24: Chapter 24 Hill Manor

Shaun didn't get to enjoy his leisure for long; Madison's call came in soon after.

But it wasn't about Flag; it was about Nell.

And so, at eleven o'clock at night, an ordinary police car—carrying a witch school headmistress, a snarky young witch, a potato chip-loving chubby witch, a poor girl haunted by ghosts since childhood, and a police officer who only knew how to talk Bullshit and possessed Primary Magic—pulled up in front of America's most famous haunted house.

The headlights illuminated the rusty iron gate. The wrought-iron patterns on it had been eroded by time beyond recognition, though one could vaguely make out the shape of some kind of vine.

Behind the gate was an overgrown driveway, leading to a pitch-black three-story house that cast a massive shadow under the moonlight.

"Is this the place?" Madison leaned over from the back seat, looking out the window. "This place is fucking creepy, isn't it?"

Shaun didn't say anything.

He stared at the house, his palms sweating.

Hill Manor.

The core stage of "The Haunting of Hill House," the place where Nell Crain's nightmares began and ended.

He never intended to come here.

But now, he had no choice...

"Shaun." Queenie's voice came from the back seat, sounding uncharacteristically nervous. "Are you sure this is the place?"

Honestly, Shaun didn't know why he had brought this chubby black girl here; he didn't know if her damage-transfer ability would have any effect on ghosts...

Shaun was nervous too, but he could only reply: "Nell said so."

Everyone looked at Nell.

Nell was huddled in the corner of the back seat, wrapped in that large coat, her complexion pale to the point of transparency.

Her eyes were fixed on the house, and her lips were trembling slightly.

"This is it." Her voice was very soft. "The place... the place I dreamed of."

Cordelia reached out, held her hand, and comforted her: "Don't be afraid, we are with you."

Madison rolled her eyes: "Can we not be so sentimental? It's just a dilapidated house."

As she spoke, she pushed open the car door and was the first to jump out.

The cold wind rushed in, carrying a scent of dampness and decay.

Shaun took a deep breath and followed her out of the car.

Cordelia and Nell got out as well.

Queenie was the last to come out, still clutching half a bag of potato chips in her hand.

The five of them stood before the rusty iron gate.

Under the moonlight, Hill Manor stood silently.

Its windows were pitch-black, like countless eyes staring at them.

A window on the third floor wasn't closed properly, and it made a slight creaking sound when the wind blew through.

The porch columns were covered in vines, some of which had withered and were swaying gently in the wind.

Cordelia walked forward a few steps, stood at the entrance, and closed her eyes.

Shaun saw her brows knit slightly, and her expression became increasingly grave.

Madison, watching, couldn't help but ask: "What's wrong?"

Cordelia opened her eyes and said softly: "This place... is inherently evil."

Madison was stunned for a moment: "What do you mean?"

Cordelia turned around to look at them.

"Some places become... different because of what has happened there."

"It's not the kind of 'different' that comes from being haunted; it's deeper. It's like someone dug a well here that leads directly to the darkest places underground."

She looked at Nell, her tone filled with pity: "Your ghosts come from this kind of place."

Nell's face turned even paler.

Madison leaned over to Shaun and whispered: "She gets like this sometimes, saying things that don't make sense. You'll get used to it."

Shaun ignored her.

He was looking at the house.

In his mind, the golden book opened automatically.

[High concentration of paranormal energy fluctuation detected]

[Source: Hill Manor]

[Danger Level: Unknown]

[Suggestion: Proceed with caution]

I mean, an unknown danger level—what the hell is that!

Shaun took a deep breath.

After mentally preparing himself, he said: "Let's go."

He reached out and pushed open the rusty iron gate.

The hinges let out a harsh creak, which was particularly chilling in the silent night.

Madison tutted: "This gate needs some oil."

It must be said, with the atmosphere as it was, Madison still found the nerve to crack jokes; her mental fortitude was truly impressive.

Queenie whispered behind her: "Can you not be so annoying?"

"How am I being annoying? I'm just stating the fact—"

"Quiet."

Cordelia cut them off.

She was the first to walk through the gate.

Shaun followed.

Behind him came the soft footsteps of Nell, along with the sound of Madison and Queenie whispering and bickering.

The five of them walked into the front yard of Hill Manor.

In the places where the moonlight couldn't reach, the darkness was thick and impenetrable.

Shaun gripped his flashlight tightly but hadn't turned it on yet.

Cordelia walked at the front, her steps slow, as if she were sensing something.

When she reached the entrance of the main house, she stopped.

"Shaun, do you feel anything?"

Shaun paused for a moment, then focused his senses.

[Primary Magic · Activating...]

In that instant, he felt it.

Not seeing, but feeling...

The entire house was like a living thing, breathing slowly in the darkness.

Every window was an eye, every crack was a wound, and every corner hid something.

The feeling was so intense that Shaun could barely stand.

He couldn't help but say, nervously: "I feel it..."

Cordelia turned and glanced at him, a flicker of surprise in her eyes: "You really can."

She didn't say anything more and pushed open the door to the main house.

The door wasn't locked.

It stood open just like that, as if it were waiting for them.

A stale scent rushed out to meet them—dust, mildew, and something else that Shaun couldn't quite identify.

Madison muttered from behind: "This place is even older than our manor."

Queenie said: "Our manor isn't this scary."

"That's because you've never been to the basement in the middle of the night."

"Shut up."

Shaun no longer had the heart to listen to those two carefree people bickering; he turned on his flashlight, the beam cutting through the darkness to illuminate the foyer.

It was a typical Victorian-style foyer...

High ceilings, carved stair railings, and a few faded oil paintings hanging on the walls.

The faces on the paintings appeared distorted in the light and shadow, as if they were staring at them.

Nell suddenly let out a sharp intake of breath.

Shaun turned his head.

She was standing at the entrance, not coming in, her face as white as paper.

"Nell?"

Seeing Nell so nervous, Shaun walked over to check on her.

Nell's fingers were tightly gripping the doorframe, her knuckles white.

Her eyes were fixed on the top of the stairs... the darkness-shrouded second-floor landing.

"He is there."

Nell's voice was trembling...

Shaun followed her gaze.

There was nothing there.

Only darkness.

But Cordelia also looked over, her expression grave.

Then, she said something that made Shaun's skin crawl: "Yes... he is there."

Madison leaned in: "Who?"

Cordelia didn't answer.

She walked toward the stairs.

Shaun followed without hesitation.

After all, looking at this lineup, following Cordelia was the most reliable option...