We Used to Live Here

Chilly air nips at Eve Palmer’s cheeks as she stands at the door of the house she’s flipping, a young queer woman known for her keen eye and cautious nature. A family of five, led by a middle-aged father, appears unexpectedly at her doorstep, claiming to have grown up in the house and requesting a quick tour for the children. Eve, initially hesitant due to the late hour and the absence of a vehicle, feels a wave of unease. The cold weather and the lack of a car suggest an unusual situation, one that sets her nerves on edge.

Her internal struggle is palpable; she is torn between her anxiety and her tendency to avoid conflict. To buy time, she uses the 'Let Me Check with Charlie' card, a tactic she often employs to avoid saying no directly. Stepping inside to call her girlfriend, Charlie, she finds the phone off, leaving her with a difficult decision. Despite her better judgment, Eve allows the family to wait in the foyer while she considers their request.

The family’s presence triggers a flood of memories and paranoia, personified by a childhood toy named Mo, which whispers warnings of danger. After a moment of hesitation, Eve returns to the foyer and attempts to decline the family’s request, citing Charlie’s disapproval. However, the family reacts calmly, and the father offers his business card, suggesting they might return in a year or two. Overwhelmed by guilt, Eve impulsively agrees to let them tour the house for fifteen minutes.

Eve lingers at the base of the stairs, watching the family shed their winter coats. The father, Thomas, seems unnervingly familiar with the house, while the mother, Paige, appears unimpressed by its current state. Thomas introduces his family and regales Eve with stories of the house’s history, including a chandelier made of deer antlers and intricate crown molding carved by his mother. Eve notices subtle scars on Thomas’s face and suspects he might be lying about the chandelier, adding to her growing unease.

As the family wanders through the rooms, Thomas shares more tales, such as his sister’s mysterious symbols and the dumbwaiter that once connected to the basement. Eve’s dog, Shylo, growls and paces near the basement door, which Eve locks, dismissing Shylo’s behavior as a reaction to ants. Despite her reservations, Eve deftly deflects Thomas’s interest in the basement, citing safety concerns.

Suddenly, Jenny, the youngest, goes missing, causing the family to panic and search the house. During the frantic search, Eve glimpses a distant blue light in the woods, which vanishes as quickly as it appeared. Upstairs, the family discovers the exposed dumbwaiter, and Thomas calls out for Jenny, receiving no response. The chapter ends with the family realizing Jenny has likely found her way into the basement.

Thomas and Eve descend into the dimly lit basement, their footsteps echoing through the musty air. Jenny has gone missing during the tour, and Thomas suggests splitting up to search quietly, hoping not to scare her. Eve explores a room cluttered with rusty knickknacks, following a trail of ants that leads her to a wardrobe. Inside, she expects to find Jenny but discovers a haunting painting instead.

Reuniting with Thomas, Eve learns that Jenny is hiding in a narrow, claustrophobic space. Despite Eve's growing concerns about safety and the need for a firmer response, Thomas insists on giving Jenny space, believing she will emerge on her own. The chapter ends with Eve and Thomas ascending the stairs, leaving Jenny in the basement, and Eve feeling a deep unease about the situation.

Paige’s voice trembles with tension as she questions Thomas’s decision to let Jenny hide in the basement, her concern palpable. Eve, standing just outside the living room, overhears the family’s hushed arguments, feeling increasingly uneasy. Relief washes over her when Charlie finally arrives, carrying groceries and a semblance of normalcy. However, Charlie’s presence also introduces a new layer of tension as Eve struggles to convey her growing unease without alarming her girlfriend. The family joins Eve and Charlie for dinner, but the meal is fraught with awkward silences and unspoken fears.

