In the depths of darkness

The end of the day brought calm to the city. Alice, his fingers nervously hung on the strap of her backpack, stood motionless in front of her window. His eyes followed the movements of the heavy clouds which were piled up in the distance, like a silent promise of a storm. She inspired deeply, seeking to appease the agitation that rumbled in her. Going away from the city, far from its problems, seemed to be a perfect idea. However, a touch of doubt pulled it back.

Lucas had convinced her, with his overflowing enthusiasm that this house by the lake would be the ideal place for a weekend. "Nothing but us, nature and calm. You're going to see, that's exactly what we need, "he told him. But basically, Alice was not sure that it was an escape, or a confrontation with something more insidious.

A klaxon stroke resonated in the street. She jumped before taking a look below. The Lucas van was there, with Mathias, Hugo and Mélanie already inside. Lucas signaled him from the driver's seat, as if he did not want to give him the opportunity to change his mind.

She went down slowly, adjusting her bag on her shoulders. When she arrived at the door of the van, Mélanie gave her a playful smile.

Finally ! You were waiting. I was starting to believe that you had changed my mind.

Alice shrugged, trying to hide her discomfort.

Just business to prepare. Nothing more.

Lucas slowly hit the steering wheel with his hands, impatient.

Come on, is everyone there? Here we go ! This weekend will be memorable, I promise you.

Hugo, always ready to joke, slipped:

Provided that Mélanie does not panic at the first strange noise. We're in an old house, Mél, not a horror film.

Mélanie rolled eyes.

Very funny. We will see who will be the most courageous if something scary happens.

Lucas started, and the van started on the road. The slight conversation between them was punctuated by laughter and jokes, but Alice remained silent, observing the landscapes which gradually changed. They left the city to cross more rural areas, where the trees seemed to stretch to the sky like pleading hands.

Mathias, sitting next to her, examined her camera.

You know, this kind of landscape is perfect for dark and mysterious shots. This lake ... I feel that it will inspire me.

Alice nodded, without really answering. Mélanie leaned from the front and launched with a mischievous smile:

So Alice, do you plan to stay silent all the way or you finally tell us what bothers you?

Alice hesitated for a moment before answering:

I'm just tired. And ... I have always found strange that we can rent such an isolated, almost abandoned house.

Hugo laughed.

Odd ? That's what makes the experience great. No neighbors, no noise ... just us and tranquility.

Mélanie nodded, but her expression became more serious.

Tranquility or not, I hope there will be nothing ... worrying. These old houses still have stories, right?

Lucas intervened, determined to dispel their concerns.

Listen, friends. The house is charming. I saw her in pictures, and she has everything we need. A fireplace, a breathtaking view of the lake ... no problem to be done. Trust me.

But even seemed a little tense to him. Perhaps because they were now sinking into areas where the telephone signal gradually disappeared. Daylight quickly declined, and a sinister shadow seemed to wrap the woods. Mélanie murmured gently:

I hope we are not making a mistake ...

When they turned on the way to the way, all fell into contemplative silence. The building suddenly appeared between the trees, massive and threatening. Its dark wood walls seemed to have absorbed years of loneliness and secrets. The lake that stretched behind was a black, motionless surface, which did not reflect anything from the sky.

Lucas stopped the vehicle and turned to others with an enthusiastic smile.

There, friends! Welcome to us for the next two days.

Mélanie murmured almost speechless:

It's ... huge.

Mathias grabbed his camera and took some shots through the window.

Not very welcoming, but it has charm.

Alice, on the other hand, felt a thrill. A strange feeling, as if the house observed them, devoured it from the gaze.

When they went down from the van, Lucas guided the group to the door. He turned a rusty key in the lock, and a sinister creak resonated. Inside, the air was heavy, loaded with humidity. The walls seemed to absorb the light, plunging each corner into a disturbing darkness.

Hugo laughed to relax the atmosphere.

Perfect. Lack more than a ghost to complete the table.

Mélanie gave her a severe look.

Stop, Hugo. It's already pretty weird like that.

Lucas put his things near the entrance.

Well, choose your rooms. I will light the fireplace and make this place a little warmer.

Alice went upstairs, her steps resonating on the old boards. She opened a door at random and discovered a strangely simple room. However, the air seemed to be freezing, and invisible tension weighed on his shoulders.

When she opened the window to ventilate, she saw the lake. A dark, motionless stain that seemed to suck all life around. A soundtrack behind her made her jump. Mathias entered, his camera by hand.

Pretty room. It suits you well.

Alice shrugged.

If only she didn't give me goosebumps ...

Back in the living room, they settled around the fire. Lucas showed them an old newspaper he had found in a wardrobe.

Look at that. A little disgusting, but it looks ... intriguing.

