She ventured out of the kitchen, pushing open a heavy door that groaned in protest. Beyond it, the rest of the building stretched out before her, a labyrinth of dark, abandoned rooms and corridors. She walked through what seemed to be a dining room, the long table still set with dusty plates and goblets, as if the inhabitants had left in the middle of a meal and never returned. The chairs were pushed back, some tipped over, and the chandeliers above were dimmed with age, their crystals dulled and covered in grime.
Every room she explored was the same—frozen in time, but ravaged by neglect. The wallpaper was peeling, the furniture rotting, and the floors creaked under her weight. She found herself in a grand hall with a sweeping staircase that led to the upper floors, its bannister caked with dust. The air was thick with abandonment, and the entire place felt like a tomb, a relic of a past long forgotten.
Her mind raced as she wandered through the mansion, her sense of unease growing with each step. The question that haunted her was why—why had this place been abandoned, and who had brought her here? The silence pressed in on her, thick and suffocating, amplifying every creak of the floorboards beneath her feet.
But before she could dwell further on her thoughts, a noise broke the stillness—a low creak, faint but unmistakable. She froze, her heart leaping into her throat. The sound of a door being opened, heavy and deliberate, echoed through the hall. She quickly ducked behind a crumbling pillar, her breath catching as she listened, straining to hear what came next.
Footsteps.
Two pairs of them, slow and cautious, moving through the dust-laden hallways. As the sound grew closer, she dared to peek from her hiding spot, her blue eyes narrowing as she caught sight of two figures entering the grand hall. They were men, rough-looking and unkempt, their clothes worn and dirty. From their dishevelled appearance, it was clear they were no ordinary travellers. These men looked like rogues—bandits, perhaps—judging by the grimy leathers they wore and the makeshift weapons strapped to their belts.
They moved with purpose, their voices low as they muttered to each other, glancing around the decaying mansion as if searching for something—or someone. Her heart pounded as she realised they were too close for comfort. She needed to stay hidden, to figure out who they were and why they were here.
One of the men, tall and broad-shouldered, scanned the room with a suspicious glare. His companion, shorter but wiry, was already rummaging through an old chest by the wall, cursing under his breath when he found nothing but dust.
"This place has been picked clean," the tall one muttered, his voice rough and gravelly. "No use here."
"Keep looking," the smaller one replied, his tone irritated. "Whoever was here before left in a hurry. There might still be something worth taking."
She held her breath, her mind racing. Were they scavengers, looters? Or worse—were they after her? The thought chilled her to the bone, and she knew she had to stay out of sight. The slightest sound could give her away.
As the men continued their search, their careless movements stirred up clouds of dust, the ancient mansion creaking under the weight of their intrusion. She pressed herself tighter against the cold stone pillar, praying that the shadows would be enough to conceal her.
But her luck ran out.
"Oh, what do we have here?" a voice sneered from behind her, low and mocking.
Her heart skipped a beat as she spun around, her eyes wide with terror. Standing just a few feet away was a third man, one she hadn't noticed before. He was lean and sharp-featured, his eyes glittering with a predatory gleam as they locked onto her. His clothes were as tattered and worn as the others', but there was something more dangerous in his posture—a cruel intelligence that sent a jolt of fear through her.
He had found her.
Her mind raced, desperately searching for a way out, but there was none. She was trapped, caught between the pillar and this man, with the other two not far away. The man's smirk widened as he stepped closer, his gaze never leaving hers.
"Well, boys!" he called out, his voice dripping with amusement. "Looks like we've got ourselves a little lost lamb."
The other two men immediately turned at his words, their expressions shifting from frustration to predatory interest. Her breath quickened as they approached, the realisation of her situation crashing down on her like a wave. She was cornered, outnumbered, and at the mercy of these men.
"What should we do with her?" the shorter one asked, a nasty grin spreading across his face.
The tall man, who seemed to be the leader, looked her up and down, his eyes narrowing. "Depends," he said slowly, his voice filled with dark intent. "What's a girl like you doing in a place like this?"
Her mind spun, fear tightening its grip around her throat. She had no idea what to say, no lie ready to explain her presence here. All she could think of was escape, but the chances of that were slipping away with each passing second.