The House Beyond the Shadows

The House Beyond the Shadows marks my first step into the world of fiction. It feels wonderful to return to writing after a long break. This time, let’s pause for a moment to step into a fictional world and explore the fascinating ways in which human imagination can run wild.

Misty and Sammy had been in love for a long time, and they were finally ready to make their live-in relationship official by getting married. Misty, an avid reader and writer, adored fictional novels and murder mysteries, while Sammy—a dedicated techie working as a cyber-security consultant—never hesitated to do anything that would make her happy. They had been living together openly for quite some time, and now a new chapter awaited them. Motherhood was soon to be embraced by Misty, and the thought of welcoming a child into their lives was being joyfully celebrated by both of them.

Misty was in her second trimester when the couple decided to take a babymoon to break away from their daily routine. Since she was expecting, Misty had taken a break from her career and stayed at home full-time, while Sammy worked long hours to manage their expenses. Because they rarely found time for each other, Sammy secretly planned a weekend getaway to a peaceful destination where they could relax and enjoy each other’s company.

They left home early in the morning and stopped at a highway café for breakfast and snacks. As Misty was in her fifth month, she was experiencing common pregnancy discomforts like frequent urination, swollen feet, and back pain, so they took regular breaks throughout the journey to keep her comfortable. Despite the challenges, they were delighted to finally spend some quality time together. 

They were halfway to their destination, driving through a stretch of quiet woods where the lush greenery and gentle breeze lifted their spirits. The sunny, calm weather made the journey even more delightful. But suddenly, the car came to a halt. The engine had overheated after the long drive, and Sammy hadn’t gotten the chance to do a last-minute check-up before they left.

While Misty remained seated inside, Sammy stepped out to inspect the problem. As soon as he opened the bonnet, smoke billowed out. The road was deserted, making it difficult to find help. Misty felt a wave of disappointment—she had just begun to enjoy the trip, and now the car trouble had dampened her excitement. Sammy realized they needed water to cool the engine, but the bottles they carried were only enough for themselves. Misty stepped out of the car and was instantly soothed by the pleasant weather, the sound of birds chirping, and the echo of the forest around them. She insisted on accompanying Sammy to look for water, not wanting to stay alone in an isolated place. Sammy also felt it was safer for her to come along.They gathered their valuables, left the car by the roadside, and began searching the woods for a water source.

They wandered through the woods for a while, and Misty soon began to feel exhausted. Just then, she noticed a large manor at first it felt like a haunted house that lies deep in shadows and pointed it out to Sammy. They decided that instead of continuing their long search, it would be easier to visit the manor and ask for water so they could quickly return to their journey. As they walked closer, the forest grew denser, and the weather suddenly shifted, becoming dark and cloudy. By the time they reached the manor, rain had begun pouring down—it was clear now that the house stood deep within a rainforest, farther inside the woods than they had expected.

The manor itself was old and enormous, likely a farmhouse or weekend retreat. Its remote location made it hard to imagine anyone living there alone. They rang the doorbell, but there was no response. Misty, worn out from the walk, sat on the steps hoping someone would eventually answer. After pressing the bell several times, the door finally opened. An elderly housekeeper appeared, moving slowly—he must have taken time to reach the door while they waited anxiously.

Sammy politely explained their situation and asked if they could get some water. The old man agreed and told Sammy he could draw water from the well behind the house. Noticing Misty’s fatigue and discomfort, he suggested she rest inside while Sammy fetched the water. However, Misty felt uneasy and preferred to stay outside on the steps. Seeing her worry, Sammy gently reassured her that she could sit inside for just a few minutes, and they would leave as soon as he returned. He also reminded her not to accept any drinks—just to rest briefly.

Reluctantly, Misty agreed and followed the caretaker inside. She was struck by the sheer size and beauty of the manor. Through a window, she watched Sammy at the well, feeling slightly relieved. She stayed by the window, unwilling to lose sight of him. The caretaker offered if she would have something like water tea or coffee but she nodded as they had no plans to stay there for long time and waited for Sammy.

Misty kept her eyes on Sammy from inside the manor, watching him walk back from the well. The moment he returned, she felt relieved, comforted by the thought that they could finally leave. Sammy stepped inside and was equally stunned by how beautiful and well-kept the manor was. Just then, the rain intensified—common in a rainforest, where showers would come and go throughout the day. While they waited in the drawing room, the caretaker politely offered them a tour of the house.

Sammy considered it for a moment. Since the rain would take some time to stop, he thought a quick tour wouldn’t hurt, and they could leave as soon as the weather cleared. Misty followed him closely, gripping his arm tightly. The atmosphere of the mansion felt eerie to her, and as the sky grew darker, her uneasiness deepened.

They climbed a grand staircase lined with old photographs of the owners. The caretaker explained that the family lived in London and visited the manor only once a year, as it was their ancestral property. Suddenly, Misty froze in place. Sammy, having walked ahead, didn’t notice at first—until he turned around and saw that she was standing completely still, unmoving. Fear washed over him. Misty seemed lost, her expression blank. In reality, she was slipping into a subconscious memory—a vivid journey through what felt like her own ancestral home.

Misty had been an orphan when she met Sammy. He knew how much love she lacked growing up, especially after losing her father at a young age. Now, in her trance-like state, she felt as though she was walking through her childhood house with Sammy beside her. She wandered through rooms filled with memories of her father: his study and workspace, their old computer, the living area, the blackboard he had bought for her, their kitchen, the old telephone. Everything felt alive again. She believed she was showing all of this to Sammy, imagining him quietly following her.