Charlie directs the family to sleep in the upstairs study, using sofa cushions for bedding, effectively telling them to stay out of their way. On the living room couch, Eve and Charlie share a moment of respite, discussing the family's odd behavior, particularly Thomas's peculiar actions in the basement. Eve recounts how Thomas seemed frozen, unresponsive, and almost statue-like, which adds to her growing unease about the family. Despite Charlie's skepticism, Eve's paranoia is evident, and she reflects on her tendency to overreact, as exemplified by past incidents like the 'Redwoods Incident.'

Their conversation is interrupted when Shylo, Eve's dog, becomes agitated and alerts them to an open front door. Outside, they find Thomas kneeling in the snow, disoriented and terrified, mumbling apologies and speaking in a childlike, fearful voice. Charlie deduces that Thomas was sleepwalking and helps him calm down, guiding him back inside. Left alone, Eve feels a sense of being watched and senses something ominous in the darkness of the surrounding woods. Charlie calls out to her, breaking the tension and prompting Eve to join them inside.

Thomas warms by the fire after his sleepwalking episode, his mind wandering through childhood memories of the house. Eve and Charlie sit on the couch, offering him a beer, and he begins to share his history of sleepwalking and night terrors. He attributes these to his parents' belief in demonic possession, explaining how understanding the scientific causes helped him overcome them. However, the familiar environment of the house has triggered old habits.

Thomas hesitates but eventually opens up about the strange occurrences that plagued his sister, Alison, when they lived in the house. He describes how Alison noticed inexplicable changes, such as the appearance of a new painting and alterations in the layout. Her parents, attributing these changes to demonic activity, isolated and punished her, leading to a rapid descent into psychosis. Thomas feels responsible for not helping Alison more and wonders if there was something truly incomprehensible happening in the house.

Eve and Charlie listen intently, feeling a mix of guilt and curiosity for pushing Thomas to share his story. They speculate on Alison's fate, with Charlie dismissing the possibility of anything supernatural. Eve, still troubled by the night's events, struggles to sleep, her mind consumed by Thomas's tale of tragedy and the eerie atmosphere of the house.

Eve’s heart races as she wakes from a nightmare, her mind still clouded by the remnants of terror. She heads downstairs for water, passing the study where the family is still sleeping, and notices the basement door is ajar. Concerned, she calls out for Jenny, remembering the knocking pattern Thomas used earlier, but receives no response.

Suddenly, the scene shifts to a frantic, disorienting chase through the dark woods. A woman, presumably Jenny, is desperately trying to escape from unseen pursuers who are calling out to her in a language she recognizes but cannot comprehend. Sweeps of light cut through the forest, casting eerie, flickering shadows that seem to distort and contort as they draw closer. She stumbles through the underbrush, tripping and falling, but continues to push herself, driven by the fear of being caught and dragged back to some terrible place.

Her flight culminates at the edge of a steep cliff, where she is forced to make a life-or-death decision. With the pursuers closing in and no other options, she leaps off the cliff into the void below. The ground rushes up to meet her, and in a single, horrific moment, everything goes dark. The chapter ends with the haunting refrain, 'Once they’re in, they never leave…,' echoing through her mind as a pale blue light appears in the distance, adding to the surreal and ominous atmosphere.

Heart pounding, Eve jerks awake from a nightmare, though the details elude her. She heads downstairs for water, passing the study where the family is still sleeping, and notices the basement door is ajar. Concerned, she calls out for Jenny, recalling the knocking pattern Thomas used earlier, but receives no response. Two hollow knocks echo from the basement, and Eve peers down the stairs, spotting a small, motionless silhouette. As she tries to coax Jenny to come upstairs, the figure rises to reveal itself as a tall, gaunt adult. Terrified, Eve slams the basement door shut and races upstairs to wake Charlie, insisting there is a stranger in the basement. Despite Eve's urgency, Charlie, still groggy and skeptical, convinces her to wait until morning to investigate. Eve remains vigilant, sitting up in bed with her eyes fixed on the door, convinced that what she saw was real and not a trick of the light. The chapter ends with Eve struggling to stay awake, her mind oscillating between fear and doubt.

