The Candle And The Boy

Mystery Reveals Its Face

When Ren heard the sound coming from the depths of the dark cottage, his feet froze in place. The echo reverberated in the air, as if emanating from the depths of the decaying cottage itself. The small candle he had lit earlier dimly illuminated the place, casting long shadows on the dilapidated walls.

"I've been waiting for you..."

The voice he heard was low, but clear enough for Ren to feel terror flowing through his veins. At that moment, he couldn't distinguish whether the voice was real or part of the hallucinations that had been haunting him since discovering those old messages.

His eyes were focused on the old painting showing the image of the Red-faced Man, but there was something strange about the painting... something that wasn't there before.

Ren approached cautiously and began to examine the painting closely. The features of the Red-faced Man were clearer this time, as if the person in the painting was staring directly at him. His gaze was full of challenge and danger, as if something big was about to happen.

Suddenly, Ren felt movement behind him. He turned quickly to find that the door he had entered through had closed with a loud sound. The cottage was now tightly sealed, and the air inside had become heavy as if the walls were closing in on him bit by bit.

"Is this real? Or am I starting to lose my mind?"

His breathing quickened as he tried to comprehend what was happening, but before he could take any step, he began to hear heavy footsteps moving towards the room. The footsteps were approaching slowly but steadily, as if belonging to someone who knew exactly what they were doing.

The sound stopped at the entrance of the room, and silence fell completely for a moment. Then, unexpectedly, the Red-faced Man appeared clearly before him. He stood at the entrance, his sharp features reflecting a hint of mockery and threat.

"Finally, we meet face to face..."

The words came out of his mouth like a deadly shot, and a small smile was drawn on his dark face. His appearance was unnatural, as if there was something strange surrounding him, something hiding behind his sharp eyes.

Ren stepped back a few steps, trying to find a way to escape, but the room was closed on all sides. He realized he was trapped, with no escape from the confrontation.

"Who are you? What do you want from me?"

The Red-faced Man laughed a short laugh, as if his question was just a joke to him. Then he pointed his hand to the painting hanging behind Ren.

"You know who I am. I am the shadow of the family, who has always been present. But they tried to hide me."

The words carried hidden meanings. Ren realized that this being was not just a ghost or illusion, but was part of the family's past, a part that had been forgotten or ignored for years.

"What do you mean?"

The Red-faced Man took another step towards Ren, and his features became clearer in the dim light. Then he raised his hand and pointed to an old picture hanging in the corner of the room. The picture showed members of Ren's family, but there was something strange about it. One of the people in the picture was wearing a red mask, exactly like the mask the Red-faced Man was wearing now.

"I am part of your family, Ren. I've always been here, hiding in the shadows. But they tried to push me away. They tried to bury me with their secrets."

The words were spinning in Ren's mind like a storm. He began to feel that everything around him was changing. Memories he thought were clear began to fade, replaced by vague and incomprehensible scenes. There was something connecting him to this being, but what was it? And why had he returned now?

"What do you want from me?"

The Red-faced Man stopped moving and looked directly at Ren. His eyes were dark, but they held a secret that couldn't be ignored.

"I want you to remember... to remember who I am. To remember what they did."

Suddenly, images began to flood Ren's mind. Scenes from the past, voices and faces he had forgotten long ago. He saw himself as a small child, sitting in a dark room, listening to his parents talking in low voices about something he shouldn't know. Then, unexpectedly, he saw the image of the Red-faced Man, standing in the same room, silently watching everything.

"I was always here... but they hid me."

"I was always here... but they hid me."

"I was always here... but they hid me."

The words were repeating in Ren's mind, and he began to feel he was losing control of his mind.

Everything around him was spinning rapidly, as if the cottage itself was trying to swallow him.

"What did they do? What does all this mean?"

The Red-faced Man laughed a sarcastic laugh and took another step towards him.

"You'll know soon... everything will be revealed. But remember, not every secret should be uncovered. Some secrets can be deadly."

And in an instant, the Red-faced Man disappeared, leaving Ren alone in the dark room.