The Tower Reversed: Back to 18 (Venus) novel Chapter 18

**One Step Changes Everything**
By Ruby Parker

**Chapter 18: Villa 44**

This place was a magnet for the insane, a twisted allure that repelled any rational soul. No one in their right mind would dare to approach it, let alone run toward it.

“Venus.”

Axel’s voice echoed through the empty halls, calling her name again and again, but all he received in return was silence.

His gaze swept across the dimly lit room, landing on a plastic bag resting on a rickety table. Curiosity piqued, he moved closer, peering inside. Just a few basic toiletries lay inside, the kind one might expect from a hasty packing job.

“She really intends to live in this creepy place?” he muttered under his breath, a mix of disbelief and concern swirling in his mind.

The villa loomed ominously before him, a three-story structure that seemed to whisper secrets of its dark past. Axel flicked on the flashlight app on his phone, illuminating the first floor as he scoured for any sign of her. But his search yielded nothing. With a heavy heart, he ascended to the second floor.

What he found there made his stomach churn. The walls and floors were marred with dark, dried bloodstains, remnants of horrors that had transpired within those walls.

“Ugh,” he grimaced, disgust flooding his senses as he stood at the staircase, calling out for her once more, his voice tinged with urgency.

“Venus!”

Still, there was only silence.

“Haha. I knew she wouldn’t actually live here,” he scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. Frustrated, he swung the power twist bar in his hand, shattering a window with a loud crash. The sound echoed in the stillness of the villa, and with that, he stormed out, leaving the haunted place behind.

On the rooftop, however, Venus lay sprawled across a wicker chair, blissfully asleep. The crash of breaking glass barely registered in her dreams. “I’m too tired,” she mumbled lazily, her voice thick with sleep. “Whatever it is, I’ll handle it in the morning.”

She rolled over, scratching her back absentmindedly, and drifted back into a deeper slumber.

When she finally stirred, sunlight poured over her, illuminating the rooftop and casting a warm glow across her face. She stretched her arms wide, enjoying the gentle breeze that caressed her skin. “The air’s really nice here,” she remarked, her voice a soft melody against the backdrop of the serene morning.

Standing up, she took a moment to appreciate the breathtaking view of the neighborhood sprawled out before her. It was beautiful, a tapestry of trees, a shimmering lake, and vibrant nature.

“The energy flow here is perfect,” she mused, her mind wandering. “Trees, a lake, and nature. This place should be a sanctuary, a haven of harmony, not a site of tragedy. So why did all those murders happen here? And the killer… never found? Hmm, suspicious.”

The agent who had handed her the keys had warned her about the villa. He had said the deaths weren’t the scariest part; it was the possibility that the murderer might return.

Over the past decade, countless lives had been lost within these walls, yet still, no suspect had emerged.

The agent had even expressed concern for her safety, promising to call her monthly just to ensure she was still alive.

Taking a deep breath, Venus decided to train for a while, her mind racing with thoughts, before she made her way downstairs, each step deliberate and slow.

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