The Intruder (Part One)

*Cassiel stood alone in the eerie hallway, the dim light from a flickering chandelier above casting an unsettling glow on the ancient, peeling wallpaper. The air was heavy with a musty scent, and every breath seemed to echo in the unsettling silence. He could feel the weight of the oppressive atmosphere pressing down on him as if the very walls were watching and judging her every move.

As he hesitantly took a step forward, the floorboards creaked beneath his feet, their haunting sound amplifying the sense of isolation and vulnerability. The corridor seemed to stretch infinitely, the walls closing in on her, making him feel trapped and claustrophobic.

The portraits of long-forgotten residents adorned the walls, their eyes seemingly following Cassiel as he passed by. Their faded faces bore expressions of sorrow and despair, and he couldn't shake the feeling that the spirits of the deceased were reaching out to him from beyond the grave.