
A darkly atmospheric tale unfolds in a crumbling family estate, where a bitter heir returns after years abroad, driven by jealousy and a hidden grudge. He discovers a strange, ancient mask inscribed with a chilling warning: whoever dons it is doomed to kill the one they love before dawn. The mask’s eerie presence awakens something sinister in him, turning his charm into a cold, predatory menace that seems to drain the very light from the rooms he moves through.
As the household prepares for an elaborate masquerade, the returning cousin must navigate tense reunions with the woman he once courted and her new husband, both oblivious to the malice bubbling beneath his polished façade. The story balances gothic suspense with psychological tension, inviting listeners to feel the creeping dread of a man caught between a cursed relic and his own corrosive desire for revenge.
Language
en
Duration
~18 minutes (17K characters)
Release date
2025-07-30
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
1887–1966
A Baltimore-born poet, teacher, and prolific magazine writer, he published across an unusually wide range of venues, from popular pulps to major newspapers. His work moved easily between poetry, short fiction, and religious writing, giving readers a glimpse of a versatile early-20th-century literary life.
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