Hey guys, it's the Ghost. It's time for another outrageous adventure. Let's
get into the request I received, which stated unusual happenings at the Eldridge Estate.
Greetings Ghost, I hope this message finds you in good health. My
name is Madeline Eldridge, and I'm writing to you from Prague, where our
family estate is. I found myself in a rather perplexing situation, and I'll
admit I'm a bit hesitant to divulge all the details in this writing. However,
I believe your unique expertise may shed light on this enigma, and so
hence my note to you. Lately, there have been unsettling events and unusual
occurrences that have left me feeling uneasy. I can say that, for better
or worse, we have been a family of secrets. We have entered into
certain agreements and commitments through the generations to maintain our pold on this world.
However, I can tell you that the never ending time has not served us
well. I sense that you possess an understanding of the inexplicable, and I
would like to extend an invitation for you to visit the Eldridge Estate in person.
If you are intrigued and willing to explore this mystery with me. I
would greatly appreciate your assistance. Please let me know if you would be willing
to join me here and I can further provide information in person. Your presence
may help unravel the mysteries that have begun to haunt this place. Looking forward
to your response, Madeleine Eldridge. Now you might wonder how I received this
request, and I'm what I mean by that is was I going to take
it seriously because there isn't really a lot of information in it. But pretty
much, guys, with every request that I get, I take each one
seriously until there's a point when I don't. I disregard so many more requests
than we actually take and I've mentioned that before, but I don't really go
through all of that, but it does happen all the time. But with
each one, I need to do my due diligence to make sure that I
take the time to legitimize the ones that actually do need to get done.
No one can really get a hold of me though, you know, unless
they have an actual problem and get my information from someone in my network.
The question always is is it really a problem for us. You know,
maybe the client thinks that no one else can help them, but we might
know that the job is not for us, but can refer them and things
like that. But anyway, this request is telling me that this person is
very afraid and doesn't want to tell me everything for fear of even writing it
down or spelling it out, typing it out. So it's something that I
want to look into to make sure that this person is okay, because from
the sounds of it, she's dealing with something quite significant. I fill the
team in on this request like I always do, and share with them my
interest in going to meet the client. I want to find out what is
behind this request to help find out if it's a good fit for us,
which we all decide it's a good idea to go to prag and find out.
So off I go, and I'll fast forward to Madeleine Eldridge. Her
expression, carrying the weight of all those generations of secrets that she mentioned,
led me into a dimly lit study within the Eldridge estate. The room was
a testament to the family's storied history, adorned with ancient tapestries and dusty old
books. She gestured for me to take a seat, and with a weariness
in her eyes that spoke volumes, she began to recount the family's struggle.
Before delving into the legend. She spoke of the toll that this agreement,
whatever that is, had taken on her family. She revealed that it required
draining rituals to take place, and initially her family had managed to endure those
rituals. The darkness and despair that followed each ritual would only last a few
days, but as the years passed, the toll had grown. The depression
and exhaustion were no longer temporary. They had become a constant burden on her
family's shoulders, sapping their vitality. And what's worse, the rituals drained more
and more from each family member with each passing year, leaving some with permanent
emotional scars. Madeleine's voice quivered with the sadness as she described how her family,
once vibrant and full of life, had been gradually drained of their essence.
It was a slow and painful decline, and Madeleine's determination to break free
from this curse was fueled by the desperate need to restore her family's well being.
With this heavy revelation weighing on my mind. Madeleine continued her tale,
speaking of this evil entity, known as the Benefactor as their family had named
it, and the dark choice her ancestor had made. What she told me
was a family legend, and it went like this. In the days of
her great great great grandfather, Nathaniel Eldridge, the estate was not the imposing
place it is today. Her family faced dire circumstances. Nathaniel was a financier,
a banker of sorts, and his fortunes had taken a devastating turn.
His businesses were failing, and he was burdened by debts and mistakes and the
ravages of time. As he sat in the dark recesses of the family vault,
contemplating his impending doom, family legend says he was visited by a being
of immense darkness and power. It tells us that the Benefactor offered Nathaniel a
choice, a way to reverse his misfortunes. It could restore his youthful mind
and extend his life by a few precious years, giving him the chance to
rebuild his empire, a second chance. But this offer came at a great
cost. Nathaniel had been granted forty eight hours to experience the rejuvenation, to
taste the possibilities of what he could achieve with a clear mind and youthful vigor.
