Chapter 1: The Arrival
The town of Black Hollow was always quiet after sunset. Thick mist curled around the cobblestone streets, swallowing the faint glow of the streetlights. The wind whispered through the towering pines, carrying secrets no one dared to speak aloud.
Aarav stepped off the last bus, his duffel bag slung over his shoulder. The eerie silence made him uneasy, but he brushed it off. He was here for one reason—to escape his old life and start anew. His uncle had left him an old mansion on the outskirts of town, and tonight, it would finally be his home.
The mansion loomed ahead, its gothic spires piercing the dark sky. The moment he stepped onto the front porch, the temperature dropped. The air was thick with the scent of rain and something metallic—blood? He shook his head. His imagination was running wild.
As he reached for the doorknob, a voice purred from behind him.
"You're late."
He spun around. Two identical girls stood in the dim light, their crimson eyes glowing unnaturally. They were breathtaking—long raven-black hair, porcelain skin, and lips as red as fresh roses.
"Who are you?" Aarav asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
One of them smirked. "We've been waiting for you."
The other tilted her head. "Welcome home, Aarav."
A sudden chill ran down his spine. Something told him his life would never be the same again.
To be continued…