As I lay in bed, the darkness outside my window seemed to press against the glass like a living entity.
Midnight had descended upon Ravenswood Manor, casting an eerie silence over the crumbling estate.
My name is Aria Blackwood, and this had been my family's home for generations – filled with secrets, lies, and tragedy.
I woke to the faint whisper of my name: "Aria..."
My heart racing, I sat up and rubbed my eyes. The voice was soft, melancholic, and unmistakable – my twin sister, Evelyn's.
But Evelyn had died three years ago...
A chill ran down my spine as I threw off the covers and padded to the window. The whisper seemed to come from outside.
Below my window, a figure stood shrouded in shadows. Tall, imposing... and watching me.
Suddenly, the wind picked up, and a piece of paper fluttered onto my windowsill. A note, scribbled in handwriting I knew:
"Aria, I've been waiting. Evelyn's death was not what you think. Meet me in the old oak grove at midnight tomorrow. Come alone."
My world spun. What secrets had my family kept from me?