Can You Solve the First Hollowbrook Puzzle?

They all heard it.

A slow, drawn-out creak echoed down the hallway, like a whispered invitation to come closer. The group gathered in the dim corridor, eyes fixed on the door at the far end—the one that had been bolted shut since they arrived.

Now, it stood ajar, as though it had been expecting them. 🌑

James Blackwell stepped forward first, curiosity pulling him toward the darkened room. “There’s something in here,” he murmured, glancing back at the others, “a history the world has forgotten.”

🔦With the beam of his flashlight piercing the shadows, James crossed the threshold. The room was untouched by time, cloaked in dust and silence. In the corner sat a small, ornate chest. It looked ancient, as if it had been hidden away for centuries, its metal latch covered in intricate designs.

Cassandra White shivered, her hands hovering near the latch. “There’s something… heavy about this,” she whispered. “It’s like the chest is hiding something that doesn’t want to be found.”

Maggie Cartwright, ever the observer, knelt beside the chest, her notebook ready📓. As she examined it closely, she noticed an inscription on the metal near the lock, nearly worn away by time.

“It’s a riddle,” she murmured, reading it aloud as the others leaned in:

The words hung in the air, an invitation that made the room feel suddenly colder. Each character exchanged a look, uncertain but intrigued.

“Could be the key to whatever’s inside,” Dr. Green muttered, skeptically eyeing the lock. But the curiosity in his gaze betrayed him.

The four of them stood in silence, the mystery deepening with every passing second. Somewhere down the hall, Eleanor continued her search through another wing of the manor, seemingly unaware of what the others had found.

🔍 Clue

The chest held mysteries of its own, and they sensed it was guarding something crucial, hidden away in Hollowbrook Manor. They couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever lay inside would lead them deeper into the heart of the manor’s secrets. But to unlock it, they’d need the right key sequence.

🧩 Key Sequence Puzzle

The riddle carved into the chest gives a clue to unlock it. Can you piece together the sequence based on the way each character entered the manor?

Look closely at the roles and actions of those within Hollowbrook Manor. If you can piece together the right sequence, the chest will unlock, revealing a secret long hidden.

Reply with your answer, and we may feature you in Chapter 4 🕵️

Think you’ve solved it? Reply to this email with your answer, and you might find yourself featured in tomorrow’s Detective Spotlight! The manor’s secrets are waiting…

Bonus Inner Circle Clue 🕯️

Whispers drift through the manor, secrets hidden in shadowed halls. But you, dear Inner Circle member, have stepped further into the unknown. For you, the house reveals this:

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