NIGHT OF THE DAMNED

Chapter One

She quickly closed the door behind her as she stepped out of the cab and onto the rain-slicked street. In her hurry, she barely noticed the driver's impatient engine revving. With a sudden lurch and a spray of muck, the cab shot off into the night, leaving her standing in a shower of muddy droplets that splattered across her coat and face. The driver's swift departure had unwittingly added an extra layer of grit to her already frazzled nerves.

As she pulled a napkin from her bag to wipe the mud from her face...

"Just my luck." she quietly mutters to herself. She looked down and placed a hand over her heart, which was pounding furiously.

"Please don't start."

Each beat felt uneven and frantic, a wild rhythm that matched the anxious flutter in her stomach. She could almost hear it, a steady thrum that seemed to pulse louder with every breath she took, amplifying her unease and making her pulse quicken even more. 

She did not need this right now, there was already a small speech of encouragement that she gave herself back at the hotel room. There was no way she was going to give it again. She starts to make her way to the job site she unwillingly took. The job landed on her lap by accident, she had always wanted to be like her seniors who had built their fanbases with their astonishing writing and have their readers hooked with their articles about the supernatural and anything beyond what humans can comprehend. They are what she aspired to be, but when she discovered that even her seniors didn't want to have a hand in this research, she felt a tinge of regret for taking it.

'This could be the one for me...hopefully.' She thought. This could lead to her being the one to discover what everyone is curious about. 

Was there a so-called "Dracula?"

She made her way down the narrow, winding path, her footsteps muffled by the thick layer of fog that clung to the ground. The trees on either side were twisted and gnarled, their bare branches reaching out like dark, clawed fingers. The path was dimly lit by the feeble glow of her lantern, casting long, eerie shadows that danced along the ground. The air was cold and heavy, filled with the distant, haunting sound of an owl's hoot.

As she walked, the castle gradually came into view, towering above her like a dark sentinel. Its stone walls were old and weathered, draped with creeping vines. The windows were dark, empty voids that seemed to watch her every move.

She finally reached the castle door, a massive wooden barrier bound with iron. It was ornately carved but weather-beaten, with rusted iron studs forming an intricate, yet menacing, pattern. The door stood slightly ajar, a faint, chilling breeze escaping through the narrow gap.

She hesitated for a moment, then reached out to push the door open. It creaked loudly as it moved, revealing the darkened interior beyond.

As she stepped through the heavy wooden door, she was surprised to find the interior of the castle surprisingly clean. The grand entrance hall was dimly lit by flickering candles set in ornate sconces, their light casting a warm glow that made the stone walls and polished floors gleam with an almost polished shine. The air was cool but fresh, carrying a faint scent of lavender mixed with something older, almost musty.

The once-damaged tapestries had been carefully restored, their rich colors now vibrant and intact. The grand staircase, though still imposing, was meticulously dusted, and the polished wooden banister gleamed in the candlelight. The floor was pristine, with not a hint of debris in sight. It seemed as though the castle had been tidied up recently, giving it an oddly serene atmosphere.

As she took in the surprising cleanliness, a soft rustling sound drew her attention. From a side corridor emerged a woman who appeared to be a caretaker or housekeeper. She was dressed in a neat, dark uniform that contrasted sharply with the opulence of the castle. Her attire was simple but well-maintained, and she moved with a grace that suggested familiarity with the grand, yet somewhat faded surroundings.