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The House of Eternal Night

Ganihu
7
chs / week
The average realized release rate over the past 30 days is 7 chs / week.
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Synopsis
The old mansion loomed before us, its turrets reaching toward the moon like skeletal fingers. As we stepped out of the car, the wind died, and an unsettling silence fell over the deserted grounds. I felt a shiver run down my spine as my friend, Sarah, grasped my arm. 'Are you sure this is a good idea?' she whispered, her eyes fixed on the mansion's boarded-up windows. As I gazed up at the mansion, a chill crept over me. The once-grand entrance was now shrouded in darkness, the heavy wooden door hanging crookedly on its hinges. Sarah's grip on my arm tightened. 'What are we doing here, Emily?' she whispered, her voice barely audible over the creaking of the old wooden sign above us. I hesitated, my eyes scanning the overgrown lawn and the twisted trees that seemed to lean in, as if listening to our conversation. 'We're here to uncover the truth,' I replied, trying to sound braver than I felt. 'The stories about this place... they're just rumors, right?' Sarah's eyes locked onto mine, filled with a mix of fear and determination. 'Let's just get this over with,' she said, her voice firm. Together, we stepped forward, the crunch of gravel beneath our feet echoing through the stillness. The mansion's windows seemed to stare back at us, empty and unblinking. As we approached the entrance, a faint whisper seemed to caress my ear: 'You shouldn't be here.'
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Chapter 1 - Chapter 1: The Invitation

As we stepped into the mansion, the creaking of the old wooden floorboards beneath our feet seemed to echo through the empty halls. The air inside was thick with dust and the scent of decay. Sarah clung to my arm, her eyes wide with fear.

"I don't like this," she whispered. "Let's get out of here."

But I was driven by curiosity. I had to know what secrets the mansion held. We began to explore, our flashlights casting eerie shadows on the walls. Every step seemed to lead us deeper into the heart of the mansion.

Suddenly, we stumbled upon a room that seemed untouched by time. The furniture was old but polished, the walls adorned with cobweb-covered portraits. In the center of the room, a single candle flickered, casting an otherworldly glow.

Sarah gasped. "What is this place?"

I approached the candle, feeling an inexplicable pull. As I reached out to touch it, the flame died, plunging us into darkness.

As we stepped into the mansion, the creaking of the old wooden floorboards beneath our feet seemed to echo through the empty halls. The air inside was thick with dust and the scent of decay. Sarah clung to my arm, her eyes wide with fear.

"I don't like this," she whispered. "Let's get out of here."

But I was driven by curiosity. I had to know what secrets the mansion held. We began to explore, our flashlights casting eerie shadows on the walls. Every step seemed to lead us deeper into the heart of the mansion.

Suddenly, we stumbled upon a room that seemed untouched by time. The furniture was old but polished, the walls adorned with cobweb-covered portraits. In the center of the room, a single candle flickered, casting an otherworldly glow.

Sarah gasped. "What is this place?"

I approached the candle, feeling an inexplicable pull. As I reached out to touch it, the flame died, plunging us into darkness. We stood frozen, surrounded by an oppressive silence.

"Emily?" Sarah's voice trembled.

"I'm here," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

We fumbled for our flashlights, casting weak beams of light around the room. The darkness seemed to press in on us, making it hard to breathe.

As we moved cautiously through the room, our lights landed on a large, ornate mirror. The glass was old and wavy, distorting our reflections. Sarah gasped again, her eyes fixed on something behind us.

I spun around, but there was nothing there. "What is it?"

Sarah's voice was barely audible. "I thought I saw something... moving."

I turned back to the mirror, and for a moment, I could have sworn I saw a shadowy figure lurking just beyond the glass. But when I looked again, it was gone.

"Sarah, let's get out of here," I said, my voice firm. "We've seen enough."

But as we turned to leave, I felt a strange sensation – like we were being watched. And then, I heard it. A low, mournful whisper seemed to come from all around us, echoing off the walls.

"Welcome home."

The whisper seemed to linger in the air, sending shivers down my spine. Sarah's grip on my arm tightened, her eyes wide with fear.

"What was that?" she whispered.

I shook my head, trying to process what we'd just heard. "I don't know, but I think we should get out of here. Now."

We turned to leave, but our flashlights seemed to be fading, casting eerie shadows on the walls. The darkness seemed to be closing in around us, making it hard to breathe.

