The iron gates of the Blackwood Manor creaked loudly, a piercing screech that cut through the silence of the midnight woods. To anyone else, it was a warning. To Gyau and his crew, it was the sound of money.
"Are you absolutely sure there are no ghosts here, Gyau?" Gyau-chan whispered. Her fingers trembled as she gripped the strap of her camera bag, casting a weary glance at the looming Victorian structure. Its broken windows looked like hollow eyes watching their every move.
"Trust me," Gyau replied, clicking his flashlight on. The beam sliced through the darkness, revealing a path overgrown with thorns. "The rumors say it's haunted, but rumors are just free marketing. We're technically trespassing, so keep the noise down."
"I know, I know," she muttered, stepping over a fallen branch. "But this place hasn't seen a living soul in decades. It feels... heavy."
Gyau turned to the guy holding the professional stabilizing rig. "Kawsoki, how's the connection? Is the stream live?"
Kawsoki gave a thumbs up, his face illuminated by the blue glow of his monitor. "Signal is steady. We've already got 200 people waiting in the lobby. The title 'Exploring the Cursed Mother's Kitchen' really pulled them in."
"Perfect. Let's head inside," Gyau commanded.
As they crossed the threshold, the air temperature plummeted. A sudden, icy gust of wind swept out from the hallway, smelling of damp earth and old rot. It felt as if the house itself had just taken a cold, dying breath.
"I'm getting a bad feeling about this, man," Kawsoki muttered, his voice dropping an octave. "Being the only three people in this massive graveyard of a house... it's not right."
Gyau let out a forced laugh, his footsteps echoing against the marble floor. "Relax! We're here for the views. Higher risks mean bigger donations. Think of the subs, Kawsoki!"
"Right... the subs," Kawsoki glanced at the screen. "Whoa, the viewer count just jumped to 600. They're spamming the chat. Wait... Rio? Rio, stay behind us and watch the rear!"
There was no answer.
"Rio? Where the hell is he?" Gyau-chan asked, spinning around. The hallway behind them was a void of darkness.
"I don't know, he was right behind me a second ago," Gyau frowned, swinging his flashlight around.
Suddenly—"WAAAAAH!"
A shadow lunged at them from behind a heavy velvet curtain.
"GAH! DAMN IT!" Gyau-chan shrieked, nearly dropping her equipment. Gyau stumbled back, his heart hammering against his ribs.
Rio stepped into the light, doubling over with laughter. "Haha! You guys should have seen your faces! 'The great ghost hunters,' terrified of a little noise?"
"Rio, you idiot!" Gyau hissed, trying to regain his composure. "Don't mess around! We're on a live feed!"
"Chill out, it's good for the tension," Rio grinned, adjusting his jacket.
The group eventually reached the grand foyer. It was a cavernous room, dominated by a twin staircase that looked like a pair of wooden wings. The sound of dripping water echoed—drip, drip, drip—though the ceiling appeared dry.
"It's actually quite peaceful here," Gyau remarked, his confidence returning. "We get the stream revenue, and once we 'clear' the place, the owner pays us the exorcism fee. Easiest job of the year."
Rio narrowed his eyes, pointing his own light toward the dark corridor leading to the kitchen. "Look ahead. Is that... a person standing there?"
Kawsoki quickly panned the camera. The viewers went wild in the chat. But as the light hit the figure, the tension broke. "Wait... no, it's just an old porcelain doll sitting on a high chair. Scared me for a second."
They pushed deeper, entering the massive kitchen. The smell of rot grew stronger here. Suddenly, the heavy oak door behind them slammed shut with a deafening bang. The temperature didn't just drop—it froze.
A voice, cold and sharp as a razor, resonated from the shadows of the pantry. It wasn't a scream; it was the calm, terrifying tone of a mother scolding a child.
"Who allowed you into my home? I was enjoying my peace... and you bring your noise into my kitchen?"
The trio froze. This wasn't a prank. The air felt thick, like they were underwater.
"P-P-Prestige viewers," Kawsoki stammered into his mic, his hands shaking so hard the camera wobbled. "We've actually found her. The 'Mother' of Blackwood Manor..."
Without warning, a pale, glowing hand emerged from darkness. With a simple flick of her wrist, a violent surge of spiritual energy erupted. A localized gale smashed into the group, throwing them across the dusty floor like ragdolls.
"Rio! The talisman! Now!" Gyau screamed, coughing as he scrambled to his feet.
"On it!" Rio reached into his pocket and whipped out a bright yellow paper charm. He channeled his intent and hurled it toward the hovering spirit.
BOOM!
A brilliant flash of light filled the kitchen, followed by a small explosion. Smoke clouded the room. For a moment, they thought they had won. But as the smoke cleared, the spirit remained, hovering inches above the floor. Her eyes glowed with a vengeful, crimson intensity.
"You brats..." she spoke, her voice vibrating through their very bones. "Did you really think a scrap of paper could stop a mother's wrath?"
"We're dead. We're so dead," Kawsoki whimpered, watching his camera lens crack.
"Not yet!" Gyau shouted, reaching into his inner coat pocket and pulling out a small glass vial filled with a shimmering blue liquid. "We still have the Holy Water!"