A tall, cloaked figure stepped out of the darkness. Noor's breath hitched, her pulse quickening. The figure's face was obscured, but there was an undeniable power radiating from them—an energy that made the air crackle and her skin prickle with unease.
Sultan tensed beside her, his body coiled like a spring ready to snap. "Who are you?" he demanded, his voice cold and sharp, cutting through the stillness.
The figure didn't answer immediately, but when they did, their voice was low, almost a whisper that reverberated through the room. "You shouldn't have opened the chest."
Noor felt a chill race down her spine. The weight of those words settled heavily on her chest, and she could see Sultan's jaw clench even tighter. They were in over their heads.
"You don't know what you've unleashed," the figure continued, taking slow, deliberate steps forward. "This isn't just about the curse on Sultan's family. The relic you've touched holds something much darker."
Sultan stepped forward, positioning himself slightly in front of Noor, shielding her from the stranger. "We're ending this curse tonight. I don't care what you think you know."
The figure paused, tilting their head as if amused. "You're a fool if you believe the relic's power can be controlled. It feeds on what's inside you—your darkest fears, your deepest desires."
Noor's heart pounded in her chest as the words sank in. She looked at Sultan, seeing the storm brewing in his eyes. If what this stranger was saying was true, then the relic wasn't their salvation—it was a weapon that could destroy them from within.
"Why should we believe you?" Noor asked, her voice steadier than she felt.
The figure's eyes, now visible beneath the hood, gleamed with an ancient knowledge. "Because I've seen what it can do. I've lived through it."
Sultan shot a glance at Noor, but she could see the doubt creeping into his expression. They had been so sure that finding the relic was the key to breaking the curse, but now it seemed like every step they took was leading them deeper into danger.
"What do you want from us?" Sultan asked, his voice low but commanding.
The figure chuckled softly, a sound that made Noor's skin crawl. "I want nothing. The relic has already claimed you. The question is—what are you willing to sacrifice?"
Before Sultan could respond, the figure turned and disappeared into the shadows as quickly as they had come, leaving only the echo of their words hanging in the air.
Noor exhaled a shaky breath. "What now?" she whispered.
Sultan's face was hard, his jaw set in determination. "We finish what we started."
But Noor wasn't so sure anymore. The relic, the curse, the mansion—it all felt like a trap they couldn't escape. And now, with the stranger's cryptic warning, the weight of uncertainty pressed down on her harder than ever before.
As they made their way back down the creaking stairs of the mansion, the oppressive feeling of being watched never left them. The house seemed to shift around them, its walls closing in as if it was alive with the secrets it held.
When they reached the ground floor, Amir was waiting for them.
His smirk was unsettling, his eyes gleaming with a dark amusement. "So, how did it feel to meet the keeper of your fate?"
Sultan's hands balled into fists. "You set us up."
Amir shrugged nonchalantly, leaning against the grand staircase. "I only led you to the truth. What you do with it is entirely up to you."
Noor felt her stomach twist. "Why are you doing this? What's in it for you?"
Amir's smile widened, a sinister glint in his eyes. "I told you, Noor. You're the key to all of this. But until you understand what that means, you'll never be free."
Sultan took a step forward, his anger barely contained. "Enough of your games, Amir. We're going to break this curse, no matter what you throw at us."
Amir's smile faded, replaced by something far more dangerous. "You think you can just walk out of here and everything will be fine? The relic has already begun its work. The shadows are closing in. And soon, you'll realize that this isn't about the curse on my family—it's about you."
Noor's breath caught in her throat. Her? What did he mean?
Sultan didn't wait for an explanation. "We'll see about that," he said through gritted teeth, grabbing Noor's hand and pulling her toward the door.
But as they reached the threshold, a force slammed the door shut in front of them, the echo of the bang reverberating through the house. The shadows in the corners of the room began to stir, creeping toward them with an unnatural speed.
"No," Noor gasped, her heart racing. "What's happening?"
Amir's laughter rang out behind them. "You're too late. The relic has chosen."
Sultan spun around, ready to confront Amir, but the man was already fading into the darkness, his laughter echoing as he disappeared.
The shadows were closing in faster now, swirling around them, cutting off every escape route. The walls seemed to pulse with a life of their own, trapping them in a nightmare they couldn't wake from.
Noor clung to Sultan, her heart pounding in her chest. "What do we do?"
Sultan's grip tightened around her. "We fight."