The Room That Wasn't There

Chapter 1: The Room That Wasn't There

The first time Daniel heard someone knocking from inside the wall, he blamed the pipes.

The house was old.

That was what the landlord had told him.

“Old houses make noises,” the man had said, handing Daniel the keys. “You’ll get used to it.”

Daniel smiled politely.

He didn't know then that the landlord had been staring at the upstairs hallway while he said it.

The house stood at the end of a narrow road surrounded by dead trees. It had been empty for almost eleven years, yet the rent was surprisingly cheap.

Daniel didn't care.

He had recently started a new job and needed somewhere affordable. The house had three bedrooms, a small garden, a fireplace, and more space than he could have hoped for.

It felt like a bargain.