The moon hung low in the sky as Veronica Lodge and Reggie Mantle pulled up to the ominous Spruce Ridge Apartments in Columbus, Indiana. The building's façade seemed to wear its age with pride, casting shadows that danced in the dimly lit parking lot.
Veronica hesitated as Reggie unlocked the door to their new home, "Are you sure about this, Reggie? Leaving everything behind in Riverdale?"
Reggie flashed a confident smile, "We need a fresh start, Ronnie. Away from your dad, away from all the drama. This is our chance to build something better."
They entered the apartment, greeted by the stale air of abandonment. Dust motes swirled in the dim light as they explored their new surroundings.
Veronica sighed, "I guess you're right. No more Lodge family drama. Just us."
They spent the day unpacking, arranging furniture, and transforming the apartment into a semblance of a home. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows, they sank into the couch, exhausted but satisfied.
The first night, however, would prove to be anything but peaceful.
Veronica awoke to an eerie chill in the air. She shivered, glancing around the darkened room. "Reggie, do you feel that?"
Reggie mumbled in his sleep, unaware of the unsettling sensation permeating the room.
Veronica, wrapped in a blanket, ventured into the living room. The temperature dropped noticeably, and her breath formed frosty clouds in the air. She reached for the thermostat, checking it in disbelief.
"It says it's 70 degrees, but it feels like a freezer in here," she muttered to herself.
A soft whisper echoed through the apartment, barely audible. "Reggie."
Veronica's heart raced as she followed the sound to the hallway. The shadows seemed to move, taking on sinister shapes. "Reggie, wake up!" she urged, shaking him.
Reggie groggily opened his eyes, "What's going on, Ronnie?"
She hesitated before responding, "I heard something. Like a whisper."
Reggie scoffed, "Probably just the old building settling or something. Relax, it's our first night."
But Veronica couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. As they settled back into bed, strange noises echoed through the apartment.
The fresh start they had envisioned now seemed like a descent into an unsettling nightmare, and the shadows lurking in Spruce Ridge Apartments held secrets darker than they could have ever imagined.