For a few moments you heard only the confident sound of your boots, until you went down to the basement, pausing somewhere in the middle of the stairs. You were strongly alerted by a barely discernible putrid smell of some kind of decomposition. You could call it sweet, but there were no exact examples with which you could associate it. Maybe it's a dead animal, maybe the waste of a strange substance that poisoned the soil in the garden, maybe something in between these facts, only in this darkness you could hardly distinguish the last steps and the floor. Everything that turned out to be on the sides of the basement is simply hidden in darkness.

The very last steps of the descent turned out to be uncertain for you – you had an extremely vague idea of where to go next and only guessed that the entry to the mansion itself would be somewhere ahead.

Almost blindly you had to move on. More than once you stumbled over something on the floor, but whether by the will of luck, but you kept your balance. In the end, you stopped when your shoulder brushed another staircase that led up. You went upstairs without hesitation, and only at the moment when your eyes began to distinguish objects again, do you realize that you have entered the warehouse. A completely small room where there was a free exit, presumably to the kitchen or dining room – the furniture indicated this, as did the kitchen items. The second exit was closed by an ordinary door. You didn't see the lock on it.

After a quick look around, you noticed that there are a lot of boxes here – on the shelves, as well as on the floor, which could have contained anything, but now they are opened and empty.

– entrance to the kitchen

– open the door to the writing room

– when entering through the doors -

You carefully pass on, still holding the crowbar in your hands. So far, you don't notice anything too strange, except for a dark spot on the wall on the left side. It's like someone burned something there, but there are no other traces anymore.

The hallway, as one would expect from a person who had wealth, looked decent, with a certain taste, but not too cluttered. Bench at the entrance: it was decorated with sculptures in the form of disc-shaped creatures resembling lions, however, the sight of the sculptures themselves for some reason made you want to stay away from them. The work of the master was felt so strongly in them that they seemed alive to you. And not too friendly. Burgundy walls, richly decorated with patterns, complemented several paintings. You also noticed two wall candelabra, but then you distinguished the outlines of the hall.

It is quite obvious that there was not a single door between the hall and the hall where the sculptor probably met the guests. However, they were still on the left and right. And led to different parts of the mansion.

– at the entrance through the kitchen -

Slowly you continued on your way. The silence of this place was broken only by the sound of your boots, as well as the barely discernible hum of the wind outside the windows of the mansion. In the twilight, you looked at the paintings that decorate the walls, empty candelabra, and stopped your gaze a little at a strange dark spot on the wall.

From further examination of the lobby, you were distracted by a creaking at the front door. You immediately looked back in that direction, but saw only a bench with bronze sculptures of strange creatures resembling lions. At one point, you even thought that one of the creatures was staring at you. Although you did not attach any importance to that – the sculptures looked in different directions – however, one of them was looking in your direction, while the other is peering at the closed doors. And because of the sculpture that was looking at you, an unpleasant feeling begins to oppress you from the inside. You wanted to leave this place as soon as possible. It doesn't matter where exactly.

– entrance to the hall

– entrance to the workroom

– entrance to the kitchen

– from the warehouse side -

Going further, you noticed several tables located close to each other. Closer to the wall that leads to the exit from the kitchen – bake. After a cursory glance at the open and empty cabinets, shelves, you realize that even at that time, while the owner of the house lived here, they did not meet many guests, as well as residents. Most likely, the sculptor lived here alone, having maybe no more than five servants at his disposal.

You were only surprised to notice that the tables are full of dirt, as well as patches of grass left at random. It was nothing like the usual state of the kitchen. You didn't see any traces of animals either, but you couldn't say for sure who came up with the idea to leave the kitchen that way. Unless it was someone who very much wished evil to the owner of the mansion itself. Did that mean he was still here?

Carefully stepping over the dishes and cutlery scattered on the floor, you approached the door. After hesitating for a moment, you pull her by the handle. With a prolonged creak, the way has opened up for you further. You are greeted by cold and silence, as well as a view of another closed door…

– from the lobby side -

Opening the door leading somewhere to the right side of the mansion, you notice that you have most likely got into the kitchen. Several closely spaced tables, an oven, as well as dishes scattered on the floor – clearly confirmed this. However, the general appearance of the room left much to be desired: mud was thrown everywhere, mixed with earth and grass. It seemed: who would allow such an absurdity in their right mind. Although you didn't remember all the details of this case, but it should have been only a few days. It is unlikely that the new celebrity did not have enemies, but you would not believe that one of them was able to get into this house only to create this mess.

Then, behind all this mess, you notice another passage. From here, you couldn't tell exactly where it leads.

After taking a few steps in that direction, you suddenly hear another dish fall from the shelf. It took you a moment to shift your gaze in that direction. Nothing unusual: just an aluminum saucepan. It still continued to shudder and ring, when another sound was heard from the same shelf: it was as if something heavy had fallen, but you couldn't see what it was. You began to look around desperately, trying to find the source of the new noise. When suddenly footsteps were heard. Heavy, measured, it gave the impression that this creature was in no hurry to attack, but it was definitely heading in your direction. Every moment the distance was getting shorter, until at one moment you saw footprints on the floor. It would be difficult to describe them in simple words: it's like paws, but still somewhat resembled the trail of a bird of prey.

In any case, you didn't wait any longer.

You quickly backed away, but at the same moment the creature, whatever it was, quickened its pace. At the last moment, you managed to run to the door, run out into the lobby, but the moment you tried to close it, something hit you in the back. Immediately after, a rumble was heard, and after several boards fell from the ceiling, blocking your way to that room.

It looks like we'll have to look for another path.