It was a test of his character, a test to see if he
could resist the temptation that lay before him. As the legend goes, Nathaniel
could not resist the allure of youth and power. When the forty eight hours
had passed, he made a fateful decision to continue down that path to keep
the Benefactor's gift, and in doing so, he forged a dark path on
behalf of her family. Madeline sighed deeply, the weight of the legend pressing
upon her, and then finished up. She told me that since that day,
the Eldridge family has lived with the consequences of that choice. She was
clear that they do not possess eternal youth, but their lives have been unnaturally
extended far beyond the ordinary span of mortal men, about thirty to fifty years,
according to Madeleine, and with that they are bound by this curse to
serve the Benefactor, engaging in dark deeds rituals to maintain their extended lives.
When Madeline was all done, she looked up at me, her eyes meeting
mine. I could see the fear in her eyes, but I could also
see this determination in her opinion. It was time to break this curse,
break her family free of the shackles that this has had on their family.
And then, and you need to make sure you're listening to this, guys,
Madeleine informs me, okay, and this is the kicker here. She
informs me that she is also and this is right now when I'm there,
when I'm doing all of this, that she too is living an extended life,
a life beyond her natural years at this point. And if you're not
clear what that means, it means that when this agreement comes to an end,
which is what she wants to have happen, and if we end up
doing all of that doing that will also mean the end for Madeline. She
was very clear about the fact that she is doing this at her own detriment
and the demise of many of her family members. But she feels strongly that
this is so unnatural and wrong, that that is what has caused all of
the other problems their family has had over the years, and it's time for
it all to stop. And I mean You guys have to know how painful
this all was. Not only am I at a client meeting to find out
why they are upset and distressed and things like that, which you know I
already have to be delicate about this because they're in the throes of their situation
when I'm in a client meeting, and so anxieties can be high. But
here this woman is asking me, basically to even stop her own life.
This is what she's telling me. If this agreement ends, so will all
of the extended lives, including her own. But her rationale is the agreement
shouldn't be here in the first place, and neither should they not. Still,
she feels it is wrong, She has lived too long, and she
would rather stop what is happening so that future generations will not go on living
this way. And this was a little bit hard to take in. It
felt like some sort of ending in otherwise capable life situation. But that's not
how she saw it. That there is no ending of an otherwise capable life,
a normal life that should go on living. In her words, no,
it was the elimination of something that does not belong, something so wrong,
something that went too far. So far it doesn't exist anywhere else in
the natural world. In her own words, Madeline's stress, this is a
cleansing, a cleansing of something that should not be, and a reset back
to how things are supposed to be. I see her point, and it's
a good one, leaving things as they were meant to be. But to
do this reset, as she called it, back to how things should be,
it also felt unnatural and sad. However, sad or not, Madeline
and I had laid out a plan and it was time for me to take
my leave. I could see the fear in her eyes, but there was
also that determination making its presence known. As we parted ways. I knew
she was risking it all and giving up everything to break free from the Benefactor's
curse, and I had to respect her courage. I thanked her for sharing
her family's story with me, and I assured her that we would do everything
we could to stop this curse. Madeline nodded, her gratitude evident she was
very thankful in my willingness to take on this challenge. This was most definitely
a situation where there would be no one else that could help her, certainly
nothing conventional, and so it was. With those words, I turned and
made my way out of the Eldridge estate back to my awaiting vehicle. As
I drove away from the picturesque hills of Eastern Europe, I couldn't help but
feel the gravity and the weight of all that this was. Back at the
warehouse, the air there felt heavy as well, with the weight of this
newfound mission. I gathered my team around our giant wooden table to a place
where we usually make a huge mess, and pretty much about to do that
again. I'm getting dump on it. The remnants of the Eldridge family past
Madeleine had entrusted me with a box that contained fragments of their history, you
know, some of their family albums, photographs, and a collection of documents.
It was a small but precious treasure trove of insight into the Eldridge family's
dynamics and this curse that had plugged them for generations. With careful hands,
I opened the box, revealing the contents Madeline had prepared. Albums, their
pages yellowed with age, held images frozen in time, you know, smiles,
laughter, and somber moments. They all stared back at me from faded
photographs. Each picture a glimpse into the lives of the Eldridge family. Beside
the albums lay a stack of handwritten journals and documents, their pages filled with
the personal accounts of the Eldridge ancestors. These journals detailed the strange occurrences,
the rituals, and the malevolent presence that had haunted the family for so long.
Madeleine's meticulous documentation would serve as our guide in deciphering the curse's origins and
the rituals that had sustained it. As we poured over the photographs and read
through the journals, a sense of connection with the Eldridge family began to form.