Eve wakes up to an eerily quiet house, her heart racing as she realizes Charlie is gone. Her relief at finding Paige and Jenny in the kitchen is short-lived when Thomas informs her that Charlie has left for town without a word. Eve's anxiety surges as she discovers her phone is missing and spots Charlie's locket hanging ominously above the fireplace. The family claims to be on a digital fast, but Eve is unconvinced, her suspicion growing with each passing moment. Driven by a deep, instinctual need to verify Charlie's safety, Eve decides to leave the house and borrow a neighbor's phone, determined to uncover the truth.

Driven by a growing sense of unease and the need to contact Charlie, Eve sets out to borrow a phone from the nearest neighbor. As she walks down the snowy driveway with Shylo, she reflects on the isolation of their location and the Realtor’s cryptic comments about stray dogs. The sound of a distant hunting rifle breaks her thoughts, and she continues her journey, finding the neighbor’s house further away than expected.

Upon arriving at the house, Eve discovers it’s not the address she was looking for, but decides to press on. She rings the doorbell multiple times, but no one answers. Just as she’s about to leave, an older woman named Heather appears, and Eve explains her situation. Heather, who used to foster strays, seems to have an instant connection with Shylo, which surprises Eve given the dog’s usually cautious nature.

Heather invites Eve inside to use her phone, and Eve mentions the name 'Stray Dog Summit,' which Heather has never heard of. Heather unlocks the door and allows Eve and Shylo to enter, offering to let Shylo roam freely as long as she doesn’t judge the mess.

Driven by a growing unease and the need to ensure the family is out of her house, Eve borrows Heather's rotary phone to call Charlie. Despite Heather's warm offer of tea and conversation, Eve is initially eager to leave. However, her call is abruptly cut short, leaving her concerned and frustrated. She redials but gets no answer, deepening her worry about Charlie's safety and the strange circumstances surrounding the family's presence in her home.

While preparing to leave, Eve overhears Heather mention knowing Thomas Faust from his childhood. Intrigued, Eve engages in a conversation with Heather, learning that Thomas used to babysit with her and that he had fond memories of her. Heather expresses disappointment that Thomas didn’t visit her, and Eve, feeling guilty, lies about Thomas mentioning her. Heather’s curiosity and warmth towards Thomas’s family prompt Eve to reconsider her immediate departure, and she agrees to stay for a cup of tea, hoping for more information and possibly a callback from Charlie.

Eve, still reeling from the abrupt disconnection of her call to Charlie, visits Heather to use her phone and seek answers. While waiting for her tea, she examines a photo of a younger Michael, Heather's husband, performing in a dive bar, which evokes a nostalgic feeling. Heather offers Eve a cigarette, but Eve declines, revealing she used to smoke. They discuss the isolation of the property, and Heather confirms the house is very old, possibly the oldest on the mountain.

Heather reveals that the story of a fire destroying the town's records is a myth; the records were actually stolen in the early fifties. Eve presses Heather for more information about the house's history and the Faust family. Heather explains that Thomas was an only child and that Alison, whom Thomas mentioned as his sister, was actually a runaway who lived with the Fausts for two years. She shares the chilling story of Alison attacking Thomas with a fountain pen, stabbing him thirty-seven times, and the lasting impact this had on Thomas.

Eve is disturbed by the revelation and notices a Jolly Chimp toy with white fur, reminiscent of her childhood toy, Mo, which she lost under mysterious circumstances. The sight of the toy triggers a flood of painful memories. Feeling increasingly uneasy, Eve decides to leave. As she heads for the door, the rotary phone starts ringing, and Eve notices a previously closed door is now ajar, adding to her paranoia. Despite Heather's invitation to stay, Eve leaves hurriedly, driven by a sense of impending danger.

