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The House Of Whispering Dust by Alyssa Ruben

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The House Of Whispering Dust by Alyssa Ruben

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A once-grand, now severely neglected Victorian mansion, far from any major town, sits surrounded by encroaching wilderness. The house itself is a character, its paint peeling like ancient skin. The windows are opaque with grime, and the garden is a tangle of overgrown roses and weeds. The air inside is perpetually still, thick with the scent of dust, must, and unforgotten things. It once belonged to Carolyna Nevers, who spent her final days living as a recluse, only speaking to herself and a legion of taxidermied birds.

Unfortunately for Kaylee Nevers, she inherited the home from her eccentric, distant aunt. Kaylee, a young, intensely pragmatic art restorer, must now begin the task of cataloging her aunt's belongings for sale. Her initial thought was to quickly sell the property and return to her ordered life, viewing the inheritance as nothing more than a weary inconvenience.

As Kaylee began cataloging the items, a deeply unsettling pattern emerged. Between layers of dust sheets and decaying furniture, she uncovered a vast collection of meticulously preserved antique dolls. These weren't charming porcelain figures, but uncanny and wooden and wax dolls with vacant, painted stares. Many were arranged in disturbing tableaux, suggesting sinister or unsettling scenes. Further exploration revealed hundreds of meticulously organized journals, spanning decades. These weren't personal diaries, but rather a compulsive record of the daily lives of the dolls, documenting their “ conversations,” “ moods”, “interactions,” and even “ punishments” for misbehaving dolls. The handwriting subtly shifted over the years, becoming increasingly erratic and fragmented. Strikingly, while the rest of the house fell into ruin, the dolls showed evidence of ritualistic cleaning and maintenance, with special oils, tiny brushes, and miniature tools devoted to their care.

Kaylee grew increasingly unnerved, not by ghosts, but by the sheer suffocating weight of her aunt's delusions. The doll's silent gazes seemed to follow her, and the house, rather than seeming empty, began to make her feel watched. She discovered disturbing entries in the journals, references to a “visitor” among the dolls, that corresponded with periods of severe family strife or disappearances in local historical records she later uncovered. Some entries, written from the perspective of the Dolls themselves, detailed petty cruelties, jealousies, or even darker desires. The final entries became almost illegible, filled with desperate pleas from her aunt to the dolls for silence or for them to “leave her alone”.

Driven by a perverse fascination and desperate need to understand, Kaylee found herself unconsciously mimicking her aunt's behavior. She began to” listen to the dolls and instinctively straighten their tiny dresses. The true horror materialized when she uncovered the deepest secret, not just delusion, But A desperate pathological attempt by her aunt to cope with, or even contain, the fragmented memories and dark impulses of a deliberately suppressed trauma from her aunt's childhood, the tragic death of her father. One of the “Dolls” originally belonged to her father, and the aunt, in her madness, transferred their perceived essence into the doll, meticulously recording a warped version of events through its “voice”.

The house wasn't haunted by spirits but by the tangible physical remnants of a mind shattered by trauma and guilt, its secrets whispered through the silent, staring eyes of hundreds of inanimate figures. Kaylee was left with the terrifying realization that she wasn't just cleaning a house, she was sifting through the physical manifestation of profound madness, and the insidious whisperings of that madness now threatened to infect her mind.

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The rain had not stopped for days, and the road to Thornvale Hall twisted like a serpent through the sodden moors. Elias Harrow, a young solicitor from London, arrived cloaked in mist and apprehension. He had come to settle the estate of the late Lord Thorne—a recluse, rumored mad, who died alone in the crumbling house that bore his name.

Thornvale Hall loomed ahead, silhouetted against a dark and heavy sky. Ivy clung to its stone skin like a parasite. Its windows, dark and lidless, stared down the path with patient malice. The great oak doors groaned open at Elias’s knock, revealing an old housekeeper whose eyes, pale and rimmed with red, held the weight of many secrets.

“You’ve come about the will,” she said, voice dry as wilted roses. “He’s been waiting.”

Elias blinked rapidly. “He…?”

But she had turned, already receding into the dark corridor. The hall swallowed sound—his footsteps felt muffled, unreal. Portraits of dead Thornes watched him from the walls, their eyes painted with suspicion, or maybe warning.

In the study, dust lay thick over the furniture. Only the desk was untouched. Upon it rested a ledger bound in black leather, alongside a letter addressed to Elias. The ink was fresh.

"Do not stay the night."
"The house remembers."
"And it does not forgive."

Elias frowned. Lord Thorne had been dead for over a week.

That night, unable to sleep, Elias wandered. The halls creaked under his weight, and the wind moaned through cracked panes like a chorus of the damned. In the long gallery, he paused before a portrait of a woman—her eyes wide, her mouth caught in a silent scream. The placard read: Amara Thorne, 1814.

A sudden chill passed through him.

Back in his room, the fire had gone out. The shadows pooled in the corners, deeper than before. As he lit a candle, he noticed something carved big and bold  into the wooden floor beneath the bed.

AMARA STILL WALKS.

At midnight, the whispering began.

Voices rose from beneath the floorboards, a susurrus of grief and rage. Elias followed them, deep down, into the cellars, where the stones sweated and the air grew cold enough to sting. There, behind a false wall, he found the truth of Thornvale.

Bones. A woman’s dress. Chains still bolted to the stone.

And written in blood upon the wall: "He buried me alive."

Elias fled the house at dawn, the screams of Amara Thorne still ringing in his ears. He never returned to Thornvale Hall. But others have. They say a woman in white watches from the tower window. That her weeping cries fills the halls each and every night.

And that she is waiting still—for the last of the Thorne blood to come home.

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The House on Black Hollow Hill, by Allezja'H Brooks

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The House on Black Hollow Hill, by Allezja'H Brooks

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The Compelling

Marcello Ludenberhg, tall in his stature, walked into Louie's corner store as he did every Monday morning. The shop, with its pungent smell of stale coffee, stacked newspaper, and stuffy air, felt different today. Marcello awaited the loud ringing of the bell above his head but to his surprise the bell was gone. Weird. He shook the thought while approaching the counter, tipping his hat and bowing his head. “Morning, Louie,” he muttered, reaching for a newspaper and a cheap cup of coffee as always. Upon observing the newspaper, the date printed in bold across the front page stopped him dead in his tracks. For a moment, he was locked in place, mesmerized by the numbers. It seemed as if… they were calling out to him.

“Ludenberhg!” Louie’s voice cracked through the silence, louder than usual. The frumpy man was pale, unusually jittery, his bloodshot eyes darting to the darkened window as though expecting someone- or something. “That’ll be seventy-five cents for the coffee. Papers on me.” Marcello grew concerned with Louie’s appearance. “You okay, Louie?” The storekeeper’s face scrunched up as his lips curled into a tense smile. “Doing just fine, slugger. Had a lot on my mind. Say you ever hear about that place? You know, the old town just past Hickory Lane headed into Melrose Forrest?” Marcello's heart sank. Louie had never brought up the town before, not even when asked about local history for he knew the terrors that haunted that ancient ground. Now the man seemed almost fixated, his shaking hands gripping the edge of the counter, his nails gripping in as though he needed to steady himself.

“Can’t say I’ve heard of it,” Marcello stammered anxiously, adjusting his collar and fixing his long overcoat. Louie leaned closer, his gravelly voice dropping to a low whisper. “Maybe it’s worth checking out slugger. Get a look for yourself. You’re quite the historian- you’ll find plenty there.” He reached to the shelf behind him gently placing an amulet ring in front of Marcello. “For you.” His posture stood firm. The words carried weight, as if they were coming from someplace deep within Louie, from a place he couldn’t control. Marcello held his breath. Something about Louie's gaze made his skin crawl. It wasn’t a suggestion- it was an invitation, but to what?

Marcello made his way down the overgrown path of Melrose Forest, the amulet weighing heavily in his coat pocket. The trees, the words they whisper in the wind, stood tall blocking out the fading light of day. His chest tightened with every step, his body tense with every wind chill. As he grew closer to the entrance of the abandoned town he heard chilling whispers. The gate swung open as he stood before it screeching loudly, seemingly announcing his arrival. Marcello hesitated but he felt a compelling force urging him forward. The whispering suddenly stopped and the streets fell silent but he couldn’t shake the feeling like eyes were watching him.

