It was a dark and stormy night. A group of friends, huddled in their car, stared at the old manor ahead. The daunting structure towered ominously, a sense of dread seeping from its decrepit walls.

"Are we really doing this?" asked Jessica, her voice trembling. She was the youngest of the group, a petite redhead with a fiery spirit, but tonight she seemed nervous.

"Don't be such a coward, Jess," teased Mark, the group's self-proclaimed leader. He was a tall, dark-haired man with a mischievous smile that did nothing to ease Jessica's nerves.

The third member of the group, Lily, simply sighed. She was the calmest of the trio, her brown eyes reflecting the lightning that lit up the sky.

Leaving the $$C_ENC_1$$ car, they approached the manor. The wind howled, and the rain seemed to grow heavier, almost as if the weather itself was warning them to turn back.

They stepped into the manor, their footsteps echoing in the vast entrance hall. Dust and decay hung in the air, a testament to the house's forgotten past.

"Let's split up," suggested Mark, his eyes gleaming with excitement. Lily nodded, and Jessica reluctantly agreed, the three friends parting ways to explore the manor.

Jessica walked through the dimly-lit corridor, the flickering shadows playing tricks on her mind. Suddenly, a soft whisper floated through the air, making her heart race.

Mark, on the other hand, had found the manor's library. As he scanned the ancient books, a cold gust of wind blew, making the candles flicker ominously.

Lily found herself in the grand dining hall. The room was filled with an eerie silence, broken only by the sound of her own breath echoing in the vast room.

Jessica, trembling, followed the whispering voice. It led her to a small, hidden room. Inside was an old portrait, the figure in it eerily familiar.

Mark, meanwhile, stumbled upon a hidden passage in the library. It led him to a secret study, where a diary lay open, its words sending chills down his spine.

Lily, in the dining hall, suddenly heard a chilling laughter echoing from the empty room. She spun around but found nothing, the laughter fading into an eerie silence.

Jessica, staring at the $$C_ENC_5$$ portrait, realized the woman bore an uncanny resemblance to herself. Fear gripped her as the woman's eyes seemed to follow her every move.

The $$C_ENC_6$$ diary Mark discovered revealed dark secrets about the manor's past. It spoke of a curse, of a tragedy that had befallen the manor's previous residents.

Lily, shaken by the laughter, decided to leave the dining hall. As she turned to leave, a ghostly figure appeared before her, causing her to scream in terror.

Hearing Lily's scream, Jessica and Mark rushed towards the sound. They found Lily huddled in a corner, pale as a ghost, pointing at the $$C_ENC_7$$ ghostly figure.

The ghostly figure vanished as abruptly as it appeared, leaving the friends in a state of shock. They decided to stick together, the manor's horrors growing increasingly real.

Mark, leading the group, read aloud from the $$C_ENC_6$$ diary, its words painting a grim picture of the manor's history. The friends realized they were not alone in the manor.

The friends stumbled upon a locked door at the end of a long corridor. Mark managed to unlock it, revealing a hidden chamber with a chilling atmosphere.

The chamber was filled with old photographs and personal items of the manor's previous residents. As they explored, the friends felt a growing sense of unease.

Suddenly, a chilling wind swept through the chamber, extinguishing their flashlights. They stood in complete darkness, their hearts pounding in fear.

The $$C_ENC_5$$ portrait Jessica had seen earlier appeared in the chamber. The woman in the portrait seemed to come alive, her eyes glowing in the darkness.

The friends were trapped in the chamber, the doors slamming shut. The ghostly figure from earlier reappeared, its form more distinct, its presence more terrifying.

They could do nothing but watch as the ghostly figure moved towards them. The room grew colder, the presence of the ghostly figure becoming more menacing.

Suddenly, a blinding light filled the chamber. The $$C_ENC_5$$ portrait lady stepped out, her gaze fixed on Jessica. She spoke, her voice echoing in the chamber.

She revealed herself as the lady of the manor, trapped due to the curse. She asked for their help to lift the curse, freeing her and the manor from the horror.

The friends agreed to help, guided by the lady. They performed a ritual, the manor shaking as the curse was lifted. The ghostly figure vanished, the chamber growing quiet.

The lady thanked them, her form fading as she finally found peace. The friends left the manor, the dawn breaking as they stepped outside.

They looked back at the manor one last time. It no longer looked ominous, but peaceful, freed from its haunted past. Their adventure had ended, but the memories would linger.