Large patches of dark clouds gathered in the gloomy sky, obscuring the rays of the morning sun. The distinct moisture and earthy scent of grass and trees permeated the forest air, yet a faint odor of decay made it difficult to fully appreciate the morning.
Thirty people stood before a colossal, rust-covered iron gate. Beyond it lay a vast manor, embodying every imaginable characteristic of a house from a horror film. Its Western-style ornamentation had gradually deteriorated and faded under the relentless assault of wind and rain over an untold span of time. Beneath the peeling paint, the dark red, almost black, wooden structure was visible. At first glance, it appeared as if blood had been splattered across it, both grotesque and striking.
"Where... is this place?"
Anyone who opened their eyes to find themselves in such a bizarre location would understandably feel a surge of panic. Anna instinctively reached into her pocket and retrieved her mobile phone to check the time.
It was a futile gesture, a mere reflex. Several others present made the same movement.
[ No signal ]
As if preordained, the large exclamation mark in the signal bar accompanied by those three words was a standard feature of such a predicament.
Anna shifted her gaze slightly and noticed that the area where the current time should have been displayed was instead flashing a countdown.
[ 167:58:32 ]
"Seven days? What does that mean?"
Anna murmured to herself while unlocking her phone. Most functions were unusable without a signal, but at least some remained accessible.
A new message notification chimed, an anomaly considering the lack of signal, making it seemingly impossible for anyone to send her a message.
Anna raised her head, feeling a little dazed. The absence of a sense of time was unsettling. She also felt a peculiar fragmentation of her memory. Not only the process of arriving here but also certain past recollections seemed shrouded in an impenetrable fog, no matter how hard she strained to remember.
The more she tried to focus, the more she felt a wave of dizziness and nausea.
She abandoned her attempts at recollection and tapped on the text message. If the system time was unavailable, at least the message might provide a timestamp, which would serve as a useful reference.
Then, Anna's eyes suddenly widened.
[ Dear,
All visitors to the Ghost Villa, this message will be sent on time upon your arrival. Please do not reply, as your message will not reach me.
The goal of this journey is to survive in the villa for seven days. Please do not attempt to leave the villa. For the sake of your well-being, please adhere to the tips provided in the travel manual.
Tips for the newbies:
1. There are three ghosts in the ghost villa.
2. There are means to fight ghosts in the ghost villa.
3. In the first three hours, ghosts cannot kill people.
4. Please make good use of your companions.
Supplementary tips about ghosts:
1. Every 24 hours (one day), each ghost can only kill one person.
2. ( The tips will be unlocked after one day. )
I wish you all a pleasant journey. ]
Anna didn't immediately dismiss it as a prank or some other deception. Instead, she lifted her head and observed the others who had also retrieved their mobile phones.
Some had arrived earlier, others later, but all wore expressions of panic. A young man in his early twenties shouted loudly.
"What is this!"
The young man's outburst caused quite a stir. Some individuals dismissed it, while others were so shocked that they hastily pulled out their phones. Soon, almost everyone was aware of the message received.
"Everyone, don't panic!"
Just as widespread panic threatened to erupt, a young woman around twenty-seven years old, dressed in a black business suit, exuding the air of a professional, stepped forward and spoke loudly, her voice cutting through the rising clamor.
"Before anything is clear, panicking is counterproductive. Let me ask first: does anyone remember how they arrived here?"
No one answered verbally, but many nodded in affirmation.
"Then, everyone compares the messages received on your phones to see if they are consistent and if the time display is also absent."
"Hey! What are you doing? Shouldn't we be getting out of this damn place right now?" A man with a bad temper spat on the ground in dissatisfaction. "I don't care about this ghost nonsense!"
"But you didn't run away immediately, which suggests you harbor some doubt," The woman in the suit retorted without hesitation. "In that case, everyone should now clearly confirm what they know. We are all adults; let's at least demonstrate the rationality we should possess."
The grumpy man cursed under his breath but offered no further argument.
This time, everyone began comparing the contents of their phones. Anna also compared hers with an old man with a gray beard and a fat and strong man next to her, finally confirming that everyone had received the same message.
"In this case, let's go in," The woman in the suit said after receiving confirmation from everyone, hesitating for a brief moment before speaking.
"Hey, hey, hey, it says there's something fishy here! Are you still crazy enough to go in?" The grumpy man couldn't resist another outburst of frustration.
The woman in the suit smiled, unperturbed. "If what the text message says is true, then staying away might expose us to something unexpected, most likely resulting in all of our deaths. If what it says is false, there's no harm in going inside. Of course, I won't force anyone, and it's perfectly fine if you wish to remain here." With that, she turned and began to walk toward the villa.
