The journey to Ravenwood Estate was longer than Sara had anticipated. The bus ride had felt like hours, the land outside the window turning more desolate as she moved further from civilization. The winding roads, surrounded by dense forests, seemed to tighten around her like a trap. Every now and then, a strange chill would creep down her spine, and Sara would glance nervously out the window, convinced that someone—or something—was watching her.
When the bus finally stopped, she was alone, standing at the edge of a forest path that led up to the gates of the estate. The mansion loomed in the distance, an imposing structure that seemed to rise from the earth itself, its tall towers piercing the cloudy sky. Even from here, Sara could sense something ancient about the place, a presence that had been watching, waiting.
The gates creaked open as though expecting her, and Sara hesitated before stepping forward, unsure of what awaited her beyond. A soft breeze stirred, carrying with it a scent of old wood and forgotten memories.
As she walked closer to the massive iron doors, they opened slowly, the sound echoing through the stillness of the estate grounds. A figure stood on the other side, tall and imposing, with sharp features and dark eyes that seemed to see straight through her.
"You must be Sara," the man said, his voice low and smooth, with a hint of something that made her blood run cold. "Welcome to Ravenwood."
His name was Nathaniel Ravenwood, and as he extended a hand to her, Sara couldn't shake the feeling that she had walked into something far more dangerous than she ever could have imagined. His grip was firm, and his eyes never left hers, as if he were testing her resolve.
"Come inside," he urged, stepping aside to let her in.
Sara swallowed hard, but there was no turning back now. She stepped into the grand foyer, the air heavy with dust and the scent of decay. The mansion was beautiful, yes, but it was also eerie. The walls were lined with portraits of long-dead ancestors, their eyes following her as she moved deeper into the house. The floors creaked underfoot, and the silence was deafening. It was as if the house itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.
Nathaniel led her through the halls, his presence never far from her side. She couldn't help but feel a mixture of awe and unease. This place—this estate—held a secret, and Sara was certain that it was something she wasn't meant to know. But Nathaniel, with his cold, enigmatic demeanor, offered no answers. Only silence.
"We've been expecting you," Nathaniel said, breaking the stillness as they entered a large library filled with towering shelves of old books. "Your family's legacy has been long forgotten, but Ravenwood has always remembered."
Sara's eyes scanned the room, taking in the rows of ancient tomes and dusty relics. "What is it you expect me to do?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Nathaniel's lips curved into a smile, though it was not one that reached his eyes. "You'll find out soon enough."
He motioned to a set of stairs that spiraled upward, and Sara followed him without question. As they ascended, she could feel the weight of the mansion pressing down on her, its walls closing in with each step.
At the top, Nathaniel stopped before a heavy wooden door, the dark wood carved with strange symbols that Sara couldn't decipher. He turned to her, his expression unreadable.
"This is where it begins," he said quietly.
Sara's heart skipped a beat. She wasn't sure what "it" was, but she was certain she had already crossed a line. There was no going back now. She was tangled in the web of Ravenwood, whether she wanted to be or not.
With a deep breath, she stepped into the room.