The cupboard seemed out of place. Its wooden planks blend seamlessly within the isolated corner of the stay. However, what caught her eye was the padlock securing the door of it.
She was pretty sure that this cupboard was not there when they first came. Who put it there? What is its purpose here? As she examined it from a distance, a sense of getting pulled towards its door washed over her. The urge to know what was inside was irresistible.
The dull silvery grey padlock had some beautiful yet danger seeking designs. She glanced over her shoulders , checking if anyone was watching.
She started walking to the cupboard. Almost tip toeing in an irritable slow pace.
A part of her wanted to ignore this bizzare thing and return to the group. But another part , driven by an irresistible need, pushed her to investigate further.
With each cautious step, her heartbeat echoes louder in her ears , silencing every other existing noise. The cupboard seemed to have an aura of secrets, as if daring her to uncover it's hidden contents
She circled the cupboard, looking for any idea or hints that could show its purpose or ownership. However, nothing appeared out of the ordinary, adding to the enigma surrounding it.
The silence became deafening. It was as if every living creature was holding their breaths to see the end to it.
With a careful movement, she placed her hand on the padlock, feeling the cold metal against her skin. There was a moment of self doubt and hesitation but her curiosity overpowered them.
The padlock yielded easily which was eccentric. The padlock seemed tightly held but with the single touch of her hands let go of that hold.
The cupboard door creaked open, revealing its hidden contents. Inside sat an old leather-bound diary. Its pages were yellowed with time , corners frayed and the spine cracked.
She reached towards the diary, her fingers brushing against the worn leather. It felt heaving with secrets and light with riddles, whispering of untold stories waiting to be discovered.
As she flipped the pages, she saw a four line writing. The words were written in an old fashioned script, the ink slightly faded but readable.
"Had they see what had thy hear
Stop and don turn ymbe dear.
Close thou eyes and count till nine
Then turn with the heart of lion."
As she read the lines , a sudden cold shiver went down her spine. The cryptic writing felt like a riddle with a warning.
"Had thy see what had thy hear? What does that even mean?" She murmured to herself in frustration as well as disappointment.
The other lines seemed equally bizzare , a warning followed by an unusual advice. What hidden secrets do these lines have?
In the midst of reading the writing, a sense of being watched came over again. There is a presence behind her. Turning back to face is something that her body won't allow. She tried to run away but her legs betrayed. She stood still holding her breath.
There is nothing she could do except enchant the writings from the diary like a mantra. She followed what the "mantra" did. She closed her eyes and counted till nine. She whispered the mantra again as she began to acquire a temporary confidence.
She swallowed, her heart pounding in her chest and slowly turned around.
Her eyes widened as she faced the figure hidden in the dark. A surge of fear floated through her veins but she maintained her composure.
"Who are you? And what are you doing here?"
She demanded with her depleting confidence. The ominous lines from the diary echoed in her mind.
The figure remained silent. The demanding questions turned into pleading prayers. But the figure wasn't affected. It took a step closer.
As the figure takes a step , the girl takes a step back, until their distance begins to close. There was no hope. She fell on her own snare and a sacrifice is inevitable.
