Do Not Take Photos

The Forbidden Manor

Night had fallen, and in the desolate countryside, an abandoned manor loomed in the darkness.

The mansion, built during the late Qing Dynasty, was a relic of the past—its gray brick walls and weathered roof tiles now covered in dust and decay. The stone lions guarding the entrance were chipped and eroded, their fierce expressions barely discernible. Above the doorway, intricate carvings had long faded, leaving behind nothing but the eerie remnants of forgotten craftsmanship.

Jamie stood before the ancient structure, checking the time on her phone. A sly smile tugged at her lips.

"Sandra, you sure you're not scared?"

Sandra, standing beside her with arms crossed, remained unfazed. "I'm a forensic doctor. I've seen more corpses than you've had breakfasts."

Jamie raised an eyebrow. "You know the rumors about this place, right? Anyone who takes a photo inside this house finds extra shadows in the pictures. And when night falls… those shadows crawl out of the photos."

Sandra was silent for a moment before replying in a steady voice, "You always sound way too excited when telling ghost stories."

Jamie merely chuckled and pushed open the creaking wooden door.

A damp, musty scent seeped through the air, laced with something indescribably ancient—something not of this time.

They stepped inside.

2. The Extra Shadow

The manor's interior was frozen in time. Dust blanketed the antique furniture, cobwebs stretched across the corners, and the faded wallpaper peeled away like dead skin.

Each step they took on the wooden floorboards released a deep, groaning creak, as if disturbing something long asleep.

Jamie lifted her camera and snapped a few photos.

Sandra watched from the side, her voice low. "You sure you want to do that?"

Jamie smirked. "If I actually capture something, wouldn't that be fascinating?"

She glanced at the screen to review the images.

First photo—the old, decaying sofa. Nothing unusual.

Second photo—a large, dusty mirror in the corner. Their reflections stared back.

Third photo—

Jamie's expression subtly shifted.

"Look at this," she murmured, handing the camera to Sandra.

Sandra studied the screen. The mirror in the photo still reflected both of them… but there was a third figure standing behind them.

A distorted black shadow, its shape unnatural, its face blurred as if deliberately erased. It loomed silently, its head tilted downward—watching them.

Sandra's grip on the camera tightened. "Could be a trick of the light."

Jamie turned to check the actual mirror.

It reflected only the two of them.

A creeping unease curled around her spine.

Sandra met Jamie's gaze, her voice quiet but firm. "Delete it."

Jamie hesitated. Her finger hovered over the delete button—then paused.

She wanted to know what would happen when night fell.

3. The Disturbance at Night

Back at the hotel, Jamie transferred the photos onto her laptop.

On the large screen, every detail became clearer.

She zoomed in on the shadowy figure, but its face remained obscured—as if something had intentionally blurred it.

Outside, the city lights flickered in the deepening night. Sandra was staying in the next room.

Jamie sat alone, staring at the eerie photo.

Then—

Click.

Her camera powered on by itself.

The screen lit up, displaying the last photo.

Jamie's pulse quickened.

She watched in disbelief as the shadow in the image moved—stepping closer.

Her breath hitched. She reached out, fingers trembling, ready to shut the camera off—

But just before she touched the button—

The shadow lifted its head.

The screen cut to black.

At the same time—

The room light flickered and went out.

A heavy silence descended.

There was someone else in the room.

4. The Shadow Emerges

In the darkness, Jamie heard it—

A wet, slithering sound.

Like something crawling across the wooden floor.

She held her breath, turning her head slowly.

In the farthest corner of the room, a shadow stood.

It was humanoid—but grotesquely warped. Its limbs were unnaturally long, its posture slumped like a puppet with cut strings. The head drooped to one side, swaying slightly.

Jamie's fingers trembled as she reached toward her bedside table—her phone.

She pressed the flashlight button.

But the moment the screen lit up—

The shadow lunged.

BAM!

The hotel room door burst open—

Sandra stood in the doorway, flashlight in hand.

A beam of harsh white light sliced through the darkness, striking the shadow.

It shrieked—a high-pitched, unnatural wail—before twisting violently and vanishing into the air.

Jamie collapsed onto the bed, gasping. Cold sweat clung to her skin.

Sandra lowered her flashlight, scanning the room. "You weren't answering my messages. I came to check and heard noises."

Jamie's hands clenched around the camera. She lifted the screen—

The shadow was gone from the photo.

She and Sandra exchanged a tense glance.

Had it truly disappeared?

Then, they both looked down.

A dark, wet stain marred the floorboards.

It led from the corner… to the door.

Jamie's phone suddenly vibrated.

A new message appeared.

Unknown Number: [Your photos turned out beautifully.]

Jamie's blood ran cold.

She snapped her head toward the window.

The glass reflected her image—

But she wasn't alone in the reflection.

A blurry figure stood behind her.

It was watching.

And this time—

It was smiling.