Hugo leaned, examining the yellowed pages.

-Maybe we will find frightening anecdotes. Perfect for an evening.

Mélanie pushed the newspaper.

No question. I prefer not to know what happened here.

Lucas smiles.

Oh, come on. Where is your sense of adventure?

Alice watched the newspaper, but part of her didn't want Lucas to read him. There was something disturbing, as if opening this book could wake up something that should remain asleep.

While the night advanced, strange noises began to be heard: an almost imperceptible creak, like a door which opened slowly somewhere in the house. Hugo tried to joke, but no one laughed. Alice got up, her eyes fixed on the window overlooking the lake.

I ... I saw something. Near the lake. I'm sure I saw it.

Lucas shook his head.

You have ideas. There is no one here.

But Mélanie murmured gently:

-Maybe someone looks at us ...

The morning arrived slowly, wrapped in a gray veil. The lake, motionless and silent, looked like a table frozen in time. Inside the house, the floor boards groaned under the steps, as if the house itself breathed slowly. Lucas was the first to get up, always ready to take matters into his own hands.

Come on everyone! Get up! I promised you a memorable weekend, and it's starting now! He launched, slowly striking at the door of each room.

Alice opened her door, her eyes still heavy with sleep, but she could not ignore the thrill that had traveled her body all night. She had not closed her eye, disturbed by distant noises that she had tried to rationalize.

- It is ... what time? She whispered, adjusting her jacket.

- Don't worry for the moment, Lucas replied, with his eternal smile. Today, it's relaxation. But hey, I hope you are ready to explore a little.

Alice frowned. She was not sure of being in a mood to explore, but she didn't want to be the one who was spoiling the atmosphere.

Below, Mélanie and Hugo were already installed around an improvised breakfast. Mélanie seemed calmer than the day before, but her gaze was absent, as if something disturbed her.

- Did you sleep badly? Hugo asked, putting a bowl in front of her.

- Yes ... I don't know. This house is... weird, replied Mélanie, avoiding her gaze.

Hugo shrugged.

A house is a house. She's old, that's all. No need to make a story.

Mathias in turn entered a camera in hand. His hair was ruffled, but he seemed strangely energetic.

-I swear, this house has a soul, he said with enthusiasm, taking a few shots from the living room. Textures, shadows ... It's perfect for an artistic project.

Hugo laughed.

Listen, the photographer. If you find a ghost, call me. I want to be in the photo.

Mélanie rolled eyes.

It's not funny.

Alice took place next to Mélanie, observing the objects that surrounded them. The old newspaper on the table caught her gaze, but she decided not to touch it. However, she couldn't help but ask.

Lucas... Did you read this newspaper?

Lucas, busy preparing coffee, shook her head.

Not yet. I wanted to wait until everyone was awake. But now that we're all there ... we can take a look.

Mélanie protested immediately.

No. I don't want to know what this newspaper contains. It's already cold in my back just thinking about it.

Mathias intervened, curious.

-Maybe we will find a historical anecdote. These old houses often have fascinating stories.

Lucas sat down at the table and opened the newspaper. The pages cracked slowly, revealing an old and elegant writing.

So, let's see it ... there are notes here on ... the lake. And... oh. A date. 1950s, apparently.

Mélanie rose suddenly.

I don't want to hear that. You can read if you want, but I'm going to get some fresh air.

She left the house, letting the others exchange hesitant looks.

Not very courageous, whispered Hugo.

Alice, however, felt a strange resonance with Mélanie. She too wanted to flee this newspaper, this house, this ubiquitous discomfort.

Lucas continued to leaf through, reading a few passages in a low voice.

-"The lake ... a hidden force ... imminent danger ..." Well, it's starting to look like a horror novel, he said, laughing nervously.

Mathias leaned his head.

-It may be a metaphor. Or just delusions of a former owner.

Alice hesitated before talking.

Lucas. Don't you think we should ... put this newspaper aside? Just ... forget it?

Lucas looked at her, surprised.

For what ? It's just paper, Alice. Nothing magical or frightening.

She did not answer. Basically, she knew he was right, but an intuition told her that something strange was hiding between these pages.

Meanwhile, outside ... Mélanie stood near the lake, arms crossed. She stared at the water, looking for a appeasement that she could not find. The light wind caressed her hair, but instead of calming her, it gave him the impression that someone was there, just behind her.

Pas resonated on wet soil. She turned suddenly.

Mathias?

Mathias approached, a sweet smile on his lips.

Mél. Are you doing well ? You left so fast ...

She shrugged, looking at the lake again.

I didn't want to listen to what they said. This newspaper, this house ... everything makes me uncomfortable.

Mathias took a photo of the lake, without responding right away. Then he spoke gently.

