The 2017 Ghost: A Haunting Reality

The air was thick with the scent of rain-soaked earth, a smell that clung to the cobblestone streets of the small town of Eldridge. It was the year 2017, and the town was known for its eerie quiet, the kind that whispers secrets into the ears of those who dare to listen. At the heart of this enigma was the old, abandoned house on Maple Street, a place that had seen better days but now harbored a haunting reality.

“What do you mean, you’ve seen her?” asked Sarah, her eyes wide with disbelief as she leaned against the car door, the rain pelting against the metal.

“I’ve seen her, Sarah,” her friend, Mark, replied, his voice steady despite the fear that clawed at his insides. “The ghost. The one that’s been reported to haunt this place.”

Sarah shuddered, her hand instinctively going to her throat. She had heard the stories, but she had never believed them. Ghosts were the stuff of campfire tales, not the reality of her life. But Mark had seen her, and the way he spoke of her, with a mix of reverence and dread, made Sarah reconsider.

“Where is she now?” Sarah demanded, her voice tinged with urgency.

“Upstairs,” Mark said, pointing to the old house. “In the room with the red door.”

Sarah followed Mark up the rickety wooden staircase, her heart pounding in her chest. The house was silent, save for the occasional creak of the floorboards. They reached the top and stood before the red door, its paint peeling away to reveal the original wood beneath.

“Why didn’t you tell me this before?” Sarah whispered, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I didn’t want you to get scared,” Mark said, his eyes locked on the door. “But I can’t keep this from you anymore.”

Sarah took a deep breath and turned the handle. The door creaked open, and the air inside was colder than the outside. The room was small, with a single window looking out onto the town. The walls were lined with old photographs and faded wallpaper, giving the place an air of decay.

“Who is she?” Sarah asked, her voice trembling.

“Her name is Eliza,” Mark said, stepping into the room. “She died here, years ago. They say she was betrayed by the man she loved.”

Sarah stepped into the room, her eyes scanning the space. There was a small bed in the corner, a dresser against the wall, and a single chair. The room was eerie, but it was the empty chair that drew her attention. She approached it, her hand hovering over the back.

“You’re here,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.

There was no answer, just the sound of her own breath and the ticking of a clock on the wall. Sarah turned around, her eyes searching the room for any sign of Eliza. She felt a chill run down her spine, and she shivered.

“Mark, are you sure this is safe?” she asked, her voice trembling.

“I don’t know, Sarah,” Mark replied, his voice tinged with fear. “But I can’t ignore what I’ve seen.”

Sarah nodded, her eyes returning to the chair. She sat down, her legs shaking. She closed her eyes, trying to focus on the present, but the image of Eliza’s face kept flickering in her mind.

“Who betrayed you, Eliza?” Sarah whispered, her voice barely audible.

The room was silent, save for the ticking of the clock. Then, suddenly, a breeze swept through the room, and Sarah felt a cold hand brush against her cheek. She opened her eyes, and there, sitting in the chair, was Eliza. Her eyes were hollow, and her face was pale, but there was a spark of something in her eyes.

“I didn’t betray you,” Eliza said, her voice soft but filled with sorrow. “He did.”

Sarah gasped, her heart pounding in her chest. She stood up, her eyes wide with shock. Eliza stood up as well, her form ghostly and ethereal. She moved closer to Sarah, her eyes locking onto hers.

“Please, help me,” Eliza whispered, her voice filled with desperation. “I need to find peace.”

Sarah felt a strange connection to Eliza, as if she were carrying the weight of her sorrow. She nodded, her heart breaking for the woman who had died so long ago.

“I’ll help you,” Sarah said, her voice filled with resolve.

Eliza smiled, a ghostly, sad smile that seemed to touch Sarah’s soul. Then, just as quickly as she had appeared, she vanished, leaving behind a sense of loss and longing.

Sarah and Mark left the house, the rain still falling heavily. They stood on the porch, looking up at the stars that had begun to peek through the clouds.

“What just happened?” Sarah asked, her voice trembling.

“I don’t know,” Mark replied, his eyes searching the sky. “But I think we’ve just touched something deeper than we ever imagined.”

Sarah nodded, her eyes filled with tears. She had never believed in ghosts, but that night, she had seen the truth. The line between the living and the dead was more blurred than she had ever imagined, and she knew that her life would never be the same.

As they walked away from the house, the rain stopped, and the stars began to shine brighter. Sarah looked up at the sky, feeling a sense of peace that she had never known before.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice filled with gratitude.

“For what?” Mark asked, his eyes reflecting the stars.

“For showing me the truth,” Sarah replied, her voice filled with hope. “And for helping Eliza find peace.”

And with that, they walked into the night, their hearts lighter and their minds clearer. The 2017 ghost had left its mark on them, a haunting reality that would forever change their lives.