Beautiful Ancestor

Chapter 1

The sun was just starting to dip behind the jagged peaks, casting long shadows over the small mountain village. Nearly 25km away from the evergreen Redwood forest, a scarcely populated village was nestled in the red mountains. It had narrow, winding streets lined with old stone houses. Flowers bloomed in window boxes, adding splashes of colour to the gray stone. The sky revealed a tangy colour of orange and hue. If you look closely, you'll find that people here like to actively engage themselves in terrace farming. The land was rich in soil, the air was clean and pure, making it a perfect place to live.

In the center of the village was a quaint square with a stone fountain. It was the gathering corner of villagers to watch starlight. They were friendly and greeted each other warmly whenever they passed by. The air often smelled pine trees and wildflowers. The village was peaceful and quiet, with only the sounds of birds singing and a distant stream flowing. It would have been heaven on Earth if only there wasn't a lingering danger.

People of the village only feared two things in life; the wrath of nature and; the wrath of the Red manor situated at the top of the hill, right beside the Redwood forest. No one dared to go near that forest after evening. It was believed to be haunted as no man who ever stepped into the premises of the manor ever returned. Most villagers even avoided the path that led to the it. It was a curse laid upon them centuries ago. There were several instances that deepened the village's fear of the old manor, reinforcing the belief that whoever dared to enter would face mysterious and often tragic fates.

It was for this reason they had a board with incidents right at the entrance of the village to anyone who was coming their way to alert them about the looming danger around them.

The board read:

Warning: Beware of the Haunted Manor

Years ago, two young boys went into the Redwood forest after sunset and one of them was never found. The other laid unconscious on the ground of the manor. When inquired, he was too much consumed in fright to speak. It was later revealed that he lost his ability to speak. Rumours were that his parents took him to another village to treat him but he never recovered. He died after six months.

Many winters ago, a group of travellers sought shelter in the manor during a fierce snowstorm. When the storm passed, the villagers found the manor empty, with no trace of the travellers. Their belongings were left behind, as if they had simply vanished into thin air.

A curious historian, determined to uncover the secrets of the manor, spent several nights there alone. He kept a journal, recording strange noises and eerie whispers. One morning, his journal was found at the village inn, filled with frantic, incoherent scribbles. He was never seen again.

A local farmer's dog ran into the forest and didn't return. When the farmer followed, he discovered his dog at the manor's doorstep, growling at the door. The dog refused to leave the spot, and shortly after, it fell ill and died, leaving the farmer convinced the manor was cursed.

A group of college students, intrigued by the manor's dark history, decided to film a documentary. Their footage showed glimpses of shadowy figures and unexplained phenomena. The last scene showed the students fleeing in terror. The camera was found, but the students were not.

A renowned paranormal investigator came to debunk the manor's haunted reputation. He set up equipment to capture any supernatural activity. The next morning, his equipment was found smashed, and he was discovered wandering the forest, muttering about voices in the dark. He never conducted another investigation.

"That's scary."

Suitcase in hand, a petite frame covered in thick coat, and a fancy muffler carelessly hanging down the shoulder, a girl in her teen exclaimed, staring at the board.