*Chapter 4: The Night Before*
The night before the party, Emily couldn't sleep. She kept thinking about the mysterious mansion, the cryptic message, and Matt's warning. She tossed and turned, her mind racing with possibilities.
As she lay in bed, Emily's phone buzzed with a text from her best friend, Sarah. "Hey, girl! Are you still going to that party tomorrow?" Emily hesitated for a moment before responding. "Yeah, I'm going. I don't know what it is, but something about it feels off. Matt warned me about the host, Malcolm Blackwood, but I think it'll be fine."
Sarah responded immediately. "Ooh, mysterious! Be careful, Em. If you don't text me tomorrow night, I'll send a search party too!" Emily laughed and sent her a reassuring emoji.
Despite the reassurances, Emily couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. She decided to do some more research on Malcolm Blackwood and his family. As she scrolled through her laptop, Emily stumbled upon an old news article about the Blackwood family. It mentioned a tragic accident that had occurred at Ravenswood Manor several years ago, resulting in the death of several family members.
Emily's skin crawled as she read the article. She couldn't help but wonder if this was connected to the strange feeling she had about the party. As she closed her laptop, Emily felt a chill run down her spine. She tried to push the feeling aside, telling herself it was just her imagination. But as she drifted off to sleep, she couldn't shake off the feeling that she was walking into something sinister.
The next morning, Emily woke up feeling anxious. She got dressed and ready for the party, her heart racing with anticipation and fear. As she looked in the mirror, Emily noticed a small, antique music box on her dresser. It was an heirloom from her grandmother, and she hadn't opened it in years. For some reason, the music box caught her attention, and she felt an overwhelming urge to open it.
As she lifted the lid, a soft melody filled the room, and a small piece of paper slipped out. It was a note, written in her grandmother's handwriting. "Beware the shadows, Emily. They can consume you."
To Be Continued...