These were not just names and faces. They were a testament to the
enduring human spirit. They were individuals who had faced un imaginable challenges, and
now, upon taking this job, it was our duty to help bring an
end to their suffering. This job was more than solving a mystery. We
were about to rewrite the future of the Eldridge family. Now, after we
had felt we did everything we could from where we were at the warehouse,
it was time to get moving and start working in Prague. I decide I'll
take Frankie Jagger Scarlet and Ryder with me on this trip because we're entering this
type of unknown, even though it's far away, I do want someone back
at the warehouse, and so I'm leaving Harley there. But okay for the
rest of us. It was time to get moving and we needed supplies,
and not just the ordinary kind. Our mission required a unique set of tools,
each carefully selected to tackle the ominous challenge that lay before us. Drawing
from the insights gained from Madeline's meticulous documentation, we put together our arsenal.
Among our tools were advanced paranormal investigation equipment, including our electromagnetic field detectors,
are infrared cameras, audio recording devices. That's one set of what we needed
to bring with us. These would help us document any unusual phenomena and provide
evidence of this entity's presence. And part of that is separate from the actual
job that we do. We're collecting information about what was here on Earth with
us. Ancient texts on curses and other entities also became our guides, offering
insights into the different rituals and incantations that had bound the Eldridge family to this
benefactor. Some of these texts were centuries old, and they contained cryptic wisdom
that could hold the key to breaking the curse. Possibly. Next, we
made arrangements to stay on site at the Eldridge estate itself. Madeline had informed
me that the Maid's quarters, well Maide's Quarters back in the day. It's
now been repurposed as a guest cottage that would serve as our accommodations. In
the modern day. The estate no longer required a full staff of help,
and the cottage had been transformed into a cozy retreat. And at that point
I think we learned they had a couple of staff still there, but they
just lived in the house. The choice of staying at the estate had its
advantages because it meant that we would be in close proximity to the extendeds,
those living beyond their normal years. The family had spun cleverly a narrative for
the normals of their family, those still living within their normal range, telling
them that as people grew older in their family and faced health challenges that were
natural, they could come home to the estate. It was a brilliant cover
story. No old folks homes and things like that, just a nice way
to come home and live out the rest of your years. This would ensure
that the extendeds remained secluded and away from prying eyes, you know, less
speculation. This didn't mean they didn't keep working or doing basically anything that they
wanted. It was just a way to keep these individuals a little bit more
out of the public eye, you know, on people asking too many questions
about why some people were still around. But the people in the house,
they were still vibrant enough until they really hit their upper years. They worked,
they made deals, financial deals on behalf of the family. They still
moved and handled money for other people and other families. So anyway, with
our lodgings secured on the estate, our team continued its journey, driven by
our unyielding determination on this one with the benefactor, we really did want to
bring an end to the suffering that had plagued this family for generations. Now,
as we approached Prague and the Elder estate, we all had this mixture
of anticipation but also uncertainty. The weight of this mission was undeniable, and
the intricate web of curses and rituals and dark secrets that had ensnared this family
for so long awaited our unraveling and it was time to get started. The
so called Maid's cottage was nestled amidst the lush gardens and tall trees that surrounded
the main house. It was a quaint, picturesque abode, with white washed
walls and a thatched roof that had seen better days. As we approached this
cottage, you couldn't help but smell all the flowers. They're scent mixed in
with the earthy aroma of the surrounding woods. It really was a tranquil setting,
a stark contrast to the very ominous task that lay before us. Inside
the cottage, we found a cozy living space vintage furniture. The windows allowed
streams of golden sunlight to filter in. The living room was opened up to
a small dining room where a wooden table and chairs waited. I mean Madeline
had thoughtfully arranged for our accommodations, and the cottage was stocked with the essentials
we would need for our stay. The bedrooms were simple but comfortable, each
with its own unique charm. Unpacking our belongings felt like the beginning of a
new chapter. We unpacked and organized our research materials, equipment, and supplies.
We also had all of the journals and documents Madeline had provided, and
we made sure those were out as well. So we get ourselves and all
of that out and organized, and then Madeleine had extended an invitation for us
to join her family for dinner that evening, something we absolutely cannot miss.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, we made our way to the main
house, where the Eldridge family had gathered well the extendeds. The estate was
this grand mansion with a history as rich as it was imposing. It stood
as a testament to the family's enduring life legacy. The estate's architecture spoke of
a time long past, which we clearly did expect. It was a place
that held secrets both visible and hidden, and that you could just feel inside.
We were introduced to the extendeds of the Elderdge family, and there were
more of them than I expected, I guess, which was a bit unsettling.
Each member bore the weight of an unnaturally extended life, their faces etched
with the lines of agelessness. And then there was Madeline, our client and
the driving force behind this mission. Her extended life had granted her wisdom beyond
her years, and her determination to break the curse was unwavering. Beside her
was William, her cousin, and there were other extendeds there, obviously Robert
and older family member I believe Madeleine's uncle, more cousins like Emily and Robbers,
they were more closer to Emily's age, and there were some younger ones.
