The room was silent, save for the faint sound of Bella's breathing. She sat at the table, the three bones laid out before her like artifacts from a forgotten ritual. Each one glowed faintly under the dim light, their carvings alive with eerie energy. The Red Dairy rested in the center, its ribbon now frayed and loose, as though barely holding back the power within.
Bella's fingers trembled as she arranged the bones. The symbols seemed to shift subtly, aligning with one another as if guided by an unseen hand. When the final bone slid into place, a low hum filled the air, and the diary began to pulse faintly, like a heartbeat.
She hesitated, staring at the glowing cover. The whispers returned, stronger than ever, their voices layered and overlapping.
"The circle is formed. The blood must bind. The gate must open."
Bella clenched her fists, trying to steady herself. Her mind raced with thoughts of Shane, of the life they had shared, and of the emptiness she had felt since his death. The diary had promised her a way to bring him back. It had chosen her for this purpose.
But the parchment's warning lingered in her mind: *The blood of the beloved binds the circle.*
Her eyes fell to the small knife resting on the table. It gleamed under the light, a simple, sharp blade. Bella had already tried her own blood, to no avail. What more did the diary want from her?
The whispers grew louder, insistent. "The beloved. The blood. Complete the circle."
She glanced at the framed photo of Shane on the shelf. Could it mean his blood? Bella shook her head. That was impossible. He was gone. Unless…
Her thoughts drifted back to the shard of bone she had taken from his grave, wrapped now in cloth beside the diary. That fragment was part of him, a connection to the man she loved.
Her hands trembling, Bella reached for the shard. As her fingers brushed against it, she felt a jolt, like electricity coursing through her veins. The diary responded instantly, its cover glowing brighter.
The whispers shifted, their tone almost triumphant. "Yes. The blood of the beloved. The bond is made."
Bella's breath hitched. She unwrapped the bone and held it over the diary. The carvings on its surface pulsed faintly, and a single drop of dark red liquid seeped from one of the symbols.
Blood.
She didn't understand how it was possible, but the shard was bleeding, as though it still carried Shane's essence.
Taking a deep breath, Bella let the drop of blood fall onto the diary's cover. The effect was immediate. The ribbon sealing the book unraveled completely, dissolving into black smoke that dissipated into the air. The symbols on the cover glowed brighter, and the whispers erupted into a cacophony of voices, too many to comprehend.
The diary began to shake, and Bella recoiled, watching in awe and fear as it slowly opened.
The first page was blank, but the air around it seemed to ripple, distorting the space. Bella hesitated, her hand hovering over the book. She knew she was crossing a line, stepping into the unknown, but the thought of Shane kept her moving forward.
As she turned the page, words began to appear, written in dark, spidery ink. The handwriting was jagged, almost alive, and it seemed to shift as she read:
*"The blood is bound. The gate is open. The dead shall rise, but the price must be paid."*
Bella's heart pounded as she flipped to the next page. More words appeared, detailing a ritual, instructions for summoning the spirit of a loved one and anchoring them to the mortal world. The process was intricate and terrifying, involving blood, fire, and the diary itself.
But one line stood out, etched in bold, unyielding letters:
*"The cost is life for life. The circle cannot remain unbroken."*
Bella's blood ran cold. She read the line again, her mind refusing to accept it. A life for a life. If she wanted to bring Shane back, she would have to take another life in return.
"No," she whispered, shaking her head. "There has to be another way."
The whispers swirled around her, their tone mocking. "The price is set. The circle demands balance."
Bella slammed the diary shut, her hands trembling. Her mind raced with conflicting emotions. She had come so far, endured so much. Could she really walk away now?
Her thoughts turned to the people in her life. She had no family left, only a few acquaintances from her quiet, reclusive existence. No one close enough to matter. Except…
Her stomach churned as the realization hit her. The only person she could truly consider "close" was Eliza, her neighbor and closest friend. Eliza had been there for her after Shane's death, bringing meals, offering company, and helping her through the darkest days.
Bella pushed the thought away, horrified. She couldn't—she wouldn't—hurt Eliza. There had to be another way.
But the diary's presence was suffocating, its promises tempting. It whispered of Shane's return, of happiness restored, if only she would make the sacrifice.
Tears streamed down Bella's face as she stared at the diary. The choice before her was impossible, but the weight of it pressed heavily on her chest.
The circle was open, the gate unlocked. The path was laid out before her.
All that remained was for Bella to decide how far she was willing to go.