Chapter 1315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3wvth6CFc
Welcome Home315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDarYmzpv7c
I’ll remember this house—our childhood home. Ada’s home, until yesterday morning. I’ll have moved back from my home in Tucson all the way to Long Beach. Let me explain. After she passed, I’ll have decided on flying back to our childhood home, flying back to our childhood. It will be the least I can do to grieve properly. I’ll walk in.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlCU11yfAH
That wall. It won’t have been painted in far, far too long. It’ll be like the house has been alive, waiting for me. I will actually vividly remember every single painting. It’ll all be the same. Yet so… oddly different and new. The once-bright colors will have faded, worn down by time. Still, they’ll depict the same familiar scenes and faces. I’ll walk by the spot on the couch, the spot where she once spilled her orange juice. You probably expected me to have started crying by now, but no. I won’t be able to yet. I’ll have let all my tears out the afternoon I’ll have heard.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixfs1k4CF7
Just then, I’ll hear a noise from the attic. I'll freeze, my heart pounding in my chest. It will be the kind of noise that shouldn't disturb an empty house.
Chapter 2315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaax6z8toO
The Light In The Hall315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQaBhRDkd5
Before I’ll be able to go check that noise, my cell phone will ring. “Hey Lizzie. It’s Lilly. I am SO, so, sorry about your sister.”315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxsFD1WHVj
“It’s fine, I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. I’ve been coming back from the grief pretty fast. Fast enough, at least.”315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD38VGdLZll
It’ll be meant to be a joke, but she won’t laugh. I’ll be hoping maybe she didn’t get it, too subtle. Really I’ll be trying to come up with some explanation other than me being unfunny. I wish I didn’t overthink like this.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGu9CEukLIN
“You sure you’re okay? ” Lilly will ask. Lilly will sound like she’s holding her breath for me. Lilly, who used to bring Ada snacks when she was sick, will sound more broken up than I will be. “Yeah, just… figuring it out,” I’ll reply, my gaze drifting toward the attic door. Suddenly, the lights in the house will flicker. Now, this is normal. Lights flicker sometimes. But these? These lights will feel different. They will flicker almost… rhythmically. Like the house is breathing. I’ll quickly say to Lilly so I can deal with this, “Goodbye. Thank you for checking on me. I love you, and thank you.” “You too, goodbye.” With the call disconnected, I’ll stare at the attic door, heart pounding in sync with the flickering lights. I’ll try to keep track of the rhythm. On for five counts, off for four counts, on for three, off for two, on for one, then they’ll go out. I’ll still be looking at the attic door through all this.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YafuLWI4S
> I’ll remember, suddenly. We used to play in there. Ada was eleven. I was nine. That was the spot we counted when we were playing hide and seek.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YDkKXbbyG
Suddenly, I’ll be crying. Still, I’ll motion toward the attic door. My hand will hesitate on the pull string. The flickering will stop. Silence. For a moment, it’ll feel like the house is listening. Then—one single flicker. I’ll pull.
Chapter 3315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hYPMa3yMF
The Room That Moved315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfXK4qxu2t
I’ll be relieved to find nothing. A little bit of wandering later, I’ll find the stairs. Where our rooms once were. I’ll enter mine first. It'll be untouched, exactly like I left it years ago. Strangely, it’ll make me smile. That’ll make me realize there are still tears on my cheeks from my flashback. School textbooks stacked neatly, posters still decorating the walls. I’ll look at one. It’ll be the cats poster from when I was ten. I’ll still remember being so excited to get it at my school’s book fair. I’ll leave the room and keep walking through the hallways. I’ll stop. In between my sister’s and mine. My parent’s room. I’ll run in. It'll be different, unsettling. The bed'll be made perfectly, but the air will be thick with dust and unease. Still, this will be the normal way a room changes over the years. Into Ada’s room. Something will smell wrong. Now, something truly strange will have happened here. It’ll be arranged just… wrong. That painting… is it upside down? Now, I won’t have been snooping in Ada’s old room before she died. But I’ll still get goosebumps. I’ve visited this place in my childhood. It just won’t be right. Suddenly, I’ll freeze. Her birth certificate.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TTWIe0hoX
- Name: Ada Goodman315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrrbZulrOe
- Birth: January 19, 1997315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYqvBiSI29
- Gender: F315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8ROLbO6XE
I’ll slowly move my hand close to the paper. I’ll think “It’s ok. It’s ok” in an attempt to calm myself but again I’ll find myself crying. In my sister’s room, home alone. At her birth certificate. I’ll think “I’ve really hit rock bottom”. Yet, deep down, I'll feel Ada's presence, stronger than before. Ok, back to what’s wrong with the room. There’ll have to be a logical explanation.