Meanwhile, in reality, Sammy and the caretaker gently helped Misty into the nearest bedroom, hoping she would regain consciousness soon. But in her mind, she continued climbing the stairs of what she believed to be her childhood home—her old room appearing exactly as she remembered, untouched by time. She marvelled at the red carpet, the oval bed, the study table, and the walk-in closets. Filled with excitement, she pointed out everything to the Sammy in her imagination, who simply followed her silently. Misty’s childhood home had two levels—a ground floor and an upper floor with a terrace. In her vision, she showed Sammy the guest room, untouched and rarely used. Then, taking his hand, she led him toward the terrace. The terrace was steeply sloped, just as she remembered.

Back in the real world, Sammy was calling out her name repeatedly, using every bit of strength he had, but she remained unresponsive. The caretaker explained that her subconscious had taken control after they wandered through the old manor, pulling her into a deep trance. Sammy was growing increasingly worried and regretting ever stopping at the manor. He asked if they could call a doctor, but the caretaker hesitated, explaining that no medical help was available in such a remote area. Feeling frustrated, Sammy told him to at least bring some water. The caretaker hurried out of the room. Suddenly, a voice echoed through the room, coming from nowhere and everywhere at once. “The truth,” it said. “The truth of what you’re facing. Misty is trapped in her subconscious. She cannot hear you. If you want to bring her back, you must enter her dream.”

The real question was—how could Sammy enter her dream? He held Misty’s hand; it was ice-cold, almost as if he were touching something frozen. Gathering his courage, he closed his eyes and tried to reach out to her. Suddenly, he heard her voice echoing in his mind, calling out to him.

“Sammy… Sammy, look! Our old storeroom!”

In her vision, Misty stood beside their imagined bedroom, excitedly swinging on an old wooden swing. Sammy was confused at first, but soon realised that her mind had taken him into the world of her childhood—a place where her memories with her father still lived. Although her old house had been reconstructed years ago, disappearing from reality, it still existed vividly in her subconscious. And now, he was inside her dream as well.

She eagerly showed him the old generator cabin, the guest room, and their bedroom. Everything felt unbelievably real. For a moment, she even forgot she was pregnant—running and moving with the carefree energy of her younger self. Sammy stayed close, trying to protect her, but he couldn’t make her understand that she was dreaming. They reached the sloping terrace again. Misty suddenly stopped. Sammy followed her gaze and froze—she was staring at a man standing at the far end of the terrace. Her father. Calling out to her. Reaching for her.

Sammy knew it was a trap created by her subconscious. This wasn’t real—neither her father nor the old house. He tried to stop her.

“No, Misty, listen to me! This isn’t true. Your father… he’s gone. This house isn’t real. You’re dreaming!”

But Misty shook her head, tears filling her eyes.

“No, Sammy… he’s calling me. I haven’t spoken to him in so long. It’s been twenty-five years. I need to ask him why he left us… why he never came back.”

Sammy’s heart pounded. He knew she could get hurt if she followed the illusion. He grabbed her tightly. “Misty, look at me! It’s not real!” he shouted, trying to pull her away. She resisted, trying desperately to reach her father. Suddenly, she slipped and fell. Sammy rushed to her, helping her stand—but when she looked up again, her father had vanished. Moments later, the entire house began to collapse around them. Walls crumbled. Floors shook. The swing, the rooms, everything dissolved into chaos.

Sammy wrapped his arms around her, shielding her as the dream-house trembled violently. They ran as the structure fell apart, dragging themselves toward the exit. Just as they reached the threshold, a heavy object crashed near them. Both Misty and Sammy collapsed to the ground, losing consciousness as the world around them shattered into darkness.

The caretaker had managed to call for help, and together they tried their best to bring Misty and Sammy back to reality. After some time, Misty suddenly opened her eyes, and moments later Sammy also woke up from a deep, heavy sleep. Misty looked disoriented, drained by the intensity of the dream she had experienced. Her mind felt exhausted, and fatigue washed over her. Not wanting to waste another second, Sammy decided to take her to a doctor immediately. The caretaker urged him to wait until she was fully conscious, but Sammy refused. He picked up the water he had collected, helped Misty to her feet, and rushed her out of the manor.

By then, the car’s engine had cooled. He gently settled Misty in the back seat, started the car, and drove off without a single glance behind. In the rear-view mirror, he caught one last glimpse of the manor—an eerie, silent structure hidden in the woods. The mysterious manor.He silently vowed never to return. Misty remained confused and dazed, trying to piece together what had happened, while Sammy reassured her repeatedly that everything was fine and they were heading to safety.

They reached a nearby hospital, where Sammy immediately sought out a neurologist and explained the entire ordeal. The doctor listened carefully, noticing the worry and panic in Sammy’s voice. He explained that when someone has a troubled or painful past, suppressed memories buried in the subconscious can resurface unexpectedly when triggered
. The doctor concluded that something inside the manor must have awakened Misty’s long-buried memories, pulling her into a subconscious state.

Misty, however, had no understanding of what she had just gone through. She didn’t know where she was or why they were at the hospital. Sammy consulted a gynecologist as well, and the doctor reassured him that both Misty and the baby were completely fine. Misty remembered nothing about her past or the strange episode, only feeling confused about why they had ended up at the hospital. Sammy gently assured her once again that everything was alright. They decided to continue with their staycation as planned. Sammy, however, could not shake off the memory of what had happened. The thought that he and Misty had stepped into a haunted manor which was nothing but something dark beyond the shadows. kept him awake at night. Misty, on the other hand, had no recollection of the entire experience—something that quietly relieved him.

After spending three or four days away, they finally returned home, this time taking an entirely different route, making sure to avoid the path that led to the mysterious manor in the woods. It felt exactly like the house beyond the shadows.