...*original published on typekita app 07/07/23, revised on 08/07/23, updated story cover on typekita 09/14/23*...

...*Entry on Typekita App #/7DaysofTyepkita (WON🥇), #/TKGoldenMonth, #/TKGoldRush*...

...This is my contribution for the event #Oh! You scared me!...

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...PREVIOUS STORY COVER...

...CURRENT STORY COVER...

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In our house there are certain words that must go unsaid.

We do not talk about the strange sounds heard at night, or the breathing of another against our neck. We do not speak of the nightmares we have, or the friend my little brother plays with that cannot be seen. We never mention anything negative, and ignore every creak in the house as if it does not happen,

We do not talk about mother.

All of this is forbidden, hidden under unspoken rules that I understand despite never hearing them be brought to life by words. It is the only rules in my home. The only one's my father cares to enforce, at least, I've lived like this way for as long as I can remember. It is all I know, and all I ever will, Despite this, my life is not so different than the average person's.

I have a best friend, Matthew. He doesn't ask questions about the strange things surrounding me, and it is what I need. I have good grades, and a boyfriend named Klein who I love. My life is not as bad as one may expect.

Until one day it was.

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...*if you can't handle some mild gore (which would be censored in the later chapters) and creepy stuffs, please don't continue reading the story!*...

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^^^March 7, 2023^^^

My name is Kryz Lee. I am seventeen years old, and this is the first time I have ever owned a diary. I thought it could be fun. and perhaps I may finally be able to bring to life the words I cannot say and have always wanted to.

I live under strange, repetitive circumstances that my father and I are certain keep us alive. Every night before we go to bed we go around the house to make sure the doors and windows are locked. We check every single one at least three times, and then check the five locks that keep the basement door closed. We try opening it, making sure the door holds and stays sturdy, and then we go to sleep.

Sometimes we hear the pitter patter of footsteps across the ceiling despite there being no upstairs. A scratching sound heard against a wall, we simply turn the other way. Ignoring these phenomena seems to keep it at bay.

In the morning when we wake up the windows are often found unlocked, doors gaping open with no missing items in the house to mark it as a robber's work. We do not speak of these things, and act as if it had not happened. It is a normal occurrence for us. We continue on.

At school, most people are afraid of me. They call me a witch. They say strange things happen around me, that make people trip and stumble. A classmate can be working on a school project and as soon as they go to turn it in they find something broken or ruined. The only one who would ever talk to me was Matthew. In first grade he sat down next to me at lunch, told me he thought it was cool I was a witch, and shared half of his apple juice with me. He never ran away when a strange wind ruffled my hair, or a coloring book was thrown across the room by itself. When he was young it excited him, and now he ignored it like I did.

I always felt bad about being Matthew's friend. He was the type of person who shined and got along with people no matter what type of individual they were. He was one of the top soccer players, and did well in school too. In normal circumstances I knew he would have been popular. I'd overheard his teammates before asking why he didn't drop me, that I was holding him back. He said if our positions were reversed he knew I'd never leave him, and walked out as if nothing had happened. He saw the tears in my eyes and ruffled my hair. Dropping into a conversation we had been talking about earlier without any sort of awkward pause.

Klein Anderson joined us in tenth grade. On his first day he sat down next to us without a word and casually started eating his lunch as if this was an everyday occurrence and the rest of the cafeteria didn't steer clear of us like the plague. On the second day we asked him why, and he said he didn't believe in that sort of stuff and this place had plenty of seating here.

He did not hear me when I said beneath my breath that he should.

It was not long until we were friends, and then dating. I wasn't sure if I'd ever manage to get a boyfriend with the stigma surrounding me. Klein felt perfect. He never yelled when he got angry, and he always tried to be understanding. He did not often use words to make me feel loved, but his eyes told me everything I ever needed to know. He brushed off things moving around my house for the longest time on faulty vision or not paying attention, and that worked out perfectly for me. The same went for the strange noises.

It didn't become a problem until things became undeniable.

Today after school my boyfriend came home with me. I sliced up some apples for us and we watched TV together as I babysat for my little brother who was playing with his toys in the same room. I was giggling, leaning against him as he rubbed little circles against my arm, and then a crash came from the kitchen. The dog perked up, letting out an ominous bark while glancing in the direction it came from.

Klein straightened his back, glancing behind him. "Did you hear that?"

Me and my brother held each other eyes, before he turned back to playing with his train.

"Nope, what did you hear?" I answered.

Klein sat up, squinting into the kitchen. "It sounded like glass breaking?"

I trailed anxiously behind Klein, glancing back at my brother who was ignoring both of us. He had learned the unspoken rules at a young age, and we had taught the dog to stay with him in these situations. Remmy slept with him at night, and if anything strange was happening he made enough noise that either me or my father would wake up and make sure Ray was okay. Klein turned on the light, peering around the kitchen. "I don't see anything broken."

His brows creased in confusion and he ruffled his hair. I hurried to wrap my arms around him, pulling him into a hug before placing a simple kiss on his lips. "It was probably just a tree branch hitting the side of the house or something. Nothing to worry about," I brushed off.

He did not seem convinced. "Are you sure?"

His eyes stared into mine, open and trusting, and all at once I wanted to tell the truth. I hated lying to him, but this was for his own good. "Maybe my hearing is bad?"

He sighed, dropping the subject. "Alright... if you say so.

I ran my fingers through the scruff of his hair, pulling him back towards the TV. "Come on We're going to miss the best part!"

