Noah felt a chill run down his spine as the whispers grew louder. He glanced around, searching for the source of the sound, but saw nothing but the flickering shadows and the creaking door. Panic welled up inside him, but he forced himself to focus on Talia. "Talia, please," he whispered again, his voice breaking. Just as he was about to lose hope, Talia's eyelids fluttered, and she let out a weak groan. Relief flooded through Noah, but it was short-lived. The whispers intensified, and a cold breeze swept through the room, extinguishing the lights and plunging them into darkness. "Noah..." The voice echoed in his mind, sending a jolt of fear through him. He stood up, his heart pounding, and looked around the room. "Who's there? What do you want?" he demanded, his voice trembling.There was no one there... But he heard it. It was Noktra's voice."If you want answers... If you want to save her... Meet me at the Forgotten Cemetery." And then silence.No echo, no trace, as if the words were only part of a fading illusion. But it wasn't an illusion. He heard them clearly.He lifted his eyes to the shadows that danced on the walls and felt that this night... would never be the same.He stood up slowly, his mind buzzing with questions, and carried Talia to her bed, muttering,"What is this cemetery? How do I get there? What are these mysteries, Noctra?"But what troubled him the most was that until now, he didn't understand what exactly had happened to him. He was just looking for an answer to his mother's sudden disappearance, but now he was caught in a maze of secrets that tangled like cobwebs.Once he checked on his sister, he went back to his room where he spotted the red book that turned his life upside down. He held the book in his hand and tried to flip through its pages. It was a strange, blood-colored book, with golden edges that looked like written talismans. The reptilian eye in the center of the book seemed to follow his movements."I don't know what made me take you from the library," he whispered, his voice tinged with frustration. "I don't even know how I got back to my room. All I remember is... that place. That strange dimension. Was it real? Or just a hallucination? I don't know anymore."He reached for the book, his fingers brushing against its surface. It felt warm, almost pulsating, as if it had a heartbeat of its own. He tried to open it, but the pages refused to budge. He tugged harder, his frustration mounting, but it was as if the book had sealed itself shut."What happened? I was able to read from it in the library, so why not now? What are you? What kind of curse is this?" he snapped, his voice rising in anger. In a fit of desperation, he hurled the book across the room, watching as it sailed out the open balcony door, only to be surprised by the book stopped mid-air, as if caught by an invisible hand. It hovered for a moment, then shot back into the room, landing at his feet with a soft thud. Noah stared at it, his breath catching in his throat. The book had defied gravity, defied logic—it was alive, or at least, something was keeping it tethered to him.He knelt down slowly, his hand hovering over the book. "What kind of power do you have?" he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. The book offered no answers, only its silent, watchful presence.Determined to find clarity, Noah decided to return to the library. The old man there had to know something—he had to be the key to unraveling this mystery. But first, he needed a moment to collect himself. The events of the night had left him drained, his nerves frayed.He made his way to the kitchen, his footsteps echoing in the quiet house. Just as he reached for a glass, he froze. The front door creaked open, the sound slicing through the stillness like a knife. His heart leapt into his throat. He wasn't expecting anyone.Cautiously, he peered around the corner, his pulse quickening with each step. The door swung open, and there stood his father, his face etched with exhaustion but his eyes sharp and alert."Dad! What are you doing here?" Noah blurted, his voice a mixture of surprise and relief.His father offered a weary smile, but there was something in his expression—something unspoken. "Noah, there were... unexpected developments at work. I had to come back early."Noah hesitated, his instincts prickling. "Is everything okay?"His father's gaze hardened, and he stepped closer, his voice low and urgent. "Noah, we need to talk. There are things you need to know. Something strange has been going on for a while, and I think it's time we uncovered the truth."Noah's stomach churned. "What are you talking about, Dad? What things?"His father took a deep breath, his shoulders sagging under the weight of his words. "I know your mother's disappearance was a shock to all of us, but what I didn't tell you is that there are old secrets about our family. Secrets that go back generations."
Noah's mind raced, but before he could respond, his father's eyes flicked toward Talia's room. "Where is Talia? Why haven't you woken her up for school yet?"
