The unsettling experience from the diner continued to weigh heavily on Sarah's mind. However, as she attempted to push the disturbing thoughts aside, she found herself confronted with another hurdle, the scariest thing on earth and an unavoidable event in the modern world: traffic jams. Despite her attempts to navigate through it by changing lanes multiple times, she remained trapped amidst the sea of stationary cars.
Feeling defeated, Sarah's gaze drifted outside of her comfortable Rover P6, searching for any distraction from the frustrating traffic. "Ugh, this traffic is killing me," she muttered under her breath, tightly gripping her steering wheel in frustration. Suddenly, something strange caught her eye. Stood at a nearby streetlamp was a creature unlike anything she had ever seen. Its bizarre shape caught her by surprise, and she couldn't bring herself to look away. "What in the world is that?" she wondered aloud.
Sarah blinked twice in disbelief, slowing down her Rover P6 to get a better look at the mysterious creature. "What the...?" she murmured, her voice trailing off as the scene unfolding before her. Upon driving closer, she noticed more of them, lurking in the shadows of alleyways or perched atop nearby buildings. Their form writhed and contorted in unnatural way sent a chill down her spine, yet she couldn't look away. Despite their eerie presence, none of the pedestrians seemed to notice them as they went about their business. "Am I the only one seeing this?" Sarah muttered.
Sarah's gaze shifted to the person walking their dog nearby. The dog's frantic barking drew her attention. She noticed that the dog was barking towards a seemingly empty alley. However, Sarah could see clearly that the dog was actually barking towards a huge entity, standing at least three meters tall. Its limbs stretched, twisted, and writhed in unnatural ways. Despite the horrifying sight, the owner of the dog seemed undisturbed.
As the dog owner tugged her pet away from the alley, Sarah caught the creature's eye behind the wheels. Their gazes locked, and a sinister grin spread across its face as it bared its terrifying teeth for several tense seconds. Slowly, the figure raised its hands, revealing a set of sharp claws, pointing towards Sarah which caused her pupils to contract in terror. In the face of danger, the pocket watch tried to alert Sarah several times by flashing red, yet it went by unnoticed. As if satisfied by her reaction, the creature retreated back, disappeared within the alley leaving Sarah shaken.
Sarah looked down, her hands and feet trembled, as she tried to make sense of what she had just witnessed. Her mind raced with questions, the whole scene repeated endlessly as if she was stuck in a time loop.
"What were those creatures? And most importantly, why did that creature seem to target me?" Sarah thought.
The honk from the car behind her snapped Sarah back to reality urging her to move her car. Despite the countless questions on the back of her mind, she knew now wasn't the time to dwell on them. With a determined shake of her head, she focused on driving, continuing her journey towards the outskirts of the city and eventually to the mansion.
xXx
Sarah glanced at her phone and noticed that it was already 10:48 PM. The sun had set to rest, with the glowing moon looming along the stars.
Parking her car at the mansion's entrance, she stepped onto the grounds, her eyes full of determination. "Here goes nothing," she murmured, while clutching her pocket watch tightly.
As she pushed open the heavy door, Sarah was greeted with a scene that was vastly different from her last visit. Instead of the solemn emptiness she had encountered before, the foyer had transformed into a grand lounge, bathed in warm, inviting light.
Bars lined on one side of the room, attended by a strange humanoid figure with a rabbit head, who seemed to be the bartender, wearing a butler's outfit. Multiple dining tables adorned with elegant tablecloths filled the center. A grand piano stood proudly in one corner; yet, strangely, the piano played by itself, filling the room with its melodies.
The figure, tall and slender, positioned himself by the counter, He polished the glass with undivided attention, his focus solely on the task at hand. Upon Sarah's entrance, he spared her only a brief glance before resuming his task, showing little interest in her presence.
Sarah noticed the soft blue light emanating from her pocket watch, causing her to pause and wonder, "Blue light? Does it mean it's safe?" After a moment of hesitation, she decided to approach the counter warily, holding onto her watch. As she drew closer, the figure's gaze softened slightly, attempting to reassure her. "Welcome," he spoke, his voice stern. "What brings you here?"
Unsure of how much to reveal, Sarah stuttered, "I-I was lost, somehow I ended up here," she lied.
The figure's gaze bore into Sarah, searching for answers before his crimson eyes landed on the pocket watch that she held. His expression shifted, surprise flickering across his face as he recognized the symbol. "The pocket watch," he murmured.
Sarah felt alert when the figure's gaze locked onto the pocket watch. She instinctively tightened her grip on the watch, attempting to conceal it, but the soft glow emitted by the watch gave it away.
Sensing Sarah's unease, the figure cleared his throat softly before speaking, his voice calm yet authoritative. "Fear not, my lady," he began, his eyes meeting Sarah's with a reassuring gaze. "I mean you no harm. My name is Ibiss, and I am the steward of this mansion." He extended a hand towards Sarah in a gesture of goodwill.
Relaxing slightly at Ibiss's words, Sarah nodded in acknowledgment, returning the gesture with a hesitant handshake. "I'm Sarah," she replied, her voice wavering with uncertainty.
