The lights went out.
Everything disappeared into pitch black.
Hena screamed again, her voice echoing through the old house like a broken alarm.
Emma felt a strong hand gripping her arm tightly. Her heart jumped into her throat.
"Emma, run!" Adrian's voice came from the darkness.
Another loud crash shook the house. Something heavy fell in the hallway, followed by the sound of glass breaking.
The storm outside grew louder. Thunder roared, and lightning flashed for a brief second through the window, lighting up the room in a cold blue glow.
In that single flash of light, Emma saw Jay.
He was standing near the doorway.
Completely still.
Watching them.
Then darkness swallowed everything again.
Emma's breath became uneven.
"Adrian… where are you?" she whispered.
"Here," Adrian grabbed her shoulder and pulled her closer. "Stay behind me."
Hena was crying softly somewhere near the wall.
"I can't see anything… I can't see anything…"
The old man's voice came from the hallway.
"He's moving. Don't stay in one place!"
Footsteps echoed again.
Slow.
Calm.
Coming closer.
Jay's voice spoke in the darkness.
"You should have listened, Emma."
Emma froze.
Her voice trembled.
"Jay… why are you doing this?"
Silence.
Then Jay spoke again, his voice colder than before.
"Because truth is dangerous."
Lightning flashed again.
This time they saw him clearly.
Jay was holding something in his hand-
A knife.
The light disappeared again.
Hena gasped.
"Oh God…"
Adrian stepped forward.
"Jay, put the knife down."
Jay laughed softly.
"You still think you can stop me?"
The old man spoke sharply.
"Adrian! Take them and go upstairs!"
"What about you?" Adrian asked.
"I'll hold him."
Jay chuckled.
"Old man… you really think you can stop me?"
The old man replied calmly,
"I've been waiting for this night for years."
Emma's heart pounded.
Years?
What did he mean?
Another thunder shook the house.
Jay suddenly moved.
Fast.
Emma heard footsteps rushing forward.
The old man shouted,
"NOW! RUN!"
Adrian grabbed Emma and Hena and pushed them toward the stairs.
"Move!"
They ran.
The wooden stairs creaked loudly under their feet.
Behind them, a loud thud echoed.
Someone hit the wall.
Then another crash.
Hena was crying while running.
"He's going to kill us!"
Emma tried to breathe.
Her legs were shaking.
Her mind was spinning.
Jay tried to kill Hena.
Jay attacked the old man.
Jay lied to them.
Everything felt unreal.
They reached the second floor.
Adrian quickly pushed them into a room and locked the door.
"Stay here."
Emma grabbed his hand.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going back."
"No!"
Emma's voice broke.
"You can't fight him alone!"
Adrian looked at her seriously.
"I won't let him hurt anyone else."
Hena spoke weakly,
"We should call the police…"
Adrian shook his head.
"No signal. The storm has blocked everything."
Emma whispered,
"Then we hide together."
Suddenly—
A slow sound came from the hallway.
Footsteps.
Upstairs.
All three of them froze.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Someone was climbing the stairs.
Emma's heart stopped.
Hena whispered,
"He's coming…"
Adrian slowly picked up a broken wooden stick from the floor.
The footsteps stopped outside the door.
Silence.
Heavy breathing was heard from the other side.
Emma covered her mouth.
Then—
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
A slow knock on the door.
Jay's voice came softly.
"Emma… open the door."
No one moved.
"Emma," he repeated calmly.
"We need to talk."
Adrian whispered,
"Don't answer."
Jay continued,
"You deserve the truth."
Emma's eyes filled with tears.
"What truth?" she shouted.
Jay spoke quietly from outside.
"I didn't push Hena."
Emma's breath stopped.
Adrian frowned.
"He's lying."
Jay spoke again,
"The old man is manipulating you."
Hena shook her head.
"No… the recorder… the voice…"
Jay sighed.
"That recorder is fake."
Emma stepped closer to the door.
"Then who pushed Hena?"
Silence.
Then Jay answered slowly.
"You."
Emma felt the ground disappear under her feet.
"What…?"
Jay's voice was calm.
"You were standing closest to her that night."
Emma's hands began to shake.
"No… that's not true…"
Jay continued,
"You argued with her."
"You were angry."
"You pushed her."
Emma stepped back.
"I would never do that!"
Adrian shouted,
"Stop talking!"
Jay ignored him.
"Your memory was erased because of trauma."
Hena whispered,
"Emma… is that true?"
Emma started crying.
"No… no… I didn't…"
Suddenly—
A loud bang came from downstairs.
The old man's voice shouted,
"He's lying! Don't believe him!"
Jay's voice turned angry.
"Stay out of this!"
Then gunshot-like thunder exploded outside.
Emma covered her ears.
Jay spoke again, now more dangerous.
"Emma… open the door."
"Or I'll break it."
Adrian tightened his grip on the wooden stick.
"Try it."
Jay laughed.
"Alright."
Then—
A heavy kick hit the door.
BANG.
The door shook.
Hena screamed.
Emma cried,
"Stop!"
Another kick.
BANG.
The lock began to crack.
Adrian stood ready.
Jay spoke quietly,
"This is your last chance."
Emma closed her eyes.
Tears rolled down her face.
Everything was falling apart.
Then—
A sudden voice came from behind Jay.
"Police!"
Jay froze.
Emma's eyes widened.
The old man had called the police somehow.
Jay whispered,
"Damn it."
Footsteps rushed downstairs.
Doors opened.
Men shouted.
Jay ran.
Adrian opened the door quickly
They looked down the stairs.
Jay was running toward the back door.
Police officers entered the house.
"Stop!"
Jay jumped out into the storm.
Thunder roared.
Rain poured heavily.
And in the darkness—
Jay disappeared.
Emma collapsed on the floor.
Her body trembling.
The old man slowly walked upstairs.
He looked tired.
But calm.
Emma looked at him weakly.
"Who… are you really?"
The old man sighed.
"My name is William Carter."
Emma's eyes widened.
"Carter…?"
He nodded.
"I am your father's brother."
The room fell silent.
Adrian whispered,
"Your uncle?"William looked at Emma with sad eyes.
"I came to protect you."
Emma's voice shook.
"From Jay?"
William nodded slowly.
"No."
"From the truth."
Thunder roared again.
Emma whispered,
"What truth?"
William looked at her deeply.
"The truth about that night."
To be continued…