~music~
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I'm Sean Carter, and this is News 17. Breaking news from Tower City, where an intriguing discovery has captivated the community for months. A coffin containing an unidentified body was found in the city's bay, leaving authorities and residents puzzled. Our research team remains on the ground, diligently investigating the enigmatic Black Forest, where they recently stumbled upon the footprint of an adult man. As of now, the individual's identity remains a mystery, as forensic experts, researchers, and the police continue their exhaustive search of the area. In another astounding development, an ancient metal dagger that was surfaced, drawing attention from experts worldwide. Equipped with top-tier security, this relic of the past is believed to be more than a thousand years old. However, a chilling incident occurred last night. Surveillance cameras captured the presence of two masked individuals skulking around the lab in the early hours. Their motives and identities remain unknown, raising concerns about the security of this invaluable historical find. In response to this unnerving development, the authorities have acted swiftly. A substantial increase in security measures has been implemented, with additional cameras installed to bolster the protection of the artifact and its surroundings. As we await further updates on these unfolding events, rest assured that News 17 will be closely following this story and providing you with the latest developments as they emerge. Thank you for joining us, and we'll be back with more in-depth coverage after a short bre.....".
Tut~Tut
The television was turned off.
~dang ~ chatter ~ dang~ CRACK..!!!
The door opeaned with the huge bang sound. It was Mia, her eyes glowing with an otherworldly hue, and the guard flashing inside at once.
"My apologies, sir. I couldn't stop her," the guard in his black suit, fully geared up, reported, bowing.
"Leave us," Blon ordered, his voice carrying an unmistakable air of an authority.
"Yes, sir."
[door closed]
"What are you up to, Cole...? I mean, Blon..." Mia approached, tilting her head slowly and gracefully sweeping her wavy ginger hair from her neck with her hand. With an enticing sway, she bent slightly, revealing her half-exposed body in the tight outfit, standing in front of the couch where Blon was seated. The atmosphere was charged with an intriguing tension.
He stood up from the couch he sat on, ignoring Mia's alluring presence, and made his way to the corner of his opulent room. There, a wine bar adorned the golden wall, showcasing three low rows of stunning, fancy bottles in an elegant arrangement. The bar gracefully extended to the right, almost reaching the middle of the wall, where a half-mirror with a silver sculptured frame adorned the space. Glistening wine glasses were meticulously placed on top of a shiny wooden cabinet, while three drawers below it were neatly lined with clean white fabric. The air exuded a sense of sophistication and refinement, matching the elegant aura that surrounded Blon.
He took one of the glasses and poured its crimson contents, not wine, but a collection of human blood from different-aged individuals with varying blood types.
"What do you want?" Blon asked, his tone hinting at a mix of curiosity and annoyance.
"What do you mean, what I want? Are you still upset that I was disrespectful the other day?" Mia's voice carried a touch of playfulness as she attempted to wrap her arm around Blon.
[silence..]
"Come on now... I am sorry," Mia pleaded softly, her arm gently embracing him.
[ignored..]
"Tch...!!! I know why you're like this. Maybe I should inform him about secret hunt you are working on." Mia's tone shifted, taking on a threatening edge as she leaned closer to Blon's right ear.
The wine glass on his left hand scattered on the floor, his tight grip causing it to shatter, but the cuts on his hand immediately healed, a testament to his nature.
"I know what you will do next," Mia said, turning away from Blon and gazing at her reflection in the mirror, admiring herself.
Blon was on the brink of losing the turmoil within him, but Mia's continuous humiliation pushed him to the edge.
~Swoosh~
In a quick swift Blon's right hand tightened around Mia's neck, the mirror behind her shattered into a thousand glistening fragments. Mia's face showed a mix of fear and surprise, her eerie smile replaced with vulnerability. Struggling within his firm grasp, she felt like a snake ensnared by an eagle, desperately seeking release. Blon's sudden aggression caught her off guard, and she never expected him to be so forceful. While he didn't cut off her breath, his grip conveyed a menacing intent, as if he could crush each bone in her neck, one by one, like breaking a lifeless tree branch.
Her powerful aura mingled with a shattered ego as she stood in the presence of someone far mightier. Vivid flashbacks flooded Mia's mind, spanning a lifetime of memories. Scenes of triumphs and failures, joy and sorrow, happiness and heartache played before her eyes like a flickering movie reel. In that moment, with the weight of her past bearing down on her, she knew it was the end. Her hands, which had fiercely fought back just moments ago, now slowly fell, succumbing to the overwhelming force that held her captive.
She rose from the ground, heading to the nearby couch where her bag rested. Extracting her phone, she dialed her butler.
"Come pick me up" she asked, her voice heavy with sorrow.
After a brief interval, the butler hurried over to her side. Frustration etched across his face, he scooped Mia into his protective embrace. Soon, they reached their residence. Mia stepped out of the van in silence, moving through the garden and into the house. Each step seemed to echo the weight of her sorrow, a rhythm of clicks that mirrored the cadence of a troubled mind, drawing parallels to a time when she had felt this desolation before.
The butler instructed the driver to proceed on his route. He found himself taken aback by his normally tempestuous mistress, who now stood in an uncharacteristic silence. It was as if a perpetually erupting volcano had, for the first time, come to an unexpected halt.
