Mansi, Aditya, Kashish, and Daksh had always loved adventure. They had explored forests, climbed mountains, and uncovered hidden places in their town. But nothing felt as thrilling as the old, abandoned manor that loomed at the edge of the woods.

People whispered about ghosts, about strange sounds at night, about those who entered but never returned the same. But Daksh, the bravest of them all, laughed at the idea of spirits. Kashish, almost as bold, followed him inside, while Mansi and Aditya hesitated at the doorway.

The house was cold and silent, the air thick with dust. Footsteps echoed as they walked, and shadows stretched strangely against the walls. Then, the first sign - whispers.

Faint voices, calling their names.

Mansi grabbed Aditya's arm, her breath shaky. Kashish swallowed her fear and stepped forward, scanning the darkness. Daksh led the way, his flashlight slicing through the gloom.

Then - slam! The door shut behind them.

Aditya rushed to it, pulling at the handle, but it wouldn't budge. The whispers grew louder. A laugh - chilling, echoing - filled the room. Suddenly, Kashish gasped. She pointed to an old mirror in the corner.

Her reflection smiled at her, but she wasn't smiling.

"We need to get out," Mansi murmured, her hands trembling. But Daksh clenched his jaw.

"No. We face this," he said firmly. He grabbed a rusted candlestick from the floor. "We won't be prisoners."

With Kashish beside him, they advanced. The whispers turned to screams. The shadows twisted and moved on their own. Then, something stepped out of the darkness - tall, cloaked in shadows, its eyes glowing faintly.

Daksh raised the candlestick like a weapon. "You don't scare us!"

The house groaned, its walls shaking. The figure hissed, retreating into the shadows. The door creaked open.

Without hesitation, they ran. But as they reached the edge of the forest, Aditya slowed. His face paled.

"The mirror?" he whispered.

"What?" Kashish asked, catching her breath.

Aditya's reflection. It had stayed behind. It had grinned - widely, unnaturally.

A chill ran through them. And then, from deep within the manor, the whispers started again. But this time, they weren't calling their names.

They were laughing.