The Johnson family ran through the thickening darkness, the once-friendly surroundings of their new home now twisted into a nightmare. The laughter of the boy echoed behind them, chilling their bones as they hurried down the gravel path that led away from the house. Sarah’s heart raced, and she could feel Jake clutching her hand tightly, his small fingers trembling.

“Where do we go?” Emma asked, glancing back at the ominous silhouette of the house.

“We need to find help,” Sarah said breathlessly. “Let’s head to the neighbor’s place.”

As they reached the main road, the family spotted a dim light in the distance—an old cottage nestled among the trees. With renewed hope, they sprinted toward it, urgency propelling them forward.

They knocked frantically on the door, and it swung open to reveal an elderly woman with silver hair and knowing eyes. “You’re not the first to come seeking refuge,” she said, her voice steady despite the frantic energy in the air.

“Please, we need help! There’s a boy in our house—he’s angry and won’t let us leave!” Sarah exclaimed, her voice rising in desperation.

The woman’s expression shifted from curiosity to concern. “You’ve awakened Karl,” she said, her voice low. “He was a troubled soul in life, and his anger has kept him bound to that house. You must leave before he claims you as his own.”

“We tried to leave, but he won’t let us,” Tom said, panic rising in his throat.

“Then you must confront him. Face the spirit and show him that you mean no harm,” the woman advised. “Only then will he allow you to leave.”

Despite the fear gripping their hearts, the family knew they had no other choice. “We’ll go back,” Sarah said, determination settling in her voice. “But how do we confront him?”

The woman nodded solemnly. “He needs to understand that you’re not like the others who hurt him. You must find a way to reach the boy within.”

With a few quick instructions from the elderly woman, the Johnsons gathered their courage and headed back to their home, the house looming before them like a gaping mouth ready to swallow them whole.