《Shadows of the forgotten》


 Chapter 1 : the haunted inheritance

    Chapter 1: The Haunted Inheritance


    The old mansion loomed before Jacob, its dilapidated grandeur a stark contrast to the bustling city he had just left behind. His father¡¯s recent surgery had plunged them into financial turmoil, and the loan sharks were growing impatient. Selling the ancestral property seemed their only option, despite Jacob¡¯s reluctance to part with a piece of his family¡¯s history.


    As Jacob approached the wrought iron gates, he hesitated for a moment, steeling himself against the foreboding atmosphere that seemed to seep from every stone of the estate. "Here goes nothing," he muttered to himself, pushing open the gate with a creak that echoed through the quiet surroundings.


    Inside the grounds, neglected gardens sprawled with overgrown weeds and forgotten blooms. The mansion itself stood at the end of a winding gravel path, its once-elegant fa?ade now marred by cracked windows and weathered walls. Jacob¡¯s footsteps echoed faintly as he walked toward the entrance, his heart heavy with the weight of responsibility.


    Entering the mansion, Jacob found himself in a dimly lit hallway adorned with faded portraits of ancestors long gone. The air was stale and thick with dust, causing him to cough as he made his way toward the heart of the house. His father had mentioned a library¡ªa repository of knowledge and history that might hold the key to their financial salvation.


    After what felt like an eternity of wandering through corridors frozen in time, Jacob finally discovered the library. The room was lined with shelves that groaned under the weight of countless books, their spines bearing titles in languages he couldn¡¯t even begin to decipher. He ran his fingers over the ancient tomes, feeling the rough texture of their bindings.


    ¡°This must be it,¡± Jacob said aloud, his voice barely above a whisper. ¡°The library my father spoke of.¡±


    He approached a particular shelf that seemed more weathered than the rest, as if it held secrets too fragile to be exposed to the light of day. Among the dusty volumes, one book caught his eye¡ªan ornate tome bound in cracked leather, its cover adorned with intricate symbols that seemed to shimmer faintly in the subdued light filtering through a nearby window.


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    ¡°What do we have here?¡± Jacob murmured, carefully pulling the book from its resting place. As he did, a cloud of dust erupted from its pages, causing him to recoil and cough once more. He wiped his sleeve across his face, his eyes fixed on the mysterious book now cradled in his hands.


    The cover felt cool and smooth beneath his fingertips, the symbols etched into its surface pulsating with an almost imperceptible energy. Jacob¡¯s curiosity got the better of him as he opened the book, revealing pages yellowed with age and inked with words in a script that seemed ancient and arcane.


    ¡°This is incredible,¡± Jacob muttered to himself, flipping through the brittle pages with growing excitement. ¡°I wonder what secrets you hold.¡±


    His gaze fell upon a page marked by a symbol unlike any he had ever seen¡ªa swirling pattern that seemed to dance before his eyes. Intrigued, Jacob leaned closer, studying the accompanying text that described rituals and incantations lost to time.


    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t be doing this,¡± Jacob said aloud, though no one was there to hear him. ¡°But I need to know.¡±


    As he read aloud the words beneath the symbol, a strange sensation washed over him¡ªa tingling at the base of his skull, a chill that seemed to penetrate his very bones. The air around him grew heavy, charged with an energy he couldn¡¯t explain. Suddenly, a burst of eerie laughter pierced the silence, echoing through the library like a ghostly whisper.


    Jacob froze, his heart pounding in his chest as he looked around the room in disbelief. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± he called out, his voice quivering with fear.


    There was no reply, only the faint rustling of pages as a draft swept through the open window. Jacob took a deep breath, attempting to steady his nerves. ¡°It¡¯s just my imagination,¡± he muttered, though doubt gnawed at the edges of his resolve.


    That night, as Jacob lay in bed beneath the heavy weight of darkness, he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something was watching him. The events of the day replayed in his mind like a haunting melody, the ancient book and its mysterious contents lingering in his thoughts.


    Then, as the clock struck midnight, a soft whispering sound filled the air¡ªa faint, indistinct murmur that sent shivers down Jacob¡¯s spine. He sat up abruptly, heart racing as he scanned the dimly lit room for any sign of movement.


    In the corner of his eye, a shadow seemed to flicker and shift¡ªa shapeless form that defied explanation. Jacob¡¯s breath caught in his throat as he watched, paralyzed with fear and fascination.


    ¡°What... what are you?¡± Jacob managed to choke out, his voice barely above a whisper.


    The shadow remained silent, its presence casting a chill over the room. Jacob¡¯s pulse pounded in his ears as he struggled to comprehend the impossible sight before him.


    Then, without warning, the shadow vanished, leaving Jacob alone in the oppressive silence of the night. He rubbed his eyes, questioning his own sanity as he searched for rational explanations that seemed to slip through his fingers like smoke.


