The Hidden Passage Beneath Blackwood Mansion

The moment I stepped into the grand hall of Blackwood Mansion, the smell intensified. It was a rancid, musty stench that made me sneeze. My frustration flared even higher. Not wasting any time, I grabbed a wooden mallet from the offering table in front of the statue of the Goddess and marched straight toward the so-called "Master" who had led us astray. The distance was mere steps, but my attention was drawn to the corner of the hall. There, in the dim glow of an oil lamp, seven or eight mats lay spread out. Sitting on one of them, the fraudster, Master Hemmings, had shed his robes and was tangled in a revolting embrace with the girl who had come earlier for the "blessing."

"Hey! Get away from her!" I shouted, my voice echoing off the ancient stone walls. The sudden outburst made Hemmings freeze. His expression shifted to anger as he turned to face me.

"Who the hell let you in here? Get out, now!" he snarled.

I was already too close, and his audacity only fueled my rage. "Who do you think you're talking to, you sick bastard?" I spat, gripping the mallet tighter.

Before he could react, I slammed the mallet into the side of his head. Hemmings let out a cry, stumbling. "What do you think you're doing? Do you want to desecrate this sacred place?!" he stammered, trying to regain his footing.

"I'll do more than desecrate it. You've been conning people out of their money, but now you're preying on young women? You're done!" I bellowed, raising the mallet again.

The girl was frozen in shock, her eyes wide with confusion. She opened her mouth to scream, but before she could, Ethan Blackwood, my friend and fellow investigator, rushed in. He clamped a hand over her mouth and whispered urgently, "Don't be stupid. He's been lying to you. Get out of here, now."

It took a moment, but the girl finally realized the situation. She nodded quickly, eyes filled with shame, and scurried out of the hall.

Meanwhile, Hemmings was frantically circling the hall, yelling for help. "Someone! Intruders! They're going to kill me!"

I chased him, my mallet raised, each strike landing harder than the last. The feeling of taking down a con man was oddly satisfying, but then something unexpected happened. Hemmings, desperate, darted toward the back of the hall, tapping a section of the wall frantically.

With a series of mechanical clicks, a hidden door creaked open, revealing a dark passage behind it. I froze for a moment, taken aback by the secret entrance. What on earth could this lead to? The mansion's structure didn't allow for an extension in this direction—it led straight into the mountainside.

Before I could think any further, two small figures sprang out from the darkness. They were barely human, standing at only a few feet tall, dressed in colorful but tattered garments. Their faces were hidden beneath a shroud of gray mist, and their eyes glowed a sickly green. Each one wielded a dagger, and around their necks hung small, tarnished silver locks.

"What the hell are those things?" I muttered, gripping the mallet tighter as they scurried toward me. Hemmings, now backed into a corner, screamed, "Master! My lords! Kill them! They're intruders!"

The creatures hissed, baring sharp teeth as they charged at me. Fear gripped me momentarily, but there was no time to hesitate. I was the righteous one here—there was no turning back.

I swung the mallet at the first creature, but it moved with an unnatural agility, twisting mid-charge to avoid the blow. Panic surged through me. I could feel the cold edge of their blades as they aimed for my legs, ready to incapacitate me. Just then, Ethan, with his uncanny reflexes, darted in from behind. With a swift motion, he slapped two yellow talismans onto their foreheads, shouting, "Freeze!"

The creatures let out ear-piercing shrieks, and then, just like that, they were immobilized, frozen in place. It happened so fast, I could barely register what had just occurred. My heart pounded as I turned to Hemmings, who stood, wide-eyed and panting by the open passage.

"Not so fast!" Ethan barked, his voice echoing through the chamber as he recited another incantation. Hemmings turned to flee, but it was too late. Ethan's fingers formed a strange gesture, and with a sharp point toward Hemmings, he uttered a final command.

Hemmings froze in place, mid-stride, one foot raised awkwardly as if he were about to run but never would again. The scene would've been comical if it weren't so terrifying. The con man's eyes darted around in panic, but his body was stuck, suspended by some unseen force.

"Looks like we got him," Ethan muttered, glancing at me with a satisfied smirk. But I was still catching my breath, my nerves shot from the close call.

"Thanks for that," I managed to say, still gripping the mallet. I turned to the creatures, now frozen under the talisman's spell. Without thinking, I stomped on the first one. It let out a sickening crunch as black smoke rose from its body, revealing what it truly was—an oversized rat, dressed in tiny human clothes. I felt a wave of nausea wash over me.

"These things are disgusting," I muttered, stomping on the second creature. Ethan winced at the sound but didn't comment.

"Guess you're not one to hesitate when the situation calls for it," he said, raising an eyebrow. "But what now?"

I glanced toward the open passage. A foul, earthy smell wafted from the darkness beyond. We had uncovered something far more sinister than just a charlatan running a scam. Whatever was hiding down there, it wasn't human.

"Ethan, we can't leave this unchecked," I said, steeling myself.

Ethan nodded, his face grim. "Yeah. But let's be smart about it. We don't know what's waiting for us down there."

Taking a deep breath, I tightened my grip on the mallet and nodded toward the dark tunnel. "Let's go. But we stick to the plan—no unnecessary risks. We go in, see what's down there, and get out. Agreed?"

Ethan didn't respond, but the look in his eyes told me he was ready.

We stepped cautiously into the tunnel. The narrow passage was cold, the walls damp and lined with old stones that looked like they had been carved centuries ago. As we walked, the darkness seemed to press in on us, broken only by the faint glow of the talisman in Ethan's hand. The air was stale, with a metallic tang that lingered in the back of my throat.

"Feels like this place hasn't seen light in a long time," Ethan whispered, his voice barely audible.

We hadn't gone far when I heard a faint clicking sound beneath my boot. Before I could react, a series of gears groaned to life, and the ground beneath us began to shift.

"Trap!" Ethan yelled, grabbing my arm and pulling me backward just as a section of the floor gave way, revealing a deep pit below.

I stared down into the abyss, my heart pounding. Whatever was down here, it was protected by more than just ancient superstition. This place was designed to keep people out—or maybe, to keep something in.

"We're in over our heads," I muttered, trying to regain my composure. But turning back wasn't an option.

With a nod from Ethan, we carefully skirted the edge of the pit and pressed on, deeper into the darkness. Whatever lay ahead, we were about to find out.