GOLDEN HEADLINES

7: Ravenwood

WHO WAS HE?

Alessia stared at the blank screen in front of her, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. The tweets—her tweets—were getting deleted as soon as she posts, wiped clean as if they had never existed.

She had no option. Whoever was behind this wasn't just powerful—they were watching her every move.

Slamming her laptop shut, she leaned back in her chair, running a hand through her hair.

The Golden Orchid case felt like a labyrinth, and every time she thought she was making progress, another door slammed shut in her face.

"This isn't happening," she muttered to herself. She had poured hours into compiling those tweets—clues, theories, and leads—all erased in seconds.

Her eyes burned from hours of research, and her mind raced in circles, trying to piece together the fragments of the Golden Orchid case.

She sighed heavily, her gaze falling on a crumpled piece of paper she had almost thrown away earlier.

Something caught her eye. A word. Faint, scribbled hastily in the corner.

She smoothed out the paper and squinted at it.

"Ravenwood Asylum."

The name sent a chill down her spine. It sounded like a place—ominous and foreboding. Her curiosity sparked to life as she quickly grabbed her laptop and typed the name into the search bar.

The results loaded, and her breath hitched. Ravenwood Asylum: an abandoned psychiatric hospital, rumored to be haunted. Located on the outskirts of her own country, it had been the subject of urban legends for years.

"Wait... what?" she murmured to herself, scrolling further. The more she read, the more it felt like this place wasn't just a piece of folklore.

There were accounts of strange activity in recent years—lights flickering in the windows, whispers heard from inside. And some reports even hinted at the asylum being used as a hideout for criminal operations.

Alessia leaned back, her mind racing. Could this be connected to the Golden Orchid case? Was someone hiding there?

The word "Ravenwood" being mentioned in her clues couldn't just be a coincidence.

An idea began to form, sharp and electrifying.

She grabbed her coat and stuffed her bag with essentials, determination lighting up her tired eyes. If there was even the slightest chance this place held answers, she had to go.

"No turning back now," she whispered to herself as she headed out the door.

As Alessia zipped up her jacket and slung her bag over her shoulder, her mind set on her destination. She was halfway to the door when Mabel's voice rang out behind her.

"Where are you going at this hour?"

Alessia froze, her hand gripping the doorknob. "Nowhere important," she muttered, avoiding eye contact.

"Uh-huh, nowhere important," Mabel said, crossing her arms and stepping in front of Alessia.

"You're dressed like you're heading into the apocalypse. Spill it. Where are you going?"

Alessia hesitated, chewing on her bottom lip. She could feel Mabel's eyes drilling into her, unyielding. With a reluctant sigh, she finally admitted,

"I'm going to Ra..Ravenwood."

The color drained from Mabel's face. "No, you're not," she said, her voice sharp with alarm. "Why would you even think about going there?"

"It's connected to the case," Alessia replied, her tone firm despite the nervous energy bubbling beneath the surface. "I think there are answers there. I have to go."

"But"

"I don't have time to waste," Alessia said, her voice firm. "I'm going, Mabel. This is my chance to crack the case wide open."

Mabel's face tightened, her eyes darkening with frustration. "Then you're going alone. I won't stop you, but please, be careful."

Alessia gave her a quick nod, not fully understanding the depth of Mabel's concern. "I'll be fine."

Mabel watched her go, her hand clenched around the doorframe, her mind racing with the knowledge.

+

The long drive to Ravenwood felt like a blur, a haze of nerves and anticipation clouding Alessia's thoughts.

Ravenwood stood at the end of the road like a looming shadow, The decaying stone walls of the building were covered in thick vines, and the windows, long forgotten, seemed to stare back at her with cold emptiness.

She stepped out of the car and took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. The place felt suffocating, like the walls were closing in on her.

Every footstep she took felt heavier, as though the ground beneath her was resisting her presence. She moved slowly, carefully, eyes darting from one corner to the next, searching for anything unusual.

The inside of Ravenwood was even worse than she had imagined. The air was thick with dust and decay, and the smell of mildew and old wood filled her nose.

The walls were covered in peeling paint, and the once-grand staircase now lay in ruins, its steps crumbling beneath her feet.

Alessia's footsteps echoed softly in the quiet, decrepit hallway as she neared the end of the corridor, her eyes glued to the faded map clutched tightly in her trembling hands.

The map was her only guide through the labyrinthine structure of Ravenwood, the notorious, long-abandoned asylum rumored to house secrets no one dared to uncover.

She glanced up nervously, the sound of her breathing unnaturally loud in the oppressive silence.

She stopped abruptly, There, on the ground, just ahead of her, were dark red stains splattered across the floor.

"Blood?"

Alessia's heart pounded as she crouched down, her fingers brushing against the sticky substance.

It wasn't old. It was fresh.

She straightened quickly, her hand trembling as she wiped the blood onto her jeans.

The air seemed heavier now, every sound amplified—the creak of the floor beneath her feet, the distant drip of water somewhere in the building, the faint rustling that could have been the wind... or something else.

Then, as if the building itself had come alive to stop her, a cold, suffocating sensation washed over her. A sharp, chilling presence pressed in from the shadows, creeping up her spine.

Her heart skipped a beat, and before she could even make sense of the unease crawling beneath her skin, it happened—swift and brutal.

A hand, ice-cold and impossibly strong, shot out from the darkness.

It covered her mouth in a vice-like grip, silencing her before she could let out a single breath. Panic surged like wildfire in her veins, but she couldn't scream—she couldn't even move.

Before she could even comprehend what was happening, a sharp shove sent her crashing into the cold stone pillar at the side of the hallway.

The impact rattled her bones, and her head slammed painfully against the rough surface. The suddenness of it left her breathless, her vision flickering as the world tilted dangerously around her.

Before she could react, she felt a hand on her shoulder, gripping her roughly, pulling her back against the cold pillar.

A harsh whisper broke the silence, his voice thick with anger, yet laced with disbelief.

"What the fuck are you doing here? Are you crazy?"