In front of a haunted house, three schoolgirls were shooting a video. It was nighttime, around 10 p.m. Darkness surrounded them, and an eerie silence made the atmosphere even more terrifying. This haunted house stood near a forest on the outskirts of New York and had been abandoned for many years. People said that the spirit of a doctor haunted this house.
From the outside, the house looked completely dilapidated, but inside, everything was surprisingly well-organized — as if someone came there every day. Recently, a couple had visited the house for some private time, but the girl had died mysteriously, and her boyfriend had gone insane. He kept repeating that the doctor would kill him too. When these three girls visited the mental asylum to meet the boy, he refused to see them. That's why the three schoolgirls came to this haunted house to shoot for their online channel, "The Ghost Mentors." They wanted to uncover the mystery behind the ghost house and help the boy, who was now the prime suspect in his girlfriend's death.
Among the three, Claire was the leader of the group. She was from Pennsylvania, a place known for its haunted experiences. Claire had grown up listening to ghost stories and had always been more drawn to the spirit world than the human one. Her fascination came from a tragedy — her father, a sheriff, had died while investigating a haunted house. He had received a call claiming that some robbers were hiding there after shooting a bank employee. But after entering the house, he never came out alive. A few days later, his body was found on the top floor of the same house.
The post-mortem revealed that he had died of shock — as if he had seen something that terrified him to death. Claire knew her father had been a fearless man, and if his death had been caused by fear, then he must have witnessed something beyond human understanding. Her mother, however, hated anything related to ghosts and the supernatural, keeping Claire away from it. But Claire was determined to uncover the truth behind her father's death and prove to the world that not only humans but supernatural beings also exist.
The second member of the group was Stephanie, who came from an ancient exorcist family in New York. Her family had been helping people get rid of evil spirits for generations. Because of her lineage, Stephanie possessed some god-gifted powers — she was a paranormal medium who could communicate with spirits and help them move on to the afterlife. She joined Claire's team not only because she was Claire's best friend but also because she wanted to carry forward her family's legacy.
The last member was Lily, who came from a wealthy family and was also a close friend of Claire and Stephanie. Beautiful and modern, Lily wasn't particularly interested in the paranormal content of their channel. She only wanted to become famous so she could later pursue a career as a model and actress.
That night, the three of them stood in front of the haunted house, preparing to shoot their debut video for "The Ghost Mentors."
"Lily! You checked all the equipment before coming, right?" Claire asked while setting up the camera near the main door of the house.
"Yes! I checked everything — and my makeup box too," Lily replied with a mischievous smile.
"Guys! Be quiet for a moment and listen carefully," Stephanie said, glancing around the house. "There are very strong negative vibes around here. I can feel that many people were killed in this place, and their souls are trapped inside this house. But they're scared — as if there's another entity here that won't let them move on to the afterlife and has imprisoned them."
"Guys! Are you sure you want to do this? What if, while trying to solve the mystery of this haunted house, we end up becoming a mystery ourselves?" Lily asked, pulling a flashlight out of her bag and looking at her two friends.
"Look! I'm sure about what I'm doing," Claire replied while checking the camera one last time. "But you and Stephanie are free to make your own decisions. If you want, you can still go back to the apartment. I'll investigate this case on my own and meet you both later."
"Claire, starting this online channel and helping trapped spirits find peace was a decision we all made together," Stephanie said firmly. "So now there's no turning back. Besides, this house may look terrifying from the outside, but its past is far more horrifying. The souls trapped here are in great pain… and I want to help them."
With that, Stephanie unlocked the main door.
As soon as the door creaked open, a strange sound echoed — like several people groaning in pain at once. The three girls froze for a moment. When they stepped inside, what they saw left them speechless. The house, contrary to its crumbling exterior, was perfectly organized — exactly as the boy had told the police. It looked as though someone stayed there every night, cleaning and arranging everything neatly.
On one of the walls, Claire noticed a framed photograph — a doctor standing with his wife and daughter.
Lily began filming the interior shots, while Stephanie closed her eyes for a moment, trying to sense the presence of any spirits lingering in the house.
"Steph, give me that copy of the police statement — the one that boy gave to the officers," Claire said, walking toward her.
Stephanie reached into her bag and handed her the report. Claire began reading the statement carefully once again. A few moments later, Lily joined them.
"What is it, Claire?" Lily asked curiously.
"According to the boy's statement," Claire began, "he and his girlfriend came to this house around 7 p.m., but the strange things started happening after 11 p.m. That means whatever occurred here in the past is somehow connected to 11 o'clock at night. There's more — he told the police that he saw the spirit of the doctor, the one who killed his girlfriend. It happened while they were… being intimate in the doctor's bedroom. Before killing her, the doctor's spirit shouted, 'Punishment is often given to those who haven't committed the crime.' We need to dig into the history of this house as soon as possible. But we're running out of time — there are only 10 minutes left until 11." Claire glanced at the clock hanging in the hallway.
"Lily, quickly seal all the doors and windows with salt," Stephanie said, handing her a small bottle. "If we have to escape later, the doctor's spirit might try to follow us and possess our bodies once we're outside. Salt will prevent that."
As Lily hurried to sprinkle salt along every door and window, Stephanie sat cross-legged on the floor and began drawing a sacred circle with salt, chanting softly. "No matter what happens, both of you must stay inside this circle," she said seriously. "As long as we remain within it, we'll be safe. No spirit can enter this boundary."
Lily finished sealing all the doors and windows and joined Stephanie inside the circle.
"Claire! Come quickly, what are you doing?" Stephanie shouted.
Hearing her, Claire rushed inside the circle and stood beside Lily and Stephanie — just as the clock's ticking grew louder, and only three minutes remained until 11.
All three of their hearts were pounding violently. Their bodies were drenched in sweat as the thought of what might happen next sent chills down their spines.
Then suddenly, the clock struck eleven. With each chime of the bell, every other sound around them faded away. An eerie stillness fell over the entire house. Even the insects outside, which had been buzzing moments before, went completely silent.
In the next instant, the atmosphere inside the house began to change. Everything around them shifted — the broken furniture, the dusty walls, and the cobwebs vanished. The house now looked exactly as it must have years ago, when the doctor and his family still lived there.
Sensing the change, Stephanie immediately tightened her grip on Claire and Lily's hands, afraid that even by mistake they might step outside the protective circle.
And then — they heard it.
From the doctor's bedroom upstairs came the muffled voices of a man and a woman. The tone was tense — like a couple arguing over something serious. The sound was faint at first, but slowly, it grew clearer, echoing through the silent halls of the haunted house.