Chapter 143
[Claire's POV]
After waiting about fifteen minutes, a standard Silverwood Police Department patrol car turned onto Maple Street, followed closely by Mike's crime scene investigation van. Sarah Chen emerged from the patrol car, holding a document folder, and strode quickly toward our SUV.
I immediately opened the door to greet her. Sarah raised the folder with a professional expression. "Search warrant came through. We can enter 237 Maple Street immediately." Her voice was firm and clear, displaying her training as an officer.
I exhaled in relief and nodded. "Thank goodness. Something about this house feels very wrong."
Mike retrieved his portable toolkit and camera equipment from the investigation van and joined the team. He surveyed the Victorian house, his brow furrowing. "The place looks abandoned for years. You sure this is the target location?"
I showed him the comparison photos on my phone. "White fence, house structure, red brick pathway—everything matches."
The sky had darkened considerably, with streetlights just beginning to flicker on. The Victorian building at 237 Maple Street appeared particularly ominous in the dim light—its peaked roof cast bizarre shadows in the twilight, and the tightly drawn curtains resembled hollow eyes staring at the street. A chill ran down my spine. This house emanated a strange, unsettling aura that added to the horror atmosphere.
The four of us approached the front entrance together. Mike led the way, pulling on blue latex gloves and carefully reaching for the doorknob. To everyone's surprise, the door opened freely—it hadn't been locked. The hinges emitted an ear-piercing creak as the door swung slowly inward.
When our flashlight beams illuminated the foyer, we all gasped. Beyond the threshold lay thick spiderwebs, as if no one had lived here for years. Dense cobwebs hung from the ceiling, covering the entryway table, picture frames, and chandelier like gray curtains. The floor bore a thick layer of dust, clearly visible in the flashlight beams, with no recent footprints whatsoever.
Sarah entered first, surveying the area alertly, her right hand instinctively resting on her service weapon. "This really does look like years of abandonment," she said, her voice echoing through the empty house.
I followed closely, my heartbeat accelerating. This situation completely contradicted NightWatcher_03's active forum presence just three days ago.
Mike examined the doorframe and lock. "No signs of forced entry. Lock mechanism's functional, just not engaged."
The air reeked of mildew and mustiness, mixed with the smell of rotting wood. Occasionally, wind whistled through broken window seals, producing low moans like the house itself groaning. My flashlight swept across the walls, revealing peeling wallpaper exposing moldy plaster beneath.
Samantha maintained high alert, staying close beside me, her hand on her communication device, ready to call for backup at any moment.
Sarah gathered the team briefly in the foyer, her expression serious. "This situation is very wrong. Looks like at least a year since anyone lived here." She turned to me. "You certain this is our person's house?"
I nodded firmly. "This is the only house in this neighborhood matching his home. Look—white wooden fence, Victorian architecture, red brick pathway in the backyard—these features all perfectly match. NightWatcher_03 must have some connection to this house." I pulled up the saved forum screenshots on my phone for emphasis.
"But the houses in this area are relatively spread out," Samantha added, "and many are obscured by large trees. If it gets dark, identification will be difficult. We have maybe ninety minutes of daylight left."
Mike crouched to examine the dust layer on the floor, lightly touching it with his finger. "The dust accumulation thickness indicates this place hasn't been maintained for at least two to three years. But that doesn't mean there are no clues." He looked up at Sarah. "I suggest we still conduct a thorough search. There might be more leads. Maybe this place holds important information."
Sarah considered for a moment before deciding. "Alright, we'll conduct a complete search. Mike and I will handle the first floor. Claire and Samantha, you take the second floor." She looked at me seriously. "Watch your safety. The floorboards may be unstable. Report any anomalies immediately via radio."
I nodded in acceptance. My investigative instincts told me this abandoned house definitely harbored secrets.
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Samantha and I began ascending the stairs. The wooden steps emitted unsettling creaks under our weight, each step seeming to challenge the old house's load-bearing limits. The second-floor hallway was even darker, with denser cobwebs. My flashlight beam could only illuminate a limited range.
I first pushed open the master bedroom door. The room was similarly covered in dust and cobwebs. A double bed occupied the center, its sheets yellowed and moldy. Cosmetic bottles lay toppled on the vanity, the mirror coated with thick dust.
Samantha opened the closet to reveal outdated women's clothing hanging inside, styles at least ten years old. She carefully checked the closet bottom and under the bed, shaking her head to indicate no valuable clues.
I surveyed the room, confirming no overlooked details. "Nothing here," I said quietly, feeling a tinge of disappointment. But I didn't give up, turning toward another door at the corridor's end—the study. Some instinct drove me to believe the answer lay there.
The study doorknob felt ice-cold, emitting a slight friction sound when turned. The room was smaller than the bedroom but relatively tidy. Against the wall stood a dark wooden bookshelf with several books arranged haphazardly. An old desktop computer sat on the desk, its screen covered in dust, the monitor yellowed.
I approached the bookshelf, my flashlight beam scanning the spines—mostly crime novels and detective stories, plus several old-looking hardcover volumes.
Just as I felt this was a wasted effort and couldn't find any clues, I casually opened a thick hardcover book from the shelf. A folded piece of parchment suddenly fell from between the pages, floating lightly to my feet.
I bent down to pick up this aged paper with curled edges. Carefully unfolding it, when the flashlight illuminated its surface, my pupils dilated sharply. I froze completely in place. The content on the parchment shocked me profoundly.
My hand began trembling violently. I felt dizzy and had to brace myself against the bookshelf with my other hand to maintain balance. My breathing became rapid, my heart pounding so hard it seemed ready to leap from my chest.
"This... how is this possible..." My voice quavered, barely a whisper.
Samantha immediately noticed my abnormal reaction and quickly moved to my side. "Claire, what did you find?"
I looked up, my face appearing unusually pale in the flashlight glow, my eyes flashing with shock, confusion, and deep fear. I opened my mouth to speak but found my throat tight, momentarily unable to form words.
With trembling hands, I passed the parchment to Samantha. She took it and looked, her expression mirroring my shock.