156: Confession

Jacob McCall lay in his luxurious king-sized bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to force himself to sleep. His mind was a whirlwind of fear and confusion, haunted by the image of Eric's face in the sauna. He closed his eyes tightly, attempting to push the memory away, but the silence of his mansion offered no solace.

Suddenly, he heard faint footsteps echoing through the hallway. His eyes snapped open, and he strained to listen, his heart pounding in his chest. He was certain all his men had returned to their quarters; he was supposed to be alone. The footsteps continued, slow and deliberate, moving closer.

"What the hell is going on?" Jacob muttered, sitting up in bed. He rubbed his temples, trying to dismiss the creeping sense of dread.

As if on cue, the lights began to flicker, casting eerie shadows on the walls. On and off, on and off, the lights played a cruel game, making Jacob feel as though his house was haunted. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, and a cold sweat b