Noah's throat tightened. "I... I couldn't wake her. She's been so tired lately, I thought she just needed rest."
His father's expression darkened, and he moved quickly toward Talia's room. Noah followed, his heart pounding. When his father saw her lying there, pale and unresponsive, he froze. His face went ashen, and he reached out to touch her cheek, his hand trembling.
"Nothing about this is normal, Noah," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Talia can't stay like this. Something's wrong—something unnatural."
Noah's chest tightened as he watched his father try to rouse her, his voice growing more desperate with each attempt. But Talia didn't stir. She was trapped in a sleep that seemed deeper than any ordinary rest.
His father turned to him, his eyes filled with a mixture of fear and resolve. "Do you know what happened? Have you seen anything strange lately?"
Noah was silent for a moment, his eyes wandering away, before answering in a low voice: "I don't think so... But there is something really strange, Dad. Talia isn't the same. She felt abnormally tired, like she's not able to react like she used to."
His father closed his eyes, as if the heavy words didn't come easily to him, and mumbled almost inaudibly: "Is the book back? Or is this a new curse?"
Noah heard him and froze. "Is it related to the Red Book? Or is this a strange book? What is this curse? Does it have anything to do with the forgotten tomb Noctra said about?" His mind kept going over all the past events and connecting them to his father's words, trying to piece together the whole picture. Everything that happened was because of the cursed book from the library, but before he could say a word.
His father looked at him and said in a tone full of longing: "You know how much I loved your mother, and every time I looked at you two, I remembered the days that passed... I hoped I would never see any of that come back in our lives."
The words froze in Noah's mouth, as he watched his father with questioning eyes. But his father continued: "You are my dearest to me, and whenever you had any doubts or troubles... I was afraid that I would lose you just like I lost your mother."
A long silence dominated the moment, before the father added: "But this time, I can't protect everyone on my own. The fear in my heart is that you may face the same fate... And you, Noah, have a great responsibility now."
Noah took a deep breath, his eyes filled with confusion and fear. "Dad, what do you mean? Is there something we don't know?"
His father closed his eyes again, his voice trembling as he answered: "a curse... You may not have noticed it yet, but there's something dark creeping into your lives, something that haunts you all. I saw it in your mother's eyes, and now I see it in Talia's."
As his father continued to speak, Noah felt the weight of the words as if they were shackling his soul. Deep down, he knew that things were going to be more complicated than he had imagined, and that he had to be more careful than ever.
The father continued to speak as if the words were barely coming out of his mouth, as if each letter was releasing him from the weight of an old shadow that haunted them all. "I've kept many things from you, but it's time for you to understand. The curse on your mother was the result of the cursed book... And now, we're running out of time. You, you are the ones who will bear the burden of what happened."
Noah looked at his father, his eyes filled with a mixture of surprise and fear.
He wanted to ask him more, to understand why he spoke like this, but the words were trapped in his throat. "But what about Talia? Does that mean the curse has struck her too?"
His father took a deep breath, then said in a nostalgic voice: "One day, your mother returned home seemed very happy, and I noticed the twinkle in her eyes whenever she made a new archaeological discovery. She was always looking for answers in ancient manuscripts and rare books. That twinkle meant a lot to her, and she felt like she was getting close to something big."
Noah frowned as he listened to his father, remembering those moments when his mother would talk excitedly about her discoveries. "But what's the connection between those discoveries and the curse?"
His father took a deep breath and continued: "During her research, she found this red book in an old warehouse and talked about mysterious inscriptions and ancient spells. But she didn't realize that the book wasn't just an ordinary artifact. It was loaded with an ancient curse, a curse that targeted anyone who tried to unlock its secrets."
Noah closed his eyes, trying to absorb what his father was saying. "And that's what happened to my mom?"
His father shook his head sadly. "Yes, she was infected with the curse of the book, and that's what led to her mysterious disappearance. But now, it seems that the same curse has begun to haunt Talia. We must find a way to break the curse and save her."