You know ... Sometimes the places tell us stories. Even if they are silent, they have a weight. This lake, this house ... I think they saw things.

Mélanie fixed it, a shiver covering her spine.

I prefer not to know.

Mathias put a hand on his shoulder.

Mél. We are here to have fun. Don't let these impressions ruin your weekend. We are with friends, nothing can happen.

Mélanie wanted to believe in her words, but deep down, a doubt remained. She turned to observe the lake one last time before returning home. However, she couldn't help but think that she had seen a shadow move, just below the surface of the water.

Return to the house

Lucas and Hugo now debated the day to come.

I suggest that we explore the surroundings a little, "said Lucas, with enthusiasm. There must be nice corners around the lake.

"No question," replied Hugo, rushing into an armchair. I want to relax here. No hiking, no exploration.

Alice intervened slowly.

I think we should stay groups. We are far from everything, and this house ... This lake ... it doesn't reassure me.

Lucas laughs.

You are too cautious, Alice. Look around. It's calm, peaceful. Nothing to fear.

Alice shook her head, feeling more and more isolated in her discomfort. Mélanie and Mathias returned, interrupting the conversation. Mélanie seemed calmer, but her gaze was lost.

-So, what are we doing today? Asked Mathias.

Lucas immediately replied.

Explore. Enjoy. Relax. But above all ... leave your fears behind. This weekend will be perfect, I promise you.

The morning light, sifted by thick clouds, bathed the house with a strange darkness. Inside, the group, after a quick breakfast, seemed hesitant about how to spend this first day. The tensions of the day before were slightly dissipated, but a veil of worry still floated in the air. Lucas, faithful to his role as an enthusiastic animator, clears his throat to attract attention.

-So, my dear friends, he said with a bright smile, what are we doing today? We're not going to stay locked up here all day, huh?

Hugo, leaning against a worn leather chair, looked up at him.

- I vote to stay quiet. The last thing I want is to crash in the woods. This sofa is perfect, and I have everything I need here.

- You talk about an adventure spirit! Lucas replied, looking up to the sky. We are in a unique place, Hugo. It is not every day that we have the opportunity to discover such a mysterious lake.

Mathias, who cleaned the lens of his camera, intervened.

I agree with Lucas. It's a chance to capture images that I will never find in town. These forests, this lake ... There is something unique here. It inspires me.

Mélanie, sitting in a corner with a cup of tea in her hands, seemed less convinced.

-This lake makes me uncomfortable, she whispered. I don't know ... I feel like there's something strange. Something you don't see, but that is there.

Alice, who silently looked out by the window, turned her head towards her.

Do you feel that too? I thought I was the only one. The house, the lake ... everything here seems ... too calm.

Lucas laughs slowly, trying to dispel The heavy atmosphere that settled.

You two, you spend too much time watching horror movies. It's just a lake, and this house is old, that's all. What do you know? That's enough. Mathias and I are going to explore a little. Who accompanies us?

Hugo raised his hands as a sign of refusal.

Not me. Seriously, Lucas, I'm here to relax, not to play the Indiana Jones (playing the Indiana Jones means behaving like a courageous and resourceful adventurer, ready to face dangers and challenges to discover treasures and secrets. Indiana Jones is an archaeologist and a fictitious adventurer created by George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. He is the main character of the "Indiana Jones" film franchise, known for his thrilling adventures, his fights against bad guys and his discoveries of historical artefacts. .)

Mélanie hesitated for a moment, but shook her head.

Sorry, I prefer to stay here. This house is already enough ... strange like that.

Lucas sighed, turning to Alice.

And you, Alice? You come? Or do you prefer to stay here to listen to Mélanie talk about her "bad vibrations"?

Alice frowned slightly. Lucas had a way to minimize what others felt, but basically she knew he was only trying to maintain a positive atmosphere. She shrugged.

Why not. It can't hurt to take a little air.

In the woods

Lucas, Mathias and Alice ventured into the woods surrounding the house. The trees, high and imposing, formed a kind of natural cathedral. The ground was strewn with dead leaves, and the cracking of their steps resounded in silence.

I must admit, said Alice, that it is rather beautiful here. But ... there is also something ... I don't know how to say it ... intimidating.

Mathias, camera in hand, stopped to capture a scene.

Intimidant? This is precisely what makes this place fascinating. These shadows, these colors ... it tells a story. Everything here seems ... frozen in time.

Lucas walked in front of them, sweeping the branches on his way with an overflowing energy.

That's it, Mathias. You have to know how to appreciate the beauty of mysterious things. This is exactly what I like in these isolated places. No city noises, no distractions. Just us and nature.

Alice stopped, scrutinizing the surroundings.

Do you hear that? She suddenly asked.