There was at least a dozen people there, not including us, and
I guess I really didn't know how many people to expect, but it was
a little bit shocking, knowing our circumstances, to see them all there in
one place together. When I really thought about it, though, there actually
should have been even more people. But at dinner we learned that this agreement
or curse doesn't protect against all things. Should someone sway from their commitment,
they are let go. If they don't all the way participate in the rituals,
they are let go. There were a lot of rules and family members
were let go, let to just die naturally. Some were just too tired
to keep going, Others wanted to rebel, some simply couldn't physically continue because
of the drain on them from this whole thing. For whatever reason, this
is what we had for that dinner, and Madeline actually pointed out that should
the next generation kick in to all of this, their current group would more
than double Another reason, she said, for their urgency to get this done.
Who knows how many generations down the line it would take to eventually come
around to the same conclusion they were having now. It was heavy, but
overall, the dinner was a grand affair, with a long, ornate table
set, fine china and silverware. Madeline's family had spared no expense in welcoming
us into their home. The conversation flowed as freely as the wine. Of
course, we would not drink on the job with a client or not.
We're not really the partying and escaping type if you haven't noticed. But anyway,
for a while, this dinner made everything almost feel normal. However,
as the evening wore on, I couldn't help but notice the undercurrent of melancholy
that hung in the air. It was as if the weight of their extended
lives pressed down upon them, reminding them of the curse that bound their family.
That's what I saw when I looked at them, at least, and
who could blame them, the pressures of everything, the constant drain on their
physical and mental selves, it had to be exhausting. Madeline, sitting beside
me at this point, exchanged knowing glances with her extended family. They all
confirmed that as a group, they were united in their resolve to break free
from the benefactor's grip, and this dinner served as a prelude to the challenges
that lay ahead. As the night grew darker, I couldn't help but feel
a sense of camaraderie with the Elderdge family. We were all bound by a
common goal to unravel the curse, bring an end to the suffering, and
set their family free. Like dinner saying that almost feels normal. But of
course this job had its twist and there was no getting away from that.
Setting up our base of operation inside of the Eldridge estate was a meticulous process.
The mansion had seen centuries of history and secrets, and it would now
bear witness to our mission to break this curse that had plagued this family.
We strategically placed our equipment in supplies throughout the mansion's rooms, transforming it to
grandeur into a hub of paranormal investigation. Part of our preparation involved reviewing the
videos that Madeleine had prepared for us. These were no ordinary videos, guys.
They were a glimpse into the dark rituals that had sustained the Benefactor's agreement
with the Eldridge family. Madeleine had taken great care in creating these recordings,
as she couldn't risk them falling into the wrong hands. As we gathered in
the dimly lit study the next night, Madeline shared with us the grim details
of the rituals. She explained that the Benefactor thrived on the emotions and life
force of the Eldredge family members. These rituals were a conduit through which this
evil drained their vitality, their joy, and their very essence, and in
exchange it granted them extended life, but at a great cost. The process
of having their emotions siphoned was a harrowing sight to witness. I can tell
you that as the Benefactor fed upon the Eldridge family's happiness, it was as
if a dark cloud descended upon them. Their once joyful expression slowly transformed into
masks of desolation. Laughter that once was there grew scarce, replaced by somber
silence. Their eyes, once vibrant with life, dulled with each passing ritual.
It was as though their very essence was being drained away each and every
time a little bit more, leaving behind only profound emptiness. Once strong bonds
eroded, replaced by a sense of detachment and sorrow. It was a slow
and insidious process, one that left them emotionally scarred and spiritually drained, like
the husks of the vibrant individuals they once had been. This parasitic exchange of
emotions was the curse's true nature, and it was a torment that had persisted
for generations. It was during these required rituals that the benefactor would siphon off
their emotions, and this is why they were left so drained and depressed and
emotionally scarred. And this just got worse with each passing year. The toll
grew heavier, and you could just see all that We were witnessing it over
time through these videos, and Madeline was there with us, and I mean
her voice quivered as she recounted the anguish that had befallen her family. These
rituals had left a trail of broken souls, and the Aldridge family was determined
to put an end to this evil and twisted pact. As we watched the
videos, the dark reality of their situation became painfully clear. The benefactors hold
over the Eldridge family was insidious. These rituals were conducted in a dimly lit
kind of dark room within the Eldridge estate, in the basement area. And
this was a room that really had not been updated since it had been constructed,
no electricity, nothing, So we have candles glowing and things like this.
I see on the video the extendeds, including Madeline, gather in a
circle as everything starts with them chanting. They're all clutching these talismanic objects that
almost seem to buzz with electricity. Watching all of this, and things are
getting a little more heavy, and then we see it, the Benefactor itself,
manifesting as this dark, amorphous presence that starts hovering at the center of
this circle. It appeared as a swirling vortex of shadows, occasionally taking on
a vague humanoid forms. Movements were predatory, like a predator stalking its prey.
