Chapter 6 The Blood

# Chapter 6: The Blood Thomas found the answer in the journal. Buried deep in the Blackwood archives, he discovered a series of entries describing the garden's true nature. The Blackwood family hadn't just cultivated roses — they had cultivated something else. A parasitic organism that lived in the soil, feeding on organic matter and accelerating plant growth. "It requires sustenance," one entry warned. "Blood, bone, flesh — anything living. The more it feeds, the faster the garden grows. But beware — it grows hungry." Thomas closed the journal, his hands trembling. The sour smell in the rose garden wasn't from decay. It was from blood. And the accelerated growth he had witnessed wasn't natural — it was fueled by something monstrous. He searched for more information about how the Blackwoods had sustained the organism. The journal was vague, mentioning only that "the garden must be fed" and "the caretaker's duty is to ensure its hunger is satisfied." Thomas realized with growing dread that Mrs. Halloway hadn't been vague by accident. She had been warning him.