The Forgotten House

Nestled deep within an ancient forest, a deserted house stood forgotten, swallowed by layers of ivy and the tangle of trees that had grown thick and wild around it. The paint on the walls had long since peeled away, exposing gray wood scarred by time and weather. A once-charming wraparound porch now sagged under the weight of broken beams, its floorboards creaking softly as the wind swept through the woods. Windows were clouded with grime, revealing only shadows of empty rooms beyond, while faint beams of moonlight pierced through the leaves, casting an eerie glow over the derelict structure.

This forgotten house, hidden far from the eyes of the government and society’s collapse, would soon become a sanctuary. The rebels—each of them driven by a stubborn sense of justice and the hope that the people might still reclaim their voice—had come to know it as “The Haven.” It was here they would retreat, sheltering from the eyes and ears of a surveillance state that seemed to stretch into every corner of the country. This house, with its silence and darkened walls, offered both concealment and protection, a place to lie low and regroup, far from prying eyes.

Inside, dust lay thick on the floor, undisturbed for years, but beneath it was the solid foundation they needed. Crumbling furniture lined the walls, and an old iron stove, cold and rusted, sat ready to be brought to life if only they could get their hands on enough firewood. The rebels knew this hideout was no fortress, yet in its solitude, they found comfort. Here, they could plan, ration their supplies, and listen carefully to rumors of resistance building on the outside. 

Each night, as they huddled around whispered conversations, they would watch the windows, always listening for the crack of a twig or a flicker of headlights in the distance. They understood that staying hidden here was temporary—that they were waiting for a spark, a sign that the people were ready to rise. In the meantime, the house would shelter them from the hostile forces hunting them down, bought by the government to silence any remaining voices of dissent.