Chapter 1
Thunder rumbles in the sky above you as you approach a house at the edge of the forums. You glance down at the envelope in your hand, the wax seal having been broken hours earlier. It had been an invitation to this secluded location, though you have no idea who invited you or why. The dry leaves crunch underneath your feet and you pause as you reach the gate to the household.
It is a Victorian household, you presume, given that it looks like all the stereotypical pictures you see in textbooks. It is old and worn, time having eroded away its chiseled features. The plants in the hard have been left unkempt and there are vines suffocating the large trees that dot the corners of the property. Thunder booms again, sending a chill up your spine. You swallow roughly and push open the iron gate.
You step carefully through the yard, able to somewhat make out a stone pathway through the thick grass. It is only a short walk to the steps up to the front door of the old house. The wooden boards creak loudly as you place your weight on them, and for a second, in your paranoia, you believe you can hear the screams of the damned coming from those boards. You quickly ascend the steps to the front door.
As you approach, you swear you see the curtains on one of the windows shift, but when you look closer, they are completely still. You write off as your imagination and continue towards the door. It towers above you, the white paint cracked revealing the dark wood underneath. There is a golden knocker on the door that tempts you to knock. Looking down at the envelope in your hand, you gather up your courage and reach up to the knocker.
Bang, bang, bang… The sound echoes through the air as you await an answer. After a few silent moments, you hear a shuffling from the other side of the door. Several locks are turned with large clunking sounds. After a moment, the door is pulled open with a loud creaking noise. On the other side is a familiar friendly face on the forum, one of the senior staff, Dr. Janobii.
“I’m so glad you came!” she says, “Please, come inside! I’ve made some snacks and lemonade for us. Then we can discuss why I called you here.”
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