The clock struck at 9:00 p.m. as the group gathered in the living room of the secluded cottage. The fire flickered weakly in the stone fireplace, casting long shadows on the rustic wooden walls. Outside, the wind howled, shaking the trees that surrounded the house, but inside, an uncomfortable silence lingered. The caretaker’s warning replayed in their minds, unsettling each of them in different ways.

Samera sat cross-legged on the couch next to Ava, the two of them exchanging nervous glances. Ava was editing footage from their road trip earlier in the day, her camera sitting on the coffee table, but her focus kept drifting. She could feel the tension building in the room. Samera, usually calm, had her arms wrapped around herself, her eyes darting toward the windows as if expecting something—or someone—to appear outside.

On the other side of the room, Rai was pacing, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. “I don’t like this,” he muttered, shaking his head. “Something feels off. That caretaker… she wasn’t just trying to scare us.”

Dionne sat beside him on the arm of a chair, her usually cheerful demeanor dulled by the weight of Rai’s unease. “Rai, maybe it’s nothing,” she said softly, but there was uncertainty in her voice. “We shouldn't overthink it.”

Zaire, leaning casually against the wall near the fireplace, glanced between the two of them, his smile faint but reassuring. “We’ve been on the road for hours. We’re all just tired. Let’s not jump to conclusions because of some creepy story.”

Ignatius, sprawled out on the other couch, waved a hand dismissively. “Exactly. People love telling stories to freak out tourists. It’s just some local superstition. The beach probably looks amazing at night.”

Ava looked up from her laptop, her gaze fixed on Ignatius. “I don’t know, guys. Maybe we should just take it easy tonight. Tomorrow morning we can check things out, but…” She hesitated, glancing at Samera, who was chewing her lip nervously. “Maybe it’s better to stay in for now.”

11:00 p.m. - The First Noise

The group gradually dispersed as the night wore on. Ignatius and Zaire stayed in the living room, quietly talking, while the others went to their rooms. Ava and Samera, sharing the room at the end of the hall, sat in their beds with the covers pulled up to their chins, too restless to sleep.

Rai and Dionne were in the room next door. Dionne had already fallen asleep, but Rai lay awake, his mind racing as he replayed the caretaker's warning. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.

The house creaked in the wind, normal at first. But around 11:30 p.m., a distinct tapping echoed from the window in Ava and Samera’s room.

Samera sat up, her heart pounding. “Ava, did you hear that?”

Ava nodded, her eyes wide. “Probably just the wind…”

But the tapping continued, slow and deliberate. Samera slid out of bed and cautiously approached the window. She peeked through the curtains, but all she could see were shadows and the swaying trees. “There’s nothing out there.”

They exchanged uneasy glances, but the sense of being watched lingered.