Marcello’s steps quickened, drawn towards the graveyard illuminating in the night. The mausoleum stood before him, worn and covered in vines. Suddenly a thick fog surrounded the area and without thinking he pushed the door open and stepped inside, catching his breath as fear overtook him. The putrid smell of dust and decay filled the air. He looked around, squinting his eyes to cut through the dark, when a loud thump startled him. A small book landed at his feet and gleaned from the ground above burning his eyes. Marcello reached for the notebook, and as he held it in his hands he could hear the whispers once again, sending a cold chill down his spine. He delicately flipped through pages listing the family lineage, faded names and buried fate, until he reached the last page. His name Marcello Ludenberhg written in crimson red declaring his fate. He gasped, the cursed book falling from his hands. The whispers became louder along with malicious laughter.

He turned and ran toward the mausoleum door, his chest heavy, frightened by what he saw and heard. Marcello reached for the handle trembling in fear, the fog arising once again. He stood frozen for a while, because deep down, he knew that even if he did turn that knob and leave, he couldn’t change the fate that was written for him in the book. A sudden gust of wind broke through the air knocking Marcello off his feet. He shakily arose as the fog lifted, and a tall figure stood before him, radiating such power. Elias, the eyes that watched him, held his menacing gaze steady on Marcello. Behind him, Lafayette emerged from the shadows, his sharp grin cutting through the darkness. Both the creature's eyes gleamed with such intense hunger they threatened Marcello's very existence.

“The amulet,” Elias spoke, with a deep compelling voice as he extended his slender hand. Marcello trembled, reaching in his coat pocket for the amulet, and stepped forward placing it into Elias’s frigid grasp. Lafayette’s cackle filled the room, as his voice grew loud. “It is complete. What was written in the book has been fulfilled once again.” The creature's joined together as the power of the amulet rose, feeding into their infinite hunger. Marcello, weakened, staggered back as the fog began to swirl violently consuming the room. Elias widened his eyes, curling his lips into a knowing smile. “Farewell” he said, his voice fading, as he vanished into the fog. Lafayette lingered for just a moment, but soon disappeared into the shadows. Marcello clenched his fist and closed his eyes knowing what came next. A bloodthirsty fog surrounded him, its invisible hands gripping him, pulling him toward the void. The last sound Marcello heard was the whispers, welcoming him into its embrace. The fog, within its icy grip, fully consumed him, leaving nothing behind but the book, silently waiting to summon another of the Ludenberhg bloodline.

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The Masquerade Ball

The air was alive with the whispers of the masked guests, their laughter and music swirling together in a kaleidoscope of sound. The woman, a vision in silk and satin, her long hair a rich, dark waterfall cascading down her back, glided across the ballroom with an effortless ease. Her partner, a tall and enigmatic figure, his face hidden behind a mask of polished silver, moved in perfect sync with her, their feet dancing to the haunting melody of the string quartet.

The music was a mournful lament, a slow and mournful dirge that seemed to match the beat of the woman's heart. But as they danced, her steps became lighter, her movements more carefree, as if she were floating across the floor on a cloud of silk and magic. The man's movements were economical, his steps precise, but his eyes seemed to gleam with a deep and abiding intensity, as if he were hiding a secret behind his mask.

As they danced, the woman's gaze would occasionally flicker to the man's face, her eyes searching for a glimpse of the person behind the mask. But his face remained impassive, his eyes glinting with a hint of mystery, his lips curved into a subtle, enigmatic smile. She felt a shiver run down her spine as she gazed into his eyes, a sense of connection that went beyond mere physical attraction.

And then, without warning, the music seemed to falter, the notes hanging in the air like the sweet scent of blooming roses. The man stopped, his movements frozen in mid-step, and reached up to his face. His fingers seemed to be probing for something, and the woman's heart skipped a beat as she realized what was happening.

He was removing his mask.

She reached out a trembling hand, her fingers extended in a gesture of wonder, but it was too late. The man's hand closed around the mask, and with a swift, economical motion, he pulled it free from his skin. The woman's eyes widened in shock as the mask was revealed to be embedded in his face, a delicate network of tiny, intricate lines that seemed to pulse with a life of their own.

And then, in an instant, the man was gone.

A single red rose bloomed in his place, its petals soft and delicate, its scent filling the air with a sweet, heady perfume. The woman stood frozen, her hand still extended, her eyes fixed on the rose as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing. The music seemed to fade away, the room growing quiet as the guests turned to stare at the rose, their faces a mixture of wonder and confusion.

The woman's heart was pounding in her chest, her mind reeling with questions. Who was the man behind the mask? What had happened to him? And what did it mean, this strange, magical transformation that seemed to defy the laws of reality?

As the woman stood frozen, her eyes fixed on the rose, she felt a sense of disconnection from the world around her. The music, the laughter, the whispers of the guests all seemed to fade away, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

She took a step forward, her hand still extended, as if reaching for something that was just out of reach. The rose seemed to be calling to her, its petals soft and inviting, its scent filling the air with a sweet, heady perfume.

As she drew closer, she saw that the rose was not just a simple flower. It was a vessel, a container for something more. She could feel a pulse of energy emanating from it, a gentle vibration that seemed to be calling to her.

Without thinking, she reached out and touched the rose. As her skin made contact with the petals, she felt a sudden jolt of electricity. The world around her seemed to shift and blur, and she felt herself being pulled into the rose.

She saw visions of the man behind the mask, his face hidden, his eyes gleaming with intensity. She saw the mask, embedded in his skin, a delicate network of tiny, intricate lines that seemed to pulse with a life of their own.

And she saw the rose, blooming in his place, its petals soft and delicate, its scent filling the air with a sweet, heady perfume. She saw the connection between them, the bond that seemed to tie them together like threads on a loom.

As she stood there, lost in the visions, she felt a sense of understanding wash over her. She realized that the rose was not just a flower, but a symbol of the connection between two people. A symbol of the love, the passion, the intensity that seemed to tie them together.

And as she stood there, surrounded by the rose, she felt a sense of peace wash over her. She knew that she had been given a gift, a glimpse into the mysteries of the human heart. And she knew that she would never forget the man behind the mask, and the rose that had bloomed in his place.

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Silent Sister
Natalya Keetion
The care home was quiet, its halls dim and shadowed. Margaret shuffled through them,
her steps uneven, her mind clouded. Her sister, Emily, sat in the wheelchair before her, her face
frozen in a serene smile. Margaret pushed the chair slowly, her hands trembling.
"How about we go to the courtyard?" Margaret whispered, her voice tinged with
desperation. "You used to love looking at the pond. Don’t you remember?"
Emily didn’t respond. She never did. Her smile remained unchanged, her eyes blinking
occasionally but never meeting Margaret’s gaze. The silence gnawed at Margaret’s fragile mind,
feeding her confusion.
As they passed other residents, Margaret felt their stares. They whispered to each other,
their voices hushed but sharp. "Why are they looking at us like that?" Margaret muttered, her
grip tightening on the wheelchair handles. "What’s wrong with them?"
Her thoughts grew darker with each passing day. The pain in her body flared
unpredictably, and her memories slipped away like sand through her fingers. But Emily was
always there, always smiling, always silent.
One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Margaret’s frustration boiled over.
She wheeled Emily into their shared room, her movements jerky and erratic. "Why won’t you
answer me?" she cried, her voice cracking. "Why won’t you say anything?"

