Drinks you swore that were unopened would just either go missing, or get opened, making you second guess yourself. Boxes of food or household necessities would go missing. A faint chemical smell even though you haven’t cleaned.

The tv would flicker if it was off, like more than one person was using the wifi. Occasionally when you’d watch tv, channels would switch even though you weren’t holding the remote. Randomly on. Randomly off. Loud or quiet. And once, from a place close but so far away, you heard faint laughing, the type of laugh when something is funny on tv.

It was just stress. Lack of sleep. Maybe even paranoia and anxiety. Houses creamed and did funky things. But something gnawed so deep within.

Tonight was like any other day. You were doing basic house chores and it was time for laundry. You carried the hamper of dirty clothes down the basement stairs. The light buzzed as it was old. You were halfway down when you noticed something. A door?

A door you’ve never noticed before. You think you’d know your own house, right? It blended into the walls of the basement, like it doesn’t want to be seen. There was a lock on the handle… a used lock.

You stood there, trying to process what you’re seeing. You eventually set the laundry basket down and walked toward the door, tugging the handle. It wouldn’t budge. You scavenged your tool box and came back with a screwdriver. After fiddling around for a few seconds, you heard a click. Unlocked.

When you opened it, the smell hit you strong. It wasn’t a rotten smell, but there was something to it. Your brain adjusted to present time, your sight not far after. It was your house. Smaller. More dimly lit. The layout was familiar, the same furniture, same colors, the rug you got rid of months ago, your favorite utensils, your missing groceries..

Your mind raced. You stepped inside, your feet heavy and your breath shallow. Everything was real. This was no dream. A small tv in the corner was on. Static. Cleaning chemicals burning your senses now.

You turned, observing everything fully. A sound abruptly ruined your thought process. A toilet flushing. You froze. A creak from what seemed to be a bathroom door, coming from the toilet flush logic.

Quiet but heavy footsteps followed.