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Enshrouded Souls

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Synopsis

Chapter 1 - Prologue: The Call to Darkness

One afternoon, in my small office tucked away amidst the small streets of our small town, I found myself reading books about Mysteries. As an exorcist, it's hard to find work specially in a town like mine. As I was dwelling into stories of great Sherlock, a knock on the door shattered the tranquillity. I looked up to see Evan, my partner bursting into the room with excitement. He was wearing his usual suit. He had Blonde hair and blue eyes. Although he is just a junior, he has been with me since almost 2 years.

"Marcus," he said. "You won't believe it! The Minister of Ravensbrook has sent us a letter. They're pleading for our help with a family tormented by supernatural forces. They are just mere apparitions but reward we'll get is quite high."

"Are you sure about that?"

"By how they have described the behaviours, I'm pretty sure the family is just haunted by the spirits of dead."

"Let me see the letter"

"""

𝐌𝐒𝐧𝐒𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 π‘πšπ―πžπ§π¬π›π«π¨π¨π€

𝑂𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑒 π‘œπ‘“ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘€π‘–π‘›π‘–π‘ π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿ

π·π‘’π‘Žπ‘Ÿ π‘€π‘Ÿ. π‘€π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘π‘’π‘ ,

π‘Šπ‘’ β„Žπ‘œπ‘π‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘  π‘™π‘’π‘‘π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿ 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑠 π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ 𝑖𝑛 π‘”π‘œπ‘œπ‘‘ β„Žπ‘’π‘Žπ‘™π‘‘β„Ž π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ β„Žπ‘–π‘”β„Ž π‘ π‘π‘–π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘‘π‘ . 𝐼𝑑 β„Žπ‘Žπ‘  π‘π‘œπ‘šπ‘’ π‘‘π‘œ π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘Žπ‘‘π‘‘π‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘› π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘π‘œπ‘ π‘ π‘’π‘ π‘  π‘’π‘›π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘™π‘™π‘’π‘™π‘’π‘‘ 𝑒π‘₯π‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘–π‘ π‘’ 𝑖𝑛 π‘šπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘  π‘œπ‘“ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘ π‘’π‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘›π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘™. π‘‡β„Žπ‘’ π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘π‘’π‘‘π‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘› π‘œπ‘“ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ 𝑒π‘₯π‘π‘’π‘π‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘›π‘Žπ‘™ π‘ π‘˜π‘–π‘™π‘™π‘  π‘Žπ‘  π‘Žπ‘› 𝑒π‘₯π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘π‘–π‘ π‘‘ π‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘π‘’π‘‘π‘’π‘  π‘¦π‘œπ‘’, π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ 𝑀𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘ π‘’π‘™π‘£π‘’π‘  𝑖𝑛 π‘”π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘Žπ‘‘ 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑 π‘œπ‘“ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘Žπ‘ π‘ π‘–π‘ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘π‘’. π‘‡β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’ 𝑖𝑠 π‘›π‘œ π‘œπ‘›π‘’ π‘™π‘–π‘˜π‘’ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ 𝑖𝑛 π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘‘π‘œπ‘€π‘›.

𝐼𝑛 π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘œπ‘’π‘‘π‘ π‘˜π‘–π‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘  π‘œπ‘“ π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘‘π‘œπ‘€π‘› 𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑠 π‘Ž β„Žπ‘œπ‘’π‘ π‘’ 𝑠𝑑𝑒𝑒𝑝𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 π‘‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘˜π‘›π‘’π‘ π‘  π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘π‘™π‘Žπ‘”π‘’π‘’π‘‘ 𝑏𝑦 π‘ π‘’π‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘›π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘™ 𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑠. π‘‡β„Žπ‘’ π‘Žπ‘“π‘“π‘™π‘–π‘π‘‘π‘’π‘‘ π‘“π‘Žπ‘šπ‘–π‘™π‘¦, π‘–π‘›π‘›π‘œπ‘π‘’π‘›π‘‘ π‘£π‘–π‘π‘‘π‘–π‘šπ‘  π‘œπ‘“ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘›π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘šπ‘Žπ‘™, π‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘‘π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘šπ‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘’π‘‘ π‘›π‘–π‘”β„Žπ‘‘π‘ .

