Upstairs

When I was a child I lived in a rented two-floor house. Both my parents worked so I was often alone when I came home from school.

One early evening when I came home the house was still dark. I called out, "Mum?" and heard a voice say "Yeeeeees?" from upstairs.

I called my mum again, and again got the same "Yeeeeees?" reply.

I felt she was calling back at me and climbed up the stairs.

When I reached the first floor I called her once more and the voice "Yeeeeees?" came from the furthest room.

I felt both uneasy, but a strong urge to see my mother, and started to walk towards the room.

But just that moment I heard the front door downstairs open and my mother come in, carrying a lot of shopping bags.

"Sweetie, are you home?" my mother called in a cheery voice.

Hearing her voice made me feel instantly better and I turned back to go downstairs at once... but not before I had a quick glance towards the room.

While I watched from the top of the stairs, the door to the room slowly opened a crack.

For a brief moment, I saw something strange in there.

A pale face, staring at me.