Ibiss nodded in response before continuing, "Sarah, that pocket watch you hold is no ordinary timepiece. It is the symbol of this mansion's rightful owner, you, Sarah, are the heir to this mansion." He paused, allowing his words to sink in.
Ibiss glanced at Sarah, noting her now calm composure, before he continued. "With the watch in your possession, I am bound to serve and assist you to the best of my abilities," Ibiss explained, his voice clear. "But there are things you must know. You now possess a unique gift," Ibiss paused, carefully selecting his words to avoid causing any distrust. "Because of the watch's power, you now have the ability to interact with souls, to see and communicate with supernatural beings."
Sarah raised an eyebrow, her skepticism evident in her voice. "So, you're saying, I'm like some sort of ghost therapist now?"
Ibiss chuckled softly, a hint of amusement escaped from his stoic facade. "In a manner of speaking, yes. But your role goes beyond mere communication. You have the power to guide lost souls to their rightful place, to bring closure to their unfinished business."
Sarah's skepticism lingered as she processed Ibiss's words. "So, what do you mean by 'bringing closure'?" she asked, her voice laced with doubt. "And what about this mansion? Why is it like some sort of supernatural pit stop?"
Ibiss crimson eyes fixed on Sarah. "This mansion serves as a limbo, a crossroad between the realms of the living and the dead, while there are several kinds and types of limbo, this one takes the shape of a mansion in which you now owned," he explained, his voice steady. "Souls often find themselves lingering here, unable to move on to their final destination. It is your role to help them find peace and resolution."
Sarah scoffed, her skepticism evident. "Oh great, just what I needed—another part-time job as a supernatural therapist," she muttered sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
Ibiss raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "Consider it a perk of the job," he retorted, his tone teasing. "Besides, it's not every day you get to play judge between heaven and hell."
Sarah shot him a playful glare before relenting with a sigh. "Alright, fine. So, what's the game plan? Do I just waltz around and start chatting up every ghost I come across?"
Ibiss chuckled softly, his amusement evident. "Not quite. Each soul has its own story, its own unfinished business," he explained. "Your task is to unravel those mysteries, to uncover the truth behind their lingering presence."
Sarah nodded, taking in Ibiss's words. "Got it. Play detective with a side of paranormal activity," she quipped, a smirk tugging at her lips.
Ibiss inclined his head in acknowledgment. "Precisely. And remember, Sarah, trust in your instincts. They will guide you where logic cannot."
With a firm nod, Sarah straightened her posture, mentally preparing herself for the task. "Okay, let's do this," she said, puffing her chest, in order to hype herself up.
Right at that moment, a figure appeared at the door entrance—a lady that looked like in her mid-40s, her presence stole their attention. "Speaking of which..." Ibiss trailed off, gesturing subtly towards the newcomer. "That one standing by the entrance should be a good warm-up to test your so called ghost therapist skills."
As Ibiss finished speaking, the woman hesitantly approached the bar. The woman's appearance caught his attention, and he nods his head towards her slightly in acknowledgment.
Sarah's gaze traveled back and forth between Ibiss and the approaching woman, a hint of suspicion creeped into her expression. "Uh, what's up with her?" she muttered under her breath.
Ibiss glanced at Sarah, his expression softening. "Looks like she's lost," he replied, his tone sympathetic. "Why don't you go and see if you can help her out?"
Sarah's eyes widened in surprise, and she shot Ibiss a skeptical look. "Me? What do I look like, a waiter?" she remarks, her tone full with sarcasm.
Ibiss chuckled softly at Sarah's response, his amusement evident in his eyes. "You never know until you try," he teased.
Sarah rolled her eyes at Ibiss' remark before turning her attention back to the woman. With a reluctant sigh, she approached the newcomer, her footsteps hesitant as she closed the distance between them.
"Hey there," Sarah greeted, her voice gentle yet hesitant. "Are you alright? You seem a bit lost."
The woman's eyes widened in surprise at Sarah's sudden approach, but she nodded slowly, a hint of relief flickering in her gaze. "I... I think so," she replied, her voice wavering slightly. "I just... I don't know where I am."
Sarah offered her a reassuring smile, trying to ease the woman's nerves. "Well, you're in luck. It just so happens that I'm pretty good at finding my way around," she said, her tone full with determination. "So, what can I help you with?"
However, before she could offer any assistance, a sudden movement caught her eye—the hands of her pocket watch were moving past midnight, glowing a vibrant green.
Sarah's eyebrows shot up in disbelief as she glanced down at her watch, her mind racing with questions."Whoa, what's happening?" she exclaimed. Before she could make sense of what was happening, a blinding light enveloped her and the woman, engulfing them in its ethereal glow.
In an instant, they both disappeared from the grand lounge, leaving Ibiss behind to witness their sudden departure. As the light faded and the room fell silent once more, Ibiss could only watch in solemn silence."Good luck, my lady," he murmured softly, his words lingered for a moment before it went to a complete silent.
And with that, Sarah's journey into the realm of the supernatural had only just begun, her path shrouded in mystery and adventure.