As we moved quickly through the room, I stumbled on a loose board, and my flashlight fell to the ground. The beam of light flickered and died, plunging us into an even deeper darkness.

Sarah gasped, her voice trembling. "Emily, I'm scared."

I felt around for her hand, trying to reassure her. "I'm here, Sarah. We'll get out of here."

But as we stood there, frozen in fear, I realized that we were lost. We'd wandered deeper into the mansion than I thought, and now I had no idea which direction to go.

The whisper seemed to echo in my mind, "Welcome home." It was a chilling thought, and I knew we had to get out of there before it was too late.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps. Heavy, deliberate footsteps, coming from the hallway outside the room. They were slow and measured, like someone was trying not to be heard.

Sarah's grip on my hand tightened. "What is that?"

I didn't answer. I just stood there, frozen in fear, as the footsteps drew closer.

The door creaked open, and a figure loomed in the doorway. Our flashlights cast weak beams of light, but I could see the outline of a tall, imposing figure.

"Who's there?" I called out, trying to keep my voice steady.

The figure didn't respond. It just stood there, watching us.

And then, everything went black.

I regained consciousness slowly, my head throbbing with pain. I was lying on a cold, hard floor, and the darkness was absolute. I groaned, trying to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over me.

As my vision cleared, I saw that I was alone in the room. Sarah was nowhere to be seen. Panic set in as I scrambled to my feet, calling out her name.

"Sarah! Sarah, where are you?"

My voice echoed off the walls, but there was no response. I stumbled forward, trying to find her, but the darkness was disorienting. I tripped over furniture, crashing to the ground.

As I struggled to get up, I heard footsteps again. This time, they were light and quick, like someone was trying to escape. I followed the sound, my heart racing with fear.

The footsteps led me to a door that I hadn't noticed before. It was slightly ajar, and I could see a sliver of dim light coming from the other side. I pushed the door open slowly, calling out Sarah's name again.

As I stepped through the doorway, I saw Sarah. She was standing in a long, narrow corridor, her back to me. She was staring at something on the wall, her eyes fixed and unblinking.

"Sarah?" I whispered, trying to get her attention.

She didn't respond. She didn't even flinch. I approached her cautiously, my heart pounding in my chest.

As I reached out to touch her shoulder, she turned to face me. Her eyes were black as coal, and her skin was deathly pale. She smiled, and her voice was barely above a whisper.

"We're home," she said.

I stared at Sarah in horror, my mind reeling with fear. Her eyes seemed to bore into my soul, and her smile was unnerving.

"Sarah, what's going on?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

She didn't respond. Instead, she reached out and took my hand, her touch icy cold. She pulled me down the corridor, her pace quick and deliberate.

As we walked, the walls seemed to close in around us, and the air grew thick with an eerie energy. I tried to pull away, but Sarah's grip was like a vice.

We stopped in front of a door that seemed to lead to a room I'd never seen before. Sarah pushed it open, and a warm, golden light spilled out.

"Welcome to our new home," she said, her voice still barely above a whisper.

I hesitated, feeling a sense of trepidation. But Sarah's grip on my hand was insistent, and I followed her into the room.

The room was opulent, with rich, velvety drapes and a four-poster bed that seemed to dominate the space. But it was the portraits on the walls that caught my attention. They were old, and they seemed to depict people I'd never seen before.

Sarah let go of my hand and walked over to one of the portraits. She touched the face of the subject, and I could have sworn I saw a flicker of recognition in her eyes.

"Who is this?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

Sarah turned to me, her eyes still black as coal. "Our family," she said. "We've been waiting for you."

I felt a chill run down my spine as I realized that something was very wrong. Sarah wasn't herself, and I had no idea what was happening.

Suddenly, the door slammed shut behind us, and I heard the sound of locks clicking into place. We were trapped.

I tried to process what was happening, but my mind was racing with fear. The portraits on the walls seemed to be watching me, and the air was thick with an otherworldly energy.

"Sarah, snap out of it!" I shouted, trying to break the spell that seemed to have taken hold of her.

But she just smiled, her eyes still black as coal. "You don't understand," she said. "This is where we belong. This is our home."

I felt a surge of desperation. I had to get us out of there, but the door was locked, and I had no idea where the key was.

As I looked around the room, I noticed a figure standing in the shadows. It was tall and imposing, and it seemed to be watching us with an unblinking gaze.