Chapter 4315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGOF5AfGJn
Static315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZcQvd6SIv
I’ll suppose this is my home now, and try to make the best of it. I’ll check my watch. 9:30. Time for bed. I’ll wake up the next morning and walk down to the living room. I’ll think I should turn the radio on, and get comfortable. The man on the radio will be mid-sentence when I turn the radio on. “And, if you buy it today, you'll receive not one, but two luxury pillows at no extra cost.” Hm. Interesting deal. “That’s 100% off, Lizzie.” How will it have known my name? Huh? A chill will run down my spine. The room will feel even colder, the air thick with confusion. No, I’ll probably have misheard it. Static and paranoia—that’ll be all. “Maybe I should switch to music” I’ll think. I will. Then I’ll hear “Strangers in the night. Two lonely people, we were strangers in the night” This’ll be more comforting. 60s pop. I'll let the smooth melody fill the room, momentarily easing the tension that will have gripped the air. I’ll decide, “I’m not an old woman, I can’t sit and listen to the radio all day, I should go take a walk”. So I will. I’ll put on the shoes I’ll have packed for myself and head out. I’ll walk down the rainy, dreary sidewalk for a few minutes. Then, I’ll see him. “Tony!” I’ll think. “Wow, Tony, it’s really been forever.” He’ll notice me too. “Oh my god, hi Lizzie! It’s been forever! We were just kids when I last saw you!” “I know right? Well, I guess I should tell you this… Ada passed away.” “Oh no, really?” “Yeah, the tuberculosis worked quick.” “I’m so sorry to hear that! I hope you’re holding up ok.” “Yeah, thanks. That’s actually the reason I moved back in.” “Oh. Well, I’m heading to the park, would you like to come with me, maybe to distract yourself?” “Of course!” So we will. We’ll spend all day together, simply because we’ll both be ok with doing that. Yet once, when we’re sitting on the park bench, I will catch him looking behind me confused; like he saw something and couldn’t explain it. Then, I’ll check my watch. 6:30. “Well, this has been great, but I should get going.” “Ok, goodbye!” “Goodbye!” That night, I will have a nightmare. The house will be knocked upside down by a storm. It will spin like a haunted carousel breaking and going far faster than it was programmed to go. It’ll all be ruined and just when I’ll fall out of it, I’ll wake up and feel relieved it was just a dream.
Chapter 5315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9xrMSxkGQ
The Third Toothbrush315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Pr4NLKscF
Once I wake up, I’ll head to the bathroom to brush my teeth. Just then, I’ll see it. There’ll be three toothbrushes in the bathroom. Not four. Three. One for me, one for my sister, and another one. Maybe it’ll be for both of my parents? No, impossible. Even married people won’t share a toothbrush. Confused, I'll inspect the toothbrushes closer. None of them will look newly bought. Hm. I’ll lean in, and I’ll swear one of them smells faintly like the cologne Dad used to wear. But he’s been gone for years. This will be very strange. The smell of cologne won’t just stick around like that. Someone, or something, will have had to be there to place that third toothbrush. Huh? H-OH MY GOD. Just then, I’ll realize it. Will there be someone in my house? Suddenly, it’ll all make sense. The noise in the attic. The flickering lights. Oh my god. Is there a serial killer in my house, messing with me? I’ll freeze in fear. No, that’ll be impossible. Every door will have been locked since I arrived, and no serial killer will hide in a house for days. I’ll try to steady my breathing. No serial killer. That’ll be ridiculous. I’ll tell myself that once, twice, but I won’t believe it. Not really. I’ll glance behind me. Nothing. The hallway will be silent. Then I’ll hear it. A click. Like a door unlatching. I’ll jump and whirl around. Still nothing. But the sound will have come from inside the house. I’ll tell myself again: it’ll be an old house. Old houses will make noises. That won’t mean anything. I’ll grab the heaviest thing I’ll be able to find—my hairdryer—and creep toward the hallway. I won’t call out. I won’t dare. Because if someone answers… what will I do?