Emily’s smile remained, unchanging. Margaret’s hands shook as she leaned closer, her
face inches from her sister’s. "You’re mocking me," she hissed. "You think this is funny, don’t
you?"
In a fit of rage, Margaret grabbed Emily’s arm and shook her. The wheelchair tipped, and
Margaret’s grip tightened. "Say something!" she screamed, her voice echoing through the room.
With a sudden snap, Emily’s arm broke away. Margaret froze, her breath catching in her
throat. She stared at the broken limb, her mind struggling to comprehend.
"No," she whispered, her voice trembling. "You’re hurt. I hurt you."
She cradled the broken arm, tears streaming down her face. "I’m sorry, Emily," she
sobbed. "I didn’t mean to. Please, forgive me."
Margaret’s grief consumed her, her mind unable to process the truth. To her, Emily was
still her sister, still alive, still silent. The weight of her guilt crushed her, sending her spiraling into
despair.
Clarification:
I wrote the story about a girl with a memory based disease. Her sister, who was once alive, is
imagined as a doll. When she broke the doll in a fit of rage she still didn't see it as such.
Extra story (wrote this in the beginning but couldn’t think of a way to make it long enough for two
pages):

Always with me
Natalya
In the dim glow of a single candle, Charles sat hunched over his journal, his frail hand
trembling as he wrote. The room was heavy with the scent of decay, yet his words spilled forth
with fervent devotion.
"My dearest Eleanor," he murmured, his voice rasping like dry leaves. "Even as my mind
betrays me, my heart beats only for you. You are my light, my solace, my eternity."
Victor's pale face shown the marks of illness, his sunken eyes glistening with unshed
tears. He spoke to the empty chair across from him, as though Eleanor herself sat there,
listening.
"I could not bear to lose you," he whispered. "The thought of your absence was a
torment I could not endure. And so, I found a way—a way to keep you with me, always."
His gaze drifted to the table beside him, a delicate porcelain plate rested, its contents
concealed beneath a silver dome. With trembling hands, Victor lifted the cover, revealing a
small, carefully prepared dish.
"Eleanor," he said, his voice breaking. "You are with me now, in every breath I take, in
every bite I consume. You are part of me, forever."
The candle flickered, casting shadows that danced like specters on the walls. Charles's
expression was one of twisted reverence, his love immortalized in a macabre ritual.

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In the dim glow of a single candle, Charles sat hunched over his journal, his frail hand trembling as he wrote. The room was heavy with the scent of decay, yet his words spilled forth with fervent devotion.

"My dearest Eleanor," he murmured, his voice rasping like dry leaves. "Even as my mind betrays me, my heart beats only for you. You are my light, my solace, my eternity."

Victor's pale face shown the marks of illness, his sunken eyes glistening with unshed tears. He spoke to the empty chair across from him, as though Eleanor herself sat there, listening.

"I could not bear to lose you," he whispered. "The thought of your absence was a torment I could not endure. And so, I found a way—a way to keep you with me, always."

His gaze drifted to the table beside him, a delicate porcelain plate rested, its contents concealed beneath a silver dome. With trembling hands, Victor lifted the cover, revealing a small, carefully prepared dish.

"Eleanor," he said, his voice breaking. "You are with me now, in every breath I take, in every bite I consume. You are part of me, forever."

The candle flickered, casting shadows that danced like specters on the walls. Charles's expression was one of twisted reverence, his love immortalized in a macabre ritual.

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The care home was quiet, its halls dim and shadowed. Margaret shuffled through them, her steps uneven, her mind clouded. Her sister, Emily, sat in the wheelchair before her, her face frozen in a serene smile. Margaret pushed the chair slowly, her hands trembling.

"How about we go to the courtyard?" Margaret whispered, her voice tinged with desperation. "You used to love looking at the pond. Don’t you remember?"

Emily didn’t respond. She never did. Her smile remained unchanged, her eyes blinking occasionally but never meeting Margaret’s gaze. The silence gnawed at Margaret’s fragile mind, feeding her confusion.

As they passed other residents, Margaret felt their stares. They whispered to each other, their voices hushed but sharp. "Why are they looking at us like that?" Margaret muttered, her grip tightening on the wheelchair handles. "What’s wrong with them?"

Her thoughts grew darker with each passing day. The pain in her body flared unpredictably, and her memories slipped away like sand through her fingers. But Emily was always there, always smiling, always silent.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Margaret’s frustration boiled over. She wheeled Emily into their shared room, her movements jerky and erratic. "Why won’t you answer me?" she cried, her voice cracking. "Why won’t you say anything?"

Emily’s smile remained, unchanging. Margaret’s hands shook as she leaned closer, her face inches from her sister’s. "You’re mocking me," she hissed. "You think this is funny, don’t you?"

In a fit of rage, Margaret grabbed Emily’s arm and shook her. The wheelchair tipped, and Margaret’s grip tightened. "Say something!" she screamed, her voice echoing through the room.

With a sudden snap, Emily’s arm broke away. Margaret froze, her breath catching in her throat. She stared at the broken limb, her mind struggling to comprehend.

"No," she whispered, her voice trembling. "You’re hurt. I hurt you."

She cradled the broken arm, tears streaming down her face. "I’m sorry, Emily," she sobbed. "I didn’t mean to. Please, forgive me."

Margaret’s grief consumed her, her mind unable to process the truth. To her, Emily was still her sister, still alive, still silent. The weight of her guilt crushed her, sending her spiraling into despair.

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Shadows of the Forgotten, by Natalie McDarby

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Shadows of the Forgotten, by Natalie McDarby

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Shadows of the Forgotten
In the village of Eldridge Hollow, the moon hung low, casting a pale
light over the crumbling ruins of Blackthorn Castle. Once a place of
grandeur, it now stood as a haunting reminder of the past, its dark
towers silhouetted against the night sky. The villagers dared not
speak of it, for they believed it was cursed, inhabited by the restless
spirits of those who had met their doom within it's walls.
As the clock struck midnight, a chilling wind swept through the
village, carrying with it the mournful cries of the lost. No one dared to
venture near the castle after dark, yet tonight, a figure cloaked in
shadows approached the iron gates, drawn by an insatiable curiosity
that defied reason. Clara, a young woman with fiery red hair and a
spirit of adventure, had grown tired of the superstitions that
surrounded her home. The tales of the lady in white, the ghostly
figure that roamed the halls, were merely stories to her. She longed to
uncover the truth behind the legends.
Beneath the gnarled branches of ancient oaks, the path to Blackthorn
Castle lay overgrown and forgotten. Yet, as Clara stepped onto the
path, she felt an unseen force guiding her forward, as if the very
stones of the castle were calling her name, beckoning her to uncover
the secrets buried within. The air was thick with anticipation, and with
each step, the weight of history pressed down upon her. The castle
loomed closer, it's jagged silhouette cutting through the night sky like
a dark omen.
As she approached the castle’s entrance, Clara’s heart raced. The
heavy wooden door creaked open at her touch, revealing a grand
foyer shrouded in darkness. Dust motes danced in the faint light of
the moon filtering through broken windows, and the air was thick with
the scent of mildew and decay. Clara stepped inside, feeling the chill

seep into her bones, she was determined to find the truth behind the
lady in white and the tragic fate that had befallen her.
The castle felt alive, as if it were breathing in the shadows. Clara
wandered through the halls, her footsteps echoing against the stone
walls. She paused at a portrait of a beautiful woman in a flowing white
nightgown, her eyes filled with sorrow. “Is this you?” Clara
whispered, feeling an inexplicable connection to the figure. The lady’s
expression seemed to shift, a flicker of hope mingling with despair.
As Clara continued her exploration, she stumbled upon a hidden
staircase leading to the castle’s tower. The air grew colder as she
ascended, and she could hear the faint sound of weeping echoing
through the corridors. With each step, her heart pounded louder,
urging her to turn back. But the pull of the mystery was too strong.
She reached the top and found a small, dimly lit room. In the center
stood a dusty mirror, it's surface clouded with age.
Clara approached the mirror, drawn by an unseen force. As she wiped
away the grime, a vision flickered before her eyes. The lady in white
stood there, her ghostly form trapped within the glass. “Help me,” she
whispered, her voice a haunting melody that resonated in Clara’s
soul. “I am bound to this place, cursed by love and betrayal.”
The room grew colder, and Clara felt a surge of compassion for the
spirit. “What can I do?” she asked, her voice trembling. The lady’s
eyes filled with tears, and for a moment, time stood still as a
connection forged between them. “Find the truth of my love,” she
implored. “Only then can I be free.”
Clara’s resolve strengthened. She would uncover the secrets of
Blackthorn Castle and set the lady’s spirit free. With newfound
determination, she began her search for answers. In the depths of the
castle’s library, she discovered an ancient journal belonging to the
lady. It told of a forbidden love affair, a betrayal that had led her to

untimely demise. The words were filled with passion and despair,
painting a vivid picture of the tragedy that had unfolded within these
walls.
As Clara pieced together the story, she realized that the lady’s lover
had been wronged by those who sought to keep them apart. The truth
was buried deep, hidden beneath layers of lies and deceit. Clara’s
heart ached for the lost souls trapped in the castle, and she vowed to
bring their story to light.
With the dawn breaking on the horizon, Clara returned to the mirror,
her heart heavy with the weight of the past. “I know the truth now,”
she said, her voice steady. “Your love will not be forgotten.” The
lady’s spirit shimmered, a glimmer of hope igniting her eyes. “Thank
you,” she whispered, and in that moment, the air shifted. The castle
trembled, and the shadows that had haunted it's halls had began to
dissipate.