Battling through the heavy fog and deep snow on Heritage Lane, Eve discovers fresh footprints leading down the driveway. Driven by curiosity and concern, she follows the tracks, which lead her to a figure in a white T-shirt and blue jeans standing near the tree line, despite the freezing conditions. The figure disappears into the woods, and Eve, despite the absurdity, follows the tracks deeper into the forest. The tracks lead to a sloped clearing where they abruptly end, leaving Eve to consider the possibility of the figure vanishing into thin air.

Shylo, Eve’s dog, leads her to an abandoned A-frame cabin. Inside, the cabin is dilapidated but the windows remain intact. Eve finds Shylo in a dim corner and notices the walls and door covered with maps and cryptic notes, forming a complex and bizarre collage. The notes on the maps detail various locations and cryptic instructions, hinting at a larger, unsettling network.

As Eve prepares to leave, a gaunt, scarred old man appears, blocking the exit. His eyes are sunken, and his voice raspy as he warns Eve that the family in her house is not what it seems and advises her to get them to leave. Disturbed by the man’s warning and the cabin’s eerie contents, Eve hurries back to her house, recalling a pale blue light she saw the previous night, which was positioned near where she stands now.

Eve returns to the house, finding the door locked and no one answering. Her heart races with anxiety, recalling the old man’s ominous warning. After a tense moment, Thomas finally opens the door, and Eve’s frustration grows as he explains they plan to stay a bit longer due to the worsening weather. Her mind drifts to the old man’s cryptic words and Thomas’s mysterious past, deepening her unease. Determined to leave sooner, she decides to fetch tire chains from the attic to help the family depart.

In the attic, Eve notices that the torn wallpaper has been repaired, and she finds Charlie’s old camera in a donation box, stirring bittersweet memories of Charlie’s passion for photography. As she gazes out the window, she observes Thomas outside, acting strangely and smoking a cigarette. Back in the attic, Eve hears a disturbing metallic sound and finds the dumbwaiter cart empty but notices damp footprints leading from the dumbwaiter entrance.

Her flashlight malfunctions, plunging her into darkness. Panicked, she hears strange noises and the sound of a dripping pipe. The ladder to the attic slams shut, trapping her. In the darkness, a figure in a tattered hospital gown shuffles closer, terrifying Eve. She screams and pounds on the hatch, and just as the figure approaches, the floor opens, and she falls down the ladder.

Disoriented and with a throbbing headache, Eve wakes up on the living room couch, her mind still reeling from the terrifying encounter in the attic. She recounts the incident to Thomas and Paige, who are skeptical and dismissive. Thomas suggests checking the attic himself, while Paige argues for calling the police, but Thomas insists on investigating first.

While Thomas is in the attic, Eve is drawn to a new red rocking chair in the living room, which Paige explains was brought from their truck. Paige apologizes for her behavior during dinner and shares a brief backstory about meeting Thomas. When Thomas returns, he denies seeing anyone in the attic, but Eve remains unconvinced, sensing his deception.

The tension escalates when Eve discovers Kai with her phone, leading to a violent confrontation involving Shylo, who bites Kai. The family decides to leave, and Eve is left alone, shaken by the day's events. She notices a significant change in the house: a stained glass window in the study has been replaced by a plain, clear-glass window. Confused and frightened, she searches for Shylo and hears mysterious sounds coming from the basement. After a brief scare, she locks the basement door and resolves to leave the house immediately.

Eve, still wrapped in Charlie’s coat, hesitates at the driveway, her resolve to leave the house faltering as she sees Charlie’s pickup and the family’s truck parked together. Thomas is talking to Charlie, and Eve worries that he is trying to manipulate Charlie’s perception of the day’s events. She holds back, hoping Charlie will see through the family’s lies. After Thomas drives away, Charlie pulls up, and Eve, anxious to leave, insists they depart immediately.

Inside the truck, Eve tries to explain the strange occurrences, including the woman in the attic and the changed window in the study. Charlie, initially skeptical, becomes more concerned when she confirms the window has indeed changed. Despite her rational nature, Charlie is visibly spooked and agrees to spend the night elsewhere. Before leaving, Charlie insists on quickly grabbing her belongings, despite Eve’s protests about the house’s dangers.