    But deep down, Jacob knew¡ªthe ancient book, the mysterious symbol, and the chilling laughter¡ªthey were all pieces of a puzzle he had unwittingly unlocked. And somewhere in the darkness of the mansion, something waited¡ªa presence that had been stirred from its slumber, drawn forth by his reckless curiosity.


    Little did Jacob realize, this was only the beginning¡ªa prelude to a journey fraught with danger and discovery, where the past and present collided in ways he could never have imagined.

 Chapter 2: The shadow in the mirror

    Chapter 2: The Shadow in the Mirror


    Nightmares plagued me relentlessly after that fateful encounter with the ancient tome. Visions of swirling symbols and eerie laughter haunted my sleep, leaving me restless and anxious each morning. Determined to uncover the truth behind the book¡¯s dark secrets, I found myself descending deeper into a realm of the unknown.


    One evening, unable to shake the relentless fear gnawing at my mind, I decided to confront the book once more. The library felt colder than usual, as if a lingering presence watched my every move with bated breath. The shelves seemed to loom taller, the shadows dancing ominously in the flickering candlelight.


    With trembling hands, I retrieved the book from its hidden alcove where I had attempted to stash it away. The leather cover felt strangely warm to the touch, as if the tome itself pulsed with a life of its own. I flipped through its pages, the same arcane symbols and ancient text dancing before my weary eyes.


    "I need to know if this is real," I muttered to myself, my voice barely a whisper in the oppressive silence of the mansion. Finding a section describing a ritual that supposedly could revive the dead, my rational mind screamed warnings, but an unyielding curiosity pushed me forward.


    In a moment of desperation and disbelief, I found a small lizard scuttling across the floor. Without fully comprehending the consequences, I followed the ritual instructions meticulously, my heart pounding with equal parts fear and anticipation.


    As I spoke the ancient words aloud, a surge of unearthly energy filled the room. The air crackled with an ominous charge, and the lizard twitched unnaturally, its eyes flickering with an eerie glow. Before I could react, the creature leaped at me with feral intensity, its claws slashing at my arm.


    In a panic, I fought back, struggling to free myself from the creature¡¯s relentless assault. With a surge of adrenaline-fueled strength, I managed to pry the lizard off and threw it against the wall. The impact silenced its movements, leaving me panting and shaken.


    The reality of what I had done crashed over me like a tidal wave. I had meddled with forces beyond my understanding, and now, a dead creature had come back to life, albeit briefly and malevolently. Fear gripped me tightly, but I knew I couldn''t confide in my parents¡ªthey had enough worries with my father''s health.


    Days turned into restless nights as I wrestled with my conscience. The book seemed to mock me, appearing back on the library shelf no matter how many times I tried to dispose of it. My attempts to burn it yielded no results¡ªthe flames danced around the ancient tome, leaving it unscathed as if protected by some unseen force.


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    Then, one evening as I stared into the mirror in my room, I saw it¡ªa shadowy figure standing behind me, its form indistinct yet undeniably present. Cold dread washed over me as I turned around, but the figure was gone, leaving only a lingering chill in the air.


    From that moment on, the shadows became my constant companions. One shadow, darker and more ominous, seemed to haunt my every step, whispering malevolent thoughts into my mind. But another shadow, faint and hesitant, occasionally appeared, offering cryptic warnings and guidance.


    As weeks passed, my demeanor grew increasingly withdrawn. My parents noticed the changes¡ªmy haunted expression, the dark circles under my eyes¡ªbut I remained tight-lipped, unwilling to burden them with the unearthly horrors that plagued my every waking moment.


    One evening, as I sat alone in the library, the shadows converged around me, their presence suffocatingly palpable. "What do you want from me?" I demanded, my voice tinged with a mix of fear and defiance.


    "We are bound to the book," whispered the faint shadow, its voice echoing in the recesses of my mind. "Beware the other shadow. It seeks to control you, to lead you astray."


    My heart raced as realization dawned upon me. The book wasn''t just a collection of ancient rituals¡ªit was a conduit, a gateway to something beyond comprehension. And now, I was entangled in its web, unable to break free.


    As I grappled with my newfound knowledge, a sense of determination settled over me. I couldn''t undo what had been done, but I could control how I faced the challenges ahead. The shadows were not merely malevolent¡ªthey were a warning, a guide in the darkness that threatened to consume me.


    With newfound resolve, I began to delve deeper into the book''s secrets, seeking answers that might lead to understanding and, perhaps, redemption. But with each page turned, I knew I was edging closer to a truth that could either save me or seal my fate in darkness forever.


