Ana's eyes were two perfect circles, her eyelids barely visible. Her gaze was fixed on the ceiling, lost among the scribbles in the wooden beams. Her keen hearing stood alert. She was utterly focused, filtering out the many ambient noises as silence, waiting for something—anything—to fall out of place again.
Evangelina was nowhere to be seen, and Ana would've given anything to have her cat close. Any source of warmth was welcome to soothe the constant shivers that ran down her spine. Meanwhile, her thoughts drifted aimlessly in waters of fear, paddling toward the one question that clung to her mind: What had she really seen?
It wasn't just that her first day had ended with the blurry sight of a figure in the yard. If it had been only that, Ana would be sleeping now, calm as a child. That figure had merely been the prologue to an already chaotic move and dinner.
After nearly fainting at the blaring honk from the moving truck, Ana managed to pull herself together and began unpacking the dozens of boxes she'd brought from her apartment. The movers took care of carrying the heavier furniture up the stairs.
She felt somewhat awkward discovering the rooms alongside the workers, who glanced at her with the unspoken expectation of instructions.
– Well... maybe in this room? –Ana would say with every piece they carried in– Or maybe that one...
Guided more by the size of the room than a feeling of safety, Ana had them place her bed and wardrobe in the largest bedroom, which included a bathroom, walk-in closet, and a balcony overlooking the backyard and the dense forest behind the neighborhood.
Her belongings weren't many—her old apartment barely allowed her to move around freely. Here, she felt like she could spend her entire salary on furniture and still not fill the house. So, the movers were gone in under an hour, though Ana felt like they had only just arrived. She wasn't particularly fond of company—least of all male company—but the commotion of people lifting and moving heavy objects had momentarily eased the eerie unease of the house.
Her lease was for a year, with the option to renew, and the deposit covered the first five months. Canceling and going back to the city wasn't an option—not after she'd already paid for the move.
– Miss, I just need your signature –the head mover said, handing her a clipboard and pen– We're done. This just confirms everything arrived safely.
Ana signed in silence, her mind already elsewhere, wondering how she'd manage now that she was completely alone.
– You've got yourself a big house –the man added casually, eyeing the oak staircase and backyard– Always thought I'd love a place this spacious. Hopefully one day.
She gave a modest, genuine half-smile. She wanted to reply, but didn't know what to say. She looked up at him more carefully now, having been too distracted earlier to notice.
He was broad-shouldered, with dark, sun-warmed skin, muscular arms that were somewhat hairy, and a full beard. But his brown eyes radiated a paternal warmth that clashed with his rugged appearance. His vocabulary wasn't exactly poetic, yet his deep, calm voice inspired a surprising sense of reassurance.
Not that Ana found him particularly attractive—she was never drawn to that type—but in that moment, his presence was exactly the kind of protection she needed.
– Name's Leon –he said, extending a hand– I work in all kinds of construction. Seems like there's plenty to fix around here. –He gestured subtly at the damp wood, the front garden, the neglected backyard– If you need anything, call this number. I'll be happy to help.
Ana accepted his card with relief. She might have asked him to stay the night if that wouldn't have been so utterly strange.
– Thank you, Leon. I'll definitely keep it in mind.
Leon tipped the brim of his cap and climbed into the truck, where his coworkers would surely tease him the whole way back to the city.
Ana closed the door and stood facing the massive oak entrance, reluctant to turn around and confront the eerie view through the window.
Eventually, she had to. The house now looked somehow different. Maybe it was the way her modern furniture clashed with the building's solemn, old-fashioned architecture.
She walked over to the piles of boxes in the living room, ready to unpack, but the creaking floorboards made her jump with every step. She decided to connect her speaker first and bring the house to life.
– There's no way you're telling me I don't have electricity –she said aloud when the speaker refused to turn on.
She rushed to the nearest switch. No lights.
Ana closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against the doorframe. She hadn't needed artificial light earlier—the natural light had been enough. But now dusk was creeping over the horizon and not a single lamp worked.
She grabbed her phone and called the agency.
– That's strange. We checked all utilities just yesterday –a woman's voice said on the other end.
– Well, you could've checked them today, for all I care. I still have no power anywhere in this house.
– I understand your frustration, ma'am. We can discuss reducing your electric bill at month's end. But at this hour, none of our technicians can reach Villa Azul. We'll send one first thing tomorrow.
– First thing tomorrow –Ana echoed internally– Great. I'll spend the whole damn night stumbling in the dark like Evangelina.
– You're telling me I'll have no power until tomorrow? How am I supposed to see anything? Or cook? –She hated how dependent she sounded, but the thought of spending the night in total darkness chilled her.
– I'm sorry, ma'am. There's not much we can do right now. In twelve hours, a technician will be there—at no charge to you.
– Well, that's something, at least –Ana snapped and hung up.