Chapter 6315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JduF3HPjL
Something Breathing315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpJh95kJfY
No one will answer for a while, so I will stop waiting. I’ll put the radio on again, trying to ignore what happened yesterday. It’ll be on Tucson live Sunday news. Nothing odd will seem to happen. The man on the radio will say something peculiar today. My heart will skip. He’ll be talking about who passed away in our city since last Sunday. “Rupert Estes, diabetes. Roberto Smith, suicide. A pause. “Ada Goodman.” I’ll stop breathing.“Tuberculosis,” he’ll add, as if that explained anything. I’ll turn the radio off. I won’t be able to stand hearing my older sister’s name. I’ll start to cry. The tears will come silently at first, but soon I won't be able to hold back the sobs. I’ll go take another walk. It’ll be like a ritual by now. This time, I won’t see Tony. In fact, I won’t see anyone. I’ll be so lonely. 315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbE8Ul2JbSc
That night, I’ll be awoken in the middle of the night by a strange sound. Oh god, this again. But this time it will almost seem like the house is inflating and deflating to the sound. It’ll sound like deep breathing, and as if it was coming from under the bed. I’ll freeze for a minute or two, then slowly grab a flashlight from my dresser and shine the light under the bed. Nothing. And the noise will have stopped too. I’ll just get back in bed and… I’ll guess that was a dream? Quite an odd one though.
Chapter 7315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLNZwxiCY3
Flashlight Games315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzo9H3PK2u
When I wake up in the morning, I’ll realize the flashlight I’ll have used to shine a light on the breathing was the same flashlight me and Ada used to play with together when we were kids. We would play hide and seek in the rooms upstairs, turn all the lights off, and try to find each other. It’ll be hard to believe those times’ll be over. Out of sheer boredom, I will pick up the flashlight and walk down the hall with it. I’ll stop at Ada’s old room and peek inside. Still the same as it was. Still wrong. Frustrated, I’ll keep walking down the hall. Suddenly, the flashlight will flicker, seemingly by itself. On for five, off for four, on for three, off for two, on for one, then out. Wait, that pattern will seem familiar. Where will I have seen that before? Hmmmm… THE LIGHTS DOWNSTAIRS! I’ll sprint down the steps, nearly tripping in my haste, my heart pounding like a runaway train. Nothing. And honestly, I won’t know what I will have been looking for. But certainly not nothing. A little disappointed, I’ll go back upstairs. Back in my room, I’ll toss the flashlight onto the bed. “Great,” I’ll mutter. “Guess that’s broken now.” But deep down, I’ll know it won’t have been. The flickering, the pattern—it’ll have meant something. I’ll just not know what. Yet.
Chapter 8315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bDd6zO1SZ
The Closet Door315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRLXV0BVI8
Having given up on the flashlight, I will just start wandering around the house. I’ll move slowly, quietly, as if not wanting to disturb the silence nestled in each corner. Suddenly, I’ll see the closet door. Open. But I won’t panic, my mother likely passed away so many years ago with it open. I’ll hesitantly decide to go in. It will not be clothes. I will instead see torn out diary pages all over the floor. I’ll pick one up. Ada’s handwriting.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNydwLDEf22
> Dear diary, today I went out to play with Mimi. We had fun. We throo the boll back an fourth. Wen I wus trying too sleep, I herd a scaree noiz. Like breething. Then I turnd the nite lite on an mayd it go uway. Mimi herd it too. She growld at the bed. But not a big growl, just a littel one like when she sees the dark part of the hall. I asked mommy if I cud sleep in her room but she was asleep alredy. Mimi slept on my bed tonite but she kept looking at the closet. I dont like the closet now. July 12, 2003315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7Wqdq7kyg
Oh my god. This will have been an issue for YEARS!? At least now I will know it’s nothing human, but that will make it even worse! After my horror fades, it will be replaced with grief all over again. But this time, I won’t cry. I’ll just sit there, all these emotions inside me.
