The sound was barely audible, but it definitely existed — a quiet, hopeless sobbing coming from the darkness! In the morning, Robert decided to inspect the yard. In daylight, everything looked normal — an overgrown plot with weeds, an old shed, a leaning fence. But in the far corner, almost hidden by tall grass, he found something he hadn’t noticed before — an old well!
The well was ancient, built from stones darkened by time. The iron cover was rusted and shifted aside, leaving a gaping black hole! Robert approached closer and looked down. The darkness was absolute; even dropping a stone, he didn’t hear a splash or impact at the bottom! Deep, he muttered, feeling an inexplicable anxiety!
That evening, the sounds resumed! Now Robert knew exactly where they came from — the well! The crying was quieter than usual but more distinct, and words seemed to be in it! Indistinct, distorted, but definitely human! Robert got out of bed and went to the window. Moonlight illuminated the yard with silvery glow, and the well appeared as a black spot among the grass!
The sound grew stronger, becoming almost calling — and Robert thought someone was calling his name! «Don’t go there, Dad!» Lily whispered, appearing beside him. «I’m scared!!!»
«It’s okay, sunshine! It’s just the wind,» Robert lied, but he didn’t believe it himself. There was no wind; the night was completely still!
The next day, he decided to talk to Aunt Mabel. The old woman listened silently, nodding as if expecting this conversation! «I know about that well,» she said finally. «It’s old; my grandfather told stories about it! They dug it during famine years, looking for water! They found it, but the water was dead! Whoever drank it got sick, and whoever drank a lot died outright!!!
And what did they do with it? They wanted to fill it in, but it wouldn’t fill! The earth caved in, stones sank, like a bottomless pit! Then the sounds started! They say someone lives there — someone who can’t find peace!!!»
Robert wanted to laugh, but something in the old woman’s voice made him take her words seriously! In her eyes was fear — not feigned, but real, suffered through years! «What do you advise???» he asked.
«Leave here! While it’s not too late!!!» But Robert couldn’t leave…
He had no money for new housing, and most importantly — Lily was finally recovering!!! The country air was working; the cough had almost vanished, and the girl became active and cheerful again! How could he deprive her of that because of some night sounds???
Instead of leaving, he decided to deal with the well once and for all! If someone or something really lived there, he needed to find out! After all, he was a grown man, and small-town superstitions couldn’t scare him! Robert bought a lantern, rope, and hook in the nearby town. If the well was really bottomless, at least he’d find out how deep it was! And if something was there, he’d handle it like a man!
Meanwhile, the night sounds became clearer! Now Robert could clearly make out a voice — female, young, full of despair!!! The voice called for help, begged, cried! Sometimes it seemed to call his name, but that could be imagination!
«Rob! Help me, Rob!!!» His heart clenched at that call! The voice held such pain, such hopelessness, that Robert felt a physical need to help! Whoever it was, he or she needed help!!!
Lily heard the voice too! The girl became restless! She often woke at night and asked to sleep in her father’s bed! She said nothing, but Robert saw fear in her eyes! «Dad, what if we move???» she asked one morning, poking at her oatmeal with a spoon.
«Why, sunshine? Don’t you like it here?» «I do! But the voice in the well — it’s very sad! I feel sorry for it!!!»
Robert realized he couldn’t delay anymore! Lily was too impressionable, and these night sounds could harm her psyche! He had to act!
That same evening, after Lily fell asleep, Robert took the lantern and rope and headed to the well! But first, he prepared more thoroughly! In the shed, he found an old ladder, checked its strength, gathered tools that might be useful! If someone really needed help there, he had to be ready for any situation!
The sounds started as soon as he left the house — quiet crying that grew louder with each step! But now Robert heard more details in them! It wasn’t just crying; it was a whole range of sounds — sobs, moans, sometimes something like words! And another sound that made him stop in the middle of the yard — quiet gurgling, like someone trying to breathe underwater!!!
His heart pounded wildly! But he forced himself to go forward! Up close, the well seemed even more ancient than in daylight!
The stones at its base were not just old; they were archaic, like remnants from some long-forgotten era! On some stones were strange symbols — carved or scratched with an unknown tool! Robert took out his phone and photographed several symbols! In the flash light, they seemed even more sinister — curved lines resembling snakes or tree roots, intertwined in a complex pattern! One symbol particularly caught his attention; it was larger than the others and located right above the well’s entrance! It was a figure like a person with arms outstretched, but instead of a head — a spiral!!!