"That... wait, I'll go too."
"I'll go as well; there's always safety in numbers."
Anna also took a step, following the woman in the suit into the manor grounds. As more and more people followed, eventually, only the grumpy man and a couple in their thirties remained outside, holding hands and looking around hesitantly.
"That... brother, you see, although we also think you're right, it's probably better to have more people..." The man in the couple forced a smile at the grumpy man and then walked into the manor with his wife. The grumpy man cursed at them, giving them the middle finger behind their backs, but he didn't dare to stay alone, so he reluctantly followed them into the manor.
Upon entering the manor grounds, they found themselves in a dilapidated garden. A large three-story building stood at the end of the main path, but the faint trails visible on either side suggested the presence of other houses and facilities behind it.
"Sister, there are so many of us; shouldn't we get to know each other?" A young man, dressed in trendy but slightly flashy attire, approached the woman in the suit who was walking ahead and asked with a smile.
"Thirty people, most of whom are strangers. Even if we exchange introductions once, it's unlikely anyone will remember everyone. It's better to gradually become acquainted later, so as not to waste time," The woman in the suit replied casually, displaying a clear familiarity with handling such situations.
"That makes sense, but how come you seem so unfazed, sister? We just arrived and were all panicking, but you, on the other hand, are very calm~"
"I won't allow anything to cloud my judgment. I can overcome emotions like fear. Besides, you don't seem that scared, do you? Otherwise, you wouldn't be in the mood to ask for my name," The woman in the suit glanced at the young man, giving him a knowing look.
"Really?" The young man slowed his pace slightly, creating some distance. "Sister is truly remarkable."
"Thank you for the compliment."
By this time, they had reached the front door of the three-story manor. The woman in the suit reached out and twisted the doorknob, which had a greenish tinge. With a creaking sound, the door opened easily.
Anna had anticipated a musty odor, but surprisingly, there was no sign of decay inside the house. Although some items appeared aged and faded, they were still intact. Beyond a short porch lay a grand banquet hall that retained its magnificent aura. Exquisite mahogany armchairs were neatly arranged around a massive square table draped with a white tablecloth. The enormous retro-style chandelier illuminated the entire hall with a bright, warm glow. The wooden floor produced a soft creaking sound underfoot, which surprisingly felt quite comforting.
"Wow."
"It looks beautiful."
Someone couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. A girl around Anna's age, about twenty-three, even ran inside and touched the decorations with an infatuated expression.
The group entered one after another. The woman in the suit walked directly to the dining table. Aside from a few empty vases used to weigh down the tablecloth, the most noticeable items on the table were probably the pocket booklets placed in front of each seat.
Anna picked up a copy and opened it. It genuinely resembled a travel brochure.
The manor was named Ravencourt Mountain Manor. The owner was a collector with a penchant for European architecture, whose surname was Ravencourt. The brochure provided little historical information about the manor but instead detailed the numerous collections Mr. Ravencourt had housed within it.
The most valuable inclusion was likely the comprehensive map of the manor attached at the end. Among the three floors of the main building, the third floor was designated for the Ravencourt family, the second floor and some rooms on the first floor were for entertaining guests, and the remaining areas were functional spaces like kitchens. Naturally, the main building also had a basement, which served as a warehouse and housed a dedicated area for power generation and supply.
Beyond the main building, there were additional structures. Besides another garden, there was a small cottage built specifically for gardeners, an independent plantation, a large shooting range, and a stable. In short, most were utilitarian buildings located outside.
"Everyone take a copy and begin exploring now. However, I urge you to form groups of at least three people to minimize any potential dangers," The woman in the suit stated calmly, waving the booklet for everyone to see.
"Explore?" The grumpy man picked up a booklet. "Aren't you afraid that ghosts will suddenly appear and kill us?"
"Just to be safe, I hope everyone will return here in two hours to share their findings," The woman in the suit said. As she finished speaking, she suddenly noticed that everyone present had quietly coalesced into groups, having already formed teams without her knowledge.
Having exchanged information while walking, those who had done so now stood together. Even the grumpy man was accompanied by the couple and a man with dyed hair. Conversely, she, who had consistently taken a leading role, found herself alone.
"Well... why don't you join us?"
The sturdy man on Anna's side scratched his head and offered a slightly awkward smile.
The woman in the suit looked over, then abruptly closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and smiled. "Thank you."
Everyone quickly found their teams, coalesced, and ultimately formed eight groups, each heading toward a point of interest.
Anna's group of four went directly upstairs, making their way to the rooms on the third floor where the Ravencourt family had resided.