Chapter 5 - The Seal Breaks
“You actually broke the lock, Mark, are you insane?” Eleanor gasped, staring at the jagged split in the metal container as a pungent, chemical smell filled the room.
“Look at the contents, El—these aren’t financial records,” Mark said, his voice dropping to a harsh whisper as he carefully lifted the rusted lid of the box.
Inside lay a neat stack of faded legal papers, several heavy glass vials filled with a dark amber liquid, and a small, tarnished silver pocket watch that had stopped ticking at precisely 3:14.
“Those are my grandfather’s municipal engineering certificates, I recognize the embossed state seal,” Eleanor murmured, leaning in closer despite her obvious dread.
“Keep reading the names on the land deeds underneath, Eleanor, look at who originally owned this plot before the Sterling family trust acquired it for back taxes,” Mark instructed, sliding the papers toward her.
Eleanor picked up the brittle parchment with shaking fingers, her eyes scanning the handwritten registry from nineteen-forty-two until her breath caught sharply in her throat.
“The legal title belongs to the Miller family... the people who vanished without a trace during the great flood,” Eleanor whispered, her face draining of all color as the historical puzzle pieces fell violently into place.
“They didn’t vanish in the flood, El, Grandfather Sterling bought the house with them still trapped inside the foundation walls,” Mark stated grimly, his eyes fixed on the dark hole in the floor.
May you like
Suddenly, a cold, skeletal hand shot out from the black void, gripping Eleanor’s ankle with terrifying strength.
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