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Sarah Thompson was excited for her 12th birthday .
Her parents had promised her the biggest party yet , and the whole class was invited .
Balloons , a clown , games , and the biggest cake she'd ever seen .
It was going to be perfect .
2 weeks before the party , Sarah found a mysterious ornate envelope in her locker at school .
It was different from the usual birthday cards she received .
Inside was a handmade invitation on aged yellowed paper written in beautiful cursive .
Dear Sarah , you are cordially invited to a special birthday celebration in your honor .
Come to 13 Willow Lane at midnight on your birthday for a night you will never forget , a friend .
Sarah was puzzled .
She didn't know anyone who lived on Willow Lane , and the invitation didn't have a sender's name .
She showed it to her best friend , Emily , who dismissed it as a prank .
But something about the invitation intrigued Sarah .
She decided to keep it a secret from her parents .
The day of Sarah's birthday arrived , and the party was everything she had hoped for .
Her friends arrived , and the house was filled with laughter and excitement .
The clown was hilarious , the games were fun , and the cake was enormous and delicious .
But as the evening wore on , Sarah couldn't stop thinking about the invitation .
After everyone had left and her parents had gone to bed , Sarah quietly got dressed and slipped out of the house .
The night was cold , and the streets were empty .
She felt a thrill of fear and excitement as she made her way to 13 Willow Lane .
The house at 13 Willow Lane was an old abandoned mansion .
It loomed dark and foreboding against the night sky .
Sarah hesitated at the gate , wondering if she should turn back , but her curiosity got the better of her .
She pushed the gate open and walked up the creaking steps to the front door .
As Sarah approached the door , it swung open on its own .
She stepped inside , her footsteps echoing in the empty hallway .
The interior was dimly lit by flickering candles , casting eerie shadows on the walls .
She called out , but her voice was swallowed by the darkness .
Suddenly , a figure appeared at the end of the hallway .
It was a tall , thin man dressed in an old fashioned suit .
His face was pale , almost ghostly , and his eyes seemed to gleam in the candlelight .
Welcome , Sarah , he said , his voice smooth and cold .
I've been expecting you .
Sarah felt a chill run down her spine .
Who are you ?
She asked , her voice trembling .
The man smiled .
I am mister Blackwood , and tonight , you are the guest of honor at our special celebration .
Mister Blackwood led Sarah into a grand , dusty ballroom .
The room was filled with ghostly figures , their faces blank and expressionless .
They were dressed in old fashioned clothing , and their eyes followed her every move .
Who are they ?
Sarah whispered .
They are the guests of the party .
Mister Blackwood replied , they've been waiting for you .
The figures began to move , gliding across the floor as if they were dancing to a silent tune .
Sarah's fear grew , but she felt strangely drawn to them .
Mister Blackwood guided her to the center of the room .
It's time for the celebration to begin , he said , his voice echoing through the hall .
A massive ornate cake was wheeled into the room , covered in candles .
It looked ancient as if it had been made years ago and preserved just for this moment .
Mister Blackwood handed Sarah a silver knife .
Make a wish , Sarah , he said .
Sarah hesitated , then took the knife and cut into the cake .
The moment the knife touched the cake , the room was filled with a deafening roar .
The guests began to chant in a language Sarah didn't understand .
The walls seemed to close in , and the air grew thick with a suffocating darkness .
In the midst of the chaos , mister Rock Blackwood leaned in close to Sarah .
What is your wish , Sarah ?
He asked , his eyes boring into hers .
Sarah's mind raced .
She wanted to be safe , to be back home with her family .
She wanted this nightmare to end .
I wish to go home , she whispered .
Mister Blackwood's smile widened .
As you wish .
The room spun around her , the chanting grew louder , and then everything went black .
Sarah awoke with a start in her own bed .
She was drenched in sweat , her heart pounding .
The first rays of sunlight were peeking through her window .
She looked around , half expecting to see the ghostly figures from the ballroom , but everything was normal .
Had it all been a dream ?
She got up and looked at her calendar .
The date was circled , her birthday .
She had a vague , uneasy feeling , but she couldn't remember why .
Downstairs , her parents greeted her with smiles and birthday wishes .
The house was filled with decorations , and her friends were arriving for the party .
Everything seemed perfect , but Sarah couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong .
As the day went on , strange things began to happen .
Shadows moved on their own , whispers filled the air , and Sarah felt like she was being watched .
That night , as she was getting ready for bed , she noticed a strange mark on her arm , a small intricate symbol that looked like it had been burned into her skin .
Panic set in as the memories of the previous night flooded back .
She remembered the invitation , the abandoned house , mister Blackwood , and the wish .
She realized with horror that it had all been real .
Determined to find answers , Sarah decided to go back to 13 Willow Lane .
She slipped out of the house once again and made her way to the mansion .
The house looked just as it had the night before , dark and foreboding .
The front door creaked open as she approached , and she stepped inside .
The hallway was empty , and the candles were gone .
She called out , but there was no answer .
She walked through the house , her footsteps echoing in the silence .
Suddenly , she felt a cold hand on her shoulder .
She turned around to see mister Blackwood standing behind her , his eyes gleaming in the darkness .
You came back , he said , his voice a whisper .
Why did you bring me here ?
Sarah demanded , her voice shaking .
Mister Blackwood's expression softened .
You were chosen , Sarah .
Every year , on their 12th birthday , a child from your town is invited to the party .
It's a tradition that dates back centuries .
Sarah felt a wave of anger and fear .
I want to go home .
I don't wanna be a part of this .
Mister Blackwood nodded .
I understand .
But once you've been marked , there's no escaping it .
What do you mean ?
Sarah asked , her voice trembling .
The mark binds you to this place , mister Blackwood explained .
You are now a part of the celebration forever .
Sarah refused to accept her fate .
She turned and ran , her heart pounding in her chest .
She raced through the dark hallways , desperate to find a way out .
The ghostly figures reappeared , reaching out to her , their faces twisted in sorrow .
She burst through the front door and out into the night .
She didn't stop running until she reached her house .
She slammed the door behind her , panting and terrified .
Her parents found her huddled in her room , clutching the mark on her arm .
They didn't understand what had happened , but they knew something was terribly wrong .
As the years went by , Sarah never forgot the night of her 12th birthday .
The mark remained on her arm , a constant reminder of her connection to the mansion at 13 Willow Lane .
She tried to live a normal life , but the shadows and whispers never left her .
She knew that she was being watched , that the guests of the party were always near , waiting for the next child to be chosen .
She vowed to find a way to break the curse and free herself from the nightmare .
But deep down , she feared that she would never escape , that the mansion and its ghostly inhabitants would haunt her forever .
And every year on her birthday , she felt the pull of the invitation , a chilling reminder of the celebration that would never truly end .