In the quiet town of Willow Creek, nestled deep in the woods, there stood an old mansion with a dark history. The locals whispered of a curse that plagued the mansion, recounting stories of disappearances and eerie sightings. Most avoided the mansion, but curious souls dared to explore its decaying corridors. One stormy night, a group of friends gathered around a campfire, swapping ghost stories. Sarah, always daring, suggested they visit the mansion to uncover its secrets. Despite protests, they set out with flashlights and nervous laughter. Inside, the mansion loomed with its creaking floors and peeling wallpaper. Shadows danced ominously as they ventured deeper, guided by the faint glow of their flashlights. Strange noises echoed through the halls, whispers carried on the wind. As they reached the attic, a chilling presence enveloped them. Sarah, drawn by an unseen force, discovered an old journal hidden beneath rotting floorboards. Its pages spoke of a family torn apart by madness, of a ritual gone wrong that bound their souls to the mansion. Suddenly, the temperature plummeted. Doors slammed shut, trapping them inside. Panic set in as they realized they were not alone. Shadows took form, specters of the tormented souls trapped within the mansion's walls. Desperate, they tried to flee, but the mansion seemed to twist and turn, leading them deeper into its heart. One by one, the friends vanished into the darkness, consumed by the mansion's malevolent spirit. Sarah, clutching the journal, felt a cold presence behind her. She turned, only to come face-to-face with the ghastly figure of a young girl, her eyes hollow and filled with anguish. The girl's voice echoed in Sarah's mind, pleading for release from the curse. Trembling, Sarah realized the only way to break the curse was to set the mansion ablaze, freeing the tormented souls within. With shaking hands, Sarah lit a match, the flames spreading hungrily through the mansion. As the fire consumed the walls, the mansion screamed, releasing a chorus of anguished wails. Sarah escaped as the inferno engulfed the cursed mansion, leaving behind only ashes and a lingering sense of dread. Years later, the town of Willow Creek became a place of whispered legends, a cautionary tale of the mansion lost to fire. But some say on stormy nights, the wind carries the mournful cries of the mansion's restless spirits, a reminder of the horrors that once lurked within.