The silence in the library was deafening, punctuated only by the heavy breaths of both Avriel and Iver. She felt the weight of his presence pressing down on her, a palpable tension crackling in the air like static electricity. She knew she had to tread carefully, as the darkness that surrounded him felt alive, hungry, and volatile.
"You think you can save me?" Iver’s voice cut through the stillness, filled with a mix of scorn and disbelief. His eyes glimmered with an unsettling light, shadows flickering in and out of existence around him, casting eerie shapes on the walls. “You don’t understand the depths of my despair.”
Avriel straightened, heart pounding but resolute. “I know you’re trapped in this cycle of pain. I felt it in the journal, your hopes, your dreams, your betrayals. I can help you find a way out.”
He scoffed, a harsh laugh that sent chills down her spine. “Help? You think I want help? I’ve survived this long by embracing the darkness. It’s all I have left.”
"But it’s destroying you," she replied, her voice steady despite the tremors coursing through her. “You don’t have to face it alone. You don’t have to be a monster.”
His expression twisted, and for a fleeting moment, the shadows around him seemed to waver. She could see the internal struggle within him, a battle between the boy who had once yearned for connection and the specter of vengeance that had taken hold.
"You don’t know what you’re asking," he warned, his voice dropping to a husky whisper, filled with a deep-seated agony. “I’m not who I used to be. I’m a ghost, a remnant of what was lost. There’s nothing left of me that can be saved.”
Avriel took a step closer, her heart racing. She could feel the pull of the darkness, its chilling fingers creeping toward her, but she pushed through the fear. “Then let me help you remember. You have to fight against this darkness!”
His gaze flickered, a mixture of fear and anger mingling in those mismatched eyes. The shadows coiled tighter around him, and she felt the room grow colder, the very air heavy with despair.
"You think I can just turn it off?" he shouted, the shadows erupting around him like a storm, swirling and crashing against the walls. “You think I can just forget everything I’ve lost? This is my only power!”
Avriel’s heart sank. She could feel his pain wrapping around her, drawing her in, but she refused to let it crush her. “Your power comes from the past, but it doesn’t define you. You can reclaim yourself, Iver. You can let go of this anger!”
He recoiled as if her words physically struck him. The shadows whispered ominously, swirling chaotically, and she could see them becoming more aggressive, as if responding to his turmoil.
"I have no intention of letting go!" he roared, and in that instant, the shadows lunged toward her, a dark wave threatening to engulf her entirely.
Avriel’s instincts kicked in. She dodged to the side, heart racing as the darkness surged past her, crashing into the bookshelf behind her with a deafening crash. Books flew everywhere, their pages torn and fluttering like fallen leaves in a storm.
“Stop!” she cried, desperation creeping into her voice. She realized that every time he lost control, the house became more unstable, more hostile.
With adrenaline coursing through her veins, she reached for the journal, still open on the table. “Iver! Look at your past! You need to see it!” She thrust it toward him, hoping the words within would reach the humanity still buried deep inside.
For a moment, he hesitated, his expression flickering between rage and confusion. But then, as if a dam had broken, he let out a furious scream, the shadows spiraling out of control.
The library shook violently, dust and debris raining down from the ceiling. “You don’t understand!” he shouted, his voice echoing with the pain of ages. “This place is a prison, and I am its warden! If I let go, I’ll lose everything!”
Avriel could see the fear in his eyes, the terror of losing the only thing that had anchored him. But she also saw a glimmer of hope. “You won’t lose yourself; you’ll find freedom!”
He took a step back, shadows flickering around him like angry serpents. The room felt alive with energy, and she could sense the house responding to their confrontation, thrumming with a strange resonance.
"No! I refuse!" he shouted, summoning the shadows to him. They obeyed, coiling around his form, growing darker and more menacing.
Panic surged through her. If she didn’t find a way to break through to him, he would be lost forever, consumed by the very darkness he clung to.
"Iver, listen to me!" she implored, moving closer despite the oppressive weight of shadows. “This isn’t just about you! You’re hurting everyone who steps foot in this house. You’re hurting me!”
His eyes flashed with anger, and for a moment, she thought he might unleash the full force of his fury. But then she saw it, the flicker of uncertainty, the weight of his grief pulling him back.
"I... I don’t want to hurt you," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper.
Avriel seized the moment, stepping closer, reaching out. “Then fight it! Let me help you remember who you are.”
For a heartbeat, it felt as if time had frozen. The shadows hesitated, swirling restlessly but no longer threatening. Iver’s gaze searched hers, torn between the remnants of the boy he once was and the darkness that consumed him.
"You’re... right," he said slowly, the shadows beginning to fade at the edges of his form. “But what if I can’t find my way back?”
"Then I’ll help you. I promise," she replied, her voice steady. “You’re stronger than this darkness. Together, we can break free.”
But even as the words left her mouth, she knew they were teetering on a precipice. She could feel the darkness simmering just below the surface, waiting for the chance to strike back.
Avriel took a deep breath, steeling herself for the battle ahead. She had to believe in Iver’s strength, just as she had to believe in her own.
The shadows whispered around them, an ominous reminder of the fight that lay ahead. But in that moment, Avriel felt a flicker of hope, a fragile bond beginning to form between them, two souls navigating the storm together.
As Iver’s shadows receded, Avriel sensed the air shift again, heavy with unresolved tension. They stood at the edge of a new beginning, but the darkness was still lurking, waiting for a chance to reclaim its hold.
___________________________________________
Hiii!
Thanks for reading!!!
Please vote and comment 🫶🏻
And stay happy & Healthy 🤎
YOU ARE READING
LOVER OF THE DEAD
ParanormalWhat if the one you were destined to love was trapped between two worlds? Avriel Abbott is drawn to the mysteries of the supernatural, but nothing could prepare her for the enigmatic ghost Iver Killian. As their connection deepens, they uncover secr...