Charlie enters the house, and Eve waits in the truck, her anxiety mounting. Shylo’s nervous whines add to the tension. After a tense wait, Charlie emerges with a backpack and confirms the window has changed. The two women drive away, with Eve convinced this is the last time they will see the house. However, a lingering sense of doubt casts a shadow over their escape.

Eve and Charlie drive away from the house, the tension of the day still heavy in the air. Eve, deeply troubled by the changing window and the encounter in the attic, shares her fears with Charlie, who reassures her but agrees to investigate further. As they approach the Kettle Creek Motel, Eve's anxiety escalates with a series of unexplained occurrences, including the motel's sudden availability and a mysterious phone call suggesting Charlie and Shylo have been replaced by imposters.

Settling into a cramped motel room, Eve's paranoia persists. To test Charlie, she asks about their first meeting, and Charlie's detailed recollection offers some comfort. However, Eve's fears resurface when she receives a call from a number that appears to be her own, with a voice identical to Charlie's warning her that the Charlie with her is an imposter. Noticing that the imposter lacks Charlie's distinctive tattoo, Eve flees the motel, determined to save the real Charlie and Shylo, whom she believes are still at the house.

Driven by the conviction that she must rescue her family, Eve heads back up the mountain, ignoring the dashboard warning to refuel. Her resolve is unwavering as she prepares to confront the imposter and protect those she loves.

Exhausted and emotionally drained, Eve makes a pit stop at a rural Chevron station to refuel Charlie’s truck. The station, a dilapidated shack with a rustic charm, requires cash payments, and Eve, in a rush, collects loose change from the truck. Inside, the clerk, a young man with an age-defying appearance, assists her with a wary demeanor. Eve’s nerves are further rattled by the presence of a burly Highway Patrol officer who observes her sock-clad feet with suspicion.

After refueling, Eve is pulled over by the same officer, who questions her about her well-being and recent activities. Despite her initial relief when the officer lets her go, a radio call from his partner prompts Eve to flee, fearing a setup. She speeds up the mountain, narrowly avoiding a child who darts across the road, and continues her desperate drive back to the house. Upon arrival, she finds the house eerily quiet and dark, but her determination to rescue Charlie and Shylo overrides her fear.

Eve steps into the house, clutching Charlie’s necklace for comfort, and braces herself for whatever lies ahead. The chapter ends with Eve entering the foyer, her resolve firm despite the ominous atmosphere.

Still reeling from her harrowing escape, Eve stumbles back to the house, finding it eerily quiet and dark. The faint churning of the wind is the only sound, and her calls for Charlie and Shylo go unanswered. Her attempts to turn on the lights are futile, and she notices the spot above the fireplace, now bare, where Charlie’s locket once hung. As she explores, the dining table, set for six, sends a chill down her spine, triggering a sense of dread and confusion.

A call from the imposter Charlie shatters the silence, and Eve quickly hangs up, her heart pounding. A shadowy figure at the table jolts to life and vanishes into the shadows, sending a wave of panic through her. Hearing Charlie’s real voice calling for help from upstairs, Eve’s instincts battle between protecting Charlie and fleeing. She cautiously ascends the stairs, guided by weak, labored breathing from Alison’s bedroom.

Inside the room, the woman in the hospital gown emerges, warning her to hide. Panicked, Eve bolts downstairs, finding all exits inexplicably barred. She hides in the basement, wedging herself into a small nook and discovering a room filled with paintings of the house in various states. One painting depicts Thomas’s family, but young Thomas looks out of place, as if added later.

Eve finds a red gas lantern and two wooden crates. The first contains painting supplies, and the second is filled with photographs of a relaxed, happy family that contrasts sharply with Thomas’s description. She uncovers a note from Alison, revealing that Thomas is not her brother and that her parents are mimics, part of a larger, sinister plot to control her.

