Chapter 2 - What kind of conjuring shit is this?
My breath hitched in my throat as I spun around, straining to see through the thick, suffocating darkness.
My fingers fumbled for the flashlight, desperate to bring some semblance of light back into the room. After a moment that felt like an eternity, the beam flickered to life, weak but steady.
The grand ballroom was empty. My heart pounded loudly in my chest, the echo of the chime still ringing in my ears. The presence I had felt was gone, but a lingering chill remained in the air.
Summoning my courage, I approached the table again, this time with more caution. I tucked the new envelope into my backpack and looked around, searching for any other clues that might explain what was happening.
A faint rustling sound came from the far corner of the ballroom almost making me scream. My flashlight’s beam wavered as I directed it toward the source, revealing a figure slowly emerging from the shadows. My blood ran cold as the figure stepped into the light—an old man dressed in formal attire from a bygone era, his face pale and eyes hollow.
'Looking interesting...' Not the time, Pablo!
"Zephyra Everhart," he said, his voice a haunting whisper that echoed around the empty room. "Welcome to the Willowbrook Estate. You have been expected."
What the hell? What kind of conjuring shit is this? Expected? By whom? And for what purpose? How did he know my name?
Questions swirled in my mind, but my voice refused to cooperate. The man took a step closer, and I instinctively took a step back.
"Who are you?" I finally managed to ask, my voice trembling.
"I am the caretaker," he replied. "My name is Adrian. I have been waiting for someone to answer the call for many years."
The caretaker? I've never seen him around before!
"The call? What do you mean?" I asked, trying to keep my composure.
Adrian smiled a thin, sad smile. "The Willowbrook Estate holds many secrets, Miss Everhart. You have been invited to uncover them. But beware, for not all secrets wish to be found."
With that cryptic warning, Adrian turned and began to walk towards the grand staircase.
'This is literally a horror movie, man! Time to get out,' Pablo hissed. I ignored him.
I hesitated for a moment, then followed, my flashlight casting long shadows on the walls. The portraits seemed to watch our every move, their eyes gleaming with a life of their own. Like in Hogwarts. You know what I mean?
I wonder if they can speak as well. Wouldn’t be surprised if they can with everything going on.
Adrian led me through a maze of hallways, each one more decayed than the last. The air grew colder as we walked deeper into the mansion, and I couldn't shake the feeling that we were descending into another realm entirely.
Finally, we reached a door at the end of a narrow corridor. It was made of dark, heavy wood and adorned with intricate carvings that seemed to shift and change under the flashlight’s beam.
"This is where your journey truly begins," Adrian said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Beyond this door lies the heart of Willowbrook's mystery. Enter, and you will find the answers you seek. But remember, every answer comes with a price."
I swallowed hard, my hand trembling as I reached for the doorknob.
Suddenly, a loud crash echoed from the hallway behind me. I spun around, my flashlight beam dancing wildly. The hallway was empty, but the noise had been real—something or someone was here with us.
Adrian seemed unfazed. "Time is of the essence, Miss Everhart. The house does not appreciate hesitation."
Am I really going to do this? God, now I'm kinda getting scared.
I turned back to the door and twisted the knob. The door creaked open, revealing a staircase descending into darkness.
'My goodness, this shit is scary!' I know Pablo, I know.
As I took the first step, the air grew colder still, and a sense of foreboding washed over me. I shuddered.
"Remember," Adrian's voice echoed from above, "every answer comes with a price."
Slowly, I descended the stairs, the darkness closing in around me. The staircase seemed to go on forever, twisting and turning in ways that defied logic. My flashlight flickered, casting eerie shadows on the walls. Finally, I reached the bottom and found myself in a vast underground chamber.
In the center of the chamber was a large, ornate mirror. Its surface was covered in a thick layer of dust, and strange symbols were etched around its frame. As I approached, the symbols began to glow faintly, and the mirror's surface shimmered.
"Touch it," a voice whispered from the darkness. "Embrace the truth."
I hesitated, my hand hovering over the mirror.
What truth? What secrets did this place hold? My curiosity overwhelmed my fear, and I reached out, pressing my palm against the cold glass.
Instantly, the room spun around me, and I was engulfed in a blinding light. When the light faded, I found myself standing in a different place—a grand library filled with ancient books and artifacts. A figure stood at the far end, shrouded in shadows.
"Welcome, Zephyra Everhart," the figure said, its voice echoing through the library. "You have taken the first step into the unknown. Now, your true journey begins."
I had no idea what I had gotten myself into, but there was no turning back now.
Oh shit again…
Hey, spooky boos!
So this is chapter 2!
I have to be honest. I feel like I didn’t give my 100% to this chapter. I’m a bit down because of some personal reasons.
But I promise to do my best for chapter 3. I’m so sorry if this chapter isn’t promising.
Again, my work is currently free! So if you are interested, please consider pressing the below button and joining the community! TIA <3
Thank you to all the amazing people who supported me so far! Means a lot to me.
Oh, I created a small banner for myself! (this one is just for the Sunday horror stories and it's nothing much since I'm pretty talentless in this area) I’ll attach it below. Let me know what you think! Felt like slowly starting to create a brand of my own.
That's all for now! See you next Thursday with a psychology newsletter!
Have a great day boos!
Spookily yours,
Izel <3
I haven't read the first chapter yet but after this one I'm going to go back and read it, especially if you say it's even better 😊. Excellent spooky vibes love it
I’m sorry to ear personal problem, hope that u can pass trough it🤗. Maybe this chapter isn’t like the first, but is a good prelude chapter for what will happen next 😊. I hope next Sunday come quickly!! Oh almost forgot, the banner… honestly I prefer if u stay on “little spooky ghost” style, cooler and nicer than this “horror movie style”. I don’t know if know what I mean, my English not so good sorry 😅😅😅