Hania keeps hearing strange sounds from the big old wardrobe in her room. One rainy evening, she decides to look inside, and something hidden in the dark answers back.
In Hania’s small, colourful room, a huge dark wardrobe stood against the wall like a sleepy giant. Mum said it kept jumpers, scarves, and winter boots safe and warm. Hania believed that.
Mostly.
Because when evening came and rain tapped at the window, the wardrobe sometimes made a sound.
Creak.
Hania lifted her head from her pillow and listened.
Creak, creak.
She hugged Plushie, her teddy bear, and stared at the wardrobe. The door looked a little crooked, as if it had just moved on its own.
The next sound was louder.
Creeeak.
Hania’s toes curled under the blanket. She could hear her own heart thumping fast and quick. Still, she slid out of bed, took one small step, then another, and tiptoed across the floor.
The wardrobe loomed above her. Its brass handle gleamed in the dark.
“Hello?” she whispered. “Who’s in there?”
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then something soft dropped from the shelf with a tiny flop, and from deep inside the wardrobe came a whisper so quiet Hania almost thought she had imagined it.
“Hush...”
Hania froze.
The wardrobe door shivered open a little wider.