Dear Applicant,
Congratulations! We are delighted to announce that your bid for Starborough Mansion has been successful. Your occupancy will begin on July 19th, please come pick up the keys at 9am that morning.
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We think you’ll find yourself most at home in this wonderful property.
Sincerely,
[[The Heresy Property Team]]
Moving day. You arrive to pick up the keys bright and early outside your new apartment. The rays of the morning sun beat down upon your skin as the bearded man from the letting agency shakily hands you an envelope. You notice the twisted smile planted on his face.
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The man is dressed in thick clothes, a tall felt hat sits upon his head. You watch sweat drip down his forehead as he looks intensely into your eyes.
“When did the last tenant move out?” you ask. The house looks like it hasn’t been lived in for years, but at least it’s cheap.
“Ms Cobham? Why, she moved out about a month ago. She’s a long, long way away now, but most of her furnishings are still inside.” He looks at you longingly, almost desperate for a reaction. Something about him makes you feel uneasy.
“Well thank you for the keys. I think I best make a start unpacking.” you say, clearing your throat.
He lingers for a moment, before muttering a reluctant, “Take care now.”
Strange guy, you think, as you watch him slowly walk away. You peer back towards your new house.
What do you do?
[[Open the front door.]]
[[Take a look around.]] The door creaks open and you haul your suitcase in behind you. You have a brief glimpse of the hallway before the door slams back shut again.
Despite the burning sun outside, the house is pitch black. You run your hands along the walls searching for a light switch.
You squeal, as what you can only assume is a cobweb tangles between your fingers. As your eyes adjust to the darkness you spot a candle on the hallway table.
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“Aha!” You think out loud, taking the candle and pulling a lighter from your pocket.
You walk down the long stretch corridor with the lit candle towards what you assume is the kitchen, searching for the nearest switch or window. Inside, the kitchen windows are boarded shut and you can’t help but notice a peculiar smell.
In the corner of the room is a large lamp. You reach out, but just as you’re about to turn it on there is a banging noise. It sounds like it’s coming from upstairs.
What do you do?
[[Go and investigate upstairs.]]
[[Turn on the light.]]
You approach your new house and make your way through the side gate towards the garden.
In the middle of the estate the ground is coated in black and grey ash. It looks like the last tenant had some sort of bonfire before they left. The floor crunches beneath your feet.
As you look down at the cinders, you spot an old scroll-like piece of paper that’s laid rolled up on the floor.
You lean down to pick it up, when you hear a strange thudding noise from inside the house.
BANG. BANG. BANG.
It sounds like it’s coming from upstairs.
BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG.
At the very back of the house is a door leading to what looks like a kitchen.
What do you do?
[[Pick up the paper]]
[[Investigate the noise in the kitchen.]]
You make your way up the staircase. Even though you walk on the tips of your toes each wooden step brings a new groaning noise.
BANG.
You hear it again. It sounds like it’s coming from the attic.
BANG. BANG. BANG.
You reach the top of the stairs and spot the hanging cord connected to the attic. You yank it to bring down a ladder and advance up the stairs.
BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG.
“Hello?” You try to sound assertive, but it comes out as a whisper.
BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG.
You look up and a lone figure stands before you. As you open your mouth to scream, it blows the candle out, engulfing you both in darkness.
The lamp flickers until it fills the room with an ill-looking yellow glow. You gasp as you take in your surroundings. This isn’t a kitchen. In fact, it looks more like some sort of laboratory.
You notice that the jars stacked on the tabletops are filled with all kinds of gruesome curiosities. Insects, bones, needles and a host of seemingly hazardous liquids. You quiver as you approach them, before another loud bang snaps you back into reality.
The noises that had at first seemed so far away seem to be nearing ever closer.
You notice a door behind you and lunge towards the handle, but after several attempts it’s clear that it’s not going to budge. Hurriedly you take out the set of keys and begin to try each one.
BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG.
You freeze. There’s something behind you
You can feel it. Whatever ‘it’ is.
You look down the corridor and a tall figure is staring back at you. Your heart thuds loudly in your ears. The creature stays still for a moment and then charges towards you.
You reach down and pick up the scroll. It sounds crazy, but the paper still feels hot to the touch amongst the cinders. You open it. Two letters written in blood.
“RUN!”
The lamp flickers until it fills the room with an ill-looking yellow glow. You gasp as you take in your surroundings. This isn’t a kitchen. In fact, it looks more like some sort of laboratory.
You notice that the jars stacked on the tabletops are filled with all kinds of gruesome curiosities. Insects, bones, needles and a host of seemingly hazardous liquids. You quiver as you approach them, before another loud bang snaps you back into reality.
The noises that had at first seemed so far away seem to be nearing ever closer.
You notice a door behind you and lunge towards the handle, but after several attempts it’s clear that it’s not going to budge. Hurriedly you take out the set of keys and begin to try each one.
BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG.
You freeze. There’s something behind you
You can feel it. Whatever ‘it’ is.
You look down the corridor and a tall figure is staring back at you. Your heart thuds loudly in your ears. The creature stays still for a moment and then charges towards you.