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The air in the village of Wrogington hung thick with the scent of applewood and burning candle wax. Samantha, her cloak drawn tight against the chill, crept through the shadowed halls, her heartbeat thrumming like a war drum. Her entire life had been built on the pursuit of wizards, creatures her family deemed unnatural and dangerous. It was the legacy of the Luthers, her bloodline—a duty she had never questioned. Not until Marlon.

Marlon, with his piercing emerald eyes and hands that wove light and darkness into something neither of her brothers could ever understand. He was not the monster Oltiv described in his hateful sermons at the dinner table. He was kind. He was wise. And he loved her.

Samantha stopped before the grand window of the manor’s west wing. The gnarled trees outside swayed against the moaning wind, casting jagged shadows across the frost-kissed glass. She longed for the night’s embrace, for the secrecy it granted her forbidden love. But Oltiv’s ever-watchful eyes had grown suspicious.

Nahum, her younger brother, had sensed her unease. Though often arrogant, he was her ally, a shield against Oltiv’s relentless cruelty. That night, in hushed whispers, he had promised to cover for her.

“Samantha, I don’t know what game you’re playing, but Oltiv won’t stop until he finds the truth,” Nahum had warned. “Be careful.”

Now, as the hour of escape neared, she descended the grand staircase, her boots soundless against the cold marble floor. The hound slept–safety for her escape.

“Samantha.” said, Oltiv.

Her breath hitched. The voice was robust and laced with steel.

She turned slowly. He stood at the bottom of the staircase, his presence a shadow darker than the night itself. His black coat swayed as he stepped forward, his eyes gleaming in the dim light of the candelabras.

“Going somewhere?” he asked, his lips curling into a smile that held no warmth.

Samantha’s mind raced. “A walk,” she said, nonchalantly in her voice.

Oltiv chuckled—a dry, humorless sound. “A walk, in the dead of night? In the direction of the forest?” He leaned in, his breath ghosting against her cheek. “You think I don’t know, sister? You reek of his magic.”

Fear clawed at her chest. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

With terrifying swiftness, Oltiv grabbed her wrist. “You are a disgrace to our name,” he hissed. “To consort with a wizard? To betray our family’s purpose? I should end him myself.”

“No!” she gasped, struggling against his grip. “You don’t understand, Oltiv! Marlon isn’t like the others. He—”

“Enough,” he spat on the ground. “I will hunt him down, and you will watch as I save you from the thing he is.”

A sudden force slammed into Oltiv, sending him crashing against the wall. Nahum stood between them, his chest heaving.

“Run, Samantha!” he shouted.

Samantha hesitated for a heartbeat before bolting through the front doors. The wind howled as she tore through the woods, her lungs burning, her mind consumed with one thought—Marlon.

She reached the clearing where they always met. Marlon stood waiting, his long cloak billowing like a specter in the night.

“Samantha, what—”

“Oltiv knows,” she panted. “He’s coming for you.”

Marlon’s eyes darkened. “Then let him come.”

Gust of wind piercing the branches. A snap of a twig. Oltiv emerged from the trees, his blade gleaming under the moon’s cold gaze.

The night erupted in chaos. Spells clashed with steel, the air thick with the scent of acidd and blood. Samantha screamed as Oltiv’s blade struck true—only for Marlon’s magic to pulse outward, sending him flying back.

Nahum appeared, his sword drawn. “This ends tonight, Oltiv!”

Oltiv’s eyes burned with hatred, but he knew he was outmatched. With a final huff, he turned and vanished into the darkness.

Marlon, battered but alive, turned to Samantha. “Are you ready to leave this life behind?”

She looked back at the path to Wroginton, then at Nahum, who nodded. She took Marlon’s hand.

“Yes.”

As the dawn painted the sky in sparks of shining gold, Samantha stepped forward, leaving behind the only life she had ever known for the one she truly wanted. The price of love had been high, but she had paid it willingly. And as she vanished into the unknown, she knew she had finally broken free.

Five years later…

The storm had long since passed, but its echoes remained in the bones of Lontana, the quiet village where Samantha and Marlon had sought refuge. Five years had passed since they had escaped Oltiv’s wrath, but peace was a fragile thing, never meant to last. As they both sat in rocking chairs, admiring the spec of gold from the sunrise, the whispers of vengeance carried through the winds like an ancient curse. Oltiv had returned.

This time, he was not alone.

Beside him stood Rozborth, the founder of the wizards, a being whose name had been spoken only in hushed warnings. Rozborth did not come to negotiate. He came to end Samantha’s life. Oltiv, though filled with fury, did not wish to kill Marlon—his mission was to end their forbidden relationship once and for all. But Rozborth had no such reservations. His cold, golden eyes fixed on Samantha like a predator closing in on its prey.

“What are you, sick? This wasn’t the deal.” Said Oltiv—Rampage pierced through his vocal cords.

A battle erupted beneath from what is now a stormy sky caused by Rozborth’s spell, the ground itself trembling under the force of power that had not been unleashed in centuries. Oltiv, a titan ruling over eighty percent of the population, clashed against Rozborth, the emperor of the sorcering wizards who had reigned for eons. The village of Lontana became their battlefield, torn apart by fire and fury, light and shadow.

Marlon fought fiercely, knowing that if he failed, he would lose Samantha forever. In a desperate move, he cast a spell meant to strike Rozborth down—but fate twisted his aim. The blast struck Oltiv instead.

A choked gasp. The mighty titan faltered. His body crumbled to the ground, lifeless.

Silence fell, thick and suffocating. Then came the scream of rage. Nahum had arrived.

He stood amidst the chaos, eyes blazing with fury. The brother who had always been bold and loyal was now a force of nature, ready to kill anyone who had brought harm to Samantha. Marlon's face twisted with regret as he turned to Samantha. "I never meant to—"

But Samantha did not answer. An eye for an eye. That was the law of blood.

Together, she and Nahum charged at Rozborth and Marlon. The battle was fierce, filled with the echoes of vengeance and sorrow. In the end, Rozborth fell, his reign of terror shattered. But Marlon—Marlon escaped into the shadows, vanishing into the unknown.

The war was over. Or so the world thought.

Rumors began to spread like wildfire. Some said Nahum and Samantha still roamed the lands, searching for the one who had betrayed them. Others whispered of two phantoms whose vengeance had transcended death itself, wandering beyond the veil, forever hunting.

And in the dark corners of the world, where magic still lingered, a single name continued to be spoken in fear.

Marlon.

For the hunt was far from over with a drag of rage.

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The Beast in the Dark, by Abigail Mitchell

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The Beast in the Dark, by Abigail Mitchell

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I have been alone for more years than I could count. I sit at my window and watch the world outside, it's not much considering it's just the trees as my house is lonely just as I am no other house in sight.

I'll hear the occasional footsteps in the rooms above me, or hear the occasional whisper of my name but when I  look for the voice or who has caused the steps no one is there. In the nights when I'm alone in my bed I hear my name being called in the wind, someone out there is calling my name and they want to see me! Or shall I  say something?  I've always ignored the calls of my name in the night not really wanting to find out what's calling for me but that doesnt mean times haven't changed.

I was by my front door slipping my shoes on along with a jacket, I heard my name called in  the wind once again and I gave in slipping out of bed making my way down the stairs where I stand now. Whatever was out there couldn't be that bad, anything could be better than being alone.  I made my way outside walking in the direction that felt right, the trees getting thicker and the calls for my name getting louder the closer I got to my destination. I walked forward into the opening in the trees. There was a mine shaft, covered with an aged piece of wood which stated “STAY OUT OPEN MINE” but the nails holding the wood up didn't look as old as the wood did, they looked new. The calls of my name have never been louder, but neither has the stench of rotting flesh, nor the sea, was the sea anywhere near here? There was howling in the distance but it didn't sound like wolves, or foxes it sounded like something out of this world. I looked around cautiously seeing nothing but darkness surrounding me. Maybe it's best if I go home, I thought as I began to walk away.

