The friends regrouped in the main hall, exhausted and shaken. The mansion, though seemingly calmer, still held an air of malevolence.

They knew they had to confront the curse head-on to escape the nightmare they had endured.

Emily, Mark, Sarah, and Jake gathered their courage and made their way back to the basement. The chest was still there, its rusted lock waiting. They knew that the final piece of the puzzle lay within. The whispers had grown louder, as if urging them to complete the ritual.

Emily, her hands trembling, used the symbols from the book to unlock the chest. The lid creaked open, revealing a hidden compartment. Inside was a small, ornate box with a golden key. The key was engraved with the same symbols they had seen throughout the mansion.

As they held the key, a chilling breeze swept through the room. The temperature dropped, and the whispers turned into anguished cries. The shadowy figure from before reappeared, more terrifying than ever. It seemed to be drawn to the key, its malevolent gaze fixed on the friends.

Mark tried to hold off the figure with a flashlight, but it was ineffective against the supernatural entity. The figure advanced, its form writhing and shifting, a swirling mass of darkness and despair. The friends knew they had to act quickly.

Emily held the key tightly and approached the figure, her heart pounding. She inserted the key into the lock of the chest and turned it. A blinding light erupted, and the mansion shook violently. The friends were thrown to the ground as the dark figure shrieked in agony.

The light grew brighter, engulfing the entire basement. The whispers turned into a cacophony of wails and cries. The darkness seemed to be pulled into the chest, its presence growing weaker and weaker. With one final, earth-shattering roar, the figure vanished, and the mansion fell silent.

The light slowly faded, revealing a transformed basement. The oppressive atmosphere was gone, replaced by a sense of calm and relief. The friends looked at each other, their faces pale but determined. They had faced their fears and broken the curse that had haunted the mansion.

As they left the mansion, the first light of dawn began to appear. The air was fresh, and the oppressive weight that had once hung over them was lifted.

They had survived the night and emerged stronger for it. The mansion, now free from its dark past, stood as a silent witness to their bravery.

The friends knew they would never forget their terrifying ordeal, but they also knew that they had faced the darkness and triumphed.

They walked away from the mansion, their bond stronger than ever, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.