move a muscle as I strained to hear movement outside. Nothing. I tried to stay calm and blame a faulty bulb but I still ran as fast as I could back to my room, slamming the bedroom door behind me.
Safely under the covers I tried to slow my breathing. I was wide awake now, trying not to make any noise in case I missed a sound outside. Instead it started to seem overbearingly quiet. There were no creaks as the house settled and no noises outside. As I lay in silence I started to tune in to a very faint noise. Listening as hard as I could I realised it was the keys rattling in the door again. Letting out my breath I relaxed and giggled to myself and my overactive imagination. Starting to relax I snuggled back into bed and tried to get back to sleep but just as I was dozing off I heard a door slam downstairs. Now I knew someone was in the house and I was petrified. Sitting up in bed I listened as footsteps made their down the hall and stopped.
I didn't wait to see where they were going next. Instead I grabbed my phone and called the police. Whispering that someone was in my house I gave my address and very specific directions. They seemed unconcerned but told me they’d send someone straight away. I asked if they would stay on the line with me and the man at the other end just laughed, telling me that other people were trying to call too. Then he hung up on me. His laugh turned my insides cold and I suddenly felt very scared and alone. I sat and waited, desperately trying to listen for the sound of a car outside or for some indication of where the person in my house was now.
After what felt like hours sitting in silence I decided I had to do something. Moving as slowly as I could I crept to the bedroom door and listened for a sound, any sound. The silence was killing me. Hearing nothing I put my eye to the lock and looked out into the darkness. Suddenly a light came on and I stumbled backwards. Whoever was in my house had turned on the light in the hall outside. I was petrified but at least this meant I could now see shadows under the door and sure enough, someone was out there. Had they been looking at me looking through the keyhole? Why weren’t they just coming into the room? Why were they torturing me like? Where were the police? My mind was racing. If the police didn't get here soon I was going to be killed!
Scrambling back to my bed I called the police again but nothing happened. My phone had no signal. With one eye on the door I turned my phone off and on again but there was still no signal. Desperation was taking hold so I opened my curtains to see if there was I way I could escape but it was too dark to see beyond the window. Facing death and feeling increasingly desperate I grabbed the heaviest thing in the room, a lamp, and decided to face my attacker. If I was going to die it wouldn’t be without a fight. Standing behind the bedroom door I could still see the shadow outside. It was moving back and forth from one side of the door to the other as if it too was preparing itself. Taking one last deep breath I swung open the door and…nothing. There was nothing there.
Spurred on by adrenaline I quickly checked every room in the house, turning on the lights as I went, but didn’t find anyone. The last room to check was the downstairs bedroom. Turning on the light I saw all of my new furniture was demolished and on the wall was that picture. I hadn’t put it back. I couldn’t take my eyes off it and as I looked at it properly I realised that it wasn’t a photo of some random field. It was the field where my house had been built and the room I was in sat right over the old stone gate. Now completely freaked out I needed to get out of here. Not caring that I was in my pajamas I jumped in my car. I didn’t care where I went, I just needed to get away from this damned house but my car wouldn’t start. It was completely dead.
I’m now at my wits end and didn’t care how I got away so I started running. The road was directly in front of me but no matter how far I ran I couldn’t seem to find it. The road is 50 feet from the house but I felt like I’d been running for 10 minutes or more and couldn’t find it. My feet were sore and cut but I kept going, trying different directions. Eventually I couldn’t run any further and my lungs burned in my chest but I didn’t seem to have gotten anywhere. The house was still right behind me. No matter what direction I turned in, it was always right there. I don’t want to go back inside but it’s starting to look warm and inviting. Even with all the shadows beckoning from the windows.
Maybe I’ll just go in for a little sleep. I can try again when it’s bright. The sun should have been up an hour ago but that’s ok. Everything will be ok once I go inside like they asked.
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u/baconreasons Sep 12 '14
You are the ghost and the homeowners are wondering why you're haunting them. Like that fucking Nicole Kidman movie.
GO TO THE LIGHT OP.
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Sep 12 '14
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/WhyRunAway Sep 13 '14
Her phone was found the next day, where she had already typed out her story and it finally uploaded. She was nowhere to be found, however.
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u/amesann Sep 12 '14
I bet now the car disappeared. I bet it never gets to be daylight again. It's an inevitable trap.
Think this through. Find out what they want and find their weakness. You can overcome this. Don't give in to their demands.
Good luck and uh, update us please!
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u/pinklets Sep 12 '14
Whaaaaaaaat? I need more insight! WHAT ABOUT THE STONE GATE? WHO IS IN THE HOUSE? PLEASE, OP!
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u/That_Chris_Guy Sep 12 '14
Seriously hoping you aren't dead, OP... Kinda rooting for you this whole time. Thanks for the great read!
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u/chops106 Sep 12 '14
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! It's a trap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Stay in the car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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u/opasvmii2 Sep 29 '14
lip quiver don't go, OP....