The Knock-Knock of Demons

The night was as dark as the secrets it harbored. In the small town of Willow Creek, where the whispering winds carried tales of old, there was a house that stood alone, its windows like hollow eyes peering into the night. The house was the home of Jameson, a man who had moved there with his wife and two children after a mysterious accident left him with a peculiar habit—listening to knock-knock jokes at odd hours.

Jameson's habit had begun with the sudden appearance of an old, worn-out book on his doorstep one morning. The book was filled with knock-knock jokes, and every night, he would read them to himself, laughing softly as if the ghost of a forgotten comedian were sitting beside him. His family had grown accustomed to the strange noises that would echo through the house in the dead of night, the sound of Jameson's laughter mingling with the creaking of floorboards and the occasional knock on the door.

One evening, as Jameson was reading another joke from the book, he heard a knock at the door. Startled, he rushed to answer it, only to find the door locked from the inside. The knock had come from the other side. He checked the windows and found them securely fastened. There was no one there, yet the knock continued, relentless and eerie.

The next night, the knock came again, this time louder, and Jameson, feeling a shiver down his spine, decided to investigate. He followed the sound to the attic, where the book had come from. The attic was dark and dusty, and the air felt thick with anticipation. As he reached the attic door, he heard the knock again, this time closer.

With a deep breath, Jameson pushed the door open and stepped into the attic. The room was filled with cobwebs and the scent of decay. In the center of the room was the old book, lying open on a rickety table. The knock had come from the book, as if it were alive.

Jameson's heart raced as he approached the table. He picked up the book and began to read the joke that had been written on the page. As he read, the book seemed to come alive, the words glowing with an otherworldly light. The joke was a simple one, but the words were charged with a sinister energy.

"The knock-knock of demons," the joke read. "They say you can't escape them. They say you can't hide from them. They say they will always find you."

As Jameson read the words, he felt a chill run down his spine. He looked around the attic and saw shadows moving, as if the walls themselves were alive. The knock came again, this time more forceful, and Jameson realized that the book was not just a book—it was a portal to a world of malevolent spirits.

The next night, as the knock continued, Jameson made a decision. He took the book and began to read it aloud, hoping to banish the spirits. But as he read, the knock grew louder, and the shadows in the attic swirled around him, forming the shape of a demon.

The demon spoke, its voice a hollow echo that seemed to come from everywhere at once. "You cannot escape us, Jameson. We are the knock-knock of demons. We have been waiting for you."

As the demon approached, Jameson could feel the icy touch of its presence. He reached for the book, knowing that it was his only hope of survival. As he closed the book, the knock stopped, and the shadows began to fade.

Jameson stumbled back, gasping for breath. He had survived, but the knock-knock of demons had left their mark on him. He knew that the spirits would return, and he would have to be ready. But for now, he was safe.

The following days were a blur of fear and uncertainty. Jameson tried to live his life normally, but the knock-knock of demons lingered in his mind, a constant reminder of the darkness that had been unleashed upon his family.

One night, as he was reading the book to his children, he realized that the jokes were not just jokes—they were a warning. The knock-knock of demons was a sign that something terrible was about to happen. Jameson knew that he had to protect his family, and he had to do it before it was too late.

The knock came again that night, this time louder and more insistent than ever before. Jameson rushed to the attic, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew what he had to do. He reached for the book, and as he closed it, the knock stopped, and the shadows vanished.

Jameson stood in the attic, panting heavily. He had done it. He had banished the knock-knock of demons, but he knew that the fight was far from over. The spirits would return, and he would have to be ready. But for now, he was safe, and his family was safe.

As he descended the attic stairs, Jameson looked out the window and saw the moon hanging low in the sky. The night was dark, but it was no longer filled with fear. The knock-knock of demons had been silenced, and Jameson had won the battle, at least for now.

But he knew that the war was far from over. The knock-knock of demons would return, and he would have to be ready. The battle had only just begun.