During their rituals, we observed how the Benefactor extended these ethereal tendrils toward
each family member, making a connection that transcended the physical. These tendrils seemed
to pierce through their chests, anchoring into their hearts and their minds. As
this connection was established, we could see the emotions and feelings being siphoned away
from the Eldridge family members. It was as if a spectral vacuum had been
created, drawing out their joy, their happiness, their vitality, even the
energy from their pain and anger. Their expressions shifted from termination to hold strong
during the ritual, to anguish, their faces contorting with pain as the Benefactor
fed on their emotional energies. The drained emotions flowed into the Benefactor, which
absorbed them greedily. Its shadowy form pulsed and swirled with new found vigor,
while the Eldridge family members slumped physically and emotionally exhausted. It was a harrowing
sight witnessing the toll these rituals took on their already weary souls. I mean,
even as mere observers of a video, we could sense this thing growing
stronger with each passing moment we were watching. What we could clearly see the
extendeds were becoming even more fragile and broken. As we delved deeper into our
research and reviewed the footage over and over again of these rituals. A theory
began to take shape. Coming our theory that it seemed the Benefactor had become
a composite entity, meaning a swirling amalgamation of countless emotions, regrets, and
accomplishments drawn from its victims over the generations. This ever expanding reservoir of power
had transformed the Benefactor into a formidable force, growing stronger with each passing day.
The enormity of this entity posed a unique challenge. To confront it head
on would be like trying to battle a storm with a single umbrella. The
Benefactor was all things and everything, a sentient body of the human experience,
of all human experiences, It craved power to sustain its own existence, yet
it was simultaneously gaining power through its parasitic grip on people like the Aldridges.
Our strategy needed to be multifaceted. Here a carefully orchestrated attack from various angles
to disrupt and weaken this formidable foe. We realized that we had to find
a way to not only sever its connection to this family, but also to
siphon a way the power it had accumulated. It was a daunting task,
but it was the only way to break this curse, and so you could
think of it this way, guys, This family, the Eldridge family and
the extendeds in it, are taking the hit and the fall for everyone everywhere
in any generation to come to follow them in this family. That is true
bravery, you know, guys. It's a universal human longing, the desire
for more time, for second chances, for the opportunity to make things right.
We often find ourselves saying, if I only had more time, I
could fix this, or with more time, I could do so much more.
But as we ventured deeper into the Eldridge family's cursed history, it became
painfully clear that there was a dark side to this yearning. Unnatural extensions of
life, like the one imposed by the Benefactor, could devour the very essence
of one's existence. This was a stark reminder that we must tread carefully when
making wishes, for the path we choose might lead us to unforeseen consequences,
where the gift of time becomes a relentless and evil force consuming us from within.
That is very different than the full on opportunities we have from the moment
we are born. We shouldn't even need more time, not if we love
life so much seems that as we get closer to the end of it,
though, people can change their tune quickly, but as you can see,
the consequences can be dire. At this point, after we get through all
of the sun is coming up the next day. We've watched all the videos,
We've had many discussions. We're all a bit tired, but none of
us are as completely exhausted as anyone in the extended part of the Eldridge family.
We had to keep going and get this thing taken care of. We
weren't sure how ugly things could get, and we didn't want to find out.
We take time that morning and with the help of a lot of espresso,
we organize our plan. In the end, and with our plan to
confront the benefactor taking shape, we were armed with a mix of ancient and
mystical elements. We had gathered a formidable array of tools and artifacts, each
with a specific purpose in our battle against this thing. We were going to
hit it from many different angles, as it was made up of many different
things over many many years. First, and foremost, we possessed this silver
chain, adorned with ancient symbols known for their ability to bind and restrict different
kinds of energies. These chains would be crucial in restraining the Benefactor during our
confrontation. My connections in one secret society that I cannot mention provided me with
these chains. There are not any kind of regular chains. I can tell
you that. We also had a collection of rare herbs, each carefully selected
for their mystical properties. These herbs had been procured through my connections with a
very interesting coven of witches I happen to know who understand the delicate balance between
the mundane and supernatural worlds. And no, these are not mean or evil
witches. These are people that understand the powers of some of the Wiccan ways.
