HAUNTED Chapter 1: The Inheritance

HAUNTED Chapter 1: The Inheritance

Emily Windsor stepped out of the dusty old lawyer’s office, clutching a worn leather envelope to her chest. The bright sunlight and bustling streets of downtown Ashwood seemed to mock her, a stark contrast to the somber mood that had settled over her.

The lawyer’s words still echoed in her mind: “You are the sole beneficiary of the late Mr. Edward Blackstone’s estate, including Ravenwood Manor.”

Emily’s eyes widened as she thought about the mansion. She had heard the whispers, the rumors, and the legends surrounding Ravenwood Manor. It was a place where people dared not tread, a place where darkness and terror reign supreme.

As she walked back to her car, Emily couldn’t help but wonder why her great-uncle, a man she had never met, would leave her such a notorious inheritance. She had always known that her family had a complicated history, but she had never imagined that it would lead her to Ravenwood Manor.

Emily’s mind began to wander back to her childhood, when her parents would whisper about their family’s past in hushed tones. They had always been vague about the details, but Emily had sensed that there was something dark and foreboding lurking in the shadows.

She remembered the countless times she had asked her parents about their family’s history, only to be met with evasive answers and nervous smiles. It was as if they were hiding something from her, something that they didn’t want her to know.

As Emily approached her car, she noticed a piece of paper stuck under the windshield wiper. She pulled it out, expecting it to be a parking ticket or an advertisement. But to her surprise, it was a handwritten note:

“Don’t go to Ravenwood Manor. It’s not safe.”

Emily’s heart skipped a beat as she looked around, wondering who could have written the note. But she was alone, surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the city.

Shrugging it off as a prank, Emily got into her car and started the engine. She knew that she had to see Ravenwood Manor for herself, to uncover the secrets that lay within its crumbling walls.

As she pulled out of the parking lot, Emily felt an eerie sensation, as if she was being watched. She glanced in the rearview mirror, but saw nothing out of the ordinary.

Shrugging it off as mere paranoia, Emily focused on the long drive ahead. She was about to embark on a journey that would change her life forever.

The GPS led her out of the city and into the countryside, where the roads became increasingly narrow and winding. Emily felt a sense of unease growing inside her, as if she was being pulled into a world that she didn’t understand.

As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the landscape, Emily caught her first glimpse of Ravenwood Manor. It stood atop a hill, its towering spires and turrets reaching towards the sky like skeletal fingers.

Emily’s heart skipped a beat as she felt a chill run down her spine. There was something about the mansion that seemed to draw her in, something that seemed to whisper her name.

With a sense of trepidation, Emily turned the car onto the winding driveway that led up to the mansion. The trees seemed to close in around her, casting long, ominous shadows on the ground.

As she approached the mansion, Emily noticed that the front door was slightly ajar. She felt a surge of fear, wondering if someone – or something – was waiting for her inside.

With a deep breath, Emily turned off the engine and stepped out of the car. She approached the mansion, her heart pounding in her chest, and pushed open the creaking front door.

As she stepped inside, Emily felt a sense of unease wash over her. She was alone in the mansion, surrounded by the oppressive silence of the dead.

And yet, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being watched.