    Frustrated and desperate for answers beyond the haunted mansion, I turned to the internet in search of any clue that could shed light on the ancient tome and its mysterious powers. Late into the night, I scoured forums, read obscure articles, and watched countless videos, but all I found were vague references and superstitions that offered no real understanding.


    "This can''t be it," I muttered to myself, frustration boiling over as I closed my laptop. The screen blinked off, leaving me in the dim glow of the library''s solitary lamp.


    The shadows seemed to stir around me, their presence palpable yet strangely distant. As if sensing my distress, the faint shadow appeared once more, hovering cautiously near me.


    "There are things older than the internet," it whispered, barely audible over the rustling of old pages and the creaking of floorboards. "You seek knowledge, but some truths are hidden in the shadows, waiting to be uncovered by those brave enough to face them."


    I looked at the shadow, its edges wavering like smoke in the lamplight. "What do you mean? How do I stop this?" I pleaded, my voice trembling with a mixture of fear and hope.


    The faint shadow hesitated, as if weighing its words carefully. "The book is a doorway, but it is not the only path. Trust your instincts, Jacob. Not all shadows mean harm, but beware the one that seeks to twist your fate."


    With those cryptic words, the faint shadow faded away, leaving me alone once more in the oppressive silence of the library. The ominous shadow, however, lurked in the corner, its presence growing darker and more menacing with each passing moment.


    As I stared into the darkness, a chilling realization dawned upon me¡ªI was not just a reader of history; I was a participant in a dangerous game of ancient power. And whether I liked it or not, the shadows held the key to my survival in this haunting journey that had only just begun.

 game between god and devil

    As day and night passed, those lingering shadows haunted me relentlessly, making me sick. At first, I hoped it was just my imagination, but it soon became clear it was something more¡ªa twisted fate I couldn''t evade. I couldn''t blame anyone but myself; my insatiable curiosity had led me to this dark place. As days turned into restless nights, my lack of sleep began to take its toll on my body. My parents noticed the changes in me, but I evaded their questions, withdrawing further into solitude.


    I searched the internet desperately for any information on books like the one I had encountered. Some sources were vague, others outright false. Amidst the torment, the faint shadow that occasionally appeared before me now stood in front of me, motionless.


    "Uh... hello?" I asked tentatively.


    "Hmm... follow me," it said in a crisp voice barely above a whisper, close enough that I almost didn''t hear it.


    I followed the shadow to another chamber in the mansion, one I had not explored before. Inside, we found a secret room. It was bare, save for an old diary covered in dust, its pages brittle and fragile.


    Approaching cautiously, I opened the diary and began to read.


    **Diary Entry:**


    "I made a mistake that harmed not just me, but others. What I''m about to recount is no mere tale¡ªit''s the grim reality of my life," the diary''s first entry began.


    "I was simply a millworker in the kingdom of Rihvan. The meager wages from my labor were not enough for my family to survive in this vast kingdom. That''s when I came into contact with those people. They promised me wealth and power, saying that joining them would change my family''s fortune. Naively believing them, I joined their cult.


    "They were not what they seemed. It was a cult obsessed with reviving a dark entity they referred to as ''the devil''. They blamed all the world''s problems on followers of the divine, believing them to be corrupt and self-righteous. One fateful night at an abandoned altar, they conducted their final ritual.


    " ''Is everyone here? This is the day we''ve waited for, for years,'' said the person wearing a cloak to almost a hundred people gathered. Strange symbols adorned the walls and floors of the altar.


    " ''Sir, the divine forces... they''re here,'' stuttered the lookout stationed to watch for such emergencies.


    " ''About time they showed up, but it''s too late. Complete the final ritual, and everything will be set,'' declared the cult leader.


    As they neared the completion of the ritual, divine forces intervened, laying waste to everyone present at the altar. The air crackled with unearthly energy as the divine beings descended upon the cultists, their powers overwhelming. I hid behind a pillar, watching in horror as the cultists fought desperately against the divine wrath.


    The leader of the cult, a fanatic with eyes full of madness, refused to yield. With a defiant roar, he raised the devil''s book high above his head, shouting incantations in a desperate attempt to complete the ritual. But the divine force was relentless; beams of celestial light pierced through the darkness of the chamber, striking down cultists left and right.


    In the chaos, I saw the cult leader, consumed by his obsession, confronting one of the divine beings. The clash was brief but intense, a battle between darkness and light. The divine force, radiant and fierce, struck the cult leader with a bolt of pure energy, sending him sprawling to the ground. With a final defiant scream, the cult leader fell silent, his body still amidst the carnage.


    As the divine force cleansed the altar of darkness, I remained hidden, trembling with fear and awe. The chamber echoed with the aftermath of the battle, the smell of burnt flesh and lingering magic thick in the air. It was then that I realized the enormity of the forces I had unwittingly become entangled with.


