Sabrina is watching

Adam and the lot may not have heard the deafening screen, but they were definitely curious to know what stopped Joe at the door with a shock. How was it even possible for the devices to not detect something? If there was a sound, it should have had some impact. For a moment, it did seem like Joe was making it all up to convince Adam to leave him alone. But that was far from the case. If that really was the case, why would Joe even ask Adam to help him settle down? At this point, it was possible to believe anything. Blenheim Manor wasn't a usual manor, despite what Joe wanted to believe.

Joe's rationality always had the upper hand over everything else. Despite what happened to his father, and what he heard right before stepping into the house, Joe wasn't convinced it was supernatural phenomenon. It may as well have been the screeching sound of a chair or a flock of birds causing something to move or fall. No matter what Joe told himself, something had caused the crew to be alarmed on the lookout or unusual activity. With all of their devices turned on and placed at different corners of the house, Adam and his crew were waiting for a sound to blow.

Joe found everything in its place. You could tell how much the locality was scared to even breathe near the manor. Everything was untouched and placed right in the spot where it was 13 years ago. Joe was sure that no one tried getting their hands on any item despite many attempts to auction the stuff off over the years.

Clogged drains cobwebs in every corner, and thick layers of dust built on the surface of the furniture prompted Joe, Adam and the rest to clean up. After hours of cleaning, they were finally able to help Joe have enough space to settle down.

“I know we promised to help you settle in, but the manor is too big my friend,” said Adam after resting for a bit.

Joe, on the other hand, was busy noticing every detail in the bedrooms, kitchen and of course the living room where he found his father dead. The couch still had a hint of dried blood from that day, and the ornaments his mother loved had rust all over them. While Joe was able to revive them to an extent, there was a lot he could no longer use. Being back was astonishing, but for all the wrong reasons.

As the sun started setting down, Adam’s crew requested to leave. After all, the Blenheim Manor was far from welcoming in the day, so the dark was bound to make it creepier. This could have been one adventure of a night but truth be told, they all seemed too tired to care about finding paranormal activity. Plus, the manor’s murderous history was enough to freak out even the strongest individuals. Eventually they left and all the house had to itself were two exhausted individuals who couldn't wait to doze off.

It was almost 10pm and the House did not have an electricity supply yet. The duo managed to light a few candles and sat in a corner, revisiting their childhood memories to kill the awkwardness. Shortly after, Adam got up to leave but was advised to stay back since it was too late to be out on his own. Salem was famous for its witches and demons and for being a hotbed for criminal activity. In fact, over the last few years, the crime rates surged to an alarming extent, thanks to the rising costs of living.

“It's weird out 13 years ago, my mother wouldn't even let me step foot on the street that led to this house, and here I am, spending the night here,” Adam chuckled while speaking.

He proceeded to ask Joe about his time in New York and what brought him back to Salem, when they both heard a loud noise upstairs.

“But don't worry, it's probably the window,” said Joe to calm Adam down.

One part of Joe was still angry at Adam for not being there when he needed in the most. However, another part of him tried to reason with the circumstances. Regardless, too much had happened over the years for Joe to care about this one particular incident. His life had turned upside down, and it was too late to make amends. Adam may have been absent from Joe's life, but he was also one of the very few reasons that allowed Joe to stay in this small shady Town of Salem

They could hear a bunch of strange noises around the house but Joe didn't seem alarmed at all. On the other hand, Adam looked at Joe whenever he needed an explanation for whatever he heard.

“It's an old, isolated house. You'll hear the sound of birds and winds more than usual. Don't be scared, I lived a prime of my life here,” Joe went on in an attempt to put the thoughts in Adam’s head to rest.

He also went on to talk about the topic Adam had started earlier and explain how his financial problems had brought him back to Salem. They both shared stories of events that had unraveled in their lives in the last 13 years. From Adams struggle to become a paranormal expert to Joe's journey back home. That night was filled with giggles and chuckles throughout.

The time kept passing and a wave of silence filled the air. They both soon realized how silences are much more frightening to deal with than the sound of strong howling winds. Regardless, Joe kept talking to make sure Adam was comfortable. They talked about his struggles in the city and the short-lived success he. enjoyed before drowning in debt and eventually returning. Adam also reciprocated and talked about the breakup that left him distraught for several years. Adam and Anna were the talks of the town for quite a while before she was found cheating with the pharmacy owner’s son. Soon, Anna left town and Adam was left to deal with a trauma.

“Even though it's been five years, it seems like it was just yesterday that I was planning to slit my throat or cutting my veins,” said Adam as he described his struggle with suicide after the breakup.

Empathizing had never been easy for Joe. Despite his attempts to make a person feel heard and understood, he often failed miserably, after all, they both carried their own baggage and there was only so much they could understand of each other. However, to kill the tension in the air, Joe changed the subject and spoke about his plans to open up an organic vegetable startup.

Joe was aware of the town's hardships. People often had to travel long distances before they could get their hands on fresh produce. He described how his mother would often struggle to purchase quality vegetables from the town and how it would often upset his father when there was nothing good to eat at home. However, it was Joe's desire to make something out of his mother's attempts to grow vegetables and fruits in their garden.

“It's a long shot, but I know it's worth it,” set Joe.

For one thing, Salem wasn't as hard on his pocket as New York. He didn't have that many expenses. And for now, there wasn't even an electricity bill to care for. Maybe coming back home was the best decision Joe had made in a long time. Maybe it wasn't as bad as he was expecting it to be. For all he knows, he may soon be running a successful business and earning enough to afford a decent living. Until then, it's just him, his thoughts and the manor.

Soon enough, they both fell asleep. The night was surprisingly calm and quiet. It almost seemed as if the stories and rumors about the house and the witch inside it would soon subside. Maybe a few days down the lane, people will start taking this route again. Maybe all this house needed was Joe to put all the gossip to rest. But who knows what Sabrina had in mind? Who knows what the following morning was going to bring? And who knows how right or wrong Joe had been about Blenheim manor after all, silence has never been a reality in the manor, at least not for the last 13 years or at least not according to those who tried their luck at getting inside.

Did Joe make a mistake by breaking the door? Did he liberate a spirit he wasn't supposed to? That he opened the door to his own doom? Only time can tell.