The Keeper of the Cellar

The town of Black Hollow was known for its chilling legends, but none more terrifying than the tale of the old abandoned manor on the hill. They said it housed a monstrous creature locked away in the cellar, its hunger only satiated by the souls of those who dared enter.

When Ella, a curious journalist, decided to investigate, she dismissed the warnings as superstitions. Armed with a flashlight and her notepad, she ventured inside the rotting structure. Dust clung to the air, and the wooden floors groaned beneath her feet. She followed the faint sound of scratching, her flashlight beam dancing along the cracked walls.

Finally, she found the cellar door, its rusty hinges barely holding it in place. As she pushed it open, a foul stench hit her like a wave. Her flashlight revealed a staircase descending into utter darkness. The scratching grew louder, more frantic.

“Hello?” she called, her voice trembling.

A low growl answered her, echoing from the depths. Then, a pair of glowing yellow eyes appeared, followed by the sound of chains rattling. The creature lunged, but the chains held it back. Ella’s scream filled the manor as the beast roared, its jagged teeth glinting in the dim light.

Suddenly, the cellar door slammed shut behind her, trapping her in the pitch-black room. The last thing she heard was the snapping of chains.