Above are rough sketches from when I was mapping this story out.

Aria's POV

I gazed up at the old building before me. The structure looked old and worn down, and there were vines crawling up the front and around the columns on the porch.

I blew a sigh from my nose, hiking the box I was holding up a little bit higher. Slow steps brought me closer to the old mansion, the uneasy feeling in my gut growing with each one.

Four months ago now I'd put a down payment into this gorgeous place.

It seemed perfect...it barely was going to cost me more than living back at my apartment. The house was huge...bigger than anything I could have imagined.

But over the months, getting ready, signing papers, looking around...

There's something not right with this place.

But I waited far too long to voice my worries, the sale had been closed for three weeks now. I didn't have nearly enough money to pay what it would cost to back out now...

I was probably just being paranoid anyway.

I mean the house was big...and this is the first house I've ever bought, so that can be intimidating. Plus, it's in the middle of the woods.

It's just a few things I'll need to get used to is all...

Yet, as I carried my last box inside the house, every little creek and groan the old walls produced seemed to whisper my name.

I took a couple of slow steps into the foyer, and a strong breeze blew through the open front door, ultimately causing it to swing closed with a very loud slam.

I yelped and nearly dropped my box.

Very little information was disclosed about this house. Silly me thought the price tag was too pretty to pass up...

But now I think I know why the price was so pretty.

I scanned the room, boxes were scattered about with labels such as "television", "home goods", "decor", "bedroom", etc.

Another appealing aspect of the house was the furniture left over. All furniture in the house was vintage, left by whoever had owned it before.

When I'd first stepped into the house, I remember how I'd smiled big at it all.

Looking now, the place just seems frozen in time.

I placed the box I was holding onto the couch, the soft beige material creasing softly under the weight.

Another thing I'm going to need to get used to is the deafening silence...the quiet that came with the seclusion of this house.

I think I underestimated how awful living here alone would be...I already feel lonely. At least back in the city at my apartment I had my neighbors.

Here I just have the nature, and the eerie creeks of this old house.

I scanned the room once more. The uneasy feeling in my stomach was telling me to keep an eye out.

Even though I'm all alone.

My guard is just...up.

All the hair on my arms stood up suddenly and a cold chill ran up my spine.

I shook it off and sighed, beginning to unpack my boxes.

**

By the time I was nearly finished I was sweaty and out of breath. I'd tied my hair up into a bun and removed my sweater, leaving me in a tank top and grey sweatpants.

I put my hands on my hips after removing the final decoration and placing it neatly on one of the large bookshelves.

Another thing this house came with...huge, 12 ft bookshelves. They even had one of those sliding ladders.

And they were stocked with books.

With that I dusted my hands and sauntered back into the living room. I rounded the sofa and plopped down unceremoniously, closing my eyes.

My aching body slowly relaxed and I let off a soft sigh. The inside of this house smells like moth balls and dust, so I'll be needing to fix that as well I guess.

The house was still. Quiet.

Eerily quiet.

My eyes opened as I realized it was almost...too quiet. Not even birds could be heard outside...

I stood up, looking around me. There were still a couple boxes with some of my miscellaneous things in them.

Those would need to go to the attic...

It only took me a moment to forget the eerie silence, annoyance setting in over having to trudge these boxes up the rickety old attic stairs.

Reluctantly I picked the first box up, making my way to the back hallway where the attic door was. I grabbed the ancient looking hook, looping it into the handle and pulling down.

I stepped back quickly as the little square door fell open and a set of stairs unfolded.

Coughing when dust flew up everywhere, I prepared to ascend into the darkness that is this wretched attic. If I said I was scared it would be a severe understatement.

A nervous sweat built on my palms as I stared up into the darkness.

I blew out a shaky sigh, realizing I had no other choice and no one was going to come and do it for me.

The stairs made concerning creeks with each step I took. The box clunked as I set it on each stair just above me so I could have a little leverage.

Finally, I dropped the box down onto the attic floor, pressing my palms flat beside it as I pulled myself up.

Immediately I fumbled for my phone in the inky blackness, flipping on my flashlight and shining it around the attic.

Woah...

My eyes widened when I realized the furniture wasn't the only thing the previous owner left behind...

It seemed like this person's entire life was laid out in front of me...almost as if they didn't take anything with them at all.

I momentarily forgot about my box, standing up slowly in the spacious room. The roof went just high enough to where I could stand up fully.

I made slow steps around the area, looking over each dusty item.

It's all so old...

I couldn't help but feel a little bit enamored by it all. I felt like I was walking around inside a piece of history.

I stumbled upon a single cord, and curiously pulled it. A light flickered to life, giving the room a dull yellow glow.

I turned my phone light off, tucking the piece of technology into my pocket.

Now I could properly take some time to look around.

There were old yellowing boxes placed around, along with even more furniture. However, this furniture was poorly upholstered, explaining why it was tucked into the attic.

A smile made its way to my face as I looked around. I crouched in front of a box, opening the lid to look inside.

There were photos...not many, but a few. And a small journal.

First I picked up the photos.

In them was a young man...the black and white made it difficult to tell anything about his features. It also didn't help that the entire thing seemed to be yellowing with age.

I flipped over the photo, my eyes widening.

First day on the job!
1922

I flipped the picture once more, observing the man's smiling face. His teeth were straight and he was relatively handsome.

I wonder if this was his house...or maybe his parents?

However, the next picture confirmed my first theory.

It was a picture of him standing by the front gates, that same smile plastered on his face.

I flipped the picture.

My estate.
1926

I sat the picture aside. I felt like I was being thrust back in time with each picture I found. He had many of him just doing random activities. Most of them were hunting pictures, he seemed to be an avid buck hunter.

My smile grew softer the longer I flipped through these photos. He looked so happy...maybe this house isn't so bad after all.