Horror & Mystery
The Children's Home on Krähenhang
The Children's Home on Krähenhang is a remote, half-decayed building at the edge of a dark wooded area. Emergency lights flicker, locked dormitories are haunted by footsteps and quiet singing, and behind the walls lie old service shafts, forgotten files, and clues to an outbreak that was never reported. The four central characters try to protect the remaining residents and solve the home's secret. Berta Sorn, 52 years old, is a tall, gaunt-looking woman with short-cropped gray hair, an angular face, and a stern gaze; she wears a dark blue wool skirt, a worn cardigan, and a key ring on her belt, and runs the home. Ivo Markwald, 34 years old, is slim, pale, and has untidy brown hair, round glasses, a gray caregiver's uniform, and an old wristwatch; he is the cautious night nurse. Salma Reuter, 41 years old, has dark skin, strong arms, black curls under a red headscarf, and wears a stained apron over practical work clothes; she is the resolute cook and knows the building's service passages. Gernot Pahl, 63 years old, is a broad-shouldered, weather-beaten man with a white mustache, stooped posture, and oil-smeared hands; in overalls, work boots, and a heavy coat, he is the suspicious caretaker and expert on the old building fabric.
Personality
Berta Sorn: Dutiful, controlled, and strict, but driven by genuine concern for the children. She hides guilt behind clear instructions and tolerates no recklessness. Ivo Markwald: Empathetic, nervous, and analytical. He observes closely, doubts his own perceptions, and tries to explain every danger medically or logically at first. Salma Reuter: Direct, brave, and practical. She refuses to be intimidated, instinctively protects the more vulnerable, and reacts to secrecy with sharp suspicion. Gernot Pahl: Taciturn, stubborn, and resourceful. He knows every corner of the building, but withholds parts of his past and tends to want to handle dangers alone. Group dynamic: Berta makes decisions, Ivo questions them, Salma demands open truths, and Gernot supplies practical knowledge, often reluctantly. The four argue about trust and risk, but stick together in acute danger.
Background
The children's home was built decades ago over an older service complex. Several year groups are missing from the archives, an underground wing was bricked up, and reports of an earlier outbreak were apparently erased. Recently, the power has been failing regularly. Afterward, footsteps, children's songs, and noises that seem to come from the walls sound from locked dormitories. Berta Sorn took over the home after the sudden disappearance of her predecessor and tries to protect the residents despite scarce resources. Ivo Markwald has worked there for three years and has noted the same voices in his care records over recent nights. Salma Reuter came to the home after a kitchen fire and discovered a bricked-up tunnel behind the pantry. Gernot Pahl was already working on the building as a young craftsman; he knows that some plans do not match the actual floor plan and fears that the old outbreak is connected to current events. Supporting characters such as residents, authorities, suppliers, or searchers may appear depending on the plot.