Whispers in the Dark: Juvenile fiction, #1

By Sarah Nightshade

Discover the chilling tale of **Whispers in the Dark: The Curse of Blackwood Manor**. When a family moves into the foreboding Blackwood Manor, they uncover its haunted past through eerie artifacts and ghostly encounters. As they confront the malevolent spirit and unravel the curse's origins, they must summon courage to perform a ritual of purification. With the curse broken, they reflect on their journey, uncovering secrets that shape their future and offer newfound hope in the face of darkness. Brace yourself for a gripping journey of resilience and renewal in this unforgettable juvenile fiction horror.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wonderland Press
• Release date: Jun 27, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224846252

Sarah Nightshade

Sarah Nightshade is a visionary author whose tales of suspense and supernatural intrigue have captivated young readers worldwide. With a unique ability to blend spine-chilling horror with heartfelt characters, Sarah's stories transport readers to haunted attics, eerie woods, and mysterious manors where secrets lurk in every shadow. Sarah's writing delves deep into the realm of childhood fears, offering readers a safe yet exhilarating journey into the unknown.

Book preview

Chapter 1: The New Residents

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the winding road leading to Blackwood Manor, its ancient facade looming ominously amidst the overgrown trees and fog-shrouded grounds. A weathered wrought iron gate creaked open reluctantly as the car carrying the Harrison family approached, its tires crunching on the gravel driveway that wound its way towards the imposing structure.

Inside the car, Sarah Harrison gripped the steering wheel with a mix of excitement and apprehension. Beside her, her husband, Thomas, glanced nervously at their two children in the backseat. Emily, their eldest at thirteen, stared wide-eyed out the window, while Jacob, only nine, clutched his favorite stuffed toy tightly to his chest.

Are you sure about this, Sarah? Thomas asked quietly, breaking the uneasy silence that had settled in the car.

Sarah hesitated for a moment, her gaze flickering towards the looming mansion ahead. I think so, she replied softly, her voice tinged with uncertainty. It's a fresh start for all of us.

Thomas nodded, though his furrowed brow betrayed his lingering doubts. It's just... the stories about this place, he murmured, his words trailing off as he struggled to articulate the unease that had settled over him since they had first considered purchasing Blackwood Manor.

Emily, who had been listening intently, leaned forward from the backseat, her eyes wide with curiosity. What stories? she asked eagerly, her voice tinged with a mixture of fear and fascination.

Sarah glanced at Thomas, silently urging him to explain. With a sigh, he turned to face his children, his expression grave. There are rumors, whispers, he began slowly, his voice barely above a whisper as if afraid to disturb the silence that seemed to permeate the air around them. People say this place is haunted.

Jacob's eyes widened in horror, his grip on his stuffed toy tightening even further. Haunted? he repeated, his voice trembling as he glanced nervously at the darkened windows of Blackwood Manor.

Sarah reached back and squeezed Jacob's hand reassuringly. It's just stories, sweetie, she said gently, though even she couldn't ignore the chill that seemed to settle in the air around them. Old houses like this always have tales of ghosts and mysteries.

Emily, ever the skeptic, leaned back in her seat with a thoughtful expression. I read something about Blackwood Manor, she interjected, her voice filled with a mix of excitement and trepidation. They say it was built over a hundred years ago by the eccentric Lord Blackwood, who vanished without a trace.

Thomas nodded, grateful for Emily's attempt to lighten the mood. That's right, he agreed, his voice steady as he tried to inject a note of optimism into their conversation. And now it's ours. A bit of history, right in our backyard.

As they approached the front entrance, Sarah couldn't help but notice the intricate carvings on the wooden doors, weathered by time but still bearing traces of their former grandeur. The car came to a stop, and they stepped out onto the gravel driveway, the crunching of their footsteps echoing in the quiet stillness of the afternoon.

A cool breeze swept through the overgrown garden, rustling the leaves of ancient trees that surrounded the manor. The air seemed to carry with it a sense of anticipation, as if the very walls of Blackwood Manor were waiting to welcome—or perhaps challenge—its new inhabitants.

Sarah took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of damp earth and old wood. Here we are, she murmured, more to herself than anyone else, as she reached for Thomas's hand. Together, they led their children towards the imposing front doors, their hearts filled with a mixture of hope and apprehension for the future that awaited them within the walls of Blackwood Manor.

As the doors swung open with a groan, revealing the dimly lit foyer beyond, the Harrison family crossed the threshold into their new home. The air inside was musty, carrying with it the weight of years gone by, and yet there was also a sense of possibility—a feeling that in this place of shadows and secrets, anything could happen.

Little did they know, as they stood together in the foyer of Blackwood Manor, that their arrival would set in motion a chain of events that would unravel the mysteries of the past and test their bonds as a family in ways they could never have imagined.

Chapter 2: Unsettling Discoveries

The Harrison children had barely settled into their new rooms at Blackwood Manor when curiosity beckoned them towards the heart of the mystery—the attic.

Emily, the brave and inquisitive thirteen-year-old, had always been drawn to the unknown. Armed with a flashlight and Jacob in tow, she ventured up the creaky stairs that led to the attic. The air grew cooler with each step, and a faint smell of dust and aged wood greeted them as they pushed open the