"Sarah, who's that?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

Sarah turned to look at the figure, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of recognition in her eyes. But then, her expression changed, and she smiled again.

"That's our host," she said. "He's been waiting for us."

The figure stepped forward, its presence filling the room. I could feel its eyes on me, and I knew that I was in grave danger.

"Welcome to our home," the figure said, its voice low and menacing. "You'll be staying here... forever."

I knew then that I had to escape, no matter what. But as I looked at Sarah, I realized that she might not want to leave. She seemed to be under some kind of spell, and I had no idea how to break it.

The figure began to move closer, its eyes fixed on me. I knew that I had to act fast if I wanted to survive.

I knew I had to think fast if I wanted to escape. I scanned the room, looking for any possible way out. The windows were barred, and the door was locked. I was running out of options.

The figure loomed closer, its eyes fixed on me with an unnerving intensity. I could feel its breath on my skin, and I knew I had to act fast.

I turned to Sarah, hoping that she might still be in there somewhere. "Sarah, please," I begged. "Snap out of it. We have to get out of here."

But she just smiled, her eyes still black as coal. "You don't understand," she repeated. "This is our destiny."

The figure reached out and touched my shoulder, and I felt a chill run down my spine. I tried to shake it off, but it was too strong.

"You'll learn to love it here," the figure whispered in my ear. "You'll learn to love us."

I knew then that I was in grave danger. I had to think of something, and fast.

I looked around the room, desperate for any distraction. That's when I saw it - a small, antique music box on the dresser. It was intricately carved, and it seemed to be emitting a faint, pulsing glow.

Without thinking, I grabbed the music box and opened it. A soft, melancholy tune filled the air, and the figure's grip on my shoulder relaxed.

Sarah's eyes flickered, and for a moment, I saw a glimmer of recognition. "Emily?" she whispered.

It was enough. I grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the door. We had to get out of there, no matter what.

But as we reached the door, I realized that it was still locked. And the figure was recovering, its eyes fixed on us with renewed intensity.

I knew then that our only hope was to find another way out. But where?

I frantically searched the room for any other possible exit. That's when I noticed a small, hidden panel on the wall. It was cleverly concealed, but I saw a faint seam that suggested it might be a secret door.

I pulled Sarah towards the panel, hoping against hope that it would open. I pressed the seam, and the panel slid open, revealing a narrow passageway.

"Come on, Sarah!" I whispered, pulling her into the passageway.

The figure was hot on our heels, its eyes blazing with anger. I knew we had to move fast if we wanted to escape.

The passageway was dark and narrow, with cobwebs clinging to the walls. I could hear the sound of scurrying rodents, and the air was thick with dust.

But I didn't care. I just kept pulling Sarah forward, desperate to find a way out.

As we moved deeper into the passageway, I started to feel a sense of hope. Maybe we could escape after all.

But then, I heard the sound of footsteps behind us. The figure was following us, its presence growing more intense with every step.

I quickened my pace, my heart pounding in my chest. I could feel Sarah's hand trembling in mine, and I knew she was still under some kind of spell.

But I didn't care. I just kept moving forward, determined to find a way out.

The passageway seemed to stretch on forever, twisting and turning through the darkness. I stumbled over rocks and uneven flooring, but I kept going.

And then, I saw a glimmer of light up ahead. It was faint, but it was definitely there.

I pulled Sarah towards the light, my heart racing with excitement. Could it be a way out?

As we emerged into the light, I saw that it was a small door that led to the outside. I could see trees and bushes, and the sky was a deep, foreboding grey.

I pushed open the door, and we stumbled out into the fresh air. I took a deep breath, feeling a sense of relief wash over me.

But as I looked back at the mansion, I saw the figure standing in the doorway. Its eyes were fixed on us, and I knew that we weren't safe yet.

"Run," I whispered to Sarah, pulling her away from the mansion.

We sprinted across the lawn, our feet pounding the grass. I didn't dare look back, fearing what I might see.

But as we reached the trees, I knew that we were far enough away. I stopped and turned to Sarah, looking into her eyes.

"Sarah, are you okay?" I asked, my voice shaking with concern.

She looked back at me, her eyes still cloudy. But then, I saw a flicker of recognition.

"Emily?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

I smiled, feeling a sense of hope. Maybe she was coming back to me after all.

But as I looked into her eyes, I saw something that made my blood run cold.

