At the outskirts of Ravenswood, perched on a cliff overlooking the tumultuous sea, stood Ravenswood Manor. Once a grand estate, it now loomed as a shadow of its former self, its windows dark and its grounds overgrown. The manor had been abandoned for years, ever since the mysterious death of its last owner, Lord Edgar Ravenswood.
Lord Ravenswood had been a reclusive man, rarely seen by the townsfolk. His death had been sudden and surrounded by strange circumstances. On a stormy night three years prior, his lifeless body was discovered in the grand library, slumped over an antique desk. The initial examination had found no signs of struggle, no visible wounds, and no obvious cause of death. The local authorities had ruled it a heart attack, but whispers of foul play and dark forces had persisted.
Now, as the clock struck midnight, a solitary figure made his way through the iron gates of Ravenswood Manor. The figure, cloaked and hooded, moved with a deliberate purpose, a lantern held aloft casting a feeble light. As they approached the manor's entrance, the door creaked open as if welcoming them back to a place of forgotten memories and hidden secrets.
Inside, the air was thick with the scent of dust and decay. The figure navigated the grand foyer, the lantern casting long shadows on the peeling wallpaper and faded portraits. His destination was clear: the library, the very room where Lord Ravenswood had met his untimely end.
The library was a vast room, lined with towering bookshelves filled with ancient tomes. In the center stood the massive desk where Lord Ravenswood's body had been found. The figure approached the desk, placing the lantern down and revealing a bundle of old letters and documents they had brought with them.
As he sifted through the papers, the figure paused, their hand trembling slightly as they uncovered a worn leather journal. The journal was bound with a crimson ribbon, its pages yellowed with age. Carefully, he untied the ribbon and opened the journal, revealing pages filled with Lord Ravenswood's neat, meticulous handwriting.
The final entries in the journal spoke of strange occurrences in the manor: eerie noises, fleeting shadows, and a sense of being watched. The last entry, dated the night of his death, detailed a chilling discovery. Lord Ravenswood had found a hidden passageway behind one of the bookshelves, leading to a secret chamber deep within the manor.
The figure's breath caught as they read the final, hurried lines: "I have uncovered something in the chamber that defies all reason. I fear it is too late. They are coming for me. Should anyone find this, know that the truth lies within the chamber, and with it, the key to my death."
At that moment, a sudden noise echoed through the library, the sound of footsteps approaching. The figure quickly extinguished the lantern, plunging the room into darkness. He pressed himself against the wall, heart pounding, as the footsteps grew louder, stopping just outside the door.
The door creaked open, and a new figure entered, its silhouette barely discernible in the darkness. For a moment, time seemed to stand still, the tension in the air palpable. Then, a low, menacing voice broke the silence. "I knew someone would come. You should have stayed away."
Before the first figure could react, a blinding light flooded the room, and the sound of a struggle ensued. Papers flew, and the journal fell to the floor, its secrets momentarily forgotten in the chaos. The truth about Lord Ravenswood's death remained elusive, but one thing was certain: the shadows of Ravenswood Manor were far from done claiming their due.
Ch.1 will be uploaded on 7/23
| 이전글 | 앵무초록이|2024-07-20 | |
|---|---|---|
| 다음글 | 마스크걸|2024-07-20 |