The Haunting of Thornwood Manor

    By Iltima Ifteza

    The Haunting of Thornwood Manor cover image

    30 Apr, 2024

    a woman standing in front of a large house with a clock on it's wall and a tree, gothic art, a character portrait, Edgar Ainsworth, victorian

    Lily, the sole survivor of the tragic accident, found herself in the deserted Thornwood Manor, a world away from the warmth of her home.

    a man and a woman in formal wear standing in a room with a chandelier and a chandelier, international gothic, a detailed matte painting, Anne Said, set in 1860

    Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood, parents of her late childhood friend, took her in, their shared grief creating an unspoken bond.

    a woman sitting at a desk with a book and pen in her hand and a book in front of her, figurative art, an ultrafine detailed painting, Edgar Ainsworth, pre - raphaelite

    As years passed, Lily found solace in the manor's study, the scent of old books replacing the perfume of her mother.

    a man sitting at a desk with a book and pen in his hand and a stack of books behind him, pre-raphaelitism, a storybook illustration, Edgar Ainsworth, pre - raphaelite

    One day, Aaron, the Blackwoods' distant nephew arrived. His arrival stirred something within Lily, a feeling she hadn't experienced in years.

    a couple in front of a full moon and a house with trees and bushes in the background, one of them is hugging the other, gothic art, a storybook illustration, Cedric Seaut (Keos Masons), official art

    Aaron and Lily grew close, their shared loneliness binding them together. On a moonlit night, he proposed, his words echoing in the silent mansion.

    a man and woman standing in front of a castle at night with the moon in the background and a full moon in the sky, neo-romanticism, a storybook illustration, Edgar Ainsworth, storybook illustration

    With the Blackwoods' blessing, they married, hoping to fill the mansion with laughter and joy, to banish the gloom that had settled for years.

    a woman sitting at a table with a suitcase in front of her and papers all over the wall behind her, context art, an ultrafine detailed painting, Brad Kunkle, highly detailed digital painting

    One day, Lily stumbled upon a trunk in the attic. Inside were newspaper clippings about her family's accident, but something didn't seem right.

    a woman sitting on a bench in a room with a window and a piano in front of her,, american scene painting, an ultrafine detailed painting, Brad Kunkle, leesha hannigan

    The articles hinted at foul play, suggesting that it wasn't an accident. Lily's heart pounded as she pieced together the dreadful truth.

    a woman in a suit standing in a hallway with a chandelier above her head and a chandelier above her head, figurative art, an ultrafine detailed painting, Charlie Bowater, stanley artgerm lau

    Lily confronted Aaron, her eyes filled with accusation. He confessed, his guilt evident. His father had orchestrated the accident to acquire her family's wealth.

    a black and white drawing of a man and woman in formal wear and a man in a suit and tie, gothic art, an ultrafine detailed painting, Edgar Ainsworth, victorian

    The Blackwoods were aghast. Betrayal and guilt filled the air. Aaron was banished, leaving Lily alone once more in the haunted mansion.

    a woman standing in front of a house with a lightning in the background and a storm coming in from the sky, gothic art, poster art, Dan Mumford, comic cover art

    Lily decided to stay, determined to reclaim her life. She transformed the mansion, erasing its haunted past, creating a home filled with love and trust.

    a woman standing in front of a large building under a cloudy sky with a lightning behind her and a black and white photo of a woman, gothic art, a detailed matte painting, Edgar Ainsworth, gothic

    Her spirit stronger, Lily lived on, a beacon of resilience. Amidst the storm, Thornwood Manor stood tall, its haunting past now a distant memory.

    The Haunting of Thornwood Manor