Ellison's breath hitched as the shadows twisted around him, their presence suffocating. The orb in his hand pulsed with a bright, almost blinding light. He could feel the pressure on his chest, the darkness trying to pull him deeper into its depths.
Kaylee's voice echoed in his mind, urgent and desperate.
"You're not alone down there... but you have to be careful."
The shadows scraped at his skin, cold and relentless. Ellison gritted his teeth and pushed forward, stumbling toward the pedestal in the center of the room. His fingers were numb, but he tightened his grip on the orb. It seemed to react to his determination, its glow intensifying.
Then, in a flash of light, the shadows receded, retreating to the edges of the room like they were being drawn back by an invisible force. The pressure lifted, and Ellison collapsed to his knees, panting, the orb still warm in his hand.
"What... the hell just happened?" he gasped, looking around. The room was still, the shadows gone.
The underground cavern was different now. The walls, once jagged stone, had smoothed into a polished surface. Strange symbols were etched into the floor, glowing faintly in the dim light. There was a path ahead—narrow but clear.
Ellison hesitated, his camera still rolling. "Okay, that was insane. But, like I always say, the show must go on."
He stood up shakily, his hands trembling but resolute. The orb was still warm, and its glow illuminated the path before him. Slowly, he began to walk, careful not to miss anything in the strange, ever-changing space.
The air was thick with the scent of earth and something older—like a forgotten memory trying to claw its way into the present. As Ellison moved forward, the path seemed to stretch ahead of him, twisting into a spiraling corridor that led deeper into the heart of the mansion.
The deeper he went, the colder it became. The light from the orb flickered, casting long, eerie shadows on the walls that seemed to shift with his movements.
"This is so not normal," he muttered, glancing nervously behind him. He wasn't sure if it was the shadows or his growing unease that made his skin crawl.
Finally, at the end of the corridor, he saw it. A massive door, made of dark mahogany, stood in his path. The ornate carvings on it were unlike anything he had seen before—roses with thorns intertwined with faces, eyes staring back at him.
He felt a pull toward the door, an inexplicable sense of inevitability. The orb in his hand grew warmer, almost hot, as if urging him forward.
"Kaylee, if you're in there..." Ellison whispered to himself, his voice shaking. He had no idea what awaited behind the door, but he couldn't turn back now.
He stepped forward and placed the orb against the door. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, with a loud groan, the door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit room beyond.
Ellison stepped inside, the air even colder than before. The walls of the room were lined with mirrors—old, cracked, and tarnished with age. They reflected his every movement, but there was something wrong. The reflections in the mirrors seemed to shift, moving slightly after he did, as if they were alive.
A sound caught his attention—a soft, rhythmic tapping. He turned quickly, scanning the room. In the center stood an old wooden chair, and sitting in it was... Kaylee.
Ellison's heart skipped a beat. But something was wrong. Her eyes were wide, her skin pale, and her lips moved as though she were speaking, but no sound came from her mouth.
"Kaylee?" Ellison whispered, stepping forward.
Her reflection in the nearest mirror moved first, mimicking her motion as she slowly lifted her head. But when the real Kaylee did not move, Ellison froze.
"That's not right..." he muttered under his breath.
He stepped back, his mind racing. The mirrors. The reflections.
"How do I—" He stopped himself, realizing that the answers might lie in the reflections, not in the real world. He moved cautiously to the mirror, staring at Kaylee's reflection. This time, her lips moved, but now, he could hear her voice, faint but growing clearer.
"Find the key," she whispered, her reflection pleading with him. "The key to the heart of the mansion. It's the only way to escape. The box—unlock the heart."
Ellison's blood ran cold. The heart of the mansion.
"The key?" he echoed, looking around the room. The mirrors seemed to ripple with each word, distorting like water. A soft hum filled the air, the walls vibrating with an unknown energy.
The reflection of Kaylee reached out, her fingers brushing the surface of the mirror. A shudder passed through Ellison.
"Not again..." he whispered, stepping back toward the door. But as he turned to leave, the mirrors began to shift, distorting the room around him.
Suddenly, the chair where Kaylee had sat was empty. She was gone.
Ellison spun around, his flashlight scanning the room, heart racing. "Kaylee?"
There was no answer. The mirrors showed only the distorted, shifting shapes of the room. And then... the floor beneath his feet gave way.
With a scream, Ellison fell into darkness.