Chapter 18: A Brush with the Unknown
As Sam and I drove back to the Academy, the events at Blackwood Manor weighed heavily on our minds. The relief of having escaped the dream trap was tempered by the realization of how close we had come to being lost forever in that eerie loop. The Academy loomed ahead, its familiar structure offering a sense of safety we desperately needed.
When we arrived, we went straight to Professor Henry's office. He was one of the most experienced paranormal investigators at the Academy and had been our guide through our first week of classes. We found him poring over a stack of ancient texts, his expression thoughtful.
"Professor Henry, we need to talk to you," Sam said, his voice urgent.
The professor looked up, his eyebrows knitting together in concern when he saw our faces. "What happened?"
We quickly recounted our experience at Blackwood Manor, from the investigation to the strange dream trap and our eventual escape. Professor Henry listened intently, his expression growing more serious with each detail we shared.
When we finished, he leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "You two were very fortunate," he said finally. "What you encountered is classified as a Level D paranormal activity."
"Level D?" I asked, confused. "What does that mean?"
Professor Henry stood and walked over to a large bookshelf, pulling out a thick, dusty tome. "Paranormal activities are classified into levels based on their danger and complexity," he explained. "Level D is relatively low on the scale, but it can still be incredibly dangerous, as you both experienced."
"But why us?" Sam asked. "Thousands of people have visited Blackwood Manor before, and only a few have ever been trapped like we were."
Professor Henry nodded, flipping through the pages of the book. "Paranormal phenomena are often unpredictable. Sometimes, certain individuals are more susceptible to these occurrences. It could be due to a variety of factors—sensitivity to paranormal energies, psychological state, or even just being in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"Great, so we were just unlucky," I muttered.
"Perhaps," Professor Henry said, "but you also showed remarkable resilience and resourcefulness in escaping. That will serve you well in your future investigations."
He handed us the book, opened to a section on dream traps and other reality-bending phenomena. "I recommend you study this. Understanding the nature of these traps can help you avoid them in the future."
We spent the next few hours poring over the book, learning about different types of paranormal traps and how to identify and escape them. It was both fascinating and terrifying to realize how much more there was to the world of the paranormal than we had ever imagined.
As evening fell, we joined the rest of our classmates in the dining hall. The normalcy of dinner was a welcome relief after the surreal events of the past day. However, our experience had left a mark, and we couldn't help but share our story.
Our classmates listened with a mix of awe and horror. Some of them had heard of Blackwood Manor but had never imagined it could be so dangerous.
"You're lucky to be back," one of them said, shaking his head. "I've heard of people getting lost in those dream traps forever."
"Yeah, well, next time we'll be more careful," Sam replied, trying to lighten the mood. "No more haunted mansions for a while."
The laughter that followed was a welcome sound, easing some of the tension that had built up inside me. Despite everything, we were still here, still learning, and still ready to face whatever came next.
Later that night, as I lay in bed, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease. The experience at Blackwood Manor had been a stark reminder of the dangers that lay ahead. But it had also shown us that we were capable of facing those dangers and coming out the other side.
"We've got this," I whispered to myself, hoping that the confidence I felt would carry us through the challenges to come.
I thought of asking the professor of the supernatural entities class tomorrow about this and slept peacefully, thinking about the danger that they fortunately escaped from.