These herbs were not your garden variety plants. They held the power to
disrupt dark energy, and that's what the Benefactor thrived upon. It was a
connection into a hidden realm that few dared to tread. Now. Additionally,
we had obtained this voodoo powder, a closely guarded secret from an ancient lineage
of practitioners. This magical substance, a blend of exotic ingredients and incantations,
is known for its ability to disrupt and disorient supernatural entities. Our connection to
a voodoo priestess got us that one. I mean, we meet and have
met a lot of people over the years on these jobs, and we have
made some great connections. We all help each other, and this time it
was us that needed some assistance. Once we had everything that we needed set
up, we were ready. We were going to take advantage of the next
ritual needed to be performed by the Eldridge family. We wanted to use this
as a gateway to give us access to the benefactor. The benefactor had been
demanding more frequent rituals as the extended emotional reserve they were dwindling with each passing
ceremony, the family found it increasingly difficult to provide the emotional sustenance that the
benefactor craved, and he could only get it from the extendeds. This presented
an opportunity though for our team. We had learned of the benefactor's insatiable hunger
for emotions, and we saw the escalating demand for rituals as a sign of
its desperation and hence us taking advantage of it if we can. As the
time for the ritual neared, a heavy sense of solemnity filled the room.
Madeleine and the extended family members were gathered together, their expressions strong. They
knew that this would be the end of their extended lives and this was their
one final chance to say their goodbyes. This was that moment in this particular
job where we were feeling the adrenaline of getting this job going. But how
this job becomes a success. Yes, it's also hard to take. Tears
welled up in Madeline's eyes as she looked around at her family, her voice
trembling with emotion, reminding them that they had made this choice together and it
was the right choice. Eleanor, the matriarch of the extendeds, nodded in
agreement, adding that yes, they had lived beyond their natural years, which
was the point, but at what cost was it all? In her final
speech, I guess you'd say, she points out that no one should live
beyond their natural years. At least that's what she thinks, and she's done
it. She acknowledges that it's hard to live in this world and get through
everything, but that that is actually the greatest part about it. That life
is a challenge. Second chances are not always the same if they extend one's
natural life. I mean, is it really even a second chance at that
point. According to Eleanor, second chances should be an eye opener, not
something you wish for in a state of regret for not accomplishing what you wanted
during the precious life that was already given to you. That speech was serious,
and when she was done, in that solemn moment, the extendeds clung
to each other, their regrets and hopes mingling in the air. It was
a bittersweet farewell, a choice to let go of unnatural extensions and embrace the
uncertainty of a natural life and what lay beyond. There was no way to
know if by extending their lives, though, did it somehow compromise their next
destination. Someone brought that up, and it was something to think about.
The whole thing was completely overwhelming, very emotional. Their sacrifice was a testament
to their determination to break free from the benefactor's grip and give their family in
the future, sure in the future generations, a chance at a different,
more authentic life existence, one as it should be. Eleanor said that in
her eyes, after her experience, mostly speaking to us, of course,
because that's who would still be here, she looked to us and she said
that to know how precious life is is to understand the daily need to be
present and make life as great as it can be in the moment, no
matter how difficult those moments are. It was heavy and we took it to
heart. They really had a passion for making this right, and the time
had come to get this done. The Elderdge family was gathered in the dimly
lit basement once again, their faces etched with weariness and resignation. Madeline,
William and the other extended family members stood in a circle, holding hands,
their eyes closed in deep concentration. In this sense, center of the room,
a small ornate table held various objects, candles, crystals, and a
weathered journal. Madeleine began to recite an incantation passed down through her generations,
calling upon the benefactor to manifest himself. As the ritual continued, you could
feel that unease filling the air once again. The candles flickered, the crystals
started to vibrate and shake on the table. The Eldridge family's faces grew paler
as they strained to connect with this evil beast of a thing that they had
served for so long. The room seemed to hold its breath. As the
ritual reached its climax and the Benefactor began to respond to their summons, the
air grew colder, and an eerie stillness settled over the basement, signaling the
presence of something evil. Finally, as the Benefactor started to materialize in the
center of their ring, they disconnected hands and started to step back and separate
to make room. Its form was a grotesque fusion of shadow and emotion.
It was a swirling, amorphous mass of darkness that seemed to pulsate with the
emotions it had siphoned from the Eldridge family and whoever else over the years.
It was a chilling sight. Its physical presence was something to behold, a
nightmarish, just blend of countless feelings and emotions and memories. This thing,
its body, appeared as if it were comprised of a dark, swirling mist.
