In the mountains overcasting the valley sat a large old manor with walls covered in vines and towering pillars at the corners. The towering gray walls of the manor loomed over the overgrown gardens that had expanded from the once small well kept gardens that had previously made their home there. In the shadow of the mountain sat a small town; the town flourished in the valley. The farms' harvests were plentiful as the fields were watered by the runoff from the mountains. The frigid breezes that billowed down the mountains kept the small town cool in the hot climate. The breezes of the mountains frigid air were thought to be cursed as the house sat between the mountain and the town. It was believed by the town that the frigid breezes were tainted by the old manor on the hill. Its towering walls the only barrier to what lay inside the house, its dark past the fear of the townspeople.
The nightmare of many was that manor; the manor where many died; the manor were screams had been heard; the manor where no one who ever went inside came out. The winds were said to carry the screams of all who entered that manor; it was believed that the winds were frigid because of the deaths in that manor. The family that had been the manors first occupants had been murdered in their beds over a hundred years previously. Legend says that anyone who enters the manor is found dead, their body mangled beyond repair just as the family's bodies had been, weeks later on the outskirts of town. Screams are heard coming from the manor during the first week after someone goes missing. It is said that the manors hallways and rooms are a maze meant to trap anyone who dares enter the manor. The manor seemed to loom over the small town from its place on the mountain, ever threatening to spread its horror over the town. Many wished the house to be destroyed but none would be brave enough to go there and do so. The idea of being within the manors bounds terrified the townspeople to no end. They could be killed by whatever was inside that manor. Years passed with no one daring to go near that manor and its grounds.
A group of college students unbelieving of the terror and horror surrounding the manor worked their way up the hill amongst the group was, the town sheriff, Ash, who didn't want anyone getting hurt, Alexia, Lydia, and Max. They started their trek up the hill that morning and were not even half way when it had reached noon. None of the group had planned to be out this long but, the goal was to reach the house today as they would have class in two days. Night had fallen by the time they had reached the house, the towering walls seemed even more ominous in the night with the moon no longer visible behind the house. The walls of the house and courtyard were covered in vines that twisted and turned all over, weaving together. Lydia started towards the large metal gate that was said to keep what everything, and everyone, outside of the house. The gates, as if by magic that no human could possess, moved opening to the group.
"What was that?" Alexia exclaimed pushing her glasses up, turning around to look at the rest of the group.
"I don't think this is a good idea," Lydia replied stuttering slightly, she smoothed down the skirt to her dress,. "This isn't natural, gates as heavy as this one don't move on their own," she said walking up to the open gate and pushing on it.
"Come on kids, I think it's time to head back to town," Ash said gesturing behind him towards the town, as he kept his other hand close to his gun.
"We've come this far, we can't turn back now!" Alexia cried turning back towards the gates and walking towards them.
"We shouldn't be here," Ash called towards the girls as they started to walk into the courtyard and its overgrown gardens. "I guess we should follow them, wha'do you think, Max?"
Max shrugged and started to follow after the girls with the older man right on his heels. They followed the girls inside the courtyard, the gates remained wide open unmoving in the slight breeze that chilled the group to the bone. Lydia brushed her fingers along the vines, the woven vines cold to the touch just like the cold breeze that flowed around them. Her fingers danced along the wall as she walked towards the inner gate, this gate lead towards the doors of the house. Alexia walked forwards her gaze sweeping across the courtyard and its overgrown gardens and collapsing benches, pushing stray hairs out of her face she walked towards one of the gardens. The flowers in the garden had long since been overtaken by the vines and weeds scattered around the rest of the courtyard. She leaned down and touched the dirt at the base of the vines, the soil was dry, there was no chance of anything growing in this. The group congregated in front of the gates, Max focused on the house behind the gates, he walked up to the gate and pushed.
