Emilia's mind was racing as she held the small, ornate key in her hand. She had found it in the hidden room, and the note from Elizabeth had left her with more questions than answers. What did the key unlock? And why had Elizabeth written the note?
Determined to find out, Emilia decided to explore the manor further. She searched every door, every lock, and every hidden compartment. Finally, after what felt like hours, she found a small, intricately carved box in the library. The box had a tiny keyhole, and Emilia's heart skipped a beat as she realized that the key might fit.
With trembling hands, Emilia inserted the key into the keyhole and turned it. The box creaked open, revealing a stack of old letters and a small, leather-bound book. The letters were tied with a faded ribbon, and the book had a strange symbol etched onto its cover.
As Emilia began to read the letters, she realized that they were written by Elizabeth to her lover, a man named James. The letters spoke of love, loss, and longing. They told the story of a forbidden romance, one that had been kept hidden from the world.
But it was the book that caught Emilia's attention. It was Elizabeth's diary, and it seemed to hold the secrets of Ashwood Manor. As Emilia opened the book, she saw that the pages were filled with cryptic messages and strange symbols.
The entries spoke of a dark presence that lurked in the shadows, a presence that had driven Elizabeth to madness. Emilia's skin crawled as she read the words, feeling a chill run down her spine.
One entry in particular caught her eye:
"I have seen it, the shadow in the mirror. It watches me, follows me. I fear it will consume me whole."
Emilia's heart racing, she wondered what Elizabeth had meant. What shadow had she seen? And what did it have to do with the manor?
As she continued to read, Emilia discovered that Elizabeth had been trapped in the manor by her husband, a man named Malcolm. He had been cruel and controlling, and Elizabeth had been desperate to escape.
But it was the final entry that made Emilia's blood run cold:
"I have hidden the truth, but it will be found. The key will unlock the secrets, but will it bring peace or destruction?"
What truth had Elizabeth hidden? And what secrets lay hidden in the manor? Emilia's curiosity was piqued, and she knew she had to keep reading.
As she finished the diary, Emilia heard a faint noise coming from outside the library. It sounded like footsteps, heavy and deliberate. Emilia's heart skipped a beat as she wondered who - or what - could be making the noise.