Several disappearances and unexplained events have been registered shorty after the commercialization of an ancient statue linked to some legends from a mysterious place called "Reich der Finsternis" in eastern Germany, there is no know route leadin...
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The power of mind and blood
The elevator had reached the top floor, jolting Liz and Anika as the doors slid open, revealing a hallway tucked away in the more mystical corners of the library. The corridor was lined with burgundy upholstery, worn from generations of visitors to the Reich der Finsternis library. The air was thick with the scent of old ink and weathered leather. On either side of them stretched catalogs filled with more contemporary books—enough to keep someone reading for a lifetime. The girls stepped into the hallway, Liz watching Anika calmly, knowing that thanks to her, they had completed their task without further danger.
"We're here," Liz exhaled in relief, her voice lifting slightly when she heard the elevator returning. She knew only Nick could have sent it back.
Everything seemed to be going well. It was just a matter of waiting for Nick to join them so they could continue with their plan. But the unease on Anika's face was unmistakable—a fear that quickly spread to Liz. For the first time, she truly grasped the depth of the girl's terror.
"What's wrong?" Liz asked softly, bending down and gently touching Anika's shoulder. Deep down, though, Liz felt a visceral unease gnawing at her.
Anika's knees were trembling, more distressed than Liz had ever seen her.
"The monsters stayed behind," the girl whispered, clutching her hands to her chest. Liz knew Anika wasn't afraid of the creatures due to her condition—but the girl's voice quivered as she continued. "But I feel... something... coming for me," she finished, her voice breaking as she struggled to hold back a scream.
Liz immediately drew her pistol, aiming it in every direction, especially toward the spot where Anika was pointing, her finger shaking as though sensing something Liz could not. The hallway seemed empty—just the two of them. Liz couldn't understand what was happening until a sharp, stabbing pain shot through her chest, paralyzing her. The pain grew, making her gasp and forcing her to her knees. She broke her fall with her palm, but it felt like her diaphragm was being set ablaze. Suddenly, a gray haze enveloped everything, draping the hallway in a shroud of despair. Dark shades overtook the space, and in the midst of this bleak scene, inanimate objects began to move on their own. Tables shifted, and everything on them tumbled to the floor.
Liz caught a glimpse of Anika's panicked face, clearly aware of the sinister force around them. Laughing voices whispered incomprehensible phrases in Liz's ear, while the world around her warped into a nightmarish, surrealist painting. Everything distorted, bending into impossible shapes that defied logic.
Though her senses felt numb, Liz was certain that once again, she was on the verge of losing control. Between sobs, she wondered how much more of this she could take. Anika stayed by her side, clinging to her, terrified of the thick fog that now filled the hallway. There was nothing but darkness ahead, save for a faint light that cut through the gloom. It illuminated a desolate scene: a single oak table stood, untouched by the chaos, resolute and unmoved.