Chapter 9315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhf1YDGQwzO
Echo of a Name315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemyuCpJmPK
I’ll have trouble sleeping that night, but in the morning I’ll hear something while I’m lying there. “Hello? Do you hear me? Did you miss me?” “Who is this!?”, I’ll respond, shocked. “It’s me, Ada.” “OH MY GOD! Why are you in the walls?” “I don’t know either, but it’s not too bad in here. Only one problem. Something keeps breathing in here, and it freaks me out.” “Are you… alive?” “I don’t know at this point. I’m pretty sure I passed away, but I feel pretty alive.” “What do you feel? ” “Everything.” I’ll be so shocked by this that the only thing I will be able to think to say will be “Do you want me to help you get out?” “No, I’m content here.” “Can I go back to sleep?” “Sure” But I won’t be able to. Thinking about how the mystery will be solved.
Chapter 10315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKpsXUTzh0
The Truth You Told Me315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVNIbOnVzW
I’ll remember a lie I told, a lie I took to her grave. The truth will be, she never really left me. She became a part of the very air I breathe, her presence lingering, whispering secrets of the past. I’ll never have come to terms with the fact that she’ll be gone. Perhaps that’ll be why her spirit will stay in the walls. But hard as I try, I’ll always miss her. I’ll suppose I shouldn’t miss her, knowing she won’T be gone. But I won’t be able to not miss her. It’ll be impossible, no matter what will happen. I’ll be a liar. I will have called her and told her “I give you permission to pass away. I let go of you.” But I will have lied. Lied to make her feel better. To make myself feel better. I’ll think, “Perhaps I shall tell her, now I know she’s at least in a state I can, even if not alive.” I’ll just sit there, considering what to do next.
Chapter 11315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrhFZ2du3K
The Crawlspace315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvuUNDyZJt
The next day, I’ll wake up and think, “Maybe I should ignore my gut feeling and go down into the crawlspace?” Then, I’ll truly set my mind to the idea. The crawlspace will hold secrets, remnants of the life I shared with her. A toy here, a tchotchke there, and another diary page!315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnn4OPVGRTB
> Deer diary, today I went out and played. It was fun! I played catch wiff the dog. Wee got our ennerjee out! How? Wel, just by runeeng a lot! I am still uh little scared uv the closet, butt it will bee fine! Daddy sez nothing in ther can hurt mee!315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAtFDkW1AV
Wow. Still an issue, a year later. The memories will flood back, and I’ll hold the page to my chest, feeling the remnants of that innocent optimism. Then, suddenly, I’ll remember the situation I’m in. This house will be haunted.
Chapter 12315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zDpp7jA5p
I Remember Now315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjEHTAxk6K
I’ll suddenly get a boost of courage and walk up the stairs. If this is my sister, it’ll be easy to talk to. I’ll call for her. “Hello?” “Hello!” “Are you able to get out of this house?” “If I try hard I probably could!” “Please do.” “Okay, I’ll get on that.” “Wait! Will you be lonely if I’m not in the house?” “No, I’ll be fine, Lizzie. “Okay, Ada!” This exchange will linger in my thoughts, and I’ll turn back to the crawlspace, questioning what I know. I’ll want to be friendly with her… but I won’t be able to. It will feel wrong to be friendly with a ghost. With all the stories I will have read in my childhood, I will have been taught that ghosts are sinister. Always. Yet, there will be a strange comfort in knowing she's around. Suddenly, I realize I should probably go check on her again. “Hello?” “Hello!” It’ll still be a bit surreal, hearing her voice without seeing her. “Almost out?” “Almost out!” “So what does it feel like, being dead?” “I told you, it feels like everything.”
Chapter 13315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtsDaGoBn7
Stillness315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYBmJ3zTTr
The next morning, I’ll decide to go check if she’s still there. I will run up the stairs, bare footed. “Hello?” No response. “HELLO?” No response. “Are you there?” Still no response. It is then I will know she will be gone. Suddenly, I’ll be crying again. Then, I’ll wonder where she went. Then, I’ll remember that this house is legally no longer mine next Wednesday, so I’ll start packing. As I pack, I’ll remember my parents, how they would react to all this. After I’m done packing, I will try to give myself a moment, to calm down. To think of what all this means. Will my sister have been special? Or will all people become ghosts when they die? How will my Tucson friends react to me getting back? They should be happy, but will they still be after I tell them what’s happened here?
EPILOGUE315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ143tcAgUzY
I’ll get back home. All my friends will be very happy, if still a little sorry for me, that I’m home. But no one will be able to explain the thing, something breathing.
and then Add to home screen.