Joseph and the Forbidden Forest

On a dark, moonless night, in a remote village inhabited by myths and legends, Joseph returned home late. The air was cold and breathless, and the streets were empty except for the sound of his footsteps, which echoed in the darkness. As he was passing by the Forbidden Forest, he heard a strange voice calling his name in a whisper, “Yu... Sf... Yu... Sf...” Despite his fear, he felt an intense curiosity pushing him towards the source of the sound. He entered the forest, and the deeper he went, the fog became thicker until he could no longer see in front of him. The voice became clearer, “Joseph... here... follow me...” He followed the voice until he found himself in front of an old, dilapidated palace, the doors automatically opened for him. Inside, a faint light flashed, guiding him inside. Suddenly, the doors slammed shut behind him. The main room was filled with pictures, pictures of people whose eyes seemed to follow him wherever he went. He found an old book open on a table, the title of which was “Soul Contract.” He heard the whisper again, but this time it was closer, chilling as he realized the sound was coming from behind him. He slowly turned around to find...nothing! There was no one there. At that moment the pictures on the walls began to scream, demanding his soul. Joseph ran towards the door, but the palace seemed to be changing, and the roads were tangling. He tried to scream but his voice wouldn't come out. His awareness of coming out was diminishing. As the spirits approached, he found a small window. With all his strength he pushed himself through it, and fell out into the dawn light. He jumped to his feet and never looked back, leaving the palace and its terrifying sounds behind. Since that night, Joseph had never passed by that forest again, and the story of the haunted mansion continued to be told in the village, a warning to all who dared approach.