redinkmag

Anonymous. Short story.

The old house had always been a source of fascination for the locals. It was said that it was cursed, that anyone who entered the house would never return. But Ashlyn didn’t believe in curses. She was determined to explore the house, no matter what the consequences.

Ashlyn had always been interested in the supernatural. She had spent hours reading books about ghosts, vampires, and other creatures of the night. The old house seemed like the perfect place to explore her passion. She gathered her courage and set off towards the house.

As she approached the house, she felt a chill run down her spine. The house was even more imposing up close. It was a huge, dark, gothic building, with turrets and gargoyles adorning the roof. The front door creaked ominously as Ashlyn pushed it open.

The inside of the house was just as eerie as the outside. The air was thick with dust, and cobwebs hung from the ceiling. Ashlyn cautiously made her way through the first few rooms, her heart pounding in her chest.

As she walked deeper into the house, she began to hear strange noises. Footsteps echoed through the hallways, and whispers seemed to float on the air. Ashlyn tried to keep her nerves under control. She told herself that it was just her imagination playing tricks on her.

But then she saw something that made her blood run cold. In the corner of one room, she saw a figure standing. It was a woman, dressed in a long, flowing gown. Her hair was a tangled mess, and her face was twisted in a grotesque expression.

Ashlyn tried to run, but her feet seemed rooted to the spot. The woman moved towards her, her movements slow and deliberate. Ashlyn could feel her breath coming in short gasps. She was trapped.

The woman reached out a hand, and Ashlyn felt a cold, clammy grip around her wrist. She tried to pull away, but the woman’s grip was too strong. The woman began to lead Ashlyn deeper into the house, her movements becoming more urgent.

Ashlyn’s mind was a blur. She couldn’t think straight, couldn’t remember how she had gotten into this situation. All she knew was that she had to escape. She pulled with all her might, trying to free herself from the woman’s grasp.

And then, suddenly, the grip was gone. Ashlyn stumbled backwards, her heart racing. She turned to run, but something caught her eye. It was a figure, standing in the shadows.

The figure stepped forward, and Ashlyn saw that it was a man. He was tall and thin, with a gaunt face and piercing eyes. He was dressed in a long black coat, and his hair was slicked back from his forehead.

The man smiled, revealing a row of gleaming white teeth. Ashlyn felt a shiver run down her spine. She knew that this man was dangerous. I have to get out of here.

The man began to speak, his voice low and hypnotic. He told Ashlyn that she was in grave danger, that the woman who had grabbed her was a ghost who haunted the house. He said that he could help her, but that she had to trust him. Who else was I going to rely on?

Ashlyn didn’t know what to do. Everything was happening so fast. She wanted to run, to escape this nightmare, but something inside her told her to stay. She felt drawn to the man, as if he held the key to her survival.

And so, she followed him. He led her through the house, showing her secret passageways and hidden rooms. He told her stories about the history of the house, about the people who had lived and died there. She held her hand over her mouth in bewilderment.

Ashlyn listened intently, her mind buzzing with questions. Who was this man? Why was he helping her? And what was his connection to the cursed house?

As they reached the end of their journey, the man turned to Ashlyn. He told her that he had a proposition for her. He said that he could help her break the curse that haunted the house, but that she would have to make a sacrifice. Her eyes gaped.

Ashlyn felt a cold fear in the pit of her stomach. She knew that this man was dangerous, that he could not be trusted. And yet, something inside her told her to take the risk.

And so, she made her choice. She would do whatever it took to break the curse of the house, to free herself and the other lost souls who had wandered into its dark halls.

As she made her way out of the house, she felt a sense of peace wash over her. She knew that she had made the right choice, that her bravery and determination had saved her from a fate worse than death.

And as she looked back at the cursed house, she knew that she would never forget the horror that lay within its walls. But she also knew that she had overcome that horror, that she had emerged stronger and more determined than ever before.