There was a strong pressure in my head just before i fell to the ground screaming the pain was unbearable, the voice in my head speaking to me but there were other sounds as well, was that ?  Were those people screaming? I needed to get up, I needed to get home, I pushed myself up from the ground, my head still feeling immense pain, the voice still in my head, along with the screams. “You can't hide from me”. I was insanely confused. What was this? What is this thing calling me out into the darkness, I wanted to run and scream, but another part of me wanted to go towards it, rip open the hatch on the mine and jump down, I would no longer be alone.

I stood still for a moment, the voices in my head calming for a moment as I took a deep breath. No this is wrong I shouldn't be here I should be home in my bed ignoring this voice, I began to walk back towards the trees, the voice and screaming getting louder I ignored it, I ignored the pain and kept walking, but just as I was about to enter the trees i saw movement, something was walking towards me the smell of rot getting stronger. As the beast came into the moonlight it looked utterly disgusting, it looked as if it was rotting, and when one appeared into my vision so did another one, and another one. There were three of these beasts standing in my way of going home, the smell of their rotting flesh making me nauseated. Thunder boomed in the distance as I stood there staring at these beasts afraid to move. If I moved they couldnt see me right? The fear I was feeling in this moment was nothing I have ever felt before. The voice in my mind calling out to me once again “Come to me” the voice no longer sounded human.

There was a cracking noise behind me and I turned around to see what it was, the wood blocking the mine shaft had broken, and there was something pushing up out of it. Were those tentacles? I turned back to look at the beast in front of me, and they had gotten closer, they were right in front of me now, my fight or flight finally kicked in and i decided to run but what I didn't expect was for something to wrap around my ankles and jerk me to the ground, it was the tentacles and they were dragging me to the mine, I was screaming and thrashing but it was no hope, they were not budging. It was taking me down into the darkness, just as I was about to fall into the darkness, I looked back out to see the three beast standing over me, this wasn't what I imagined was waiting for me in the darkness, Maybe being alone was better than whatever this was.

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Welcome to our class publication, Gothic Short Story Showcase, 2025

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Welcome to our class publication, Gothic Short Story Showcase, 2025

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Zoom

Whispering Spire
In a lonely village, there stood a mysterious tower known as the Whispering Spire, rumors
spread around that it was cursed. Everyone said that anyone who entered would never come
back, as the tower was said to whisper the secrets of a lost soul.
This one specific night, a woman named Alice decided to go to the tower, ignoring all the
warnings. As she was walking the winding path, she felt a strange feeling inside of her. The
moonlight flickered through the trees. Entering up ahead, she was listening to whispers that
seemed to call to her, fighting for her to free the tower that holds all the secrets. The feeling
grew stronger the closer she got to the tower, as if the tower itself was alive and waiting for her
to let go of its mysteries it holds.
As Alice goes up the spiral staircase, she finds a room filled with ancient tomes and a mirror
pulling with life. Dust floated in the air, seen by the dim light, casting a spark that made the room
feel alive. Gazing into the mirror, she saw trapped souls, including the ghostly figure of a man
named Elliot, holding onto his guard at the tower for his life. His sorrow got to her, and she
agreed to free him. She could feel the weight of his pain, as if it was sync in with her own heart.
After letting go of a ritual in the tomes, Alice spoke the words with pure attention. The tower
trembled, and the whispers got even louder, revealing Elliot's tragic past of love and betrayal.
With each word, she felt a connection with him, as if their fates were connected. She shattered
the mirror, releasing his spirit and breaking the curse. The room was covered in light, and the
souls were freed, their gratitude echoing like a sweet melody in the air.
While at dawn breaking, Alice left the village, forever changed by her encounter. The
Whispering Spire, once alive with whispers, fell silent, providing that true love could transcend
even the darkest secrets. As she walked away, she felt a sense of peace, knowing she had not
only saved Elliot but had also discovered the strength and courage that lay within her own heart.

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Alice Cox was thinking about Casper Cox again. Casper was an arrogant lover with fragile lips and short fingers.

Alice walked over to the window and reflected on her gloomy surroundings. She had always loved deprived Everett with its troubled, tasteless trees. It was a place that encouraged her tendency to feel unstable.

Then she saw something in the distance, or rather someone. It was an arrogant figure of Casper Cox.

Alice gulped. She glanced at her own reflection. She was a forgetful, noble, tea drinker with beautiful lips and curvy fingers. Her friends saw her as a wild, wandering writer. Once, she had even rescued a sparkling injured bird from a burning building.

But not even a forgetful person who had once rescued a sparkling injured bird from a burning building was prepared for what Casper had in store today.

The rain hammered like rampaging foxes, making Alice angry. Alice grabbed a cursed blade that had been strewn nearby; she massaged it with her fingers.

As Alice stepped outside and Casper came closer, she could see the grubby glint in his eye.

Casper gazed with the affection of 1648 spiteful squashed snakes. He said, in hushed tones, "I love you, and I want affection."

Alice looked back, even angrier and still fingering the cursed blade. "Casper, love me back," she replied.

They looked at each other with irritable feelings, like two open, oily owls shouting at a very cold-blooded Halloween party, which had alternative rock music playing in the background and two controlling uncles thinking to the beat.

Alice studied Casper's fragile lips and short fingers. Eventually, she took a deep breath. "I'm sorry," began Alice in apologetic tones, "but I don't feel the same way, and I never will. I just don't love you Casper."

Casper looked puzzled, his emotions raw like a thoughtless, talented torch.

Alice could hear Casper's emotions shatter into 2974 pieces. Then, the arrogant lover hurried away into the distance.

Not even a cup of tea would calm Alice's nerves tonight.

THE END

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The Portrait in the Red Room, by Dominant Johnson

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The Portrait in the Red Room, by Dominant Johnson

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The rain fell in long, slanted curtains as John Ashcroft arrived at Winderley Hall. The estate, once grand, now stood forgotten at the edge of the moorlands–its turrets broken, its gardens wild. His uncle’s death had summoned him from the city, though he had never met the man. The only inheritance left to John was the house itself–and its secrets.

The solicitor’s letter had warned him of its “peculiarities,” but John dismissed such things. Superstition was the luxury of idle minds. Yet, the Instant he stepped through the black oak doors, a strange coldness kissed the back of his neck.

The housekeeper, a wan woman named Mrs. Felth greeted him with a bow of her head and averted eyes.

“You’ll be sleeping in the East Wing, sir. The Red Room has been prepared.”

John paused. “Why that room?”

“It was your uncle’s wish,” she said simply, and shuffled away down the corridor.

The Red Room lay at the end of the narrow hallway where the candlelight seemed to die before reaching the corners. Its walls were papered in faded crimson damask, and the scent of rosewater and mildew lingered in the air. But what drew John’s gaze was the painting above the fireplace–a portrait of a woman in a dark green gown, her gaze both mournful and hauntingly alive.

He stood before it, inexplicably drawn. A brass plaque read: |Lady Elowen Ashcroft-1814|.

She was beautiful, but something in the tilt of her head and the sharpness of her eyes suggested sorrow, or perhaps warning.

That night, sleep came fitfully. A storm had risen over the moors, and the wind howled like a chorus of lost souls. At precisely three o’ clock, John awoke with a start, the fire in the hearth reduced to glowing embers.

There was movement in the room.

He sat upright, breath catching. The air was thick, heavy with the scent of roses.

The portrait was no longer above the mantle.

It had moved.

Not shifted–moved. It now hung on the opposite wall, its subject still staring at him.

He rose and approached the painting, heart hammering. Her expression seemed changed–her lips slightly parted, her eyes wide with something that resembled pleading.

A soft whisper stirred the air. “Free me…”

He spun. No one there.

The next morning, he questioned Mrs. Felth.

“Do you know of Lady Elowen?” he asked.

She stiffened. “She was your great-aunt. Married into the Ashcroft line. Vanished without a trace nearly two centuries ago.”

“Vanished?”

“Some say she was… sealed within these walls. Others believe she still walks them.”

