Nicolas Roth, a 33-year-old man, recently moved to the town of Raven Brooks. Rumors of supernatural occurrences circulated around the town, but Nicolas dismissed them as nothing more than stories. After all, there was no way they could actually be true… right?

After hours of unpacking boxes and rearranging furniture, Nicolas carried the last box into his new house and set it down in the living room. At last, he was finished.

Nicolas: "Ugh, finally," he muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow. "That's the last of them."

He stepped back, admiring his handiwork. The place was no longer just empty rooms—it actually looked lived in. Nicolas glanced around at everything neatly in place and let out a small sigh of relief.

Nicolas: "It's not much, but I can definitely call this place home now."

Feeling the weariness set in, Nicolas made his way toward the living room couch, its soft fabric calling to him. He flopped down, sinking into the cushions with a contented sigh.

Nicolas: "Ahh… that's the spot," he mumbled, his body melting into the soft cushions. The fatigue weighed heavily on his eyelids, and soon he drifted off to sleep.

After several peaceful hours of rest, Nicolas was suddenly jolted awake by the shrill sound of a child's scream. His eyes snapped open, and he sat bolt upright on the couch, the sound echoing in his ears.

Nicolas: "What the…?" he muttered, rubbing his eyes groggily. "Was that…?"

He sat there for a moment, straining to hear anything else, and then another scream pierced the air. This time it was unmistakable—it was coming from his neighbor's house across the street.