Rachel

Investigation Begins

After the driver dropped me off at the hotel, I headed straight to my room. Thanks to the cab driver, I now had a rough understanding of how the town operates and its major landmarks. It was time to begin my investigation. I spent three exhausting hours arranging my room to support my investigative work. Before going to bed, I meticulously planned out the next day, starting with a meeting with the town's mayor. Finally, I retired for the night.

The following morning, I woke up at six o'clock. I had to leave the hotel by six-thirty as the mayor's office was quite far. Gathering all the necessary items for my investigation, I skipped breakfast and left the hotel. As I entered the cab, I was greeted by the same driver from the previous day. We embarked on our journey towards the mayor's office. I couldn't help but feel a bit anxious about meeting the mayor. Would they be supportive and considerate towards my business in their town, or was I in for a challenge?

Lost in these thoughts, the cab driver, Thomas, noticed my tensed expression and expressed his concern, "You look a bit tense, mate. What can I do to cheer you up?" I replied, "Nothing to worry about, Thomas," pausing as I realized I didn't know his name yesterday, "It's okay, Thomas. I'm sorry I didn't ask for your name earlier." He reassured me, "No problem, sir. My name is Thomas." Embarrassed, I responded, "Thank you, Thomas."

Curious about my profession, Thomas inquired, "So, Mr. John, what do you do for a living?" I proudly stated, "Oh, I'm a paranormal investigator. I'm here to investigate The Hazel Mansion." Astonished, Thomas exclaimed, "THE HAZEL MANSION? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?" He quickly composed himself and added, "Um... I apologize, sir. I didn't mean to be disrespectful. But why that place? Out of all the haunted locations in the world, why Hazel Mansion?"

I replied confidently, "Where else would I go? I don't take up easy cases. I prefer challenging ones, and I'm intrigued by the stories surrounding Hazel Mansion. I'm here to solve the case." Thomas responded with a mix of fear and surprise, "Just so you know, no one who has dared to enter that mansion has ever returned. Just a word of caution." Undeterred, I smiled and replied, "I'm not like 'everyone else,' so I believe I'll be fine." The remainder of the forty-five-minute journey was silent as a ghost. We arrived at the mayor's office by seven-thirty.

"Thomas, please wait here for thirty minutes. I'll be back," I instructed him. Thomas kindly responded, "Don't worry, Mr. John. I've been booked by the hotel specifically for you. Take your time." Hearing this, I thought to myself, "What an excellent arrangement by Cayle," and entered the mayor's office.

As I stepped into the mayor's office, I was warmly welcomed by Patric, the town's mayor. He greeted me, "Welcome, Mr. John. I'm Patric, the mayor of this town. It's a pleasure to meet you." Intrigued, I asked, "I'm amazed, sir. How did you know my name?" Patric chuckled and replied, "No need to worry, Mr. John. Your hotel made an appointment on your behalf, so I had your information." Recalling the previous day's exhaustion, I said, "Oh, right. Yesterday was quite tiring for me, so I must have forgotten about that. It's nice to meet you, Mr. Mayor." Patric insisted, "Hey, Patric's fine. You can address me as Patric." He continued, "Would you like a cup of tea?" I gladly accepted, and as we held our cups, we settled down for a conversation.

"So, Mr. John, what brings you here?" inquired the mayor. I expressed my admiration for the town and its beautiful culture, people, and places, but clarified that I was not there for sightseeing. I revealed, "I'm a paranormal investigator, and I'm here regarding the Hazel Mansion case." Patric's excited demeanor suddenly vanished. He stated, "Mr. John, we haven't requested an investigation." Seizing the opportunity, I explained, "That's precisely why I'm here, talking to you. Our agency is renowned worldwide for paranormal investigations. We receive cases directly from the World Paranormal Investigation Association (WPIA), and as investigators, it is our duty to solve these cases, no matter the difficulty. Currently, the Hazel Mansion case is the top priority paranormal case in the world, and I've been sent here to solve it."

Curious, the mayor asked, "On what basis do you claim that the Hazel Mansion case is the top priority?" I replied, "Well, sir, it depends on various factors, but the WPIA considers the number of deaths. Hazel Mansion is connected to over 500 brutal deaths, all of which remain unexplained." Shocked, the mayor exclaimed, "Five hundred? How is it possible that we are unaware of these deaths?" I clarified, "Many people ventured into that place without any knowledge or recognition. Consequently, numerous individuals are unaware that such tragedies occurred there."

After hearing my explanation, the mayor asked, "But why a paranormal investigation? Do you believe the place is haunted?" I responded, "Patric, I don't personally believe that the mansion is haunted, but many people do. You might already be aware of this, but let me spill the beans. There are approximately seven hundred documented articles, stories, and folklore surrounding the mansion. Ironically, as the mayor of this town, you still ask this question." The mayor averted his gaze momentarily and uncrossed his legs. After regaining eye contact, he forced a laugh and said, "Yes, of course, Mr. John. I was testing your knowledge. Please proceed." Observing his behavior, I sensed that he was concealing something.

Curious about my plans, the mayor inquired, "What exactly do you intend to do, Mr. John?" The question filled me with a sense of excitement. With unwavering confidence, I replied, "Investigate, of course." The mayor complimented me, saying, "That's a great deal of confidence, Mr. John. I admire that about you." He then handed me the legal letter of consent for the investigation, and as I held it in my hands, a surge of adrenaline coursed through my body. I felt invincible. Thanking the mayor, I shook his hand and prepared to take my leave.

True to his words, Thomas was waiting in the cab. As I entered, he started the car and asked, "Where to now, mate?" Bursting with excitement, I exclaimed, "Towards the outskirts of the town of love!" Thomas's expression shifted slightly to fear. His voice, pitch, and tone changed abruptly as he cautiously spoke, "Mr. John, please reconsider. Are you really going there? I thought you were joking." I responded sternly, "Thomas, why would a man travel all the way from the US to Britain just to joke about his job? I'm serious." The driver was terrified by what he heard. Without further question, he drove towards the exit of the town. I observed his nervousness, evident through his constant fidgeting and sweating.

Despite Thomas's discomfort, I didn't intervene. In that moment, my perception of the town's people shifted. The once happy, loving, and calm image I had of them was replaced by a sense of unease. I sympathized with Thomas, but my thirst for adventure outweighed my concerns. I eagerly anticipated my arrival at the most feared place on Earth—the Hazel Mansion. As we approached the destination, my heart raced with a sense of adventure. "Here I come, Hazel Mansion!" I yelled with exhilaration as I exited the town and ventured into the forest.