Chapter 4 The shattered reality

The moment Jesse freed her ankle, she was yanked forward by the force of the creature's grasp. It wasn't just pulling her in-it was dragging her into the darkness. Her heart thundered in her chest as she stumbled, her feet losing their grip on the floor.

"Sam!" she screamed, twisting in desperation.

But her brother didn't move. He was still staring into space, his expression blank, unrecognizable.

The thing that held her foot was cold, its grip like ice seeping through her skin. It pulled with relentless strength, dragging her toward it, its elongated fingers wrapped tightly around her ankle.

"No!" Jesse screamed, her voice breaking. "Get off me!"

Her panic surged as the grotesque figure in front of her loomed closer, its mouth stretching open with that impossible grin. It reached toward her with its monstrous hands.

"You can't escape," the thing growled, its voice deep and guttural, like the earth groaning beneath their feet. "You belong here now."

Jesse's mind raced. She had to do something, anything. Her body was being pulled into the shadows, her breath coming in shallow gasps. The pressure was overwhelming, and every second felt like it might be her last.

"Sam!" she cried again, her voice pleading now. "Please! Come back to me!"

For a fleeting moment, her brother's eyes flickered. He blinked, his pupils narrowing as if trying to break through the fog that clouded his mind.

"Sam?" Jesse whispered, her voice trembling.

His lips parted slightly. "J-Jesse... I... I can't... escape..." His voice was weak, like a shadow of the person he once was.

"Yes, you can!" Jesse shouted, tears flooding her eyes. "You have to fight it, Sam! You have to fight this thing!"

The woman in the corner, still watching with that cruel smile, chuckled softly, her voice a melodic but hollow echo. "You can't save him, Jesse. You've already lost."

Jesse's eyes widened. "No... No, you're wrong! Sam, please, fight!"

Her hands were shaking as she reached out to Sam, her voice breaking. "Sam, please, you're stronger than this!"

For a brief second, the light in his eyes flickered again-something deep inside him seemed to stir. His hand twitched, reaching toward hers, but then it froze.

The woman's voice echoed louder now, like a chorus in Jesse's mind, wrapping around her thoughts. "He's mine, Jesse. And now, you will join us. You will never leave this place."

With a snarl, Jesse twisted her body, her legs kicking out as she tried to break free. She couldn't let this thing take Sam-not without a fight.

"No!" Jesse shouted. "You don't control him!"

The creature's long, thin arms reached further, pulling her closer, until she could feel its breath, cold and foul against her skin. She could hear its whispering voice, low and dripping with malice, filling the room.

"I am the house," the thing hissed. "I am the one you've disturbed. I am the one who will consume all. And you are nothing more than another soul to be devoured."

Jesse's breath caught in her throat. "What do you want from us?" she asked, her voice hoarse.

The creature's lips curled in that grotesque grin. "What do I want? I want everything. I want to feed on the souls of the lost. Your brother, your fear... your suffering."

Her eyes darted to Sam again. He was still standing there, frozen, his face expressionless. But his eyes-those hollow eyes-shifted slightly, a faint hint of recognition breaking through.

"Sam, please!" Jesse cried, her voice raw with emotion. "Come back to me! Fight it! I'm here, I won't leave you!"

For a long, agonizing moment, there was no response. Jesse's legs were burning with the strain of pulling, her entire body shaking with effort. And then, just as she thought she might be pulled completely into the darkness, something unexpected happened.

Sam's fingers twitched.

And then, with a soft, gasping breath, he whispered, "Jesse... I'm sorry."

"What?" Jesse gasped, confusion flashing across her face.

"I... I can't fight it..." Sam's voice was barely a whisper, strained, as if every word was a battle.

But Jesse didn't give up. She yanked at his arm with all her might. "No! You can! You have to!"

And then, a spark of clarity flashed in Sam's eyes-just a brief moment-but it was enough. His hand shot out to grasp Jesse's, his fingers curling around hers.

"I'm... coming back to you," Sam murmured, his voice trembling but stronger than before.

The woman in the corner let out a shrill, high-pitched laugh that filled the room. "You think you can save him? It's too late, Jesse. Too late for both of you."

Jesse could feel Sam's body shuddering beside her, but she didn't let go. She pulled him with all the strength she had left, her legs moving as fast as they could, dragging her brother toward the window.

And then, just as they reached it, the house seemed to roar.

The walls rattled violently, the floor shaking beneath them as if the very foundation of the house was buckling. The shadowy creature behind them screeched, its voice a deep, soul-shattering noise that pierced through Jesse's skull.

"You think you can escape me?!" the creature bellowed, its voice rising to a deafening pitch. "You're mine!"

But Jesse, heart pounding, grabbed the window with both hands and wrenched it open. The cold wind rushed in, blowing against her face, but it was freedom. It was their only chance.

"Sam, now!" Jesse cried, her voice desperate.

Sam's body was shaking violently now, his face pale, his eyes wide and unfocused. He could barely stand. "I can't-"

"Yes, you can!" Jesse shouted, her hand tightening around his. "You're stronger than this. Come on, Sam, please!"

In one final, desperate movement, Jesse shoved her brother through the window, following him closely. She didn't look back as she crawled through, just pushing forward, into the cold night air.

The house behind them let out a final, blood-curdling scream that seemed to tear through the very fabric of reality itself.

But Jesse and Sam didn't stop. They couldn't.

They ran. And the shadows, the thing from the house, they couldn't follow. Not yet.