π‘‡β„Žπ‘’ π‘€β„Žπ‘œπ‘™π‘’ π‘“π‘Žπ‘šπ‘–π‘™π‘¦ π‘œπ‘“ π΄π‘ β„Žπ‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘‘ π‘€π‘Žπ‘  π‘˜π‘›π‘œπ‘€π‘› π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘–π‘Ÿ π‘€π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘šπ‘‘β„Ž π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘˜π‘–π‘›π‘‘π‘›π‘’π‘ π‘ . π΄π‘™π‘‘β„Žπ‘œπ‘’π‘”β„Ž π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘¦ 𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘œπ‘’π‘‘π‘ π‘˜π‘–π‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘  π‘œπ‘“ π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘‘π‘œπ‘€π‘›, π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘¦ π‘€π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘˜π‘›π‘œπ‘€π‘› 𝑏𝑦 π‘Žπ‘™π‘šπ‘œπ‘ π‘‘ π‘’π‘£π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘¦π‘œπ‘›π‘’ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘β„Žπ‘–π‘™π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘› π‘π‘™π‘Žπ‘¦π‘’π‘‘ π‘’π‘£π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘¦π‘‘π‘Žπ‘¦ 𝑖𝑛 π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘£π‘–π‘™π‘™π‘Žπ‘”π‘’ π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Ž π‘œπ‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘β„Žπ‘–π‘™π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘›. 𝐼𝑑 π‘Žπ‘™π‘™ π‘π‘’π‘”π‘Žπ‘› π‘Ž 𝑓𝑒𝑀 π‘‘π‘Žπ‘¦π‘  π‘Žπ‘”π‘œ π‘€β„Žπ‘’π‘› π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘¦ π‘‘π‘–π‘ π‘Žπ‘π‘π‘’π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘’π‘‘ π‘“π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘š π‘œπ‘’π‘‘ π‘ π‘–π‘”β„Žπ‘‘. π΄π‘™π‘‘β„Žπ‘œπ‘’π‘”β„Ž π‘’π‘›π‘’π‘ π‘’π‘Žπ‘™, 𝑀𝑒 𝑗𝑒𝑠𝑑 π‘‘β„Žπ‘œπ‘’π‘”β„Žπ‘‘ 𝑀𝑒 π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘¦ 𝑀𝑒𝑛𝑑 π‘œπ‘› π‘Ž π‘£π‘Žπ‘π‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘›. 𝐡𝑒𝑑 π‘Žπ‘“π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘›π‘œπ‘‘ π‘π‘œπ‘šπ‘–π‘›π‘” π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘  π‘šπ‘’π‘β„Ž π‘‘π‘–π‘šπ‘’, π‘œπ‘›π‘’ π‘œπ‘“ π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘“π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘’π‘›π‘‘ 𝑀𝑒𝑛𝑑 π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘π‘Žπ‘šπ‘’ π‘π‘Žπ‘π‘˜ 𝑖𝑛 π‘£π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘¦ π‘π‘Žπ‘‘ β„Žπ‘’π‘Žπ‘™π‘‘β„Ž. π‘†π‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘β„Žπ‘’π‘  π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘–π‘ π‘’π‘  π‘Žπ‘™π‘™ π‘œπ‘£π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘π‘œπ‘‘π‘¦, π‘π‘™π‘œπ‘œπ‘‘π‘¦ π‘›π‘œπ‘ π‘’ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘ π‘’π‘£π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘π‘œπ‘™π‘‘. 𝐻𝑒 π‘ π‘Žπ‘–π‘‘ π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘“π‘Žπ‘šπ‘–π‘™π‘¦ 𝑖𝑠 π‘›π‘œπ‘‘ π‘ π‘Žπ‘“π‘’.

π΄π‘“π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ 𝑛𝑒𝑀𝑠, 𝑀𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑑 π‘šπ‘Žπ‘›π‘¦ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ 𝐼 π‘šπ‘¦π‘ π‘’π‘™π‘“ 𝑀𝑒𝑛𝑑 π‘›π‘’π‘Žπ‘Ÿ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ β„Žπ‘œπ‘’π‘ π‘’. 𝐴𝑙𝑙 𝑀𝑒 π‘π‘œπ‘’π‘™π‘‘ β„Žπ‘’π‘Žπ‘Ÿ π‘€π‘Žπ‘  π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘ π‘œπ‘’π‘›π‘‘ π‘œπ‘“ π‘π‘Ÿπ‘¦π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘™π‘Žπ‘’π‘”β„Žπ‘–π‘›π‘”. π‘ƒπ‘™π‘’π‘Žπ‘ π‘’ π‘›π‘œπ‘‘π‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘–π‘Ÿ β„Žπ‘œπ‘’π‘ π‘’ 𝑖𝑠 π‘ π‘–π‘‘π‘’π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘‘ 𝑖𝑛 π‘Ž 𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑑𝑙𝑒 π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘’π‘ π‘‘ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ 𝑖𝑑 𝑖𝑠 π‘π‘œπ‘£π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘‘ 𝑏𝑦 π‘‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘˜π‘›π‘’π‘ π‘ .

π΄π‘“π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘’π‘“π‘’π‘™ π‘π‘œπ‘›π‘ π‘–π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘›, 𝑀𝑒 β„Žπ‘’π‘šπ‘π‘™π‘¦ 𝑒π‘₯𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑑 π‘Žπ‘› π‘–π‘›π‘£π‘–π‘‘π‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘› π‘‘π‘œ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’, π‘€π‘Ÿ. π‘€π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘π‘’π‘ , π‘‘π‘œ β„Žπ‘’π‘™π‘ 𝑒𝑠 𝑖𝑛 π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘ . 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑑 π‘Žπ‘ π‘ π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘‘, π‘¦π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘’π‘“π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘  𝑀𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘€π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘’π‘‘ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘›π‘‘π‘ π‘œπ‘šπ‘’π‘™π‘¦ π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘ . π‘ˆπ‘ , π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘ π‘–π‘‘π‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘  π‘œπ‘“ π‘…π‘Žπ‘£π‘’π‘›π‘ π‘π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘œπ‘˜ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘  π‘π‘œπ‘™π‘™π‘’π‘π‘‘π‘’π‘‘ π‘Žπ‘π‘œπ‘’π‘‘ $2000 π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’. π‘Šπ‘’ 𝑀𝑖𝑙𝑙 π‘Žπ‘™π‘ π‘œ π‘π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘£π‘–π‘‘π‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ 𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘£π‘’π‘™ 𝑒π‘₯𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑒𝑠.

