"There was only one rule: don’t open the door.”

In the sleepy town of Ravenswood, nestled within the heart of the Whispering Woods, stood the enigmatic mansion of the reclusive Mr. Blackwood. Local lore whispered tales of an inheritance that came with a terrible cost. The mansion's latest caretaker, Emily, received an ominous letter with two instructions: tend the mansion and obey the sole rule.

Curiosity gnawed at Emily's soul like mice in the walls. Every creaking floorboard, every groaning beam, seemed to whisper secrets. One stormy night, lightning illuminated the forbidden door. Emily's resolve crumbled.

As the door creaked open, a chill swept through the hallway. Inside, a room filled with antique dolls stared back, their glassy eyes glowing with an otherworldly light. Suddenly, the dolls moved, their tiny mouths opening in unison. "We've waited," they whispered, before their faces contorted into grotesque grins.

Emily stumbled backward, but her feet felt heavy, as if rooted. The dolls began to change—twisting, elongating and merging into a towering figure with eyes that burned like embers.

"Welcome, caretaker," it growled, voice like crackling wood. "Now, you'll tend us forever."

In that moment, Emily understood the rule's purpose. Some secrets were meant to remain locked away.