The two boys stopped and listened. Total silence. No bird songs, no wind rustles in the leaves. Nothing. Lucas haus her shoulders.

So what? It's normal, right? The woods are calm.

Mathias frowned.

No, not really. Even in the most isolated places, there are always sounds. Animals, wind ... something. There, it's ... too calm.

Lucas burst out laughing.

Are you really paranoids, do you know that? Come on, let's move on. We will end up reaching the lake. I bet there is a magnificent view of here.

Alice, despite her discomfort, followed. She didn't want to be left alone in these silent woods.

Return home

Meanwhile, Mélanie and Hugo stayed at home. Mélanie took care of cleaning the kitchen, although there is not much to put away. Hugo, faithful to himself, was comfortably installed in an armchair, feet on the table.

You know, said Mélanie after a moment of silence, I wonder why this house remained empty so long. There is something wrong.

Hugo shrugged.

People always exaggerate. Maybe she was just too far from everything to interest someone.

Mélanie put a cup on the table and fixed it.

And you, don't you feel anything strange here? Not even a little thrill?

Hugo looked at her with a mocking smile.

Mél, I know you. You have an overflowing imagination. But seriously, this house is not special, apart from its little ... rustic charm.

Mélanie approached the window and watched the lake.

Yet last night ... I thought I saw something. A shadow, or ... I don't know.

Hugo sighed.

Once again, your imagination plays tricks on you. Listen, if it stresses you so much, why not try to relax a little? Read a book, take a nap ... do everything except think of "shadows".

Mélanie bit her lip, unconvinced. But she knew that chatting with Hugo would lead to nothing. He had always been like that, refusing to take seriously what he did not understand.

In the woods, the steps of Alice intensified, resonating stronger than necessary in this crushing silence. She kept looking around, unable to hunt the strange impression that they were observed.

-Lucas, slowed down a bit, "she said in a tense voice. Do you know where we are going, at least?

Lucas turned, a bright smile on his face. – Of course not. That's the adventure! We explore, we discover. No need for a plan.

Mathias, who walked back, the camera in hand, stopped again to capture something in the shadow of the trees. After a click, he frowned.

-Wait, he said, the air concentrated. I think I captured ... a kind of movement.

Alice stopped, icy. -What do you mean by "movement"? she asked, her tone betraying her anxiety.

Mathias showed the screen of his device. The image displayed an indistinct, blurred form, which seemed to blend into the shadows.

It's surely just an illusion. A branch or a moving leaf, he replied, without real conviction.

Lucas haus her shoulders, visibly impressed. – You worry about nothing. Come on, let's continue. I bet the lake is just at the end of this path.

Alice hesitated, but ended up advancing behind them, a growing apprehension ball in her stomach.

In the house, Mélanie continued to scrutinize the lake through the window, her thoughts haunted by the events of the previous night. Eyes fixed on the dark surface, it saw a slight undulation, almost imperceptible. A thrill ran through it.

-Hugo, come see, she whispered, without looking away.

Hugo, who distracted an old magazine found on a shelf distractedly, reluctantly stood up. – What else? Have you seen a sea monster this time?

"I'm serious," replied Mélanie insistently. There is something in the water.

Hugo took a quick look by the window, before dropping into his armchair, sighing. – Mél, it's a lake. The fish move. The leaves fall. What you see is right ... Nature.

Mélanie frowned, unhappy with Hugo's casualness. She opened the window to better observe. A slight breeze brought the wet and musk smell of the lake, but it heard nothing other than the heavy silence that enveloped the place. She slowly retreated, closing the window carefully.

-If you think everything is normal here, it is that you refuse to see the truth, she whispered in Hugo before leaving the room.

Hugo shrugged, mumbled for himself:-too fertile an imagination, that's all that is ...

Meanwhile, in the woods, things took an even stranger turn. The trio finally reached a clearing. In its center, a large expanse of land seemed to have been carefully rid of any vegetation. In the middle, a series of stones arranged in a circle.

Do you see that? Mathias whispered, spreading her eyes.

Alice nodded, feeling her legs flank under her. Lucas, however, seemed delighted with the discovery.

Now, that's interesting! It looks like an ancient ritual or something like that. Take photos, Mathias! It could be... historic.

Mathias knelt to capture the slightest detail, while Alice was back, his heart beating.

-We shouldn't stay here, she whispered. This place ... there is something wrong about this circle.

Lucas burst out laughing. – Oh, Alice. Always as dramatic. This is just a circle of stones. Not enough to panic.

But even he couldn't ignore the strange feeling of cold that seemed to emanate from the ground. Alice turned suddenly, her gaze excavating the shadows surrounding them.

-We are not alone, she whispered finally.

Lucas was going to replicate, but a dry cracking sounded behind them, freezing them on the spot.