πΈπ‘›π‘π‘™π‘œπ‘ π‘’π‘‘ π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Ž π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘  π‘™π‘’π‘‘π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿ, π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ 𝑀𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 π‘‘π‘’π‘‘π‘Žπ‘–π‘™π‘’π‘‘ π‘‘π‘–π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘π‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘›π‘  π‘‘π‘œ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘’π‘‘ β„Žπ‘œπ‘’π‘ π‘’, π‘Žπ‘  𝑀𝑒𝑙𝑙 π‘Žπ‘  π‘Ž π‘‘π‘œπ‘˜π‘’π‘› π‘œπ‘“ π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘”π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘‘π‘’π‘‘π‘’ π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘Žπ‘π‘π‘’π‘π‘‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘π‘’.

π‘Œπ‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘  π‘ π‘–π‘›π‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘™π‘¦,

π‘€π‘–π‘›π‘–π‘ π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘œπ‘“ π‘…π‘Žπ‘£π‘’π‘›π‘ π‘π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘œπ‘˜

"""

"The fortune is indeed quite high," I remarked, raising an eyebrow as I studied the figures on the letter. The thought of such a substantial reward was enticing, to say the least. Evan's eyes lit up with excitement, his mind already racing with possibilities.

"Marcus, just imagine what we can do with this!" he exclaimed, a grin spreading across his face. "We could finally expand our services, invest in better equipment, and perhaps even open our own dedicated office."

I nodded, contemplating the potential that lay before us. "But we must approach this with caution," I cautioned, a hint of scepticism in my voice. "We cannot simply assume that the disturbances plaguing the Ashfort family are merely the spirits of the departed. There could be something far more sinister at play."

Evan's enthusiasm faltered for a moment as he considered my words. "You're right, Marcus," he conceded, a note of uncertainty in his voice. "We must be prepared for the unknown, for the unexpected. Our expertise in the paranormal will surely be put to the test."

I folded the letter and placed it carefully on the desk, my mind already drifting towards the task at hand. "From the sound of it, this might not be as challenging as some of our previous cases." I said.

Evan nodded, a determined glint in his eyes. "I trust your judgement, Marcus. If you believe this is a case worth pursuing, then let us not waste any time. The carriage will be waiting for us outside the office in around an hour. Shall we start packing our equipment?"

A smile tugged at the corners of my lips. "Indeed," I replied, rising from my chair. "Let's gather what we need and ensure we are fully equipped for whatever awaits us in the Ashfort house."

With a shared sense of purpose, we set about organising our tools, carefully selecting the items that would aid us in our investigation. The anticipation grew with each passing minute, mingled with a healthy dose of trepidation. We were about to step into the unknown, into a world where the boundaries between the living and the dead blurred.

The journey to the town of Ravensbrook was long. It took us no less than 32 hours to reach there.

Finally, we arrived at the ministry office of the town. After a little bit of chat, we found out that the house along with the forest was on opposite side of the very way we came from. That was the reason we weren't able to see the house ourself.

Finally, we arrived at the outskirts of the town, where the haunted house stood in solemn silence. The very sight of it sent shivers down my spine, its worn façade a testament to the torment that lay within. There was a sign, placed by ministry to not go anywhere near the house along with caution tape. Before I could enter the house however, I saw a little girl coming out from the direction of house. She was around the age of 10. She had black hair but almost a pale white skin. She crouched and went below the tape. Before I could say anything, there was shouting from the civilians standing around near the girl.

"That's Mary! Stay away! She might also be haunted!"

"Oh you poor little soul. May god bring peace to you."

"She is haunted!!! Stay away from her!!"

"She's completely fine! You are scaring her with all the shouting!"

I agreed with the last one. Although irony, it was correct that she was fine. It also stopped the shouting of others. "Hello little Mary," I said, while approaching her calmly. "Don't be afraid. Can you tell us how are you?"

"I ran away. I am fine but they are not. Can you save them?" she said.

"Ah you don't need to worry about that. Can you tell us anything about what happened inside?"

"That I don't remember. I have no memory of anything that happened inside that house."

It was weird but she was a little girl and I thought that I shouldn't scare her. "Ah you don't worry then. I and him, my partner will go inside and save your family." I said. I was going to pat her head when I felt it, there was a unnerving feeling of dead coming from her.

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