Chapter 16
[Haunted House]
– Location: Simpson Park
– Description: Belfast has never been a paradise for children. It constantly faces the corrosion of sea winds and the deadly smog from the industrial district, though conditions have improved slightly in recent times. Simpson Park, a representative of the city’s dreary environment, offers little more than a circus, a creaking carousel, and some shrubs and flowers. The newly constructed, meticulously designed haunted house, with its earnest staff, has been open for less than a month, and it severely clashes with the park’s overall atmosphere.
– Honestly, who would even pay to see such ghostly nonsense?
– Answer: Apparently, a lot of fools (pardon my bluntness) have spent money to see the staff dressed as ghosts, claiming that the performances feel incredibly real… But come on, why pay to see fake ghosts when you can encounter real ones for free?
– Backstory: This information comes from someone who was either curious or frightened by the haunted house. After visiting, the client had nightmares for several days and now suspects that the ghosts in the haunted house are real and not just actors. They are considering hiring a detective agency to investigate.
– Payment Offered: 50–200 shillings. The client is a modestly wealthy commoner and cannot afford to pay much.
– Note: A contact of mine at Simpson Park confirmed that aside from the haunted house’s opening, no other strange events have been reported in the park.
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