[hr][hr][hr] [center][img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/b3RmLjEwNi5kMTBkYTQuVEdWdVlTQk5ZWEpwWlNCTmIyOXVjMmhoWkc5My4w/junggle.regular.webp[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/joJImSL.png[/img] [img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/dHRmLjEwNi4wODhhNzEuUVhWdWIzUm9JRlpsYjIxaGRtVmhJRXBoWTJ0emIyNGdVM1J2Ym1VLjI/sharp-ist-font.regular.webp[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/og8JWf8.png[/img][/center] [right][code] “Tuesday, April 15th 00:05’[/code][/right] [hr][hr][hr] The mansion’s interior was as grand as it was unsettling. The foyer stretched high above them, its ceiling lost in shadow. A chandelier hung precariously overhead, its crystals catching the faint light from Burnie’s flames and scattering it in fractured patterns across the walls. The air was thick with the scent of old wood and something faintly metallic, like copper or rust. Lena hesitated just inside the doorway, her boots clicking softly against the marble floor. [color=FF00FF]“Okay,”[/color] she muttered, glancing around. [color=FF00FF]“This is officially creepy.”[/color] Jackson stepped in beside her, his broad frame filling the space. [color=008B8B]“Yeah, no kidding. Feels like we just walked into a horror movie. I like your odds though of being the final girl.”[/color] [color=FF00FF]“Is it because I’m the only girl here,”[/color] Lena chuckled as age looked around some more. [color=008B8B]“I plead the-“[/color] The door creaked shut behind them, the sound echoing through the empty halls. Lena spun around, her heart racing, but there was no one there. Just the heavy, ornate door, now closed tight. Jackson sighed as he placed his hands on his hips, [color=008B8B]“-the fifth.”[/color] [color=FF00FF]“Great,”[/color] she said, forcing a laugh. [color=FF00FF]“No turning back now.”[/color] Jackson gave her a reassuring smile, though his eyes were scanning the room warily. [color=008B8B]“Should we wait here or-”[/color] [color=FF00FF]”Let’s wait and see what happens”[/color] They both looked around the room. The walls were lined with portraits and busts of heads, and their eyes seemed to like directly at the two wayward mages. Lena shivered, pulling her jacket tighter around her. [color=FF00FF]“Do you feel like they’re watching us?”[/color] she asked, her voice low. Jackson nodded, his expression tense. [color=008B8B]“Yeah.”[/color] Lena glanced at Burnie, who was flickering nervously, his light dimming and flaring in erratic bursts. [color=FF00FF]“You too, huh?”[/color] she murmured to the fire. [color=FF00FF]“Guess it’s not just me.”[/color] As they walked a little further into the room, the feeling of unease grew stronger. Lena’s skin prickled, and she couldn’t shake the sensation that something was just out of sight, lurking in the shadows. Every other second she’d see a wraith or a shade, but as soon as she focused her eyes she’d realize it was a coat rack, a chair, or a mirror. However, she did hear something. It almost sounded like something, somewhere, was chanting in a dead language. She didn’t know why she felt it was a dead language but something deep within her core told her so. She glanced at Jackson, who was frowning, his hand twitching which caused water droplets to form in the air around them. [color=FF00FF]“You okay?”[/color] she asked. [color=008B8B]“Yeah,”[/color] he said, though his voice was tight. [color=008B8B]“Just… seeing things. Shadows moving where they shouldn’t.”[/color] Lena nodded, her unease growing. [color=FF00FF]“I think I’m hearing things. Whispers. Can’t make out the words, though.”[/color] Jackson stopped, turning to face her. [color=008B8B]“Whispers? Like… voices?”[/color] [color=FF00FF]“Yeppers,”[/color] Lena said, her voice barely above a whisper. [color=FF00FF]“It’s like… an ancient language or something. I don’t recognize it, but it’s… it’s here, it’s there, it’s every fucking where.”[/color] Jackson’s frown deepened. [color=008B8B]“This place is messing with us. We need to find a light or something. Get our bearings.”[/color] [color=FF00FF]“Oh we both know that won’t help if it is haunted,”[/color] Lena seethed as her heart pounded. They quickened their pace, searching for a light switch or a lamp. The whispers grew louder, more insistent, and Lena clapped her hands over her ears, trying to block them out. Jackson’s breathing was ragged now, his eyes darting around as the shadows seemed to shift and twist around them. Jackson thought he saw a specter flying across the room towards him and he threw a punch, easily punching through the marble bust in front of him. Finally, Jackson spotted a light switch on the wall. He reached for it, his hand trembling slightly, and flipped it on. The room was flooded with light, the chandelier above them blazing to life. Lena blinked, her eyes adjusting to the sudden brightness. The whispers stopped abruptly, and the shadows retreated, leaving the room looking… normal. Just an old, slightly dusty mansion. Lena could finally see that this room was the parlor room. It was square, the floor was a finely polished Pink Ivory inlaid with stone and the walls were of similar quality and filled to the brim with countless portraits, decorative shelves filled with trinkets, and weaponry all of old Elven design Jackson shook his head, his expression a mix of relief and confusion. [color=008B8B]“I think… I think this place is haunted”[/color] Lena let out a shaky laugh, though her nerves were still on edge. [color=FF00FF]“Great. I always wanted to die in a haunted house. Perfect.”[/color] The lights suddenly went out again eliciting a yelp from Lena. The sound of the door creaking open drew mouth their heads sharply back. Like before, the door closed behind the new person. [i]*Click*[/i] The light turned back on as Jackson flicked the switch. Both Jackson and Lena recoiled at the sudden change from dark to bright, but they did see a figure in the doorway now.. Before their eyes could adjust, the room suddenly went dark once again as the door slammed closed. [color=FF00FF]“Well this will be annoying if it continues,”[/color] Lena scoffed. A moment later the door swung open allowing a pair of people to enter. [i]*Click*[/i] The cycle would continue and Lena found it annoying. The door would open, a new person would walk through it, Jackson would turn the lights on, the lights would go out and the door would close. Rinse, repeat, and continue over and over until there was over a dozen people assembled in the entryway for this house. Lena was pleasantly surprised that none of them appeared to be the kind of person to lead a cult, but alas the modern age did make it hard to determine that in advance. Her eyes shifted from person to person before she decided to put her hands behind her back. [color=FF00FF]“So,”[/color] she started with a stern tone, [color=FF00FF]“I bet you are wondering why I sent you the letters.”[/color] [color=008B8B]“She did not send the letters,”[/color] Jackson sighed as he waved at the crowd. [color=008B8B]“Hi! I am Jackson, this is Lena, and the fireball is Burnie Cinders.”[/color] Burnie intensified as it moved in between Lena and the new group. Lena knew he was apprehensive about the gathering crowd and was trying to protect her just in case. [color=FF00FF]“Let me have my-”[/color] Lena stopped speaking as she rubbed her temple. [color=FF00FF]“Is this the part where we each tell each other our powers and our names? Maybe make plans to get a late-night bite after this is done?”[/color]