Fate of deception

Chapter 22 - Umaizah's POV

My heart pounded as Layna and I approached the front door of Layna's house. The weight of the old book hidden in the satchel felt heavier with each step. The book had an almost magnetic pull, as though it was urging us to hurry and uncover the entries within it. But first, we had to get past Nova without raising any suspicions.

Layna shot me a quick glance, her eyes full of shared understanding. The unspoken agreement between us was clear: act normal.

As we stepped inside, I could hear the familiar sounds of pots and pans clinking in the kitchen, accompanied by the soft hum of Nova singing to herself. The smell of fresh bread filled the house, comforting and warm. It was a stark contrast to the tense excitement bubbling beneath my calm exterior.

"Layna, is that you?" Her mother's voice called out from the kitchen, her back facing to us.

"Yes, mum, it's us!" Layna replied, her tone casual. "We picked up the fruit you wanted."

I quickly held up the basket of fruit we'd bought. Layna mentioned the names to be "luminberry, velven apple, star-blossom fruit, embergrape, mirage fruit, frost-pear and thunder-plum." The fruit shifted slightly as I picked one up in my hand. "Layna was the one who picked them all."

Nova appeared near the counter, wiping her hand on a towel. She smiled at the sight of us, her eyes softening. "Thank you so much, saved me the trouble to make dessert tasty. Are you hungry? I'm just finishing up the cake."

"We'll grab something later, mum," Layna quickly said, already edging towards the hallway. "We're going down to my room for now."

I caught the quick glance Layna gave me, urging me to move. With a nod, I followed Layna down the hall, trying to suppress the rising urge to laugh nervously. Every step felt like a victory as we moved further from the kitchen and closer to Layna's bedroom.

Once we reached Layna's room, she shut the door quietly behind us. The sound of the door clicking shut seemed to release the tension that had built up inside of us. I let out a breath, then pulled the book from inside the satchel, placing it on the bed.

"That was close," I said with my voice low.

"Too close," Layna agreed, her eyes fixed on the book. The two of us stared at it for a moment, the room filled with the gravity of what we had just done. I had no idea of what the book held, but I could feel the significance.

Layna sat down on the bed, gesturing for me to join her. The bed creaked as I settled in next to her, the book between us. Next to it, Layna placed the other two journals we had been reading—Maribel's and Alma's journals. The covers of the book were worn and faded, each one holding entries from the potentially the same or different time.

"So," I began, my voice tinged with excitement and hesitation, "which one do we start with?"

Layna hesitated, her gaze shifting from the new book to the other journals. "We barely scratched the surface of Maribel's and Alma's journals. They've been revealing, but..." She trailed off, clearly torn.

I understood the dilemma. Maribel's journal had been giving the glimpses into the early days of the family's mysterious legacy, while Alma's journal hinted at darker, more troubling times. But this new book... its very presence was like a key, and we had no idea what door it might unlock.

"Do we now whose journal this is?" I asked, running my fingers over the cover of the new book. The leather was cracked with age, but it was still sturdy, as if it had been preserved for purpose.

Layna shook her head. "No idea. But that's part of the mystery, isn't it?"

I bit my lip, thinking. "We could stick with Alma's journal. It's darker, for sure, but maybe that's where all the answers are."

Layna considered this, her eyes narrowing in thought. "But if this new journal belongs to someone we haven't heard about yet, it could fill in the gaps. It might even explain things we didn't understand before."

I felt a surge of curiosity. The idea of uncovering something new, something that could tie all the pieces together, was too tempting to resist. "Alright," I agreed. "Let's start with this one."

Layna gave me a determined look and opened the book to its first page. The paper was yellowed with age, the ink faded but still legible. The handwriting was neat, almost meticulous, as if the writer had taken great care with every word. Just like Maribel's.

"I have been warned not to write this but I cannot keep these thoughts to myself any longer. The weight of what I've discovered is too great, and if something happens to me someone must know the truth. There's a curse upon this family, one that has been carefully hidden for generations. But it cannot be hidden any longer."

I felt a chill run down through my spine. Whoever had written this journal had known something dangerous, something that had threatened them enough to put it in writing, despite the risks.

"Keep going," I urged, leaning closer to see the next entry. Now I was the eager person to read it.

Layna turned the page carefully. The following entry was dated a few days later, the handwriting slightly more frantic.

"The curse... it's real. I have seen the signs, the same ones described in Maribel's journal. How could I have been so blind? How could we all have ignored the warnings? I must find a way to stop it, but I fear it may be too late. The whispers have started again, and this time, they are clearer."

My mind raced with possibilities. "This person knew about Maribel's journal. But a curse? We haven't read about a curse yet, shall we read Maribel's journal after this?" Layna nodded. "This is turning into an investigation."

Layna's expression was serious. "You're right. We need to keep reading, but we also have to be careful. If this person was afraid of way they knew, then whatever's in here could be dangerous."

I felt a mix of excitement and fear. The journal revealing more than we had expected, and with it, the stakes are getting higher. We had uncovered a new piece of the puzzle, but it was clear that this was only the start.

"Let's keep going," I said, keeping my voice steady with determination. "We have to know the truth, no matter what."

Layna agreed, together, we turned the page, ready to dive deeper into the secrets that had been hidden for so long.

"I have never been one to document my thoughts, but recent events have forced my hand. There is something strange in the air, something that defies the logic we once held dear. I fear the future, and what might come if these events are not recorded, if the truth is not passed on will be ruined.

It started with dreams... dreams that felt too real, too vivid to be mere figments of the imagination. They spoke of a power king forgotten, of a curse tied to our bloodline, and of a choice that could undo everything we hold dear."

My eyes widened. I'm attached to this curse.

Layna kept going, turning the page to the next entry. The tone had shifted, becoming more frantic.

"The dreams have not ceased. Each night, they grow stronger, more detailed. I see faces I don't recognise, yet they feel familiar. And the whispers, they are growing louder within each command. I fear this is what I mean, not just for me, but for everyone connected to our family."

Whoever had written this journal had sensed their dreams to be ominous. It's like they had no choice but to be left to document it all. My curiosity piqued.

I leaned back, my mind still racing as it overthought its self. "This took a turn. I already want to look further into this." The only reason was because of the line "A curse tied to our bloodline." It was clear how I'm somehow connected to this. But how?