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    "After the divine forces intervened and laid waste to our gathering, I barely clung to life. Using the bodies of fallen cultists to shield myself, I survived the onslaught. When the divine beings finally departed and silence fell over the scene, I crawled from beneath the dead, shocked by the massacre I had witnessed.


    "Dragging my battered body towards the lifeless body of the cult leader, my blurred vision fixed on the ritual book. Desperate and terrified, I hastily recited the incantations from the book in a bid to summon the devil.


    "As the blood pooled around the bodies in a sinister circle, a sickly arm emerged, followed by the devil himself¡ªa shadowy figure with horns and a face cast in darkness, grinning madly.


    " ''Hahaha... finally, after years, I can feel the air of this world,'' he chuckled to himself, his voice chilling. Upon noticing me, his gaze turned predatory.


    " ''Well, well, what do we have here? A rat?'' he sneered, his clawed hand tightening around my throat.


    " ''I... I am the one who revived you. Heed my words and grant me wealth,'' I managed to choke out, terrified yet desperate.


    " ''Hahaha... a rat dares to order me?'' he mocked, his grip tightening.


    "But then, a twisted smile crossed his face. ''But you could be useful. He must have sensed my presence. I don''t have time to waste.''


    "With those words, he healed my injuries completely, leaving me feeling rejuvenated but utterly powerless before him.


    " ''Now, grant me wealth,'' I demanded after summoning all my courage.


    " ''Why should I do that for you?'' he mused, a malicious glint in his eyes.


    " ''W-what do you mean? I summoned you! You must obey me!'' I protested, fear creeping into my voice.


    " ''Oh, no, rat. You summoned me, but everything was orchestrated by those fools lying dead here,'' he said with a cruel smirk, gesturing to the lifeless bodies around us.


    Shocked and horrified by his revelation, I felt like my world was collapsing. This devil was beyond my understanding, and I was just a pawn in his dark game. He granted me temporary wealth and prosperity, but soon, my family began to suffer mysterious deaths. When he threatened my newborn son, I confronted him, desperate for answers.


    Shaken to my core by the devil''s revelation, I stood frozen, staring at the carnage around me. The devil''s laughter echoed in my ears, his words sinking into my soul like poisoned arrows. My newfound wealth and prosperity suddenly felt like a curse, a grim reminder of the price I had unwittingly paid.


    Desperate to protect my newborn son from the devil''s wrath, I clutched him tightly, tears streaming down my face. "What do you want from me?" I pleaded, my voice trembling with fear and grief.


    "I want you to create something for me," the devil replied calmly, his voice sending chills down my spine. His clawed hand inched closer to my son, a cruel smile twisting his dark features.


    Fear gripped my heart like a vice as I realized the gravity of his demand. "Why are you doing this?" I managed to choke out, my voice cracking with emotion.


    "Humans are mere pawns in the game between me and the gods,he also uses you and now it''s my turn" he chuckled darkly, his eyes glinting with malice. "Now, write the devil''s book, and i make it indestructible. If you refuse, your son will suffer the same fate as other."


    At that moment, my wife, sensing the imminent danger to our child, stepped forward with unwavering determination. "No," she said firmly, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes. "I won''t let you harm our son."


    Before I could react, she stepped between me and the devil, shielding our child with her own body. "Take me instead," she pleaded, her voice breaking with emotion. "Let him go. He''s just an innocent child."


    The devil''s eyes narrowed, considering her offer with a calculating gaze. "Very well," he murmured, his voice dripping with sinister satisfaction. In a swift and merciless gesture, he struck out with his clawed hand, piercing her heart with unnatural speed.


    "No!" I screamed, horror and anguish ripping through me like a dagger. I reached out to her, but it was too late. My wife crumpled to the ground, lifeless, her sacrifice sealing our son''s fate.


    Tears blurred my vision as I held my child close, trembling with grief and rage. The devil chuckled darkly, his presence looming over us like a malevolent shadow. "Write the book," he commanded coldly, his voice echoing in the chamber.


    With a heart heavy with sorrow and fury, I reluctantly took up pen and parchment, my hands shaking as I began to inscribe the devil''s incantations. Each word felt like a betrayal, a pact with darkness that condemned us all.


    As I worked under the devil''s watchful gaze, a sense of hopelessness settled over me. I had unwittingly unleashed a horror upon my family, and now, I was powerless to stop it. The devil''s book took shape before me, its pages filling with ancient symbols and malevolent verses.


    When I finally completed the cursed tome,the night already passed and the devil grinned wickedly, his eyes gleaming with triumph. "Good," he sneered, snatching the book from my trembling hands. "Remember, you are mine now. The book binds you to me, and there is no escape."


    With those chilling words, he vanished into the shadows, leaving me alone with the lifeless body of my wife and the weight of my guilt.