She collapsed onto the armchair where her cat had previously napped—now Evangelina roamed the backyard. Ana buried her head in her hands. How was she supposed to make it through the night without a single light to guide her to the bathroom?
The silence was deafening. For a house surrounded by neighbors, the quiet was unnatural. She longed for some noise—anything—to break the tension.
Careful what you wish for, she thought. Her old complaints about noisy neighbors suddenly seemed laughable. At least back then she could look around without fearing some shadowy figure might reappear.
That was it—the neighbors. Maybe she could introduce herself. Perhaps they'd lend her a flashlight or some candles. Either would be helpful.
She tidied her hair and stepped out toward one of the grand homes at the end of the street.
The walk felt long. She was used to taking two steps to reach her neighbor's door. Here, it took half a block to reach a two-story house behind thick, black iron bars.
The gate wasn't locked, but barging in would be rude. She pressed the doorbell attached to one of the bars.
She waited. Twenty, maybe thirty minutes. Twilight was fading fast, and shadows were filling the corners of the neighborhood. She needed to hurry.
– Maybe no one's home –she mumbled. But before the words left her mouth, a light flicked on upstairs.
Okay, they do have power. Maybe they just didn't hear me, she thought. I'll walk up and knock. This bell probably doesn't work anyway.
She gently opened the gate—it barely made a sound, as if perfectly oiled. She followed the stone path to the porch. The lawn was trimmed, though dead oaks littered the yard, which struck her as odd. Still, she knocked firmly on the large fir door.
The knock echoed through the entire house. Ana stepped back, staring at the dirt road and the thick clouds always looming over Villa Azul.
The rattle of chains sounded behind her. Someone was unlocking the door. She straightened her hair, put on a smile.
But her smile vanished. The door opened just a crack, held back by several security chains. A woman stared out, both annoyed and startled, as if Ana had interrupted something urgent.
– What do you want? –she asked coldly– Don't you know it's rude to walk in uninvited?
Her tone was rough, but not entirely rude. And she had a point.
– I'm sorry. I rang the bell for a long time but no one answered –Ana replied, gesturing at the gate– I think it's broken.
– It is –the woman interrupted– So no one rings it. Now, what do you want?
Ana couldn't understand her hostility. The woman wasn't old—maybe in her early thirties. She should've been beautiful: pale skin, blond hair, icy blue eyes. Nordic features. But she looked disheveled, her hair in messy braids. She wore a red dress that ended just above the knees and low black heels. Her dark circles were intense—Ana hadn't seen anything like it since her all-nighters editing. She wore makeup, but the eyeliner was smudged, like she'd been crying. Ana chose to ignore all this and introduced herself.
– Well... I just moved in today...
– Get to the point.
– I don't have power or electricity. I wanted to know if—
– I'm not letting you steal mine, and I don't have candles. Now leave.
The door slammed.
Ana stood stunned, staring dumbly at the fir door. After a moment, she turned and headed back. The house loomed larger than ever.
She wanted to cry, to undo it all and be back in her old life. This move had been a foolish, spoiled whim, and now she was furious at herself for resenting the first real decision she'd made as an adult.
She hadn't even reached the overgrown yard when a voice called out in the distance.
She turned, surprised but unafraid. Who could be calling her from that far?
– Over here, dear. Here.
– Look up. Up.
Ana lifted her eyes. Past the weeping willows in the opposite yard, she saw her. An old woman in a white nightgown, waving from a hidden balcony.
– Hello! –Ana shouted– I'm the new neighbor!
– Haha, no need to yell. Silence here is tricky. What's wrong?
– I just moved in and have no electricity. I can't see or plug anything in –Ana called back, but the woman didn't mind the volume this time.
– No power, you say... That cursed witch must've cut it off –the old woman muttered.
– What?!
– Don't worry. Check the kitchen drawers. I'm sure you'll find candles and lighters. Tomorrow at noon, take a bus home –she said gently, like a grandmother's advice– Oh—and don't talk to anyone.
– What? Please, ma'am, wait! I need you to explain! –Ana cried.
But it was useless. The balcony door had already closed, and the night had swallowed the sky. She had no choice but to return to the house, which now seemed to be watching her.
Hours later, Ana lay in bed, eyes fixed on the wooden ceiling, ears straining for any unusual noise.
She had found the candles and used them for a while—but ended up blowing them out. The flickering shadows had startled her more than once.
She thought she heard voices. Then decided it was just the wind. Her pupils were so dilated she felt she'd unlocked a new level of night vision.
– That witch cut the power... –Ana whispered, replaying the old woman's words. She was starving.
– Go back home... tomorrow at noon...
And she would've regretted saying it aloud—if not for what came next. Amid all the shadows and gusts she had convinced herself were harmless, a whisper echoed loudly from the dark:
– You don't need to go back...
END OF CHAPTER 2.