𝓛𝓮𝓸𝓷 𝓚𝓮𝓷𝓷𝓮𝓭𝔂| 𝗜𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝟯

The Ghost of Thornwood Manor

AN: This is more of a gothic soulmates AU rather than the usual RE universe!

------------------------------------------------------

As soon as I first laid eyes on Thornwood manor I fell in love. The gothic spires and massive ivy covered windows drew me in, even more so than the silhouette of the manor against the purple twilight sky. The centuries old history of murders and tragic love stories had nothing on the heavy atmosphere shrouding the land, it felt like the epitome of grief and danger. Regardless, I needed a shot, something no other photographers have managed since their fears usually conquer their ambitions. Not me though, nothing about a scary building would draw me away from the prospect of being the first to shoot the most mesmerising and award winning photo of Thornwood. I was determined to win the competition of architectural beauty, even though all the prize money would go towards rent and barely paying my bills. If I didn't find something soon to submit I might as well pack my things up and wait on the street until my keys were snatched from me. 

I take a deep breath, then step through the rusted iron gates, the squeak of them loud against the eerie silence. A murder of crows caw from the sky, circling the manor as if guarding it from intruders. People like me. I shake off the shivers as I grab my camera- glad I invested in the strap so it can rest against my chest, then I begin my adventure. Every step further into the land brings me a slacked jaw, I'd figured since the manor is crumbling and decaying the gardens would be the same, but to my shock they're stunning. There's a series of white marble water fountains littering what was once a maze, now overcrowded with moss and blood red rose bushes. I bring my camera up to my eyesight, snapping a few shots before I take the time to look down at them. I frown, seeing a dark silhouette in the distance of the photo, then swipe as I see the next with the outlined figure looming closer, then closer, until-

"What do you think you're doing?" A stern masculine voice makes me jump. I drop my camera, once again grateful for the strap around my neck. My eyes widen when I see the most devastatingly handsome man in front of me, his blue eyes are a massive contrast to his paler skin and blonde hair, he's dressed in simple cargo pants and a dirty tee- clearly not his best outfit. The man tilts his head as his perfect brow arches, oh right, he's still waiting for a response. 

"Hi, I'm sorry, I thought this place was abandoned, I was just trying to get a photo of the manor and the gardens...are you the owner?" I ask, feeling my heart race. The man stares at me, a shaky breath comes from his lips before he shakes his head and walks past me, barely brushing my shoulder. 

"No. You should leave." His voice seems haunted, like he's warning me. I turn to catch up to him, which is hard since he's stalking his way back to the manor. Did he mean he doesn't own the place? Or maybe he was saying it wasn't abandoned? Regardless I still need a better photo, and I can't give up now, not when I know I can do better work. 

"I can't-" I begin, but he stops in his tracks, suddenly swivelling to face me, his brows are knitted together in annoyance as I keep pleading, "I just need one good photo, please, it's more important than you can imagine."

The man huffs a laugh, his eyes rake my body as he glances away coldly, but when his eyes drift back to mine they're softer. "Is it more important than your life?" He asks deeply. I frown, unsure what he means, but I nod either way. Technically this photo would be saving my life, so in a way I'm not lying. His eyebrows lift as if questioning me, so I nod further, however he's not having it. He lets out a deep grunt, glancing behind me as if seeing something I'm not, but I don't dare turn to see what it is. There's still the case of the shadow in my photos, and how this man suddenly appeared, it's almost like he's a spirit, but...surely not? "I'm not telling you again, leave this place and don't come back, this isn't for the living."