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Raven's Tears

Arava_Satya_Tulasi
7
chs / week
The average realized release rate over the past 30 days is 7 chs / week.
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Chapter 1 - Mansion of Mortem

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!" A shrill scream tore through the silence, her voice high-pitched with panic, as the dead black bird—its glossy feathers now dulled—dropped to the ground before her. It was a raven, a bird that had always been associated with death. The sight of it, lifeless and still, was enough to send chills down her spine. But it wasn't the bird that terrified her, it was the mansion looming before her—old, mysterious, and creepy, with an unsettling presence that seemed to watch her every move.

"Woooooooo! Never thought the top parapsychologist from Autumn Leaf University would get scared of a dead bird," came the teasing voice from beside her, cutting through her thoughts.

She wasn't scared of a dead bird, not really. But the moment her eyes landed on the mansion, an inexplicable chill swept over her, settling deep within her chest. Something about this place—its towering, dark figure, its black roof that sloped like a frown, and the windows lined with thick, black shutters—made her skin prickle. It wasn't just an old house; it felt alive, as though it were watching them, waiting.

"Don't be ridiculous, Jasson," she replied, trying to shake off the unease that clung to her. "It's alright to get startled by little things like that. But honestly, it's the mansion that's bothering me. Something about it feels... wrong."

Jasson chuckled, but his smile faded as he looked up at the mansion, the teasing tone in his voice momentarily lost. "Whatever you say, Indie. You're the expert, right?" he said, though the laughter didn't quite reach his eyes.

Indie glanced at the mansion once more, her unease growing. It wasn't just the mansion itself, but the deep, almost tangible silence surrounding it. The air was heavy with anticipation. She knew something dark lingered there, hidden in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to reveal itself.

"Indie… Indie… INDIE!!!!" Sabirna's voice cut through the air, startling Indie from her thoughts.

"What?" Indie snapped, taking a step back as Sabirna's scream seemed to reverberate in her ears. "Was it really necessary to scream in my ear?"

"Necessary? You've been zoned out for what feels like forever!" Sabirna grinned mischievously, but her eyes narrowed when Indie didn't immediately respond. "Are you okay? You've been acting weird since we stepped onto this property. If you're uncomfortable, we can leave."

Indie smiled faintly, not wanting to admit the gnawing sense of dread that had taken root in her stomach. "I'm fine, Sabirna. Really," she said, offering a reassurance she didn't feel.

Sabirna didn't look convinced but shrugged it off. "Alright, if you say so."

The two walked toward the front of the mansion where Janelle was already waiting by the door, hands on her hips, looking as unimpressed as ever.

"You two gonna stand out there all day?" Janelle called out, her voice laced with mock impatience. "The door's open, so let's get moving. I don't know about you, but I'm not planning on spending the night in the yard."

Sabirna grinned. "Looks like they opened the door. Let's go," she said, pulling Indie along as they made their way inside.

Indie stepped through the mansion's threshold, a sudden, inexplicable coldness washed over her. It wasn't just the chill in the air—it was as though the house itself exhaled a breath of frost. She shivered, her skin crawling as if a thousand invisible eyes were trained on her. She shook her head to clear her thoughts. It was just the atmosphere. This place was old, decaying, and full of dust. But still... she couldn't shake the feeling that it was waiting. Watching.

"Everything alright?" Zach's voice broke through the silence. Indie blinked, startled by his sudden appearance, a dusty lantern in his hand. "Found this in one of the closets. Thought it'd add to the creepy vibe," he said, offering a grin that didn't quite meet his eyes.

Indie forced a smile. "Yeah, perfect," she muttered, her gaze instinctively drifting back to the darkened windows. She couldn't stop herself from glancing up at the attic window, even though she didn't want to.

Zach noticed the direction of her stare. "Jasson's up there, doing his usual thing," he said with a shrug. "He thought he heard something. You know how he gets."

Indie nodded absently, but her mind was far from the conversation. The feeling of being watched was overwhelming now, like a presence lurking just out of sight, waiting. She couldn't shake it. Every shadow seemed to twitch, every gust of wind felt like a whisper just behind her ear.

Her eyes darted nervously to the stairs leading up to the attic. The feeling in her gut twisted tighter. "Is it just me, or does something feel... off about this place?" she asked quietly, her voice betraying the growing unease within her.

Sabirna glanced up from setting up the tents outside. "Don't overthink it, Indie," she called out, trying to sound lighthearted. "We're just camping. You're probably just tired."

Indie wanted to believe her, but the chill that ran down her spine told her otherwise.

Later, as Indie walked alone around the mansion, the feeling of being observed grew even stronger. Her heart raced in her chest as her footsteps echoed in the eerie silence. The wind rustled the trees around the property, but it did little to drown out the feeling of eyes upon her. She glanced over her shoulder, expecting to see one of her friends, but found nothing.

Then, without warning, a gust of cold air swept over her, freezing her to the bone. Goosebumps prickled across her skin as her eyes locked onto the top window from the mansion's backyard.

She gasped, her breath catching in her throat.

A shadow. Dark and undefined, it loomed in the window, peering down at her. For a moment, she stood frozen, her mind reeling with disbelief. The figure was gone almost as soon as it appeared, but the weight of its presence remained, pressing down on her chest like a vice.

She quickly turned away, trying to shake it off, but the sensation of being watched only intensified.

Indie's footsteps faltered as she neared the front of the mansion. Her eyes flickered back toward the attic window, but this time, her stomach churned with dread. Something was wrong. She could feel it in every fiber of her being. She wanted to go inside, to be with her friends, but the house seemed to be calling to her, pulling her deeper into its grasp.

Without thinking, she took a deep breath and looked again.

Her eyes widened in horror. There, in the attic window, was the shadow. Only this time, it didn't vanish. It lingered. And then, it moved—slowly, deliberately, as though it was no longer content to just watch.

Her heart raced as a cold sweat broke out on the back of her neck. She could hear her friends calling her from inside, but the only sound that filled her ears was the low, haunting creak of the mansion shifting—like it was waking up, aware of her presence.

Indie turned quickly, her breath ragged as she ran back toward the others. The sensation of being followed was undeniable now, a creeping presence that stalked her every step.

The mansion wasn't just old—it was alive. And it was waiting.