The narrow passage twisted like the spine of some ancient beast. The walls were damp, covered with moss that smelled of wet decay. Aarav held the lantern ahead of them, its weak flame flickering as if afraid to reveal what lay ahead.
"I don't think we're under the mansion anymore," Maya whispered.
"No… this place feels older. Much older," Aarav replied, his voice tense.
The passage opened into a circular chamber. In the center stood an old stone well, but instead of water, the surface was black and still, like a mirror of tar.
Maya stepped closer, her reflection warped in the liquid darkness.
"It's… it's not water," she said.
A faint whisper rose from the well.
"Aarav Mehta… you cannot hide from blood."
Suddenly, human faces began to rise from the surface—dozens of them.
They floated like pale masks, their hollow eyes fixed on Aarav and Maya. Some were crying, others were screaming silently.
"These faces… they're alive," Maya gasped.
"No. They're the souls this place has taken," Aarav muttered, gripping his iron rod tighter.
One of the faces, a woman with long, wet black hair, spoke in a broken whisper:
"Leave while you can… The mirrors will drink your blood…"
More faces surfaced, overlapping voices like an unholy choir.
"The seven mirrors must be broken before the Blood Moon rises… or you will join us…"
"She is watching you… she knows your name…"
Aarav froze.
"Who is 'she'?"
The faces all turned toward Maya at once, their mouths stretching wide in silent screams. The black liquid began to boil violently.
Without warning, a rotting hand shot out from the well, grabbing Maya's ankle. She screamed as the grip burned her skin like fire.
"Aarav! Pull me!"
He swung his rod, smashing the hand, but another skeletal arm rose, clutching his wrist.
The faces began to chant:
"Stay. Stay. Stay."
Aarav spotted a rusted chain hanging near the well. With one hard pull, he knocked over a heavy iron grate that slammed onto the well, severing the arms. The faces sank back into the black water, their screams echoing into silence.
Maya was trembling.
"That… that thing wasn't just a spirit. It was real."
"This house is feeding on souls," Aarav said, his voice hard. "And we're next if we don't find those mirrors."