It was constantly shifting. Tears, thick and viscous, dropped from its
form, a manifestation of the profound sadness it had absorbed from the Eldridge family
over the years. These mournful droplets fell to the ground with a melancholic resonance,
a constant reminder of the suffering it had inflicted. Its eyes burned with
an intense crimson hue, radiating anger and resentment. The Benefactor had consumed not
only the happiness of its victims, but also their rage and fury. As
it gazed upon us with those fiery eyes that seemed to seethe with an evil
energy, just ready to lash out at any moment, the air in that
room grew heavy with the weight of the emotions the Benefactor embodied. It was
a being borne from the depths of despair and nurtured by the darkest corners of
the human psyche. As it continued to shift and writhe, its presence filled
the room with an oppressive atmosphere, a testament to the magnitude of suffering it
had wrought upon this family. I mean, watching this form before us was
something that is very hard for me to explain. Actually, I mean,
we have seen many entities and beings from other places, different species across the
universe, but nothing like this. You felt this thing, and you felt
it as the predator. It was. With every glance, sway, in
any kind of movement, you felt it was coming for you. That was
its purpose. This thing was most definitely dangerous and intimidating. Honestly, I
don't know how the Eldridge family lasted as long as they did. And of
course, lucky for us, the benefactor was acutely aware of our presence,
me and the team. It's fiery glaze fixed upon us, immediately seeing us
as a threat, which we were. It seemed drawn to me immediately,
like a moth to a flame. Its presence felt suffocating, and I could
sense it moving closer even before it moved an inch. This was a creature
born of suffering and despair and everything else, and it bore the weight of
it all, and it felt you could feel it, but on yourself as
it came for you. While it was approaching. The others just stepped back,
because now it was for sure heading in my direction. Frankie did stay
a little bit closer. This thing's hot breath washed over me as it got
up to me, and I could smell the stench of its existence. Large
tear drops seemed to mist around us, as if it was weeping the sadness
it had absorbed. Its form extended, and its face, if you could
call it, that came perilously close to me, almost as large as my
whole torso I could feel the heat of this monstrous entity. It was fisciral,
nightmarish. It's all I can tell you. It was an incredibly odd
experience that is different than any other experience. I squeezed my eyes shut and
pushed back with all my mental strength, determined not to let this force overcome
me. We do a lot of mental training as well as our physical training,
and this helped to prepare me for this moment. And though I was
sweating and trembling, I didn't flinch or waver I held my ground. This
thing had to know that we were not going to back down, and this
was the end of the line for the Benefactor with the Eldridge family. Remember,
we had already worked on our plan and so we were ready for this.
It was time to put things into action. As I maintained my mental
resilience against the benefactor, I felt the collective determination of my team alongside me.
We were a force in that moment, and this entity had to know
that we were not going to back down. It was the end of the
line for the Benefactor with this family. With a swift and calculated motion,
I began to swirl the silver chains I had above my head and the ancient
symbols on them started to come to life. These chains whirled through the The
goal was to throw them out in front of me to encircle the Benefactor in
a tight restrictive grip. The power inherent in these chains would serve as our
weapon, suffocating the Benefactor and restricting its ability to breathe and thrive in the
Eldridge environment. This is our way of taking advantage of the fact that it
needs this ritual to get its fix to stay how it is, anyway I
get this thing going. Frankie then retrieved a remarkable device that we had collected
for this mission. This device, a masterpiece of both science and mysticism,
was constructed with remarkable precision. At its core, this device consisted of a
translucent crystal unearthed from the deepest recesses of an ancient cave known for its mystical
properties. As Frankie activated the device, it came to life with a soft
glow that brightened and dimmed gently, as though it were breathing. The shimmering
materials that encase the device refracted light in a mesmerizing display of different colors,
casting this prismatic set of patterns across the room. Within the crystal core,
a swirling, iridescent energy started to stir, responding to the malevolent force of
the benefactor. This energy was the heart of the device, the key to
its ability to mirror and deflect the life sucking abilities of the benefactor. Incorporating
both cutting edge technology and age old mystical knowledge. Frankie carefully activated the device
and it sprang to life. He could send out these short lived barriers.
Each time he sent one out, a shimmering field would form, mirroring the
benefactor's life sucking abilities. So basically, it was sending out its own feelers
to drain us of our emotions and energy. Right, But then our technological
mirror would send everything back to it, ensnaring the benefactor by its own relentless
hunger. These pulses were temporary respites, small little windows of opportunity that we
needed to capitalize on. With the entity weakening and disoriented, our team could
now focus on bringing it down completely. As I looked around the room,
I saw Scarlet and Rider holding strong with our salts and other items. I
glanced over to the eldridges and they were pulsing, their existence starting to flicker
like distant stars in the night sky. Madeleine's face still held that mixture of
both fear and determination. I could see that none of them had changed their
minds despite the fading of their extended existence. It was another bittersweet moment,
and as Frankie's reflective mirror continued to pulse, the room felt like a bridge
between two worlds, where the past and the future converged in a final epic
battle against the Benefactor. We were in a place in that moment, guys,
where no one should exist. We were in that place of extended lives
that is not a place of our reality. It was definitely one of those
moments that you know when we're done, so much would have changed. It's
not every day that we do a job and the people that were working for
actually ceased to exist. But that's what was happening right before our eyes.
