Episode 2: The Haunted Villa

The day after the reunion dinner, the group gathered at the parking lot in front of Caleb’s sleek, black van. The mood was light and full of excited chatter, the buzz of nostalgia filling the air. Despite the tension that lingered between Ava and Seraphina, they were all here to reconnect—at least that was what Ava kept telling herself.

Ava and Caleb were already in the front seats, Caleb excitedly flipping through the playlist on his phone. He had insisted on driving, wanting to be the one to lead their little adventure. Ava sat quietly next to him, pretending to enjoy the music, her mind occupied by the strange feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"Are you excited for this?" Caleb asked, glancing over at her, his grin wide.

Ava forced a smile. "Yeah, just a little nervous. You know... old places, dark forests... it’s all a little creepy." She tried to make light of it, but deep down, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right about this trip.

Behind them, the others were piling into the van, loud laughter and the chatter of excited voices filling the air. Sarah and Jack were in the back, already reminiscing about old times. Noah and Isabella sat beside them, Noah occasionally whispering something that made Isabella giggle. Liam and Alex were at the very back, with Seraphina sitting beside Alex, flashing him one of her bright smiles.

“You’re really going to go with them to this creepy villa?” Liam asked, raising an eyebrow at Alex as the van rumbled to life.

Alex, looking nervous, shrugged. "Yeah, I guess. Seraphina said she’d go, so... I figured I’d tag along."

Seraphina, ever the attention-seeker, leaned forward and flashed a teasing grin. "Come on, Alex, you know you’d never let me go alone. Plus, it’s going to be fun."

Ava could hear the undertone of Seraphina's voice, always trying to pull Alex into her orbit. It made her uncomfortable. She didn’t like how Seraphina had this way of controlling the people around her, especially when it came to Caleb.

As the van drove through winding roads and dense trees, Ava felt herself slipping deeper into thought. She turned her head to look out the window, the scenery slowly changing from the city’s bright lights to the deep, dark woods that surrounded them. The sun was low, casting long shadows across the path. The closer they got to the villa, the heavier the air seemed to grow.

The Arrival at Villa Darkwood

After a couple of hours of driving, the van finally stopped at the foot of a large, iron gate. The villa loomed behind it, half-obscured by the thick trees surrounding it. Ava's breath caught in her throat as she gazed up at the structure. Villa Darkwood—the name alone sent a chill down her spine.

The stone walls were weathered, the once-white pillars now chipped and cracked. Vines had grown up around the exterior, crawling across the windows, and the front door creaked as if warning them to turn back.

"This is... something else," Sarah murmured as she stepped out of the van, her voice filled with unease.

Jack nudged her playfully. "Come on, it's just an old house. You’re acting like it’s haunted or something."

"No, seriously," Sarah replied, her eyes scanning the eerie, quiet surroundings. "This place feels... wrong."

The others stepped out of the van, their laughter dying as they stood in front of the imposing villa. Noah smirked and shrugged. "What’s wrong? It’s just an old house. The perfect setting for a haunted adventure, right?"

Ava didn’t respond, her eyes narrowing as she looked up at the structure. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up. There was something off about the place, something dark. She wanted to turn around, go back home, but Caleb was already walking toward the gate, calling for everyone to follow.

"Let’s get inside. This place is huge," Caleb called out, his voice full of excitement, oblivious to Ava’s discomfort.

"Come on, Ava, it'll be fun," Liam said, his voice filled with that same charming grin he always wore. "Think of it as a chance to get away from the real world for a while."

Ava nodded quietly, forcing herself to follow them. But the uneasy feeling in her stomach refused to go away.

As they entered the villa, the door creaked loudly, echoing through the empty halls. Dust danced in the air, and cobwebs clung to the corners of the massive foyer. The furniture was old, covered in sheets, and the walls were adorned with faded portraits of grim-looking people. It felt like the house had been frozen in time, abandoned by the outside world.

"This place is... freaky," Alex muttered, his eyes wide. Seraphina, ever the drama queen, let out a soft laugh and flicked her hair back.

"Freaky or not, I’m here to have fun. Who’s ready to explore?" Seraphina said with a seductive smile, her gaze lingering on Caleb as she spoke.

Ava noticed Caleb’s eyes flicker briefly to Seraphina before he smiled and turned to Ava. "What do you think? It's amazing, right?"

Ava forced a smile, though her heart wasn’t in it. "Yeah, it’s... something."

They made their way deeper into the villa, their voices echoing in the empty halls. The house felt alive with history, though it was a history that didn’t sit right with Ava. The place seemed like it had secrets—secrets it didn’t want anyone to uncover.

Tension Brews

The evening went on, and as the group settled into their rooms, the tension only grew. Seraphina made sure to find every opportunity to get close to Caleb, often finding excuses to walk with him down the hallway or stand too close during dinner. Ava could see right through it.

"Are you okay?" Sarah asked softly as they sat together in their room, Ava clearly distracted.

Ava sighed. "I don’t know. I just don’t like the vibe here. And Seraphina... she’s always so close to Caleb. I hate how she looks at him. Like she’s... trying to get something from him."

Sarah placed a comforting hand on Ava’s shoulder. "You know Caleb loves you, right? Don’t let her get to you. I’m here, and Jack’s here, and we won’t let her mess with you."

Ava smiled weakly, grateful for Sarah’s support. "I know. I just... I don’t know what it is about this place. It feels... haunted. Like there’s something here. Something wrong."

Later that night, as they gathered in the sitting room, the tension hit a boiling point. Liam, as usual, was flirting with anyone who would listen, but this time, it seemed even more pointed when it came to Ava. His playful teasing was harmless, but his glances were anything but.

Meanwhile, Noah sat across the room, his eyes occasionally drifting toward the women in the group—especially Seraphina. Isabella, ever the loyal girlfriend, cuddled up beside him, but he was too busy surveying the others, his mind elsewhere.

As the night drew on, the group sat down to a cozy fire in the lounge. But even as they joked and laughed, Ava’s thoughts were consumed with the feeling that something wasn’t right. The house felt oppressive, like it was watching them, waiting.

A Warning

A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. Caleb answered it, and a man in old-fashioned clothing stood in the doorway, holding a silver platter with a letter on it.

"For the guests," he said, his voice low and raspy. Caleb took the letter, exchanging a curious glance with Ava before opening it.

The paper was yellowed and worn, and the words scrawled on it were uneven, almost as if written in haste.

"This house will claim what is owed. You will all pay for your trespasses. Leave before it’s too late."

Everyone fell silent.

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