Eve, still clutching the letter from Alison, follows a trail of ants in the basement, leading her to a bizarre, out-of-place hospital hallway. The ants guide her to a stationary Charlie, who appears lifeless and covered in ants, only to suddenly come to life and warn Eve to hide. Terrified, Eve flees down the hallway, pursued by a woman in a hospital gown wielding a hammer.

Eve runs through an endless labyrinth, eventually finding refuge in a small room with a wardrobe. Hiding inside, she holds her breath as the woman searches the room. The woman, revealed to be Alison, seems to communicate with Eve telepathically, sharing her tragic past and the horrors she endured in the house. Alison leaves the room, and Thomas, appearing younger, enters, retrieves the hammer, and exits, leaving Eve alone with more questions.

Determined to find Charlie and Shylo, Eve exits the wardrobe and steps back into the basement corridor, which has undergone a renovation. A hammer on the pegboard catches her eye, and she takes it, ready to face whatever lies ahead.

Navigating a bizarrely renovated hallway, Eve finds herself in a transformed games room. Once a dusty, concrete garage, the space is now a cozy, carpeted area adorned with sports-themed decor. Listening to the sounds above, she detects the movement of multiple people and the clinking of glasses, suggesting a dinner party is underway.

Cautiously, Eve climbs the stairs to a 1950s-themed living room, where the family is gathered. She overhears Paige and Thomas discussing her absence, with Thomas agreeing to check downstairs. Realizing the front door and windows are barred, Eve is caught by Thomas, who takes the hammer from her and tightens his grip. He addresses her as 'Emma,' claiming she is his sister and warning her to behave or he will call the ward.

Thomas’s performance is so convincing that Eve begins to doubt her own reality, questioning whether she is truly delusional. He emphasizes the importance of her staying with the family and maintaining their stability. Despite his threats, Eve decides to play along, agreeing to rejoin the dinner to avoid provoking him. She notices that Thomas’s scars, supposedly inflicted by Alison, are absent, adding to her confusion.

Still reeling from Thomas's convincing performance, Eve is coerced into joining the family for dinner under the guise of 'Emma'. The family's act is flawless, but Eve's unease escalates when she notices Shylo's peculiar behavior around Thomas and the children's suspicious reactions to her presence. Tension mounts when Jenny questions the disappearance of Eve's non-existent tattoo, and Thomas defuses the situation by dismissing it as Jenny's imagination. Eve's resolve to uncover the truth solidifies when she spots Charlie's locket around Paige's neck, confirming her worst fears. Confronting Paige and Thomas, a violent altercation ensues, resulting in Eve accidentally killing Paige and severely injuring Thomas. In a desperate bid for freedom, Eve attempts to escape through the attic but is thwarted by Thomas and subsequently arrested by the police.

Still reeling from the events at the Faust family dinner, Eve finds herself incarcerated in Greenwood Asylum, a criminal psych ward. For nearly three years, she has endured the public branding of the night of the Faust Family Bloodbath as a nationwide spectacle. Despite the trial and media frenzy, Eve clings to her identity as Eve Palmer, determined to prove her innocence and escape the asylum.

Eve recounts her desperate attempts to contact Charlie, now known as Charlotte, and the heart-wrenching conversation where Charlotte confirms that Eve vanished from their shared life without explanation. This revelation, coupled with the discovery of Charlie's locket on Paige, deepens Eve's resolve to gather evidence and validate her story. However, the more she delves into her past, the more she spirals into despair, questioning her own sanity and the reality of her situation.

During a visitation, Thomas Faust, her alleged brother, arrives to speak with her. He shares a poignant memory about their childhood pet, Buckley, and expresses forgiveness for her actions. Thomas’s sincerity and the locket he returns to her, containing a blurry photo of Eve, only add to her confusion and doubt. Despite the emotional weight of the visit, Eve remains silent, her trust in Thomas and the world around her shattered.