The curse of Black Hollow

loomed before me, a brooding shadow against the twilight sky. Its turrets pierced the heavens like silent sentinels

,"I whispered to myself, thou

ield. The property has been in your family for generations, though its histo

I turned it, the massive oak door groaned open, releasi

e, like the house was holding its breath. My footsteps echoed as I crosse

and cobwebs draped it like tattered curtains. The staircase curved upward, disa

about the silen

d cold and smooth despite its age. My fin

g shattere

ward the sound. A door down the hall swung slowly on i

ered, a fragile atte

espo

dark, illuminating dust motes suspended in the air like tiny stars. Slowly, I a

se. A massive desk dominated the space, its surface cluttered with old books and yellowed pape

ething caught my eye-a photograph in a

ingly familiar. Her face was solemn, yet there was a defiant tilt

ed, running my thum

ising goosebumps. I whipped around, my light s

ft, almost imperce

av

s faint but

?"I demanded, forcing more confi

et the air seemed charged,

he door sl

flashlight flickered, plunging

door handle, but it wouldnt budge. My breaths

, louder this time. Yo

shouted, bang

n the air dissipated. The door swung open, n

shadows down the corridor. I glanced back into the room, but it wa

he air felt slightly warmer here, the room less oppressive. A c

ng heart, my phone buzzed in my pocket. The sudden vibration ma

the only person who knew about

voice shaking more

immediate, her voice a balm agai

ow to explain. This house...

th amusement. Lena, youve been there

es something... off. Doors are slamming o

Her tone shifted, the amus

d me t

it wasnt just nerves? Old houses creak, an

but my gut said otherwi

bably just the stress of moving

ng I wouldnt be sl

tried to focus on the here and now. The house was old,

gh

dows. I crawled under the dusty quilt, fe

cks in the ceiling. Shadows danced across the room

felt it again-a cold brush against my chee

breath clouded in the frigid air, and

ere?I w

ans

but it was dead, the bat

r this time and unmistakabl

curtains fluttered as if an invis

In the corner of the room, barely illuminated by the faint moo

ht. What... Wh

s presence pressed against me

e deep and resonant, nothin

away, Lena Hartfield.

oom into darkness. When I opened my eyes again, the figure was