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Chapter 45: The Calm Before the Storm
The night of the full moon arrived, casting a silvery glow over the village. Shadows stretched long and deep, as if eager to engulf everything in their path. Aarav stood at the edge of the village, heart racing as he awaited his friends. Each tick of the clock seemed to amplify the anticipation and anxiety swirling within him.
The sound of footsteps approached, and he turned to see Neha, Priya, and Raj coming toward him, their expressions a mix of determination and apprehension.
“Are we ready for this?” Priya asked, her voice slightly shaky as she looked up at the bright moon overhead. Its glow illuminated her features, reflecting the inner conflict she felt.
“Ready as we’ll ever be,” Aarav replied, trying to inject confidence into his tone. “We’ve prepared as best we can. Remember the riddle—we have to face our fears.”
“Let’s not keep the shadows waiting,” Raj added, a hint of bravado in his voice. He adjusted the backpack slung over his shoulder, filled with supplies they’d gathered.
Neha stepped closer, her expression serious. “Whatever happens, we stick together. We face this as one.”
With a collective nod, they set off toward the ruins, the crisp night air filled with a mixture of excitement and dread. The path felt different under the moonlight—eerily beautiful yet foreboding, each rustle of leaves seeming to whisper warnings.
As they approached the ruins, the imposing structures loomed in the moonlight, casting intricate shadows that danced on the ground. The once-familiar sight now felt alien, almost alive, as if the very stones were aware of their presence.
“Here we are,” Aarav said, swallowing hard. The memories of their last visit flooded back—whispers echoing in his mind, the chill of the air. He glanced at his friends, their faces reflecting a mix of resolve and trepidation.
“Let’s light the candles,” Neha suggested, pulling out a small bag filled with candles and matches. “We need some light to guide us through.”
They gathered in a circle, lighting the candles and placing them on the pedestal where they had discovered the inscription. The warm glow illuminated their faces, creating flickering shadows that danced across the ancient stone walls.
“Now what?” Priya asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she surveyed the ruins.
“Let’s read the inscription again,” Aarav proposed, feeling a strange compulsion to revisit the riddle that had brought them here. “It might give us more insight.”
Neha nodded, her fingers brushing against the carvings. “The more we understand, the better prepared we’ll be.”
As Aarav read the inscription aloud, the moonlight seemed to shift, casting an otherworldly glow around them.
