The grand ballroom buzzed with excitement as the towering birthday cake was wheeled out, its intricate tiers decorated with delicate swirls and glimmering details. Gasps of admiration rippled through the crowd."Oh my God, look at it!""It's massive!""The colour is perfect!"“Oh! Isn't it just beautiful?”Anderson moved swiftly through the sea of masked faces, his steps deliberate. He manoeuvred through the crowd like a shadow, blending in effortlessly. As he neared the cake, his hand slipped unnoticed toward the middle tier, discreetly dropping something onto the side."Yes," he whispered to himself, satisfaction lacing his tone. But no sooner had he done the deed than a sudden wave of dizziness hit him. His vision blurred, and his legs felt weak."What…what’s happening?" he muttered, barely audible. His heart raced as he staggered, gripping the back of a chair for support. ‘Not now,’ he thought desperately. ‘Please, not now.’"And now, it’s time for the birthday girl to cut h
Victor threw a dart, watching it thud into the board with precision. The dull thump echoed in the dimly lit room, mingling with the distant hum of traffic from the street below. He didn’t look at Raul, but the question in his voice hung heavy in the air.“What do you think, Raul? Could it be a staff member?” His tone was sharp, testing the waters like someone ready to strike at any hint of confirmation.Raul shifted slightly, the leather of the armchair creaking under his weight. He stared at the dartboard, his fingers tapping softly against his knee as if considering the options. “That, I do not know,” he replied, his voice low but thoughtful.Victor leaned back, the chair groaning as his fingers drummed rhythmically on the armrest. The soft click of each tap punctuated the growing tension in the room. “And that’s the estate Anderson’s holed up in?” His voice was colder now, carrying an edge.“No doubt in it,” Raul said, crossing his arms. The fireplace crackled faintly in the backgr
The room felt suffocating as Anderson’s spirit chuckled, a cold, hollow sound that filled the air like smoke. "Oh, look who’s here again," its voice slithered through the silence, dripping with venom.Jacob’s spirit tensed, a deep unease crawling up his spine. "You?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief, barely concealing his dread."I had such high hopes for you," Anderson sneered, its ghostly form looming closer, twisting the shadows in the void between them.Jacob’s brow furrowed. "What do you mean by that?" His voice cracked slightly, his unease growing."Funny thing," Anderson mused, circling him like a predator, its presence oppressive, the air thickening with malice. "When the shaman warned her... I knew. I could’ve warned you, too, but why bother? I stopped myself." Anderson’s spirit laughed, the sound cold and unnatural, bouncing off the walls of the endless, dark expanse.Jacob’s chest tightened. "Why would you do that?" he demanded, his voice trembling with frustration
Lena sat quietly, humming as her hands worked the wool in her lap, shaping it into delicate stitches. The rhythmic sound of knitting needles clicking together filled the room, a soft, comforting noise against the backdrop of a gentle breeze drifting in from the slightly open window. The distant chirping of birds outside was almost drowned out by the faint rustling of trees.She gazed out of the window as familiar figures came into view, footsteps crunching against the gravel pathway that wound through the garden.“Oh, it’s Mariam,” she muttered softly, her voice barely audible over the natural symphony. A smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she stood up, only to sit back down again. Her gaze lingered for a moment, following the figures outside with a mix of curiosity and affection.“She’s really taken a liking to Raul, hasn’t she?” Lena chuckled softly to herself. The way Mariam leaned into Raul, their heads close together in conversation, gave away their growing bond. The light
Anderson walked briskly down the hallway, his footsteps echoing off the cold, polished floors. The sound bounced back at him, amplifying the heavy silence of the mansion. His chest tightened with every step, his mind racing as the butler's lingering expression gnawed at him. The thought of someone so close harbouring doubts—or worse, secrets—made his blood boil.He reached his study and collapsed into the armchair, its leather creaking beneath his weight. Anderson pulled out his phone, his hands trembling. He scrolled through his contacts, his thumb pausing over the name he needed.The line rang twice before a cold, professional voice answered, “Yes, sir?”"I want a full background check on the butler," Anderson said, his voice clipped and direct. "Every detail. Leave nothing out."There was a brief pause on the other end, the agent clearly surprised by the sudden request. "Of course, sir. We’ll begin the investigation immediately. Is there anything specific you’d like us to focus on?
Anderson skimmed through the file, eyes glossing over the list of names and family ties. "Edward Victor... blah blah," he muttered, tossing the file onto the desk. "So, his name’s Edward." He leaned back, a dry chuckle escaping. "Maybe I’m just being paranoid."He tapped his fingers rhythmically on the desk, the faint patter a reminder of his own growing impatience. The room felt colder than usual, the silence pressing in from all sides. With a sigh, Anderson reached for his pen, scribbling a hefty sum onto a check. "Not my style, but it’ll do for now," he muttered under his breath, tugging at his tie, trying to loosen the suffocating knot. He glanced at the door, ensuring it was tightly shut. Lately, the butler had been hovering, his presence a persistent annoyance. Anderson had too many secrets to keep, and the last thing he needed was someone piecing together the wrong story.As if on cue, the door creaked open, and the butler stepped in, his footsteps too light for Anderson’s
The wind blew softly over the graveyard as the final grains of earth were poured over Amelia’s grave. A few mourners remained, scattered under the cloudy sky, but one figure stood out in the distance. Edward, the butler, stood silently with a bouquet of lilies in his hands. His gaze remained fixed on the grave, even as others began to leave.He stepped forward, laying the flowers gently on the freshly packed earth. His fingers brushed against the cold petals as he pulled out a small locket, glancing from it to Victor, who stood by the grave, lost in his own grief.“Master will soon be back home,” Edward murmured under his breath, his voice barely audible. His eyes softened, a rare moment of vulnerability washing over him. He kissed the petals and whispered, “I’m sorry, Amelia. I will protect our son from now on.” With that, he tucked the locket back into his coat and turned to leave, his footsteps slow and deliberate as he disappeared into the fog of mourners.Meanwhile, at the smalle
“Fifty per cent well-done, other fifty... booo!” Anderson’s spirit hissed, his form flickering between shadow and solid in front of Jacob’s face.Jacob recoiled, his fists clenched as he backed away, eyes wide with confusion. “Why are you still here?” he asked, his voice edged with frustration.Anderson’s spirit drifted closer, its presence suffocating, the air thick with menace. “Arrogant, aren’t you?” The words dripped with cold malice. “Is she dead?”Jacob tried to steady himself, his breath quickening. “You can’t just turn me into some... perfect killer.”Anderson’s spirit towered over him now, the temperature around Jacob dropping with every word. His voice became a chilling, unnatural whisper. “Kill her or be killed. DIE! KILL EVEL... OR YOU. SHOULD. DIE!” His voice cracked, growing more inhuman, the echoes rattling inside Jacob’s mind like the chains of a nightmare he couldn’t escape.Jacob clutched his head, his thoughts spiralling out of control. “Arrrggh!” he screamed, his v