That night, John investigated the study, leafing through old journals, ledgers, and letters. At last, he found it–his uncle’s diary.

|The Red Room is cursed. She calls to me now. I thought i could appease her, but she |grows stronger each night. I fear she is no longer trapped merely in the painting…

Thunder crashed. John ran back to the room, heart pounding. The painting now leaned against the wall. Its canvas torn at the edge.

A whisper echoed through the walls.

“Beneath the hearth…”

With trembling hands, he pried loose the stones around the fireplace. Behind them, he discovered a hollow space–and within it, the skeletal remains of a woman in a tattered green gown.

Lady Elowen.

A locket lay in her ribcage. Inside, a tiny portrait of a man– John’s great-grandfather. Betrayal had bound her here.

As he lifted the bones, a sudden calm filled the room. The air grew lighter. The scent of roses faded.

The next morning, the portrait had vanished.

Winderley Hall remains cold, and the moors still whisper on stormy nights, but the Red Room is quiet now. And John Ashcroft, Keeper of secrets, never forgets the eyes that once watched him from oil and canvas, pleading to be free.

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The Still Home
In the damp,cold,still night, there stood a lone and weathered house, filled with nothing but cobwebs,
dust, and remnants of the past. The House was in the middle of a mystic seeming forest, with gorgeous
floral and quiet winds, trees that had gaps that glimmered with shades of moonlight that lit the darkened
interior of the House, giving it a sense of life that hadn’t been present in a millenia, a murder of crows had
flocked to the home, making it their shelter from predators, giving the Home a type of family it hadn’t
seen before but was familiar with.
The Home had been abandoned by its previous,and final, owners many many years ago due to unknown
reasons, but it is said that they were never seen or heard from again after abandoning the Home, and due
to that, the Home never found another family again, leaving it to fend for itself in this lone forest full of
terrors and the ever going passage of time, left to rot, its walls were cracking, floorboards rotting,
foundation crumbling, small animals burrowing their way through cracks that had formed overtime to
seek shelter from the ever increasingly dangerous weather conditions, small bats that control the cold and
damp attic. The Home is not in a proper condition anymore, leaving one to wonder why it doesn’t just
crumble to end its own suffering.
The night is still young, the moonlight being snuffed out by the passing clouds, the forest grows
still,silent. The House sits in the dark pondering what life is, if it is worth living, when someone can so
easily be abandoned and forgotten about, left to die in such harsh conditions after giving shelter to those
in need and in return gets... Loneliness, its own body slowly rotting and withering away, getting eaten
from the inside out, an emptiness that can never be filled, finally giving into the forests’ harsh conditions,
the home completely crumbles, taking it’s own life and the animals inside with it, with all that remains
being stones,rotted wood, and the stench of rotting carcasses.

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The Wandering Creature, by Carissa Searfoss

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The Wandering Creature, by Carissa Searfoss

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The Wandering Creature
The wind whipped and howled, tossing the tree branches to and fro while rain beat down onto
the dirt as Elina ran through the forest. A storm raged above her soaking her to the bone, Elina
ran yelling out desperately, “Axel?! Zeke?! Is anyone there?!” Elina had lost her friends in the
storm, she was alone with no way to contact Axel or Zeke. The wind continued to whip and howl
around making it hard for Elina to see combined with the rain that felt like needles as the drops
hit her skin.
A deep unhuman growl shook the ground somewhere behind Elina causing her to freeze. The
growling slowly got closer inch by inch before Elina snapped out of it and ran, her heart
pounded as she heard whatever was behind her give chase. The creature bound after her
audibly pounding the ground with every lunge, Elina weaved through the trees as the creature
continued to be at her heel. Elina risked a glance behind her and saw nothing more than the
large maw of the creature, the sharp teeth looked old and decayed, between a few of the teeth
was a strip of patterned cloth.
Elina’s eyes widened as she saw the cloth, she teared up before running as fast as her legs
could carry her whimpering softly to herself, “No... It... It can’t be... That... That was the pattern
on Axel’s jacket...” Elina continued to run, her tears decreasing her visibility even more, the rain
wasn’t letting up and Elina was starting to stumble over tree roots and rocks.
Elina yelped as she fell into a pit, the landing was not soft. Under the limited amount of light
Elina was able to see she had fallen into a pit of bones, she scrambled up looking around
frantically for a way out or anywhere that didn’t have bones and saw none. Elina was trapped,

the only good thing that came from falling into the pit of bones was that the creature had run
past the pit she was safe for now.
The rain drizzled into the pit, Elina was shivering now that the adrenaline was no longer pushing
her through the cold rain. Above her the creature continued to wander, hunting her, suddenly
there was a loud bang and the creature yelped in pain, two figures looked down into the pit once
the creature had backed off. Elina looked up and gasped, “Axel! Zeke! You’re alive!”
Axel chuckled as he put down his rifle, his jacket sleeve torn, “Of course we are Elina, we’re
glad we found you before you became creature feed.”
Zeke nodded and threw rope down into the pit, “Grab on Elina! We’ll pull you up!”
Elina sobbed happily as she grabbed the rope wrapping it around herself as Axel and Zeke
worked to pull her up. Once out of the pit Elina hugged Axel and Zeke tightly, she had a few
scrapes and cuts but none were from the pit of bones. Zeke carried Elina on his back out of the
forest as Elina was exhausted, Axel walked beside them with a hand on Elina’s back and his
other hand was holding his rifle on guard for that creature. None of them noticed the bleeding
creature watching silently as the three left the forest, growling as its meal got away...

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The House on Winter Hill, by Derrick Miller

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The House on Winter Hill, by Derrick Miller

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Derick Miller
Mrs.Dornhecker
English 12
March 25, 2025
The House on Winter Hill
It began, as all ghost tales do, on a night that the wind wailed like something alive. The trees
pounded on the windows, and thunder rolled endlessly across the horizon. I had no plans to ever
set foot in the old Whitmore house again. But when my cousin Evelyn disappeared, I knew I had
no other option. Evelyn was a girl who chased stories the way a moth chases flame.
The Whitmore house, abandoned for generations, was the perfect mystery. It perched on Winter
Hill as if it had grown from the rock itself, roof sloping as if weighed down by its own secrets.
The villagers said it was cursed. I once thought they were old and scared. Now, I wasn't so sure.
I arrived at dusk. The sun was hemorrhaging over the hills, painting the sky red. I wrenched open
the gate, its iron bars icy. The garden, once tamed, was a jungle of thorns and dead flowers. The
front door groaned open, as if it hadn't been disturbed in decades—but I'd seen Evelyn. Her
journal was stuffed into my coat pocket, its final page ringing in my head:
"The mirror in the blue room is something special. Tonight, I saw something—something that
was watching."
Within, the air was thick with dust and decay. My flashlight cut thin lines of light into the
darkness, and every step I took seemed to disturb footsteps that were not my own.
Wallpaper peeled away like thin skin, and faces of the dead glared from shattered frames. I found
the blue room on the second floor. It was just as she described: sky-colored walls washed to
gray, and in the center, a giant mirror with a twisted silver frame. My breath fogged the glass
when I stepped closer. I first saw nothing but my own reflection, ghostly and terrified. But then it
changed. The mirror showed Evelyn. She stood behind me, eyes wide with terror, lips quivering
silently.
I turned around—no one. My heart beat against my ribs. I turned around.
Now the mirror showed a different image: the room, candlelit, filled with people in Victorian
dress. They danced silently, their eyes blank. They turned to look at me one by one.

Evelyn was never found. The journal was the only thing left behind by her. I still have the
dreams sometimes, the mirror, the mute dancers. And I wake up with dust on my boots in the
morning.
I never went back. But every now and then, late at night, I catch sight of the blue room light.
And I wonder if she is still spying on me.