A dark, shadowy presence lurked behind her eyes, watching me with an unblinking gaze.

I stared into Sarah's eyes, frozen in horror. The dark presence seemed to be growing stronger, spreading its influence over her like a stain.

"Sarah, fight it," I begged, shaking her gently. "Come back to me."

But she just looked at me, her eyes empty and unresponsive. The presence seemed to be in control now, its grip on her tightening.

I knew I had to get her away from the mansion, away from the influence of the dark energy. But as I looked around, I realized that we were lost in the woods. The trees seemed to close in around us, casting long, ominous shadows on the ground.

I took a deep breath and grabbed Sarah's hand, pulling her deeper into the woods. We had to keep moving, had to find a way out of this nightmare.

As we walked, the trees seemed to grow taller and closer, the branches tangling together above us like skeletal fingers. I could feel the weight of the forest's darkness bearing down on us, making it hard to breathe.

But I kept going, driven by my determination to save Sarah. I knew that I had to get her out of there, no matter what.

The woods seemed to stretch on forever, the silence oppressive and heavy. I could feel the presence watching us, its eyes fixed on us with an unblinking gaze.

Suddenly, I heard a rustling in the underbrush. I spun around, my heart racing with fear.

And then, I saw it. A figure emerging from the shadows, its eyes fixed on us with an unnerving intensity.

I knew then that we were not alone in the woods. And I wondered if we would ever make it out alive.

The figure took a step closer, its eyes fixed on us with an unnerving intensity. I could feel its gaze like a cold wind, making my skin crawl.

I pulled Sarah closer to me, trying to protect her from the figure's gaze. But she didn't react, her eyes still empty and unresponsive.

The figure took another step closer, its presence filling the air with an oppressive weight. I could feel its malevolent energy washing over us, making my skin prickle with fear.

I knew I had to act fast. I looked around, desperate for any means of defense. That's when I saw a thick branch lying on the ground nearby. I grabbed it, holding it up like a club.

The figure didn't flinch, its eyes fixed on us with an unblinking gaze. It took another step closer, its presence growing more intense.

I raised the branch, ready to strike. But as I looked into the figure's eyes, I saw something that made my heart skip a beat.

A glimmer of recognition.

The figure's eyes seemed to hold a deep sadness, a sense of longing that was almost human.

"Sarah?" the figure whispered, its voice barely audible.

I spun around, looking at Sarah. But she didn't react, her eyes still empty and unresponsive.

The figure took another step closer, its eyes fixed on Sarah with an unnerving intensity.

"My daughter," it whispered, its voice cracking with emotion.

I stared at the figure, my mind reeling with shock. Could it be Sarah's father? And what was he doing here?

The figure's eyes seemed to bore into my soul, and I knew that I had to make a decision. Trust this stranger, or fight for our lives.

I hesitated, unsure of what to do. The figure's eyes seemed to hold a deep sadness, but I couldn't shake the feeling that it was hiding something.

"Who are you?" I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady.

The figure's gaze didn't waver, its eyes fixed on Sarah with an unnerving intensity.

"I'm her father," it whispered, its voice cracking with emotion. "I've been searching for her... for so long."

I stared at the figure, my mind reeling with questions. What had happened to Sarah's father? And why was he here, in these woods?

The figure took another step closer, its eyes fixed on Sarah with a desperate longing.

"Please," it whispered. "You have to help me. I have to get her out of here."

I hesitated, unsure of what to do. Part of me wanted to trust this stranger, to believe that he was telling the truth. But another part of me was screaming to be cautious, to protect myself and Sarah from this unknown threat.

As I stood there, frozen in indecision, the figure's eyes seemed to bore into my soul.

"Please," it repeated, its voice barely audible. "You have to trust me. I know what's going on here. I know what's happening to Sarah."

I stared at the figure, my heart pounding in my chest. Could I trust him? Or was this just a trick, a way to get us to let our guard down?

As I hesitated, Sarah's hand slipped out of mine. She took a step forward, her eyes still empty and unresponsive.

"Daddy?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

The figure's eyes lit up with hope, and it took a step forward, its arms outstretched.

"Sarah," it whispered, its voice full of emotion. "My daughter."

But as Sarah's eyes met her father's, I saw something that made my blood run cold.

A dark presence seemed to stir within her, its influence growing stronger with every passing moment.

And I knew that we were running out of time.