The Shadow of the Past

The sun had long set by the time Evelyn stepped inside the mansion. The air was cool, the sky dark, and the eerie silence that enveloped the place made her feel as if she were the last living soul on earth. Nathaniel Cross had disappeared into the shadows, leaving her standing alone at the entrance.

The grand hallway stretched before her, its walls lined with ancient portraits that seemed to watch her with eyes full of untold stories. The mansion’s opulence was faded, its once majestic beauty now obscured by layers of dust and time. Every step Evelyn took echoed, as though the house itself was holding its breath, waiting for her to make the next move.

She cautiously moved further into the mansion, her footsteps light, her mind racing. She wasn’t sure what she expected—maybe something more welcoming, less... oppressive. But as the temperature dropped, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong here, something ancient, something dark.

As she turned a corner, she caught sight of an ornate door at the end of the hallway, slightly ajar. The soft light of a flickering candle danced through the crack. Curiosity pulled her closer. She reached out and pushed the door open.

Inside, the room was vast, filled with rich velvet curtains and golden chandeliers that hung from the ceiling like a forgotten dream. In the center of the room stood an elaborate fireplace, its hearth cold and dark. But what caught Evelyn's attention was the painting above it.

It was a portrait of a man. His features were striking, even for a painting. Dark, piercing eyes, high cheekbones, and an expression that seemed both alluring and dangerous. His name was Sebastian Carmichael, her great-uncle. But there was something more about the man—something in the way he gazed back at her, something that felt... unnatural.

The air in the room thickened. She felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up as an overwhelming sense of unease washed over her. But she couldn’t look away. There was something in his eyes, something that whispered of secrets, of hidden truths buried deep within the mansion’s walls.

Suddenly, a low growl echoed from somewhere behind her. Her heart stopped. She spun around, her pulse quickening, but there was nothing there. The room was empty, save for her and the shadows.

A cold breeze swept through the room, making the curtains flutter, and Evelyn shivered. She took a step back, her eyes scanning the room for any sign of movement, but there was nothing. The growl sounded again, louder this time, and Evelyn's breath caught in her throat.

What was that?

The door to the room slammed shut behind her.

Evelyn gasped, spinning around in panic, her pulse racing. She was trapped.

Then, the unmistakable sound of footsteps echoed through the hallway, slow and deliberate. Someone—something—was coming.

She turned, her eyes frantically searching for a way out. The painting above the fireplace seemed to mock her, its painted eyes following her every move. And in that moment, she felt it—the presence, something ancient and far more dangerous than any person she had ever known. It was not just a house full of ghosts; it was alive, in a way she could not comprehend.

The footsteps grew closer, and Evelyn felt an overwhelming surge of dread wash over her. She wasn’t alone.

---

Nathaniel’s Warning

The door to the room opened, and there he was again—Nathaniel Cross. But his expression had changed. The brooding man who had greeted her earlier now appeared different—his eyes gleamed with an unnatural light, and his movements were more predatory, as if he were no longer entirely human.

“Miss Carmichael,” he said, his voice low and smooth, carrying an edge of something she couldn’t place. “I warned you.”

Evelyn took a step back, heart pounding. “What... what’s going on here? What was that sound? What’s in this house?”

Nathaniel stepped forward, closing the distance between them with an unsettling grace. He reached out to her, but she instinctively pulled away, her pulse racing in fear.

“This house,” Nathaniel began, his voice calm but tinged with something darker, “has seen more death than you can imagine. It’s not just a place of history—it’s a place of... creatures.” He looked at her, his eyes narrowing, studying her with an intensity that made her skin crawl.

“Creatures?” Evelyn repeated, her voice trembling. “What do you mean?”

Nathaniel hesitated for a moment before he spoke again, his tone softer but no less serious. “There are things here, Miss Carmichael. Things that shouldn’t be. And they’ve been waiting for someone like you to return.”

Evelyn’s mind reeled. Things that shouldn’t be? She had no idea what Nathaniel meant, but the way he said it, the fear in his voice—it was all too real.

“You have to leave this place,” Nathaniel said, his voice filled with urgency. “Before it’s too late.”

But Evelyn couldn’t leave. Not now. The mansion had drawn her in, and the secrets buried within its walls were calling her—calling her to uncover the truth.

---

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***