Whispers of the Wraith

The rain lashed against the ancient stone of the castle, a cacophony of sorrow and anger. Inside, the air was thick with dust and the lingering scent of decay. The four thieves, each with a story as dark as the shadows that clung to the walls, huddled together in the dim light of a flickering candle.

Ezra, the ringleader with a scar that ran from his ear to his jaw, was the first to speak. "We were warned, but who knew the castle would be cursed?" He looked around the room, his eyes catching the faint glimmer of something metallic hidden under a pile of dusty blankets.

Gwen, the youngest, her face pale and trembling, clutched her knife tightly. "It's the ghosts, isn't it? The legends say they're not just spirits, but something... more." Her voice was a whisper, barely audible above the wind's howl outside.

"You needn't be afraid," said Max, the muscle of the group, with a tone that suggested he could crush any ghost beneath his boot. He retrieved the object, a small, ornate box, and handed it to Lila, the hacker. "This is the key to the treasure room. Let's get out of here before the ghosts come for us."

Lila's fingers danced over the keypad, her eyes flicking to the old, ornate clock on the wall. "I'm in. The code is activated, but we have to move fast. The ghosts won't wait for us."

As they made their way through the dark corridors, the castle seemed to come alive with whispers and moans. The air grew colder, and a chill ran down the spines of the thieves. Max's hand tightened on the gun at his hip, but no matter how hard he searched, he could not find the source of the sounds.

Ezra's voice was steady despite the fear that clawed at his chest. "Stay together, follow me. We'll make it out alive."

Suddenly, the ground trembled, and the candle flickered and sputtered. The sound of metal clinking echoed through the halls. The thieves exchanged a nervous glance, then followed the sound.

In the treasure room, the box was opened, revealing a glint of gold and jewels. Max's eyes widened as he reached for the jewels, but just as his fingers touched them, the ground beneath him gave way, and he plunged into darkness.

Gwen's scream echoed through the castle as she watched helplessly from the edge. Lila, frozen in place, realized too late that the treasure room was a trap. She tried to run, but her feet felt leaden, her breaths shallow.

Ezra's hand was the next to fall into the abyss, and Gwen felt the cold touch of death on her own skin as she followed her companions. The box, now empty, clattered into the darkness below, the sound of the jewels hitting the floor lost to the void.

The castle, now silent, seemed to sigh with relief as the last of the thieves disappeared into the abyss. The air grew warm, and the candles burned brightly once more, as if nothing had happened. The castle was at peace again, and the ghosts had claimed their payment.

Gwen's eyes opened, and she found herself lying on the cold stone floor, surrounded by the detritus of her life. She reached out, feeling the coolness of the stone against her skin, and whispered, "Goodbye, friends. It's time for me to go."

As her fingers brushed against the edge of the abyss, she felt the castle's breath against her cheek, and a soft, wistful whisper reached her ears. "Rest, Gwen. The next time the moon is full, you'll be with us."

With that, Gwen's eyes closed, and she floated upwards, a silent witness to the end of the haunted castle, where the dead demanded their due.