The Haunting at Blackwood Mansion

Ethan Collins watched in disbelief as Sophia Lee sat up abruptly. Relief flooded him as long as she was okay, nothing else mattered. He leaped forward, reaching to grasp her shoulders, hoping to comfort her despite knowing she might react harshly. Even if she slapped him, it would be a fair response.

But before he could touch her, Sophia turned her head sharply, her gaze cold and piercing. Her arms shot up, zombie-like, and with a sudden push, an eerie, unnatural force surged forward. Ethan felt a sharp pain in his chest as he was sent flying backward. Mid-air, another force yanked him, pulling him around before he crashed to the ground with a thud.

Stunned, Ethan lay on the ground, trying to make sense of what just happened. Nathan Graves, the hearse driver, stepped forward, his cigarette dangling from his lips. He took a deep drag and flicked the cigarette towards Sophia with precision, the glowing ember striking her forehead with a sharp crack. A small burst of light flared upon impact, the accuracy and speed reminiscent of a martial arts master.

Sophia's cold eyes remained locked in place, her entire body radiating an unsettling chill. Nathan let out a low grunt, making a swift hand gesture. He walked toward Sophia, his tone icy and authoritative. "You left Blackwood Mansion, but now you dare possess someone in front of me? Let me show you what happens when you mess with the wrong person."

It was clear to everyone now that something was very wrong. Nathan's talk of possession left Ethan wide-eyed. Could this hearse driver really be some kind of expert in the paranormal? Ethan, a skilled apprentice of the mysterious Shenxiao Sect, found himself helpless. All he could do was watch and maybe cheer from the sidelines, though it felt inadequate.

Before he could utter a word of encouragement, Sophia—or whatever was inside her—spoke in a chilling voice. "I mean no harm. I possessed her to ask for your help. Blackwood Mansion... the ghost of Liam Blackwood is still there. He's turning into something worse, a malignant spirit. I'm trapped, please..."

Her voice cut off abruptly. Nathan had no patience for her plea. His fingers pressed firmly against her forehead, and Ethan watched in disbelief as Sophia's skin seemed to give way under the pressure. Her whole body shuddered violently before her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed onto the hospital bed, lifeless.

The surreal scene played out like a twisted dream. If Ethan hadn't seen it himself, who would believe it? He couldn't help but think that if only they had filmed this, the world would be stunned.

But concern for Sophia outweighed any thoughts of recording. He rushed over, checking on her trembling body. Slowly, her violent spasms subsided, and she opened her eyes, her gaze weak yet familiar.

"Ethan, where are we?" Sophia's voice was soft, filled with uncertainty.

"Everything's okay now," Ethan replied, soothing her. "We had a bit of a scare, but it's all over."

Sophia's eyes were filled with a vulnerable fear that tugged at Ethan's heart. He shuddered to think what might have happened had Nathan not been there. The thought of losing her was unbearable.

Just as Ethan finished comforting Sophia, Officer James Carter stirred awake, his eyes fluttering open under the dim glow of the streetlights. His gaze landed on Ethan and Sophia, and the shock of seeing them alive was too much. He fainted again.

Nathan grabbed Officer Carter by the collar before he could collapse. "You've passed out twice now. Don't do it again. These two aren't dead, so get up and finish your job."

With that, Nathan unceremoniously kicked the three of them out of the hearse and drove off, leaving them stranded on the roadside. Officer Carter, still trembling, glanced at Ethan and Sophia's shadows under the streetlights before asking nervously, "You two really aren't dead?"

Ethan chuckled. "Do we look dead to you? Come on, you're a cop, aren't you supposed to be braver than this?"

"It's not that," Officer Carter stammered. "The coroner said you were dead—no pulse, no heartbeat. This... this doesn't make any sense. People don't just come back like this. You both defy every law of nature."

Ethan couldn't blame the poor cop. If he had never encountered the supernatural before, none of this would make sense. "Yeah, we're a little outside the realm of normal here. But believe me, this stuff happens. Ghosts, the afterlife, hell—there's even a guy named Liam Blackwood out there causing all kinds of trouble."

Officer Carter gaped at him. Ethan coughed awkwardly. "Anyway, sorry for the hassle. By the way, where's my camera?"

The official process resumed, and soon a police car arrived to take them to the station. With Officer Carter's testimony and Ethan's explanation that they were filming for a show, things went smoothly. Ethan was just grateful they didn't need to go through hours of bureaucracy.

Daniel, the show's technical director, showed up not long after, looking frazzled. "What the hell happened?"

As soon as they left the station, Daniel pressed Ethan for answers. Ethan, still shaken from the whole ordeal, vented his frustration. "You assigned me to handle the entire 'Friday Phantom' show, sent me into a haunted mansion without a proper crew, and no backup. We barely survived! And now you're blaming me for making a big deal out of it?"

Daniel, realizing he had touched a nerve, offered a weak smile. "Hey, hey, I was just worried about you guys. Let's grab something to eat and we'll talk about it, alright?"

At this hour, only fast food joints like McDonald's and KFC were open. The three of them ended up sitting in a booth at KFC. Sophia clutched her coffee, still shaking from the experience. Ethan's heart ached with guilt as he watched her. He was about to say something comforting when Sophia spoke first.

"Ethan, I'm terrified. That ghost... Do you think she's still after me?"

Ethan leaned in, speaking softly. "I won't let her. Whatever happens, I'll be here to protect you."

Sophia seemed to relax a little, nodding. Her vulnerability stirred something deep within Ethan. He gazed at her, determined. "Sophia, I swear, if I ever make it big, I'll make sure you rise with me. You deserve that and more."

It wasn't just a promise. It was a declaration—a reminder to himself to keep pushing forward. This experience had brought them closer, and after surviving something like that, their bond was unshakable. Daniel, seeing the tension lighten, chimed in with supportive words, talking about future opportunities for Sophia in his department.

Ethan recounted the night's events for Daniel, sparing no details. The strange occurrences, the ghost, the camera—Daniel was hooked.

"Did you get it on tape?" Daniel asked, leaning forward with excitement.

Sophia's face paled at the mention of the footage. Ethan was growing frustrated with Daniel's single-minded focus on the show. "Our lives were at risk, and all you care about is the footage?" He started to scold Daniel, but was interrupted by Sophia's phone ringing.

"Let's drop it for now," Ethan said, sighing. "Let's just get Sophia home."

They dropped her off at her apartment, Ethan giving her a protective promise before leaving. On the ride back to the studio, Daniel turned to Ethan. "So, what about the footage? Did we catch anything?"

Ethan held up the camera. "Sophia kept it rolling the whole time. If you're not in a rush to get home, we can check the footage right now."

Daniel's face lit up. "Let's do it."

Back at the office, they plugged the camera into the TV. As the screen flickered to life, all they saw was pitch black. No visuals, just sound—Ethan's voice introducing the episode.

Ethan's heart sank. "What the hell? Where's the footage?"

Daniel stared at him blankly before asking the question that hit like a lightning bolt. "Did you take the lens cap off?"

Ethan turned slowly, staring at the camera. The lens cap was still on.

All the work, all the danger—they had filmed the entire night with the lens cap on.

For a moment, the silence was unbearable. Then Ethan buried his face in his hands. This was worse than seeing a ghost.