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A Lesson in Etiquette

A friendly neighbourly story

By Ray RizwanPublished 10 months ago 3 min read
2
A Lesson in Etiquette
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Once upon a time in the quiet town of Ravenswood, nestled deep in the heart of a dense forest, there stood an old mansion known as Blackthorn Manor. The mere sight of it sent shivers down the spines of the locals, for the place had a dark and sinister reputation.

Legend had it that the manor was cursed, haunted by the spirits of its former owners who had met a gruesome end. Whispers of eerie noises, ghostly apparitions, and unexplainable occurrences had spread throughout the town, leaving a sense of dread hanging in the air.

One foggy evening, a group of friends named Sarah, Michael, Emma, and Mark decided to investigate the mysteries surrounding Blackthorn Manor. Armed with flashlights and their curiosity, they ventured into the dilapidated estate. Little did they know that this night would be one they would never forget.

As they stepped inside the grand foyer, a chilling draft swept through the air, causing the candles to flicker ominously. Shadows danced along the walls, and the group couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched.

They cautiously explored each room, the creaking floorboards amplifying the tension. The friends stumbled upon an old study, its walls adorned with portraits of a family that once called this place home. Sarah, the brave soul of the group, noticed an ancient leather-bound book resting on a dusty desk.

Intrigued, she carefully opened it, revealing the secrets of Blackthorn Manor. The pages contained a set of rules, a lesson in etiquette that the family had once adhered to. Sarah started to read the rules aloud, oblivious to the ominous energy building around them.

Rule number one: "Never speak ill of the dead." As Sarah read, a sudden gust of wind extinguished their flashlights. The darkness swallowed them, leaving them vulnerable to the unseen horrors that lurked within the manor's walls.

Rule number two: "Always show respect to your hosts." A haunting voice echoed through the halls, demanding their attention. The friends turned towards the sound, their eyes widening in terror as they saw the apparition of a woman dressed in a tattered gown, her eyes hollow and lifeless.

Rule number three: "Never disturb the resting place of the deceased." The ground beneath them began to shake violently. The walls cracked, revealing hidden chambers filled with the bones of those who had perished within the manor's cursed walls.

The friends realized they had unknowingly broken the rules, and their punishment was swiftly approaching. Panic filled the air as they desperately searched for an escape, their hearts pounding in their chests.

As they reached the entrance hall, a voice boomed, "You have defied the laws of this house. You shall never leave." The doors slammed shut, trapping them inside.

Sarah, thinking quickly, remembered one last rule she had yet to read. She recited it with all her might: "Respect the spirits, and they shall grant you safe passage." Miraculously, the doors swung open, revealing the moonlit forest outside.

With their hearts pounding and legs trembling, the friends sprinted out of Blackthorn Manor, never looking back. They vowed to never speak ill of the dead, always show respect to their hosts, and never disturb the resting place of the deceased.

From that night on, the group carried the weight of the lesson in etiquette they had learned the hard way. The horrors of Blackthorn Manor served as a constant reminder of the consequences that await those who dare to trespass the boundaries of the supernatural world.

And so, the legend of Blackthorn Manor grew, warning future generations to respect the spirits and honor the rules of the dead. The cursed mansion stood as a chilling testament to the power of etiquette and the

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About the Creator

Ray Rizwan

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