Cursed Legacy

Chapter Three

Rhode Island 1945

It was in the middle of the night. Tom Riddle felt uneasy as he went through the middle door of the second-floor main foyer and at the end of the hallway he took notice of a serene painting of a luscious mountain valley, delicately rendered in oils. Time has taken its toll on the surface, which is soiled with dirt and scratches. Not minding the portrait Lord Peverell returned to his chambers then through the door beside the fireplace which led to the lavatory

Honestly, something felt out of place in the manor maybe he was being a bit paranoid due to being isolated from the world 'How did I manage to miss this?' He retrieved a piece of note on the toilet seat he had not noticed that last time 'Journal of Cadmus Peverell'? Curious he lifted the paper and started to read 'Everything that brightened my life now engulfed me in darkness. I fed on the light of truth yet starved on the shadows of lies. I have learned through my lifetime but know less than a newborn baby' For a moment he stared at the paper in disbelief before feeling a sense of warning then his eyes flared with renewed suspicion and for the first time since he ran away from the war, from the 'Wizarding World' Tom Riddle felt genuine fear.

"No, I will not get involved in this" Whether what this meant or even if he wanted to rationalize it The Ex-Slytherin was not going to investigate he'd rather be blind to the truth than have The Ministry after his arse or worse Grindelwald and Dumbledore barging into his house. Tom kept that curious part of him at the back of his mind instead of trying to solve whatever mysteries laid in this mansion "It's best to leave the past where it belongs" Tom turned the opposite direction ready to leave the lavatory although strange the place felt cold.

"You can't escape" Tom froze at the distant cold voice, the hair at the back of his neck standing up Lord Peverell was not ignorant to not recognize his own voice still even when it was familiar there was a chilling. Instantly the Ex-Slytherin turned his whole body and a flash of his reflection in the mirror caught his attention and Tom gazed upon the mirror over the sink and saw himself in detail for the first time he didn't pay much attention to himself since arriving in the U.S. and seeing his mirror image was a reminder that he was no longer the boy who longed to be apart of a Magical Community but rather a man whose sole ambitions were shattered and discarded "A mere dust to brush off"

The voice brought a shiver that coursed down his body all thoughts paused sensing something unnatural in his own monotonous voice as he looked to himself in the mirror and saw his reflection. Its blue gaze did not show happiness, nor sadness or either fear or surprise or curiosity or friendliness just a blank expressionless but a smile touched the corners of his mouth despite Tom expressing only confusion. The reflection's actions caused the young man to immediately back way eventually knocking off his feet with a look of fear and shock 'Am I going insane, I have to be losing my sanity' The young Lord denied he watched in horror as the reflection's jaw unhinged revealing rows of dagger-like teeth and pounding the mirror until it shattered "This isn't happening" Tom said, at last, covering his ears with trembling fingers

The lights flickered and then darkness engulfed the entire room leaving Tom alone once again, unlike the times when Mrs. Cole would lock him in the attic but that punishment meant nothing to him since he used to the isolation and dark spaces yet now how could he be so scared? Tom slowly looked up and saw two green orbs in the darkness that kept staring back at him 'Look in the abyss and it looks back, how ironic' Tom swallowed his fear and chuckled dryly, how could he be afraid of this thing? Death meant nothing to him when he faced it numerous times in that accursed frontlines and brought it upon those misfortunate enough to cross his path. While it was a Gryffindorean approach and thoughtless Tom Riddle couldn't allow his fears to consume him especially not like before.