Whispers in the Attic: The Ratings of the Damned

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows through the windows of the old Victorian house. The wind howled through the cracks, as if whispering secrets long forgotten. In this town, whispers carried weight, and the air was thick with the potential for horror.

Eliza had always been a skeptic, but the events of the past week had her questioning everything she knew. Her father, a retired librarian, had stumbled upon an ancient book hidden in the dusty shelves of the town’s library. The book spoke of a rating system, one that determined the fate of souls after death. It was said that the ratings were kept by the Damned, a group of spirits bound to the mortal world by their own misdeeds.

Eliza’s father had become obsessed with the book, spending hours poring over its cryptic pages. He spoke of the Damned’s ability to influence the living, to manipulate their fates through the ratings. Eliza had dismissed his theories as the ravings of a senile old man, but the strange occurrences in their home had her rethinking her stance.

One night, as Eliza lay in bed, she heard a faint whisper. “Your rating is low, Eliza. You must improve it.” The voice was soft, almost melodic, but it sent shivers down her spine.

The next day, Eliza’s father disappeared. She found him in the attic, surrounded by the ancient book and a series of strange rating charts. He was muttering to himself, his eyes wide with fear. “They’re coming, Eliza. They’re coming for you.”

Eliza’s fear grew as the days passed. She began to see strange figures in the shadows, their faces twisted in anger and sorrow. She heard whispers everywhere she went, each one more insistent than the last. The ratings were real, and they were coming for her.

One evening, as Eliza sat in the living room, she received a call. It was her father, his voice trembling with urgency. “Eliza, you must leave. They’re coming. Find the highest-rated person in town and ask for help. They can protect you.”

Eliza raced to the town’s library, her heart pounding in her chest. She found the highest-rated person she could think of: Mr. Thompson, the town’s reclusive artist. He had always been eccentric, but he was also the most respected member of the community.

As she approached his home, she heard the whispers growing louder. “She’s coming for you, Thompson. She’s coming for you.”

Eliza knocked on the door, and it opened to reveal Mr. Thompson, his eyes wide with surprise. “Eliza? What are you doing here?”

“I need your help,” she said, her voice trembling. “The Damned are coming for me, and I need to improve my rating.”

Mr. Thompson nodded, understanding dawning on his face. “Come with me. I have a plan.”

They made their way to the old church at the heart of the town. The church was abandoned, its windows shattered, and its doors hanging open. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of decay and the whispers of the Damned.

Eliza and Mr. Thompson found a hidden chamber beneath the altar. It was filled with ancient artifacts and strange symbols. “This is where the ratings are kept,” Mr. Thompson said. “We must find your rating and improve it.”

They searched through the chamber, their hearts pounding with fear. Finally, they found a book bound in human skin. Inside, they found Eliza’s rating: 2.8. It was low, and they had to raise it quickly.

Mr. Thompson took a deep breath and began to recite a strange incantation. The whispers grew louder, and the air grew colder. Eliza felt a strange sensation, as if her rating was being pulled upward.

Finally, the whispers stopped, and the air grew warm again. They checked Eliza’s rating. It had improved to 3.2. It was still low, but it was enough to keep the Damned at bay for now.

Eliza and Mr. Thompson made their way back to the living room. They found her father waiting for them, his eyes filled with relief. “You did it, Eliza. You improved your rating.”

Eliza knew that the battle was far from over. The Damned were still out there, and they would not rest until they had their revenge. But for now, she had a chance to survive. She had a chance to improve her rating, and she had a chance to save her father.

The whispers continued, but they were quieter now. Eliza knew that she had to stay vigilant. The Damned were watching, and they would not be deterred. But Eliza was determined to fight back. She had a chance to improve her rating, and she was not going to let it slip away.

As the days passed, Eliza and her father worked together to improve her rating. They visited the highest-rated people in town, seeking their help and advice. They found that the Damned were not as powerful as they had seemed. They were just spirits, bound to the mortal world by their own misdeeds.

Eliza’s rating continued to rise, and the whispers grew quieter. She knew that she was making progress, and she was not going to stop until she had won the battle. She had a chance to improve her rating, and she was not going to let it slip away.

Finally, the day came when Eliza’s rating reached 5.0. It was the highest rating in the town, and it meant that the Damned could no longer influence her fate. She had won the battle, and she had saved her father.

Eliza and her father returned to their home, the whispers of the Damned now a distant memory. They knew that the battle was over, but they also knew that the Damned would not rest. They would continue to watch over the town, and they would continue to influence the ratings.

Eliza and her father were determined to stay vigilant, to protect the town from the Damned. They knew that the battle was far from over, but they were ready to face it. They had a chance to improve their rating, and they were not going to let it slip away.

And so, Eliza and her father lived in peace, knowing that they had won the battle against the Damned. They had improved their rating, and they had saved the town. But they also knew that the whispers of the Damned would continue to haunt them, reminding them of the battle they had won and the one they were still fighting.