The rain started just as the cookies came out of the oven.
Andrea peeked through the blinds at the house next door, then looked back at Maya with a hopeful grin.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmY1fqg70O
“Maybe it’s a sign. You know—romantic weather, warm cookies, handsome neighbour?”
Maya didn’t smile back. She was drying the cookie tray with slow, careful hands.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WkRBjiJxO
“I’m telling you, something’s not right about him.”
Andrea rolled her eyes. “You’re paranoid. He’s nice. He helped that old lady with her groceries the other day.”
Maya raised an eyebrow. “Yeah. Where’s the old lady now?”
Andrea paused, just for a second. Then she shook her head and grabbed a plate. “Let’s just say hi. Five minutes, then we come back.”
Maya hesitated. But the storm outside was building, and she wasn’t about to let Andrea go alone. With a sigh, she grabbed her jacket and followed her out the door, cookies carefully wrapped in foil.
The rain was heavier than it looked from inside. When they reached the neighbour’s porch, their shoes were soaked, and the wind howled like something alive. Before they could knock, the door swung open.
There he was—Elias.
He smiled, as if he’d been waiting for them.
“You shouldn’t be out in this weather,” he said, voice smooth and calm. “Come in, please.”
Andrea stepped inside first. Maya followed, clutching the cookies like a shield.
The inside of the house was... strange. Clean, but too clean. No smell of food, no photos on the walls, no colour. Just sharp corners, expensive furniture, and cold air. A fire flickered in the living room, but it didn’t seem to warm the space.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8Sl3NlUJZ
“This place is... quiet,” Maya said carefully.
Elias looked at her. “I like quiet. Don’t you?”
Andrea handed him the plate of cookies. “We made these for you! Thought it’d be nice to welcome a new neighbour.”
He took the plate and smiled—polite, empty. “That’s very kind. Why don’t you stay until the storm passes?”
Before Maya could say anything, Andrea nodded eagerly and settled on the couch near the fire. Elias went to the kitchen to make tea.
Maya stood, unsure. The silence pressed in around her. Something ticked faintly, like a clock. Then she noticed it—a locked door, half-hidden near the hallway. And beneath it, the faintest sound. A thud. Then another.
She stepped toward it.
“Guest bathroom’s the other way,” Elias called from the kitchen.
Maya froze.
“I wasn’t—” she started.
But he was already behind her.
For a second, the house felt like it was holding its breath.
Elias’s smile returned. “Tea’s ready.”
Back in the living room, Andrea was sipping chamomile and chatting about books. Maya sat beside her, heart thudding. Elias joined them, his gaze never leaving Maya.
“You seem uncomfortable,” he said softly.
Maya forced a smile. “Just tired.”
He leaned forward slightly. “Tired... or suspicious?”
Andrea laughed nervously. “She’s just cautious. Maya reads a lot of crime novels. Always thinks a killer is hiding behind every door.”
Elias’s smile sharpened.
“Sometimes, there is.”
The fire cracked.
For a moment, no one said anything. The wind screamed against the windows.
Then—THUMP.
It came from the basement.
Elias didn’t flinch. He simply stood up.
“Pipes. Old house. I’ll check on it.”
He walked toward the hallway.
Andrea looked at Maya, finally uneasy. “Do you think—”
“Don’t say I didn’t tell you,” Maya whispered.
And this time, she meant it.
To be continued in Chapter Three…14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocS3V24GE8
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