CHAPT2: The First Step

Lynda adjusted the strap of her bag as she stepped out of her car, eyes scanning the house in front of her. The picture online didn’t do it justice—it was bigger than she expected, with a wraparound porch and tall, narrow windows that gave it an old-fashioned charm. It wasn’t too eerie, but something about it made her pause.

She took a deep breath. Relax. It’s just a house.

Stella hopped out of the passenger seat, grinning. “Well? What do you think?”

Lynda tilted her head, considering. “It’s... nice. A little too nice.”

Stella rolled her eyes. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

Before Lynda could answer, the front door swung open, revealing a middle-aged woman with a warm smile. “You must be Lynda! I’m Mrs. Patterson, the landlord.” She wiped her hands on her apron and stepped onto the porch. “Come in, come in! Let’s not waste any time.”

Lynda hesitated for a split second before following Stella up the steps. As soon as she stepped inside, a faint scent of lavender mixed with something old—wood, maybe?—filled her senses.

The interior was just as charming as the outside. Wooden floors, a spacious living room, a fireplace that looked like it hadn’t been used in years. Sunlight streamed in through the windows, painting golden streaks on the walls.

“It’s fully furnished, as you can see,” Mrs. Patterson said, clasping her hands together. “Previous tenants left some things behind, but everything’s in working condition.”

Lynda ran her fingers along the back of a couch, her gaze drifting toward the staircase leading to the second floor. For some reason, a chill crept up her spine. She turned back to Mrs. Patterson.

“How long has this place been on the market?” she asked.

Mrs. Patterson hesitated—just for a fraction of a second—but Lynda caught it. “Oh, not long,” she said quickly. “People come and go, you know how it is.”

Lynda exchanged a glance with Stella, who gave a small shrug.

“Right,” Lynda said slowly.

The rest of the tour went smoothly. A cozy kitchen, two bedrooms, a small office space. Everything seemed... normal. Yet, Lynda couldn’t shake the feeling that something was just off.

She didn’t voice her concerns, though. Instead, she nodded along, letting Mrs. Patterson do most of the talking. When they reached the backyard, Stella leaned in and whispered, “You’re totally overthinking this.”

“Am I?” Lynda murmured back.

“Yep. It’s a steal. And you need to settle somewhere eventually.”

Lynda exhaled, looking around one last time. Maybe Stella was right. Maybe she was just looking for a reason to run—again.

“Alright,” she finally said. “I’ll take it.”

Mrs. Patterson’s face lit up. “Wonderful! We’ll sort out the paperwork, and you can move in this weekend.”

Lynda forced a smile, trying to push aside the unease curling in her stomach. It’s just a house, she told herself again.

As Lynda turned back toward the porch, she caught a glimpse of something—or rather, someone.

A man stood outside the house, just beyond the fence, his gaze fixed on her. He wasn’t moving, wasn’t pretending to be passing by. He was just... watching.

She frowned, trying to get a better look, but before she could say anything, the man turned and walked away, disappearing down the street.

Lynda felt a small shiver run down her spine. Weird.

Shaking it off, she forced a smile and followed Stella back inside.

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