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Two Lovers Left Alive, by Jamie Meridith

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Two Lovers Left Alive, by Jamie Meridith

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......Two Lovers Left Alive......
The old mansion stood on a windswept hill, its shadows long and skeletal
against the bruised twilight sky. Inside, two vampires, Lucian and Anya, lived
out their unending lives. Lucian, with his silver hair and eyes like chips of
obsidian, was the elder. Anya, younger, possessed a fiery spirit that somehow
managed to burn even in the cold, dark corners of their existence.
Their existence was a fragile balance of hunger and solitude. They fed
sparingly, preferring the lonely quiet of their home to the risks of the outside
world. Their bond, forged in the shared tragedy of their kind's near-extinction,
was as ancient and enduring as the stones of their gothic home. They were
the last two.
One night, a storm raged outside mirroring the turmoil inside Lucian. Anya,
usually vibrant, was weak, her skin pale even for a vampire. A strange
sickness had taken her, one that even their ancient knowledge couldn't cure.
Lucian watched helplessly, his centuries of experience offering no comfort, no
solution.
He tried everything. He scoured ancient texts, seeking a cure, his usually
steady hand trembling as he read faded words under the flickering candlelight.
He tried to feed her his blood, a desperate act hoping to infuse her with his
strength. Nothing worked.
Anya grew weaker. Her once bright eyes dulled, her laughter silenced,
replaced by a weak rasp. Lucian held her close, his icy skin a cold comfort
against her fading warmth. He felt a strange, unfamiliar emotion well up in his
ancient heart. Grief. A grief so intense, it threatened to consume him.

The storm reached its peak as Anya breathed her last. The wind howled
outside as if echoing Lucian’s pain. He sat by her still form, his face etched
with despair. For the first time in centuries, he felt the weight of true
loneliness. He wasn't just alone in the world, he was alone in his immortality.
Days turned into weeks. Lucian remained, haunted by the memory of Anya's
smile, the warmth of her touch. He continued their rituals, alone, the
emptiness of the vast house reflecting the void in his soul. The mansion
seemed to sigh under the weight of his sorrow, its stones steeped in centuries
of darkness now deepened by his own grief.
He began to understand. Anya was more than a companion; she was the
warmth in his endless night. Her absence left a chill that no fire could banish,
a darkness deeper than any night. He was alone, truly alone, for the first time
in centuries. The last of his kind, burdened not just by immortality, but by
unbearable loss. The wind outside continued to moan a mournful dirge, a
symphony to his desolate existence. His vision blurred, his future a long
stretch of empty centuries. He was left with only memories and a crushing,
unending sorrow.

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Souls Trapped
In the middle of an isolated forest, the bright moonlight hit an old abandoned
farmhouse. Its old plywood walls had vines growing as far as the eye could see, the
house had an eerie cold feeling to it. Almost as if you could feel the story it had to
tell, the history those walls held. The house was said to be haunted by its old
owners who met abrupt and tragic ends.
One cold and stormy dark night in late February a hiker by the name of Mary had
found the house, in need of getting out of the rain, Mary walked up the creaky
steps onto the long and wide porch. She pushed open the tall wooden double doors,
they struggled to open but as they did she was hit with an overwhelming smell of
old dust and lost time. Mary turned on her flashlight and peeked around, the light
she was shining casted shadows upon everything. Most things were left behind by
the previous owners, the ends they met unbeknownst to Mary.
She could feel the unseen eyes that were casted upon her and felt as if she could
hear the cries of the old owners. As she continued through the house she came
across the staircase leading to the basement, without fully thinking it through she
walked downstairs. Each step creeks louder than the last, echoing, emphasizing the
desolate isolation she had already felt.

The basement was freezing cold and completely empty, except for a large mirror
that stood tall in the middle of the room. Mary reluctantly approached the mirror
expecting to be met with her own reflection, she was not. She was met with a
young girl wearing clothes that looked as if they were from the 1950’s, the night
gown was dirty and ripped in different spots. Mary stared into the figures' eyes,
they were lifeless yet she could see the longing in them. The girl in the mirror
couldn’t speak but told a story silently. Chills round down Mary’s spine as she
realized what was happening, the little girl was reported missing around when her
mother was a teenager and never found. Mary came to realize this little girl
wandered into the house and her soul was trapped into the mirror.
Mary began to turn and run, knowing what was going to happen next,
unfortunately, she was too late. The soul of the little girl reached her arms through
the mirror, let out a blood curdling screech and grabbed Mary from behind. As she
was sucked into the mirror her soul was now a part of that mirror, a part of that
house. Her soul and all the souls that found that mirror are trapped, eternally.

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Romana was a girl who often felt out of place. At first glance, she seemed perfectly ordinary, but beneath the surface lay a world of confusion and disappointment. Her parents were a powerful witch and a formidable warlock, both revered in the magical community for their incredible abilities. Yet Romana looked in the mirror and saw nothing special,no shimmering aura, no hidden talents, and certainly no fangs like the vampires she admired from afar.

As she attended the Witch Academy, it became painfully clear that Romana was falling behind her classmates. Everywhere she turned, her peers were casting spells with ease, while she struggled to master even the simplest incantations. The more she failed, the more her self-doubt grew. Rumors about her lack of powers spread through the school like wildfire, and she became the target of relentless bullying.

The whispers and laughter of her classmates echoed in her ears, each taunt a reminder of her perceived shortcomings. They didn’t understand the heavy weight she carried. They didn’t realize she had no choice but to endure this torment. With her heart heavy and dreams dimming, Romana found herself trapped between two worlds. She couldn't stay in witch school without powers, yet she was barred from vampire school because she lacked the fangs that were a badge of honor among the undead. In a world where magic defined one's worth, Romana felt utterly lost and alone, desperate for a place where she truly belonged.

On a damp, fog-laden day, the chilling whispers of the witches filled the air as they plotted their wicked scheme against Romona. With malevolent grins plastered on their faces, they led her deep into the heart of the woods, a place rumored to be haunted by vampires. The trees loomed ominously overhead, their gnarled branches casting eerie shadows that danced in the mist.

“Let’s see if you can survive in these wretched woods,” one of the witches taunted, her voice dripping with venom. The others snickered at their cruel joke before they turned on their heels and sprinted away, leaving Romona alone in the daunting silence of the forest.

As the echoes of their laughter faded, Romona sat frozen on the damp, grassy ground, her heart racing in disbelief. The weight of their abandonment slowly turned into a tidal wave of reality crashing over her. She blinked, trying to comprehend her dire situation, and as the fog swirled around her, she felt the stirrings of determination. Clenching her fists, she resolved to rise above the torment that had plagued her for so long.

She can’t pinpoint her destination, so she sprints through the fading light, heart racing as shadows stretch around her. The sun dips beyond the horizon, casting an eerie twilight across the landscape. As darkness envelops her, unsettling whispers begin to reach her ears—echoes of the unknown that send a chill down her spine.

Suddenly, sharp pain radiates from her side; she realizes she’s been bitten. A fierce heat surges through her veins, igniting a fire within that propels her forward. Panic sets in; she hears the distant screams of others, voices calling out in fear, urging her to run, to escape the chaos that envelops them.

But she isn't just anyone—she’s far from normal. With every step, her powers awaken, surging through her like a violent storm. The pulse of her abilities grows stronger, spiraling out of her control. In that moment, she knows she is the most formidable among them, a force unlike anything they have ever faced.

# data[].attributes.body
As Sable walks down the muddy forest road, mud beneath her boots
makes a wet noise as everytime she steps. The rain splashing on her face, as
she walks aimlessly not minding the rain. She seems to be walking, not minding
the rain, seemingly not caring about her destination. As she walks she looks
through the forest trees and sees a small light. Confused, she stops making sure
she's seeing what she thinks she is seeing. Sable looks around confused, and
she thinks to herself ‘I'm far away from town, why is there a cottage in the
forest...’ As she thinks this thunder strikes, the storm gets worse and worse by
the minute. ‘I need shelter...’ Sable thinks as she hesitantly walks towards the
cottage being hidden by the trees. As she walks closer and closer to the cottage
the air starts to feel heavy along with the rain and thunder. She continues to
walk, not worried about the rain, mostly curious about the cottage in the middle of
the forest. Sable knocks on the door not that hard, and it creaks open. Confused,
she pushes the door open, not taking a step as she looks in the hallway of the
cottage. “Hello..?” Sable says softly, confusion in her voice. She hears no
response, she looks back behind her either having to go in the cottage to escape
the rain or go in the seemingly empty cottage. Sable decides to take a step in the
cottage, walking in as thunder continues to rumble behind her. She steps into the
hallway looking around, seeing small paintings of insects, and a table with small
items on it that can be seen as weird such as a skull, or candles. As she walks
around the cottage, walking into the kitchen it seems abandoned, Sable looks at
the rotten food on the table. Sable walks to the counter looking into the sink

seeing dishes that are soggy and rotten. She backs away from the sink quietly,
seemingly not bothered by the rotten food everywhere in the kitchen. She walks
to the door frame of the kitchen walking back to the hallway. Suddenly she hears
noises coming from the end of the hallway. She decides to walk towards the
noises. When she arrives at the end of the door, she pushes it open seeing a
dark staircase. She hears the sounds coming from down the stairs. Sable walks
down the stairs, sounds becoming more clear realizing their voices. She walks
down the bottom of the stairs seeing people sitting in a circle. Chanting some
words she can not understand. All of the people suddenly stop chanting, looking
at Sable. Whatever ritual they were doing seemingly went wrong and the room
erupts in a red hue. Some type of demon must have spawned from there mishap.

