The clock struck midnight as lightning split the sky. Rain poured down, cloaking the mansion in eerie silence. Inside, candles flickered, casting dancing shadows on the walls. A figure moved silently through the darkened hallways, footsteps echoing. The grand library loomed ahead, its oak doors slightly ajar. A book lay open on the table, pages rustling gently. Suddenly, a scream pierced the tranquility, shattering the stillness.