Noah's heart pounded as the weight of his father's words settled over him. The red book, the whispers, the strange occurrences—it all made a terrifying kind of sense now. His mother's disappearance, Talia's sudden illness, and the eerie voice of Noktra were all connected by the cursed book. He felt a surge of determination mixed with dread. He had to act, but where to even begin?
Noah rushed to his room and brought the mysterious red book to his father. His father stood stunned when he saw the book, his eyes wide with fear.
"How did you get this curse?" His father said in a shaky voice, as if the words weighed heavily on his tongue. "I thought he was gone for good."
Noah looked at his father in confusion and said, "I found it in the library. I couldn't resist taking it, like a force was pulling me to it."
His father took the book with a trembling hand, as if the book carried an unbearable weight. "This book is not just a book; it carries an ancient curse and a dark power. I tried to destroy it years ago, but it seems I failed."
"Dad," Noah said, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at him, "what do we do? How do we break the curse?"
His father's face was grim, his eyes shadowed with regret and worry. "The answers lie in the book, Noah. But it's not as simple as opening it and reading. The book is... alive, in a way. It chooses when to reveal its secrets. Your mother believed there was a way to unlock its true purpose, but she never had the chance to figure it out."
Noah glanced at the red book, which now lay ominously on the table. Its reptilian eye seemed to glint in the dim light, watching him. "But I tried to open it earlier, and it wouldn't budge. It's like it's... resisting me."
His father nodded. "The book tests those who seek its knowledge. It demands something in return... a sacrifice, a proof of worthiness. Your mother thought it required a connection to the past, a link to the forgotten cemetery where the curse originated."
Noah's mind raced. "The Forgotten Cemetery... Noktra mentioned it. she told me to meet there if I wanted answers. Do you know where it is?"
His father hesitated, then sighed. "It's an old, hidden place, long abandoned and shrouded in legend. Your mother spoke of it often in her final days. She believed it was the key to understanding the curse. But Noah, it's dangerous. The cemetery is not just a place—it's a gateway. If you go there, you'll be stepping into something far beyond our world."
Noah clenched his fists, his resolve hardening. "I don't have a choice, Dad. If it's the only way to save Talia, I have to go. I can't lose her too."
His father placed a hand on his shoulder, his grip firm but trembling. "I can't stop you, but I can't let you go alone. I've already lost your mother to this curse. I won't lose you both."
Noah shook his head. "No, Dad. You need to stay here with Talia. If something happens to me, she'll need you. And... if I don't come back, you'll have to find another way to break the curse."
His father's eyes filled with tears, but he didn't argue. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, weathered pendant on a chain. It was a strange symbol, a spiral with an eye at its center. "Take this. It belonged to your mother. She said it was a protective charm, something she found during her research. I don't know if it will help, but... it's all I have to give you."
Noah took the pendant and slipped it around his neck. It felt cold against his skin, but there was a faint warmth beneath it, as if it carried a trace of his mother's presence. "Thank you, Dad. I'll bring her back. I'll bring them both back."
His father pulled him into a tight embrace, his voice barely a whisper. "Be careful, Noah. And remember—you're not alone. The book may be cursed, but it's also a tool. Use it wisely."
Noah nodded, then stepped back and picked up the red book. It felt heavier now, as if it knew his intentions. He glanced at Talia, still pale and unmoving in her bed, and felt a surge of determination. He would save her, no matter the cost.
As he turned to leave, his father called out, "Noah, wait. One more thing." He handed him a folded piece of paper. "This is a map to the Forgotten Cemetery. Your mother drew it years ago. It's not exact, but it should guide you."
Noah took the map and tucked it into his pocket. "I'll find it. And I'll end this."
With that, he stepped out to the library to get more information from the old man and to find his way to the cemetery, with the red book clutched tightly in his hands. The air was thick with an unnatural stillness, and the shadows seemed to stretch longer than they should. As he walked, the whispers returned, faint but insistent, guiding him toward the unknown.
The Forgotten Cemetery awaited, and with it, the answers he so desperately sought. But Noah knew one thing for certain: this day would change everything...