Whispers of the Haunted Mansion

Ethan Collins adjusted himself uncomfortably in the passenger seat of the hearse, the air inside thick with an eerie chill. The hearse, driven by Lucas Blackwood, offered more than just transportation—it was a vessel that commanded respect, or rather, fear. On the road, no one dared to tailgate or cut it off. Even professional scammers, who thrived on fender benders, avoided such an ominous vehicle. Parking was easy too; no one ever came near to charge for parking. The fear was palpable wherever Lucas went.

"Comfortable?" Lucas asked casually as they drove through the darkening streets. He was calm, almost too calm for someone who spent his days in a profession steeped in death.

"Comfortable? This thing gives me the creeps," Ethan muttered, glancing at the walls of the hearse. "You know, it's for carrying bodies."

Lucas merely shrugged. "Comes with the territory." He chuckled, adjusting the radio to play the usual Sanskrit chants that seemed to resonate through the vehicle's cold interior. "Helps keep the mood lighter."

Ethan tried to relax, but his thoughts kept drifting to the night ahead. This wasn't the first time they'd entered the infamous Blackwood Mansion, but it didn't make it any easier. The place was known for its dark history—murders, suicides, ghost sightings. It was every paranormal investigator's nightmare and dream combined into one.

Lucas, with one hand on the wheel and the other casually resting on his camera, glanced at Ethan. "So, my job is just to film you?"

"Not just film," Ethan corrected, anxious that Lucas hadn't grasped the full gravity of the night's task. "You've got to get me in the shot. And if anything supernatural happens, make sure you catch it on film."

Lucas gave him a half-smile, his eyes glinting in the dim light. "Relax, Ethan. I've handled more than just funerals. I've done plenty of full-service memorials with video recordings. do know my way around a camera."

Ethan tried to focus on the plan for the night. He couldn't afford another failure like last time. They needed a clean take at the Blackwood Mansion. As the vehicle pulled up to the gates of the mansion, the evening sky was already pitch black, the looming estate dark and foreboding against the inky horizon.

Parking without issue, Ethan exited the hearse and grabbed his equipment, making sure to open the camera lens this time. Lucas stepped out casually, inspecting his gear with professional ease. "Let's get this over with. I've got work later," Lucas said, his nonchalant attitude standing in sharp contrast to Ethan's growing nerves.

Standing before the towering iron gates of the mansion, Ethan readied himself for the shoot. "Welcome to The Friday Phantom," he began, holding his microphone with what confidence he could muster. "I'm your host, Ethan Collins, and tonight, we explore the notorious Blackwood Mansion, said to be one of the most haunted locations in the city…"

Lucas' calm demeanor did little to ease Ethan's nerves, but it helped the presentation. With Lucas behind the camera, filming seemed smoother than it ever had. They ventured through the eerie courtyard, where the chill in the air seemed to deepen with each step. Every creak of the mansion echoed unnervingly in the silence, and the dim light only added to the foreboding atmosphere.

Ethan led Lucas into the mansion's grand hall, where a pair of old paper effigies stood by the fireplace. Lucas, for the first time, seemed taken aback. "Hmm," he muttered, lowering the camera for a moment to inspect the figures.

Ethan immediately felt a cold wave of panic. "What's wrong?" he asked, his hand instinctively going to his chest pocket, where a small stash of garlic cloves lay. They were his last line of defense against whatever spirits might be lurking here.

Lucas shrugged again, his expression unreadable. "Nothing. Just admiring the craftsmanship of these figures. Whoever made them knew what they were doing."

Ethan breathed out slowly, trying to keep his heartbeat under control. "Alright, keep rolling," he instructed, though Lucas hardly needed the reminder.

They ventured deeper into the house, moving methodically through the rooms. Ethan narrated the tale of the Blackwood family, their dark history, and the tragedies that had befallen them. Despite his growing fear, everything was going smoothly, right up until they reached the master bedroom.

This was the room where the Blackwood daughter-in-law was said to have spent her final days. Ethan gestured towards the antique vanity at the corner of the room. "Lucas, get a shot of this," he said, trying to keep his voice steady.

Lucas, ever the professional, focused the camera on the vanity as Ethan stood beside it. "This is where the haunting is strongest," Ethan said, his voice dropping to a dramatic whisper. "Many have reported seeing the apparition of a woman here, staring at herself in the mirror…"

Just as he finished speaking, the vanity's drawer suddenly slid open with a loud snap!

Ethan jumped, his body going cold as adrenaline surged through him. His hand flew instinctively to the garlic cloves, but Lucas only lifted the camera slightly, capturing every moment.

"Relax, Ethan. You wanted some ghost action, didn't you?" Lucas said, his voice irritatingly calm.

Ethan swallowed hard, trying to get control of his shaking hands. "Yeah, sure," he muttered, barely able to keep his voice steady. But his heart raced as he stared at the now open drawer.

Inside was an old, yellowed photograph of a woman. The same photo they'd found during their last visit. But something was different this time. As soon as Ethan's eyes landed on the photo, it began to burn, its edges glowing with an eerie, green flame. The fire consumed the photo in seconds, leaving behind no ash—only a soft, unnatural glow emanating from the vanity mirror.

Lucas stepped closer, fascinated by the strange event unfolding before them. "Now we're getting somewhere," he said with a gleam in his eye.

Ethan, on the other hand, felt his stomach drop. He could sense something was terribly wrong. Suddenly, the room's temperature plummeted, and a strange mist seemed to swirl around the mirror.

"Lucas… we should leave," Ethan stammered, backing away from the vanity.

But Lucas wasn't listening. "Look at the mirror, Ethan," he said in a calm, detached tone.

Ethan turned reluctantly, his eyes falling on the mirror. His breath caught in his throat. Reflected in the glass was a woman, her back turned to them, long dark hair cascading down her back. She wore an elegant dress—a traditional qipao that hugged her slender form.

For a moment, Ethan couldn't move. His mind raced, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. "That's her," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "That's the Blackwood woman…"

Lucas moved closer, the camera still rolling. "You wanted proof of a ghost. Now you've got it. Let's see what happens next."

The woman in the mirror remained still for several long moments. Then, slowly, she began to move, her form growing clearer, as if she was stepping closer to the surface of the glass. Ethan's heart pounded in his chest as he realized she wasn't just an image. She was becoming real.

"L-Lucas, we need to go," Ethan said, his voice trembling with fear.

But before Lucas could respond, a cold breeze swept through the room, carrying with it the faint scent of jasmine. Ethan froze as he felt the unmistakable presence of something—or someone—standing beside him.

Slowly, he turned his head. His breath caught in his throat as he found himself face to face with the ghostly woman. Her skin was pale, almost translucent, and her eyes were two dark voids, staring straight into his soul.

Ethan's body refused to move. The woman's long hair brushed against his cheek as she leaned closer, her icy breath sending chills down his spine.

In that moment, Ethan knew he was out of time.

With a burst of desperate energy, he grabbed the garlic cloves from his pocket and hurled them at the woman, shouting, "Stay away!"

The cloves passed right through her, scattering across the floor with a faint thud. Lucas, completely unfazed, chuckled behind him. "Garlic? What, you thought we were fighting vampires?"

But Ethan had no time for humor. The ghost woman's eyes narrowed, and for the first time, her lips parted. She was about to speak—or worse.

"I've had enough!" Ethan shouted, bolting for the door. "Lucas, we're done here!"

Lucas hesitated for a moment, clearly enjoying the supernatural encounter far more than he should have. But as Ethan reached the hallway, he finally relented, turning off the camera and following his terrified companion into the night.