Curse Of The Black Hollow

I didn't cross the bridge until the road was obscured by fog. My headlights could only cut through a few feet of darkness, showing twisted trees, broken pavement, and nothing more. The road forward seemed like it belonged somewhere forgotten, and the world behind me had vanished. Then I spotted him. The bridge's center was occupied by a guy. Tall. Motionless. He did not move, but the wind gently rustled his dark coat. I could feel his eyes on me even from a distance. I applied the brakes. With a loud screech, the car stopped. I gazed through the windshield. There was no one on the bridge. There was nothing but fog. "Lena, you're exhausted." I made myself smile. "Six hours of driving will achieve that." It made sense. I required sensible justifications. since it appeared as though every element of this journey had grown unattainable. --- I never thought I'd be driving to a town I've never been to to pick up a house I didn't know existed a year ago. But life seldom requests permission before transforming. On the passenger seat lay the envelope from the attorney. A weird inheritance was discovered within. A big home. I hardly recognized a family name. and Black Hollow, a town. This location had never been discussed by my parents. They never brought up family tales kept behind locked doors or relatives who owned estates. I was left with nothing but questions. After their deaths, they became more vocal with their concerns. Perhaps that was why I took the inheritance. Perhaps I was looking for something other than a house. It's possible that I was looking for something I'd misplaced. A justification for beginning again. --- The sign emerged through the fog. BLACK HOLLOW IS WELCOMED. The name gave me an unforeseen chill, even though the letters were dim. I had never visited this area. But something about it seemed familiar. like a forgotten memory waiting to return. Beyond the trees, the town was visible. Small and peaceful was Black Hollow. Thin roadways were bordered by stone buildings. Despite the afternoon light, antique lamps gleamed along the pavements. Everything looked tranquil. Nearly too calm. I paused at a little café in the vicinity of the city center. The conversation ceased as soon as I walked in. Everyone inside gazed at me. I adjusted my jacket. "Hello." A woman came up from behind the counter. "Just passing through?" "Actually, I just arrived." Her facial expression altered little. "Why is that?" I was surprised by the question. "I'm seeking for Black Hollow Manor." Silence fell across the room. "Are you the new owner?" I gave a nod. "I am Lena Hartfield." Behind me, a cup broke into pieces. No one moved. The color of the woman's face changed. "Hartfield?" "Certainly." She gazed at me as if I had uttered a name that ought to have remained forgotten. In the end, she gave me an old map. "Go along the eastern road. Follow it until you arrive at the forest." "Something is wrong, right?" She faced the misty windows. "Black Hollow remembers everything." I held off until she elaborated. She refused. "After dark, don't go outside." I brought the map. "Why is that?" Our eyes met again. "Because some things in this community come to life at night." --- Into the woods, the road to the Manor vanished. My phone stopped receiving calls almost immediately. The navigation stopped functioning. Only the archaic paper map remained. The road was surrounded by trees, their branches twisting above me. The forest was tranquil. Too quiet. The raven showed up after that. It settled on a branch in front of my automobile. It flew farther ahead as I got closer. Until the forest opened up, it kept up the pattern. There was a massive iron gate waiting just beyond the trees. Black Hollow Manor was behind it. Huge was the house. Underneath pointed roofs, dark stone walls emerged. Hundreds of windows looked out onto the empty grounds, and the outside was covered with ivy. It seemed abandoned. Yet it did not seem neglected. It seemed as if it had been waiting. --- As I approached, the iron gates opened. Slowly, slowly. Without saying anything. The car was stopped. I initially felt like leaving. The second thing I did was look for answers. I picked the second. I grabbed my suitcase and made my way to the Manor. Even among the weeds, flowers were blossoming in the neglected gardens. Fresh blooms. Flowers that should not have lived. I arrived at the front steps when the estate was shrouded in fog. Back of me, the globe vanished. The only thing left was the Manor. I reached for the key. Prior to touching the lock... The door clicked shut. It opened by itself. I stopped moving. The gigantic doors gradually opened. From the interior, cold air rushed out. The raven landed on the roof over my head. It stared at me from above. In a voice scarcely above a whisper, it added, "She is home." The doors swung open even more. I was welcomed into Black Hollow Manor.