# data[].attributes.body
The moon, a fractured mirror in the dark sky, witnessed her descent. Willow, they called her, a name once whispered with reverence, now uttered with a fearful tremor. Her beauty, once a beacon, now flickered with the unsettling luminescence of madness. It began, as these things often do, with a whisper, a glance, a silent promise held within another’s eyes. A forbidden love, a dangerous infatuation that bloomed in the shadowed corners of a crumbling estate. He, the raven-haired artist, with eyes that devoured her soul and a tongue that painted fantasies upon her fragile heart. He was the catalyst, the spark that ignited the inferno within.
But the flame, fueled by secrecy and stifled desire, grew too hot, too fast. Willow became consumed. Her days were spent tracing his silhouette in the dust-laden windows, her nights haunted by the echo of his absent voice. The world outside faded, became a dull, irrelevant backdrop to the vibrant, feverish landscape of her emotional obsession. Her elegant gowns gathered dust in the wardrobe; she preferred the simple, almost monastic garb that mirrored the shrinking of her world. The laughter of servants, the concerned whispers of her family – all were drowned out by the relentless monologue within her own head. Then came the violence. Not physical, not at first, but the brutal tearing apart of her own sanity. The
artist, elusive and unattainable, became the target of her unyielding love. He was the sun, and she, a desperate moon, forever circling, forever yearning for a touch that remained perpetually out of reach. The whispers turned to screams inside her cage. The elegant mansion became a tomb of her own making. One stormy night, fueled by sleeplessness and the agonizing pain of unrequited affection, the madness finally broke free.She found a canvas, discarded in the artist's abandoned studio. With charcoal, she drew him, not as he was, but as he existed in the fevered landscape of her heart: a dark god, wreathed in shadows, his eyes burning with a demonic light. She drew until her fingers bled, until the charcoal crumbled in
her grasp. As dawn broke, painting the sky in hues of sickly grey, she stood back, her eyes hollowed, a vacant smile playing on her lips. The portrait was complete. And so, too, was her final descent. Willow, the beautiful, the cherished, was lost forever to the violent, emotional tempest that had consumed her. Only madness remained, a chilling masterpiece etched upon the canvas of her shattered mind.

# data[].attributes.body
Allezja’H Brooks

The House on Black Hollow Hill

The moon sat low in the sky, a dull silver eye peering over Black Hollow Hill, where an old mansion rotted like a corpse. Nobody from the village went near it. Not since the Sable family had disappeared, leaving behind nothing but a hollow silence and doors that never stayed shut. Some folks said they were cursed. Others whispered that they were still inside, waiting. Elias Thorne didn’t believe in any of that. He was a scholar, a man of reason, and if there was something hiding in that house, he’d prove it was nothing more than creaking wood and a bad draft. Armed with only a lantern and his notebook, he stepped through the front door. The hinges groaned like something waking up. Inside, the air was thick with dust and something else... something heavy. The grand staircase twisted upward, disappearing into darkness. Portraits lined the walls, their eyes blackened by time or something more unnatural.

Then, a whisper.“Leave.” Elias froze. He turned sharply, but the house was silent, save for the wind rattling the broken windows. The mind plays tricks in darkness, he told himself, but still, the unease curled in his stomach. He moved forward, candlelight flickering against the cracked walls. Then he heard it again.

2

“You shouldn’t be here.”The voice was closer this time.

At the end of the hall, a door stood open just enough to see inside. His hand hesitated on the knob, but curiosity pushed him forward.

The room was untouched. The bed, neatly made. Dust lay thick on everything, except... a single portrait on the wall. Elias stepped closer, his breath caught in his throat. It was him. A deep, twisting dread settled in his chest. The reflection in the glass moved, but he hadn’t. Something loomed behind him. He turned slowly, pulse hammering. Two blackened eyes stared back. A smile curled in the dark.

“You finally came home.”The door slammed shut behind him. And in the village below, people stirred in their beds, uneasy from a scream that never truly

ended.

# data[].attributes.headline
Whispers in the Attic, by Katelyn Caldwell

# data[].attributes.subject
Whispers in the Attic, by Katelyn Caldwell

# data[].attributes.body
Blackwood Hall had loomed at the edge of the village for generations, a gothic mansion draped in mystery and forgotten history. The villagers spoke of its eerie silence and the strange happenings within, but Catherine, curious and defiant, had long been drawn to its dark allure. Despite her mother’s warnings, Catherine couldn’t resist any longer.

One foggy autumn evening, she stood before the rusted gates, their hinges creaking as she pushed them open. The cold wind swept through the moors, carrying with it an unsettling stillness. Blackwood Hall seemed to call her name as she stepped inside, the overgrown path crunching beneath her boots.

The manor loomed before her, its massive stone facade weathered by time. The front doors stood slightly ajar, as though welcoming her into its haunted embrace. She hesitated only for a moment before entering, the scent of mildew and decay thick in the air. Inside, the hallway stretched endlessly, its stone floors cracked and covered in dust. Cobwebs clung to the corners, and faded portraits of grim ancestors lined the walls, their eyes seeming to follow her.

"Hello?" Her voice echoed in the stillness, but there was no response—only the distant sound of creaking wood and the soft whisper of the wind through cracked windows.

She moved deeper into the house, her steps slow but determined. The air grew colder the further she went, as though the house itself was alive and watching her. At the top of the grand staircase, she noticed a door—a small, unassuming entryway. It stood closed, unlike the other doors which hung open as though abandoned. Something about it drew her in.

She turned the knob, the door creaking open to reveal a small, dust-covered attic. There was old furniture, boxes stacked haphazardly, and cobwebs in every corner. But in the farthest corner of the room, a small mirror caught her eye. It was framed in tarnished silver, its surface startlingly clean in the midst of the surrounding decay.

Curious, she stepped closer. Her reflection stared back at her, but then she saw it—another figure, standing just behind her in the mirror. The woman was tall, with dark, hollow eyes and a faint, unsettling smile. Catherine spun around, but the attic was empty. The mirror, however, continued to reflect the figure, its features becoming clearer with each passing moment.

The figure’s lips parted, and though no sound came from her, Catherine heard the words in her mind, soft yet urgent: "Help me."

Catherine’s heart raced, her pulse quickening as a chill ran down her spine. She reached out to touch the glass, her fingers trembling. The surface felt cold, as though it were something more than just a mirror. She could almost feel the woman’s presence pressing against it.

Suddenly, the temperature in the attic dropped. The light from the single bulb flickered, casting long, twisting shadows. The figure in the mirror stepped closer, her eyes glowing with an unnatural light. "Help me." The voice was louder now, more desperate.

Catherine recoiled, stumbling backward. The room seemed to shift around her, the walls stretching and distorting. Panic surged within her. She turned and ran for the door, but the air around her had thickened, making each step feel like she was moving through water.

The door slammed shut behind her, and the attic was plunged into darkness. The voice echoed in her mind, louder now—"Help me."

She fled down the stairs, her legs shaking, but when she reached the bottom, the hallway had changed. The portraits on the walls were no longer of dignified ancestors, but of twisted, grotesque figures whose eyes glowed with malice. The air was thick, suffocating, as if the house itself was alive, closing in around her.

Catherine reached the front door, desperate for escape. As she threw it open, she heard the whisper one last time, so close it felt like it was right behind her: "Help me."

She bolted into the night, not daring to look back. The fog enveloped her as she ran, and Blackwood Hall loomed behind her, silent once more—its secret hidden in the shadows, waiting for the next curious soul to answer its call.

But Catherine knew the truth now. Some houses are alive, and some whispers are more than just echoes.