The butler, a man in his mid-fifties, possessed a fair complexion accompanied by deep brown eyes. His hair, a blend of black and the gradual embrace of white, mirrored the passage of time. He had arrived at this estate decades back, a mere youth in his mid-twenties. The memories of his early days here lingered, as vivid as ever, much like his mistress who seemed untouched by the years, forever preserving her youthful allure.
[July 17, 1989]
The butler bore an intimacy with her that surpassed all others.
It was one hot summer evening when he first ventured into that residence with a "Vacancy" notice clutched in his hand, attired in an infrequent black suit and adorned with a hat, prepared for an interview. The dwelling itself exuded an aura of antiquity and shadow, casting an eerie atmosphere that could send shivers down one's spine even on the sunniest of days. Whispers of rumors abounded regarding those who had arrived before him, fleeing in terror from an enigmatic force that seemed to pervade the very essence of the house or even cast just a fleeting gaze from its exterior.
The garden, which now flourished with an array of exquisite flowers and diverse plants, once stood as a desolate expanse. Towering, unkempt grasses and withered trees dominated the landscape, painting a scene starkly different from its current vibrant state.
Driven by desperation and the gnawing pangs of hunger, he found himself at the doorstep of that ominous abode, despite its reputation as a den of horrors. His pockets held nothing but empty promises of sustenance for the next day. Engaging in a variety of odd jobs, he toiled relentlessly, only to be inexplicably dismissed time and again, each departure accompanied by peculiar pretexts. Having abandoned his college aspirations, he wandered aimlessly, a soul adrift with no destination to claim as his own.
Having journeyed through multiple homes prior to his arrival here, his applications were consistently declined for reasons ranging from his perceived youth to his college dropout status. But finally, he gingerly nudged open the entrance, only to reveal a landscape more dismal than his current stay.
"Hello...?" he called out tentatively, his voice hanging in the still air.
"Is anyone here...?" he raised his voice higher than before, only to find his words dissolving into the silence.
Progressing cautiously, his gaze fell upon a kitchen on the left, a space untouched and pristine, as if frozen in time. To the right stood a living room, adorned with ancient furniture and wooden chairs. A dormant furnace clung to the wall, a silent witness to a past untouched by its warmth.
~crack~crack~
The languid creak of ancient floorboards resonated with each advancing footfall, filling the air with its eerie melody.
Moving deeper into the corridor, a profusion of doors punctuated the hallway, obscured from view as light gradually faded, propelling him into a realm of increasing obscurity.
~haHa ha Haaa haHa~
From upstairs, a resounding and chilling female laughter reverberated, akin to the sinister echoes often heard in horror films during his tenure at a movie theater. Though accustomed to such auditory terrors, this time it transcended the realm of fiction—a genuine utterance, a ghostly manifestation.
Drawing upon a flashlight concealed within his pocket, a faithful companion that had outlasted his employment, he illuminated his path. This light had proven invaluable even after his dismissal, guiding his way through the darkness to his own residence.
[Inside his mind]
"What in the world is happening? Ain't a soul in sight. Good Lord, this place stinks to high heaven.
~ha Haha ha Haah~
What the heck was that? Seriously, what the heck was that? Oh Lord above, shield me from whatever dark forces are at play. Please, keep me safe and sound, and...
Hang on a minute! There's a staircase. Should I haul myself up there? Or maybe I oughta beat it? But what if someone's in a jam? I guess I could snoop 'round a tad, but that laugh – that was no joke. What am I even thinking? What's the best way to play this?"
He made up his mind and trudged up the stairs, every step heavy with anticipation. With each ascent, he braced himself for the specter of a gruesome murder or perhaps the presence of an ancient, eerie apparition...
However, what lay before him defied all expectations. The moment he reached the top of the staircase, it was as if he'd stepped into an entirely different realm. The saying "don't judge a book by its cover" resonated more than ever; he'd flipped through countless pages only to find a tale that defied its introduction.
The space felt akin to a newly finished home, the walls adorned with fresh coats of paint, and an aura of cleanliness pervading even in the darkness. Rooms adorned with heavy black curtains were revealed, shielding against every glimmer of light. He carefully directed his torch, probing every direction in his meticulous examination.
~swosh~
A fleeting sensation brushed past him, sending shivers down his spine. He cast his gaze from side to side, his breath quickening as his heart raced in his chest.
~swosh~
"HELLO, HUMAN!!!"
Abruptly, a woman's face materialized directly before him, emerging from the inky darkness. Illuminated by the torchlight, her visage snapped into focus. Her appearance was unsettling, featuring jutting cheekbones that seemed to almost break through her skin, reminiscent of a malnourished figure. Her lips, devoid of color, bore cracks at the corners, while her fangs jutted out like a cub's newly formed weapons.
"Aahhhhhaahh..." he screamed, sheer terror punctuating his voice, and bolted toward the direction he had come from. His dropped torch clattered to the ground, casting gyrating circles of light as it rolled and spun in its own chaotic dance.
As he fled, his torch abandoned on the floor, he navigated blindly, his senses clouded by overwhelming panic. Suddenly, an intense coldness pierced his nape, a sensation as sharp and biting as icy arrows driven through his flesh. It paralyzed him, rendering him motionless as the chilling grip clung to him. As his consciousness began to slip away, the rush of blood in his veins seemed to converge toward the point of contact, and his awareness dimmed with each passing moment.