Internally conflicted, Ana was paralyzed.
His mind quickly searched for rational explanations: was it just the old house groaning and creaking? Seeking comfort, she called João, her husband. His reassuring voice temporarily calmed her, suggesting it was all part of the typical sounds of an ancient structure.
Still, the uneasiness followed her to her pillow, transforming her dreams into nightmares of human pleas for help.
The nightmares dissipated with the morning sun, but the situation gained a new layer of mystery. As she left the house with garbage bags, Ana met the piercing gaze of her neighbor.