Write an opening sentence for a horror story.
The unsettling silence of the old, abandoned mansion was suddenly interrupted by the sound of creaking floorboards, as if someone - or something - was lurking in the shadows.
Below is an instruction that describes a task, write a response that appropriately completes the request.

### Instruction:
Write an opening sentence for a horror story.

### Response:
The unsettling silence of the old, abandoned mansion was suddenly interrupted by the sound of creaking floorboards, as if someone - or something - was lurking in the shadows.