My pal was hosting a slumber party to celebrate her birthday, and I was among the lucky invitees. Our little gathering consisted of me, Lily, Mia, and Emily. Laughter echoed through the room as we exchanged ghost stories, mixing fact with fiction. The atmosphere was playful until Jodie began recounting her eerie tale, and just as tension reached its peak, a resounding crash echoed from the front door. Panic swept over us as we realized we were home alone—Alise’s parents were out for the evening.
Swiftly, we secured all the doors and windows, huddling together in the room we planned to sleep in. The minutes stretched into an eerie quietness, and it was then that we noticed Jodie’s absence. Our initial assumption was that she’d gone to play a prank outside, yet in hindsight, Jodie was always the most easily spooked of us all. Unease settled in.
Venturing a glance out the window, we found no trace of anyone outside, leading us to lock it tight. We conducted a thorough search of the house, scouring the downstairs before ascending the stairs. That’s when an unsettling screeching reached our ears, guiding us to the room where we discovered Jodie wrestling with a window that squealed as it moved along the frame. Our combined efforts couldn’t stifle the noise, yet inexplicably, the window snapped shut with ease, the screeching silenced. It was as if an unseen force had intervened.
Moments later, a succession of ominous thuds resounded at the front door, echoing five times like a foreboding rhythm. Summoning our courage, we resolved to investigate. Amid hushed whispers, they elected me to open the door, and I obliged, greeted only by emptiness. Just as I was about to shut it, an unseen pressure held the door and a voice murmured, “let me be free.” The words perplexed us, leaving us grasping for understanding. What did it signify? We deliberated briefly but chose to release our hold. After all, we were just kids—what could we possibly do? Who would believe us?
From that point forward, the memory haunted our dreams, though attempts to discuss it during the day left our words paralyzed. There was an unexplainable strangeness to it all, a sensation that left us both intrigued and unsettled. And so, I’ve shared my tale with you, a need to unburden the mysteries that have lingered since that enigmatic night.