Whispers Beneath the Moonlight

The rain fell endlessly over the small town of Ravenshade.

Lightning flashed across the dark sky, revealing the silhouette of an ancient mansion standing atop Blackwater Hill. The locals called it The Hollow House.

No one lived there.

At least, that’s what everyone believed.

Twenty-four-year-old Liam Reyes had heard the stories all his life.

People claimed they heard crying from the mansion at midnight.

Others said a pale woman appeared in the windows whenever a storm arrived.

Some swore they had seen her wandering among the graves behind the estate.

Liam never believed any of it.

As a journalist searching for his first major story, he viewed ghost stories as little more than superstition.

Tonight he intended to prove everyone wrong.

With a flashlight in one hand and a camera in the other, he climbed the muddy path toward the mansion.

Thunder exploded overhead.

The enormous iron gate stood slightly open.

Creeeak...

The gate moved by itself.

Liam forced a nervous laugh.

“Just the wind.”

Yet a strange feeling settled deep in his chest.

As if someone was watching him.

Waiting.

The front door opened surprisingly easily.

Dust filled the air.

Cobwebs draped from the ceiling.

Ancient portraits stared down from the walls.

Most unsettling were the eyes.

No matter where Liam moved, they seemed to follow him.

The beam of his flashlight swept across the grand staircase.

Then—

A shadow moved.

He froze.

Nothing.

His heart slowed.

Probably imagination.

Then he heard it.

A woman’s voice.

Soft.

Melodic.

Singing.

A lullaby.

Coming from upstairs.

Every instinct told him to leave.

Instead, curiosity pulled him forward.

Step.

Step.

Step.

The staircase groaned beneath his feet.

The singing became clearer.

Beautiful.

Sad.

Lonely.

At the end of the hallway stood a door.

The song stopped.

Silence.

Liam swallowed.

Slowly he pushed the door open.

The room beyond was untouched by time.

Moonlight streamed through a broken window.

And standing beside it was a woman.

She wore a white dress.

Long black hair cascaded over her shoulders.

Her skin looked impossibly pale.

She turned toward him.

The most beautiful woman Liam had ever seen.

And the saddest.

Her silver eyes met his.

For a moment neither spoke.

Then she whispered:

“You shouldn’t be here.”