Zian Hausi had just accepted something very unfortunate about her life.
Something tragic.
Something deeply disturbing.
Peace is temporary.
She sat on the sofa again, holding her tea like it was the last stable thing in her life, her posture calm, her face blank, her existence radiating "do not involve me," while her mind—
Was doing the exact opposite.
Shadow outside.
Watching.
Didn't leave.
Definitely not a cat.
Pause.
Sterling thought it was a cat.
She closed her eyes slowly.
I live with him.
From the other side of the room—
"IT WAS SUSPICIOUS," Sterling argued loudly.
Zian didn't open her eyes.
He's still fighting the cat.
Huo Lou sighed softly.
"…It was a normal cat."
Sterling pointed dramatically.
"NO NORMAL CAT JUMPS LIKE THAT."
Zian opened one eye.
"…It jumped," she said.
Sterling turned to her.
"IT TELEPORTED."
Zian blinked.
He's evolving.
Backward.
"…No," she said calmly.
Sterling crossed his arms.
"…You're defending it."
Zian took a sip of tea.
"…I support reality."
Huo Lou laughed again.
Sterling looked betrayed.
"…I'm alone in this house."
Zian nodded.
"…Emotionally, yes."
Before Sterling could continue his argument with an innocent animal—
Zian's eyes shifted.
There.
The window.
The reflection.
A shadow moved again.
Not fast.
Not sudden.
Deliberate.
Still watching.
Closer.
Zian didn't react.
Didn't turn her head fully.
You're getting comfortable.
"…Stop moving," she said quietly.
Sterling froze mid-argument.
"…I wasn't moving."
Zian ignored him.
Huo Lou noticed.
"…You saw it again?"
Zian nodded slightly.
Yes.
Sterling immediately jumped onto the sofa.
"…WHERE."
Zian pointed lazily.
"…Window."
Sterling slowly turned.
Nothing.
Silence.
"…I don't see anything," he whispered.
Zian blinked.
Of course you don't.
"…That's because it doesn't like you," she said.
Sterling gasped.
"…Even ghosts have standards?!"
Zian nodded.
"…Yes."
Huo Lou covered her mouth again.
The shadow moved again.
This time—
Inside.
Not fully.
Not clearly.
But the reflection—
Changed.
Zian's eyes narrowed.
Interesting.
"…You came in," she murmured.
Sterling froze.
"…WHAT DO YOU MEAN CAME IN."
Zian stood up slowly.
Placed her tea down.
No more sitting.
"…Stay here," she said.
Sterling grabbed her sleeve.
"NO."
Zian looked at him.
"…Release."
Sterling shook his head.
"…Last time you said that, people got knocked out."
Zian paused.
Fair point.
"…Nothing will happen," she said.
Something will definitely happen.
Huo Lou stood.
"…We're coming."
Zian stared at both of them.
Why are they like this.
"…Unnecessary," she said.
Sterling nodded.
"…We specialize in unnecessary."
Zian closed her eyes briefly.
I cannot win.
They moved together.
Slowly.
Carefully.
The hallway felt different.
Quieter.
Colder.
Even the rain sounded distant now.
Zian stopped.
Here.
A shadow stretched across the wall.
But there was no source.
Sterling whispered,
"…I don't like this."
Zian replied calmly.
"…That makes two of us."
Actually one.
The shadow moved.
Upward.
Against gravity.
Zian stepped forward.
"…You've been watching long enough," she said.
Silence.
Then—
That voice.
"…You… are aware…"
Sterling nearly fell.
"IT'S TALKING AGAIN—"
Zian raised a hand slightly.
"…Quiet."
You're embarrassing me in front of the ghost.
The shadow shifted.
"…You are not… normal…"
Zian tilted her head.
"…You said that yesterday."
Try new dialogue.
Huo Lou whispered,
"…It remembers…"
Zian's eyes sharpened.
So do I.
"…What do you want," Zian asked.
The shadow flickered.
"…You… don't belong…"
Zian sighed.
"…Everyone keeps saying that."
Very repetitive world.
Sterling whispered,
"…Ask it what it wants."
Zian glanced at him.
You think I didn't think of that.
"…You're in my house," she said.
"…So speak clearly."
Silence.
Then—
"…You are… like us…"
Everything stopped.
Zian didn't move.
Like… it?
Sterling blinked.
"…Excuse me?"
Huo Lou stared.
"…What does that mean…"
Zian's gaze darkened slightly.
Not possible.
"…Incorrect," she said.
The shadow moved closer.
"…Power… hidden…"
Zian stepped forward.
Enough.
"…Leave," she said.
The shadow paused.
"…Or?"
Zian's eyes sharpened.
"…Or I remove you."
Silence.
Sterling whispered,
"…She's threatening a ghost…"
Zian replied calmly,
"…It started it."
The shadow flickered violently.
Then—
It disappeared.
Gone.
Completely.
Silence filled the hallway again.
Sterling slowly sat down on the floor.
"…I need a new life."
Zian turned away.
That was annoying.
Huo Lou looked at Zian.
"…It said you're like it."
Zian didn't respond.
That part…
Pause.
Is a problem.
They returned to the living room.
Zian picked up her tea again.
Sat down.
Continue life.
Sterling looked at her.
"…You're just going to sit?"
Zian nodded.
"…Yes."
Sterling stared.
"…A ghost just called you its cousin."
Zian sipped her tea.
"…Family is complicated."
Huo Lou laughed again.
Sterling held his head.
"…I can't do this anymore."
Zian leaned back.
Closed her eyes.
Shadow inside.
Talking.
Knows something.
Pause.
Annoying.
But deep inside—
Something had changed.
Because now—
It wasn't just watching her.
It knew her.
And that—
Made this no longer just a problem.
It made it—
Personal. 😈🔥