We cuddled together on the couch, occasionally laughing at the co-hosts antics and leaving little kisses on each other's hands and foreheads. But still, something felt different between us. Maybe it was something only I felt, a certain feeling of doom loitering on the horizon.

Looking back on this, I would mark this as the very beginning.

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^^^March 19, 2023^^^

I dreamed about back when we used to keep the basement unlocked. I was tied to a chair, screaming as a woman chanted strange words around me. I could not understand anything she said, but the more she spoke the more the bloody symbols carved into the walls seemed to twist and gape. The room was dimly lit with candles, and a faint smell of frankincense permeated the room.

The woman's eyes began to bleed black. A thick liquid that leaked down her face, and suddenly she grabbed my arm. I could feel my skin blister where she touched, and as soon as I let out a blood curling scream I flew up in my bed.

I took a deep breath in, wiping my eyes and doing a quick perusal of my skin. A sinking feeling hit my gut when I saw handprints against the same arm the woman in my dream touched me at.

I wore long sleeves that day and ignored it like I always did when anything strange happened. I did not bring it up to my father. I did not bring it up to my friend. It was not the first time I had woken up with nightmares and handprints on me, and it would not be the last time.

Math was the only class had with Klein. It was a class that I hated but Klein did passable at, so he tended to try and explain things whenever we were left alone to do problems.

"But I don't get it. Where is the 'Y' even coming from?"

He pointed over to the other side of the equation. "We've divided it now so it's on the other side."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair and leaning back in the chair. "My brain is fried," I announced.

Klein chuckled, glancing discreetly at their teacher Mr. Hanson and reaching a hand below the desk to squeeze my thigh. He leaned closer to my neck, whispering against me. "Will your dad be home tonight?"

My father was a lawyer with unpredictable hours. I often watched my brother after school, and it would not be a surprising occurrence for my father to stay all night at the office.

I grinned, wrinkling my nose at him. "He told me this morning he would be home late." "Alright, that's enough," the teacher said with a severe look. Klein and I pulled away from each other with a blush. Klein grabbed my arm suddenly, looking where my sleeve had ridden up. "What is this?"

I hurried to cover the marks, avoiding his gaze. "Nothing."

"Nothing?" he repeated in disbelief. pulling my jacket back up. He brushed his fingers against the marks softly, peering into my eyes. "Is someone... hurting you?"

"No."

"Is someone is bullying you at school?"

I shook my head. "No, it's not like that."

Klein pulled his chair closer. "Then tell me what it's like, Kryz. There are marks on your arm. Someone is hurting you."

I shook my head till my air covered my face. "It's nothing." I whispered.

Klein stared at me, an unreadable expression in his eyes. He bit down on his inner cheek, taking a deep breath in. "Is it your father?"

I flinched, immediately shaking my head in denial. "No. why would you say such a thing?"

Klein shrugged, turning away. "What am I supposed to think? You won't talk about it."

"My dad would never do something like that. He's never even hit me."

"Alright, alright. I believe you." he murmured, eyes searching mine. His hand reached out, enclosing my own. "But if something was happening you would tell me. right?"

"Of course."

That night my father did not come back late, much to my surprise. He did not catch me or my boyfriend at anything either though because I had not even tucked my little brother Ray into bed.

"You're here late," my father commented.

Klein scratched the back of his neck while my father watched him knowingly. "I wanted to help her with the dishes... it was only right after she fixed dinner."

My father shook his head in dry amusement. "If you two are doing that I hope you're both being safe."

I choked on my water. Klein making a startled noise of surprise. Ray looked at us both before turning to dad.

"Safe about what, daddy?"

"Uhh, coloring!" Klein bursts. "Safe about coloring! We have to color in the lines."

My father snorted but did not try to deny my boyfriend's statement. Suddenly, his eyes fell on my marks and his jaw tightened.

"Is this new?" he asked, grabbing my arm to examine it.

"Yes." I frowned. pulling away and turning back to the dishes. I could feel Klein's eyes burning a hole against my back, watching us carefully.

My father pulled away with a frown, helping me wipe down the counters. "We should do something fun this weekend. I know I don't always say it, but I'm thankful for you helping out with your little brother so much. You don't have to." It was a quick change of subject. The only thing he could do for me was ignore it.

"I don't mind." I murmured.

"I know you don't, but I still feel bad." He rinsed the rag off in the sink. leaving it to dry over the faucet. "You should be out there making friends, spending more time with your boyfriend."

I snorted. "What friends? I only have Matthew, and its soccer season so he's always busy during this time. As for me and Klein. we're fine. We're happy hanging out here after school. That's more than enough." "Alright then, if you ever need any money don't be afraid to ask. I really do mean we should do something fun this weekend. You can come too if you'd like, Klein."

Klein nodded his head shyly. "Thank you."

"Amusement park?" my brother chirped.

"If you'd like." my father told him.

"Amusement park!" my brother confirmed, racing around in circles. Klein chuckled, gather him in his arms. "Well you still need a bath little buddy, so let's get going." He kissed my forehead as he left, Ray trying to jump up and down in his arms.

"You were never like that," my father said as soon as they were gone. "Always so calm and soft spoken. Polite too, kept to your manners and didn't need reminders."

I shrugged. "You didn't have to raise me alone."

My father's jaw tightened just the slightest. "It's better this way."

"Yes," I agreed, staring out the window.

"It's better this way, but she wasn't always like that."

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