Inside, the ballroom looked untouched by time. Dust blanketed everything, but the room still held its shape—as though a grand party had ended only moments ago. Tables were set, chairs pulled back, glasses waiting on silver trays. A grand piano sat in the corner with one key pressed down, holding a silent note that seemed to hum through the air. Emily raised her camera. “It’s like everyone just vanished,” she murmured.
Their flashlights swept over peeling wallpaper and faded gold moldings that still shimmered faintly. They moved toward the piano. On the stand lay sheet music titled “The Waltz of Forever.” Liam tapped a key, and the faint echo rang through the room like a memory trying to return. Nearby, a champagne glass sat perfectly upright on a small table, its contents long evaporated but unbroken.
Next to it lay a silver tray and a pocket watch engraved with the initials C.W. “Someone lived well here,” Liam whispered. Emily frowned. “Or loved deeply,” she said, pointing at a crooked painting on the far wall. Beneath it, the wallpaper bulged as if concealing something. Liam’s heartbeat quickened. “Let’s see what’s behind it.” Together, they lifted the heavy portrait, releasing a cloud of dust. Behind it was a small wooden door, sealed and forgotten. A faint draft slipped through its cracks. Emily hesitated. “You really want to open that?” Liam grinned. “That’s what we came for.” He twisted the handle. It clicked, then gave way.
Continue reading on the next page to find out what was hidden behind the painting!