A night of witches, ghosts, and pumpkin lanterns

Woven from the fog

In the cold silence of the old house, when everything seemed frozen, figures appeared before Liv, unclear, as if made of mist. They moved slowly toward her, emitting a faint glowing light, and the air filled with a strange whisper. Ghosts. The ones Logan had told stories about. The ones who, according to legend, wandered the mansion, unable to find peace.

"Who... who are you?" Liv asked aloud, trying to make out their features, but they remained indistinct.

One of the ghosts seemed to come closer than the others. A chilling cold radiated from it, but it also gave off a strange, almost warm energy. Its eyes were two empty ovals of light, but its voice was surprisingly soft, though quite eerie:

"We are those who are trapped here forever. Cursed by this house and our own pain." The ghost's voice was deep, echoing like in a distant, empty corridor.

Liv couldn't move. Her feet felt glued to the floor, and her heart was pounding wildly. She knew standing here was madness, but she couldn't make herself leave.

"Why... are you here?" she whispered.

"This house was our haven until fear and jealousy turned it into a trap. We became prisoners of our own mistakes... and our sins. Lord Redcliff," the voice paused for a moment, as if the memories brought pain, "he locked us in here."

Suddenly, Liv felt overwhelming pity. These ghosts weren't just faceless shadows. They were souls that had once lived, loved, and hated. But how could they have become trapped in this house?

"You must leave, girl," came a low, chilling voice from another ghost. "You don't belong here."

"But maybe... I can help you?"

"And how will you help us? Do you want to get stuck here with us and share stories from your life to pass the time in this mansion?"

"But—"

"Leave, girl. Your friends are already waiting for you by the gate."

"Shut up, Edgar!"

Liv flinched when she heard a loud female voice that seemed to come from the very air around her. Suddenly, the outline of a figure began to form in front of her—transparent, but still visible. It was the ghost of a woman dressed in a long, plain nightgown. Had she died in bed?

Her face was pale as if carved from marble, and her eyes burned with a cold fire. Despite her transparency, her presence radiated authority.

"Don't listen to that rude oaf," the woman said, her piercing gaze fixed on Liv. "You didn't come here by accident, I'm sure of it. You're not like the frightened children we always chase out of this house."

She moved closer to Liv, and the girl felt a shiver run down her spine. The ghost spoke again, her voice stern and commanding:

"You can help us find the peace we've longed for. Our souls are trapped in this mansion, as if bound by chains. Only you, girl, can break those chains and set us free."

Liv opened her mouth, trying to say something, but the words stuck in her throat. She wasn't ready for such responsibility. How could she, just an ordinary girl, help these ghosts?

"I... I don't know what to do," Liv stammered.

"You know, girl," the woman interrupted her. "Use what won't destroy the walls, won't turn the house into ruins, but will make our souls leave this place."

"You want me to cleanse the mansion? Maybe I should just call a priest?"

"Foolish girl!"

The sharp exclamation made Liv jump. She turned and saw the figure of a man-ghost slowly emerging from the shadows. He was dressed in a dark formal suit, like a character from a Victorian novel. His face bore a grim, stern expression, and his eyes held deep sorrow and pain.

"You think priests and their prayers can free us from this curse?" the ghost continued bitterly. "For years, they tried, but it was all in vain. As you can see, we're still here! I can't stand that damned smell of incense anymore!"

The male ghost drifted closer, his gaze piercing Liv.

"We were just like you," he said quietly. "Happy, carefree, alive! But now, we have nothing left but to beg you for help. You must try, or we are doomed to wander these walls forever."

Liv desperately searched for a way out of this situation, but the ghosts closed in on her, as if hoping she would agree to become their savior.

"I... I'll figure something out," Liv said, her voice shaking. "I'll come back!"

The ghosts froze. Their figures seemed to grow more defined, almost human. Liv felt they were waiting for her answer.

"We will wait," said the first ghost, and his voice was deeper than before. "But know this... Time flows differently here. Every day you spend outside these walls will feel like an eternity to us."

Liv felt the weight of those words, like a heavy burden on her shoulders.

"I... I will return. I'll find a way," she repeated, trying to convince not only them but herself too.

"We believe in you," the ghostly woman whispered, her face softening, though her eyes still reflected deep sorrow. "And one more thing, girl... if you don't return, you will become part of this house. It doesn't let go of those who don't keep their promises."

Liv froze, feeling a chill seep through her bones. Why hadn't they warned her before? It seemed Edgar had tried to, had tried to chase her away... but the woman, who so desperately wanted to keep Liv, had only lured her into a trap. Or had she?

"I won't become part of this house," Liv whispered. "I will come back to free you."

The ghosts slowly faded into the air, their figures becoming more and more like mist. Not long after, they vanished completely, leaving behind only the cold air and a faint rustling.

Liv slowly turned and headed toward the exit, her feet heavy on the floor, and an incomprehensible, barely audible noise ringing in her ears. One thought kept spinning in her mind: what if she really didn't return? The house doesn't let go of those who enter, and with every step, Liv felt this more and more.

When she stepped outside, the icy night air greeted her. Emily, Logan, and Ryan were standing off to the side, talking anxiously.

"Are you okay? What happened?" Emily immediately rushed to her as Liv approached. "You were in there so long!"

"I... I spoke to them," Liv said, her voice quiet.

"To who?" Logan asked in surprise, raising his eyebrows. "The ghosts?"

"Yes," Liv answered seriously. "They said I have to cleanse the house, or they won't find peace."

"Cleanse the house?" Ryan repeated, disbelief in his voice. "Is this some kind of joke?"

Liv shook her head. She understood that her words might sound absurd to others, but she felt the truth behind them.

"No, it's not a joke," she said firmly. "I promised them I'd come back and free them."

Emily looked at her in fear.

"Liv... You're seriously going back there?"

Liv was silent for a moment. She looked again at the old, ruined mansion. The house looked as abandoned and frightening as before, but now she knew it held much more than just dark, gloomy walls.

"I have to," she said quietly. "They've been waiting for this moment for so long. I can't leave them."

"Liv..." Emily took her hand, her voice full of concern. "Are you sure it's safe?"

"No," Liv replied honestly. "But I can't leave them here."

"Liv, this is all too much... Are you sure it's not just your imagination? Ghosts? Cleansing the house? This sounds like something out of a horror movie," Ryan said.

Liv wanted to argue, but the words stuck in her throat. She understood that to them, this all seemed strange and unbelievable. But she had seen them. She had heard them. The ghosts weren't a figment of her imagination. It felt like she could sense their presence in every part of her body. No, this wasn't make-believe...

"Maybe it sounds strange," Liv slowly answered. "But I feel like it's real. I will come back."

Emily shook her head in fear.

"No, Liv! You can't go back there! It's too dangerous!"

Liv glanced at her friend. Inside her, conflicting emotions were at war. She knew Emily was right—that returning to the house could be dangerous. But the ghosts had trusted her, and she couldn't let them down. Besides, if she didn't go back, she might become part of that cursed house herself. 

"I know it's dangerous," Liv said quietly. "But I promised them. And I won't break my promise." 

Emily wanted to argue but stayed silent. She knew it was impossible to stop her. 

"Then I'm going with you," Logan suddenly said, his voice firm. "It might be foolish, but I won't leave you alone." 

Ryan sighed heavily. 

"If Logan's going, then so am I. At least to make sure none of you get into trouble." 

                                                    ***