Call of the Abyss

Chapter 4: whispers in the dark

The trio's quest for answers took them deeper into the heart of Muntinlupa, towards the secluded house that stood as a silent witness in the photograph. The structure, ensnared by overgrown vines and shadowed by towering, ancient trees, seemed to pulsate with a life of its own. As they approached, the air grew denser, charged with an energy that made the hairs on the back of their necks stand.

"This place... it feels wrong," Kyle murmured, his voice barely above a whisper as if afraid to disturb the silence that enveloped them.

Tom, his eyes narrowed in focus, nodded. "It's not just the house. The land itself is soaked in eldritch power. Be on your guard."

Louis, clutching his father's journal to his chest, led the way to the front door, which creaked open at their approach, as though inviting them into its dark maw. Inside, the air was thick, laced with the smell of old earth and something faintly metallic. The light from their flashlights seemed to be swallowed by the darkness, offering little comfort.

As they explored the dimly lit hallways, the walls seemed to whisper, voices too low to be fully understood, murmuring secrets meant only for the house itself. Shadows danced at the edge of their vision, forms that were there one moment and gone the next, leaving them questioning if they had seen anything at all.

In a room that might have once been a study, they found a circle of chairs arranged around an intricate pattern drawn on the floor. Symbols, similar to those in the journal, were etched into the wood, glowing faintly with an unnatural light.

"It's a summoning circle," Tom said, his voice tense. "And it's been used recently."

The realization sent a shiver through the group, the implications dawning on them with a clarity that was unwelcome. They were not alone in their search for the eldritch; someone, or something, was always a step ahead.

Suddenly, the house seemed to come alive with a low hum, a vibration that resonated through the very foundation. The symbols on the floor brightened, casting eerie shadows that twisted and contorted around the room.

"Get out! Now!" Tom shouted over the growing din, the calm demeanor replaced by urgency.

They raced through the corridors, the house seeming to shift around them, doors disappearing and hallways elongating into impossible geometries. The whispers grew louder, now screams and pleas intermingled with laughter, a cacophony of madness that threatened to overwhelm their senses.

Just as the exit seemed forever out of reach, they burst through the front door, tumbling out into the night. The house fell silent behind them, its windows dark, as if mocking their escape.

Panting and disoriented, they made their way back to the city, the weight of what they had experienced pressing down on them. The journey had taken a sinister turn, revealing a world that lurked beneath the surface of their reality, a world filled with horrors beyond comprehension.

As they sought refuge in the safety of their homes, the unsettling truth became clear: their quest was no longer just about finding answers. It was about surviving the eldritch horrors that sought to envelop them, horrors that were closer and more real than they had ever imagined.

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