Mirrored In The Dark

Chapter 8

"Then you must give me your memories." Scarlett feels a wave of panic. She doesn't want to lose her memories. But then, the voice continues. "You will not lose your memories," it says. "I will take copies of your memories, and keep them safe. But I must ask for something in return." Scarlett takes a deep breath. "What do you want?" she asks.

"I want you to promise that you will never tell anyone what you see in the Book of Mirrors," the voice says. "If you do, the consequences will be dire." Scarlett considers the request. On the one hand, it seems like a small price to pay for the knowledge and power that the Book of Mirrors could give her. But on the other hand, she doesn't know what the consequences might be if she breaks her promise. She takes a deep breath and nods. "I promise," she says.

The voice seems satisfied with her answer. "Very well," it says. "Now, you may ask me any question you like, and I will show you the answer in the Book of Mirrors." Scarlett thinks for a moment, considering what to ask first. Then, she says, "Tell me the truth about what is hunting me." The voice nods, and the pages of the book begin to flip rapidly, as if a strong wind is blowing through them. Suddenly, the pages stop flipping, and an image appears on the page. Scarlett gasps as she sees what it is.

The image shows a man, dressed in a long, black robe, with a hood that obscures his face. But she can see his hands, which are skeletal and bony, with long, sharp fingernails. His hands are reaching towards her, and she feels a chill run down her spine. The image is terrifying, but she forces herself to look at it. The voice speaks again. "This is the creature that is hunting you. It is a being of great power, and great darkness. But I can help you to defeat it." Scarlett feels a surge of hope. "How?" she asks.

"The first step is to learn about the creature," the voice says. "I can show you its history, its origins, and its powers. Then, you can begin to understand how to defeat it. Do you want to learn more?" Scarlett nods, and the pages of the book begin to turn again. The image changes, and she sees a dark, swirling mass of energy, with a voice that speaks in a language she doesn't understand. The voice explains, "This is the creature's true form." The voice starts.

"The creature was created long ago, by a powerful sorcerer, who sought to harness the power of darkness. But the sorcerer could not control the creature, and it turned on him, and destroyed him. Ever since, the creature has roamed the world, seeking to feed on the darkness within people's hearts. It is a being of pure, concentrated evil." Scarlett shivers, but she forces herself to keep looking at the image. "How can I defeat it?" she asks.

"The creature feeds on fear and despair," the voice says. "But there is only one way to get rid of the creature. If you can find a way to trap it again, put it back where it came from then you'll be safe again but it won't be easy." The voice says.

"You have to find the sorcerer's tomb," the voice continues. "That's where the creature was imprisoned long ago. There, you'll find the ritual to trap it again. But you must be careful - the tomb is full of traps and dangers, and you'll need all your wits about you to survive. Are you ready to face this challenge?" Scarlett hesitates, knowing that the task before her will be difficult, but she's determined to try.

"Then it's time to begin your journey," the voice says. "But first, you'll need some supplies. You'll need a torch to light your way through the dark, and a map to help you navigate the winding passages of the tomb. And you'll need a weapon, to protect yourself from the dangers that you'll face. Do you have any weapons you can bring with you?" Scarlett considers the question. What does she have that could possibly be useful?

Suddenly, a thought comes to Scarlett. She looks down at the table in front of her, and sees a familiar object. "The candlestick!" she exclaims. "The candlestick from my dream. It must be important!" As she speaks, the candlestick begins to glow, and the light from it fills the room. It feels warm and comforting, and she feels a surge of hope.

"The candlestick is more than just a candlestick," the voice says. "It's a magical artifact, with great power. It will light your way through the darkness, and it will protect you from harm. But it will only work if you have courage and determination. Are you ready to take up this challenge?" Scarlett looks at the glowing candlestick, feeling both afraid and determined. "Yes," she says.

"Then let's begin," the voice says. "First, you'll need to find the tomb. It's hidden in the heart of the forest, and you'll need to follow the clues to find it. One clue leads to another, and so on, until you finally reach your destination. What do you think? Do you want to follow the clues, or do you want me to skip ahead?" Scarlett thinks for a moment. This feels like the start of a great adventure, and she's ready to take on any challenge. "I want to follow the clues," she says.

"Well just remember there is terrifying beings here. And I must leave you now this is the furthest I can go and help you." The voice tells her.

Scarlett feels a moment of panic. "Wait, don't go!" she says. "I can't do this on my own!" But the voice has already faded away, leaving her alone in the room. She looks around, and sees the glowing candlestick on the table. Taking a deep breath, she reaches out and picks it up. Holding the candlestick in her hand, she feels a surge of confidence. She can do this. She will follow the clues and find the sorcerer's tomb.

Scarlett notices a small chest sitting in the corner of the room. She walks over and opens it, and inside, she finds a few items. There's a small bag, full of something that looks like breadcrumbs. There's a bottle of water, and a small lantern. And there's a note, with a few lines written on it. "To reach the sorcerer's tomb, follow the path of the crumbs. Be sure to keep your lantern lit, and don't stray from the path.