And then it happened. The Eldridges began to fully fade, their forms becoming
more translucent with each passing moment. The Benefactor was caught in the relentless reflection
of Frankie's device, and it let out an anguished cry. Tears like drops
of liquid despair streamed from its eyes, cascading onto the floor. With one
final desperate cry, the Benefit let out a primal roar and then dissolved into
a dark, swirling mist. It left behind a giant puddle on the floor,
a mixture of dirt and grime, and the sorrows and pains of people's
lives that it had consumed over the years. The room fell silent, the
battle over, and the Eldridges they were gone. It was a somber victory,
one that came at a great cost, but it was also a necessary
step to break free from the curse that had haunted their family for generations.
As we stood amidst the remnants of the Benefactor and all that was, we
knew that our mission was accomplished and the Eldridge family could finally rest in peace.
We were left with a room that felt heavy with the residue of the
Benefactor's presence, and we needed to ensure that it would never return. We
cleaned up everything, our items, all of the grime, and the puddle,
all of it. We wanted to remove any real remnants that could have
been left behind from this whole, entire incident. Part of our agreement with
Madeline is not to share anything that happened with the rest of the family,
the normals. She informed us that things were set to sort of just kind
of come out naturally. We turned to the two remaining staff members who had
watched the entire battle unfold. They now were the only two people left in
the world besides us that had seen the truth of the Eldridge family curse and
our mission to free them. There was no need for words. We understood
that they were committed to continuing their service to the Eldridge family, caring for
the remaining members as it should be. They had their own plan of explaining
where the family members went. A sweep of an illness, something like that,
cremation, you get it. That part was not our business. As
always, we are there to do a job, and now our job was
done. The rest of the situation would now sit with those remaining and in
this case, everyone we worked with directly was gone. As we made our
way out of the old mansion, my keen eyes caught a glimmer of something
on the ground. Stooping down, I picked it up, revealing a delicate
ornate earring. It was a small but significant piece of jewelry, and I
couldn't help but smile. This earring, I knew was proof of Madeleine's presence
in that pivotal moment. It was a subtle reminder of her courage and her
determination, something that no one else would know. Going forward, Holding it
in my hand, I approached one of the remaining staff members and I gently
placed it in their palm. I told her to keep it as a token
of the Eldridge bravery, and may it serve as a reminder of the day
the Eldridge family found their redemption and a chance at a new beginning. And
with that we continued our walk away from the estate, leaving behind, hopefully
the last of the major secrets held by the Eldridge family. So freed on
even another level, I suppose, as we left the old mansion behind,
none of us could help but reflect on what had just taken place. The
Eldridge family had lived far beyond the years they were meant to, but in
the end it was all the same. They had been here and now they
were not. The Only one who truly felt the weight of those extended years
was Nathaniel. In the beginning, he knew the dire situation he was in,
and he too wanted to change things for the future. He was able
to make the changes he wanted in his life, business wise and otherwise,
and it did work for a while. How could he know, though,
that in the end this quick fix would not be a fix at all.
But then again, are quick fixes ever really something that sticks when it's something
of this magnitude. This entire job was a stark reminder that, no matter
how long we could extend our lives, what truly matters is what we do
with the life given to us. As Eleanor said, the choices we make,
the actions we take, and the impact we have on others. These
are the things that define our existence. In a world filled with quick fixes
and short cuts, it's easy to lose sight of what truly matters for us.
The Eldridge family's story had come to an end, and with that the
curse of the Benefactor it had been lifted. But our journey wasn't quite done,
at least not for us. Nathaniel's experience had left us with a lingering
question, how did the Benefactor come and do existence in the first place.
So we go even deep into our investigation, and we end up uncovering the
ancient origins of the Benefactor. This force had existed for centuries, and its
eerie existence held a startling reminder of the real yet enigmatic nature of human energy.
Imagine for a moment that our emotions and intentions are like ripples in a
vast cosmic pond. We cast these ripples into the universe every day, unaware
of their ultimate destination. We care about us not where our energies end up
in the universe, but they are out there. The Benefactor was a reflection
of the interconnectedness of our existence, where our energies, whether positive or negative,
linger in the cosmic ether, and it took on a life of its
own. Just as the legend suggests, the Benefactor serves as a chilling testament
to the consequences of unchecked despair and negative energy, urging us all to use
our energies wisely and consciously, for we never truly know how they may shape
the world around us. The resonance of human emotions and choices extends across the
universe. Guys, consider where your energies may wander, for the world is
a vast and mysterious place. I hope you enjoyed listening today. This story,
of course, is just a small piece of everything. I have more
jobs and more stories to share, so subscribe and check back, and thank
you for listening today. Until next time, guys, and I will talk
to you all soon