James had always been a skeptic. Ghosts, spirits, and the supernatural were nothing more than stories to scare children. So when his friend Mark dared him to spend a night in the abandoned Blackwood Manor, he laughed and accepted without hesitation.

Blackwood Manor had a dark history. Decades ago, the entire Blackwood family had vanished without a trace, leaving their house to decay. Locals whispered about strange lights in the windows, eerie whispers in the night, and shadows that moved when no one was there.

Armed with a flashlight and a camera, James stepped into the house. The air was thick with dust, and a musty scent filled his nostrils. The floorboards groaned under his weight. He made his way through the grand hallway, his flashlight casting long, trembling shadows on the peeling wallpaper.

At first, nothing happened. He chuckled to himself, feeling victorious. But then, he heard it - a faint whisper.

*"Leave..."*

James froze. The voice was soft, almost pleading. He turned, shining his flashlight in all directions, but saw nothing.

Then came the footsteps. Slow, deliberate, coming from the second floor. James' heart pounded. He had checked the house before entering - there was no one else here.

Swallowing his fear, he climbed the stairs. The air grew colder with each step. At the top, he found a long hallway lined with closed doors. The whispers grew louder.

*"Get out... before it's too late."*

James gripped his camera, taking a shaky breath. He reached for the nearest doorknob and twisted it open. The room was empty except for an old rocking chair. It moved slightly as if someone had just left it.

Suddenly, his flashlight flickered. The temperature dropped drastically. He could see his breath in the air. Then, in the reflection of the dusty mirror, he saw it - **a tall, shadowy figure standing behind him.**

James spun around, but there was nothing there. His breath came in ragged gasps. The door behind him slammed shut. Panic surged through him.

Then, the whispers turned into **screams.**

The walls trembled, the floor shook, and the shadows seemed to stretch toward him. He fumbled with the doorknob, but it wouldn't budge. His flashlight died completely, plunging him into darkness.

And then, just as suddenly as it had started, everything went silent.

The door creaked open on its own. Without hesitation, James bolted down the stairs and out of the house, not stopping until he reached his car.

When he looked back, the house was dark and still. But just before he drove away, he saw something in the second-floor window - **a pair of glowing eyes watching him.**

James never spoke of that night again. But he never doubted the supernatural after that.

And Blackwood Manor? It still stands, waiting for its next visitor...