THE SHADOW IN THE CURRENT

In the small village of Asthaven, where the morning mist mingles with the scent of wildflowers, there was a secret few dared to mention. Despite the serene landscape and the wooden houses lined up along the main road, an uneasy feeling hung in the air.

The locals spoke of strange whispers at nightfall, coming from an old abandoned mill at the river’s edge. No one knew for sure what caused those murmurs, but everyone avoided going near the place.

Some said it was just the wind passing through the rotting walls; others, more superstitious, believed a restless spirit dwelled there.

When Alden, a young scholar of supernatural phenomena, arrived in the village, he decided he would be the first to investigate the truth behind the rumors.

Armed with a notebook, a small flashlight, and a determination to uncover mysteries, Alden set out at dusk toward the mill.

The path was narrow, flanked by gnarled trees whose leaves whispered secrets in the night breeze. With every step, he felt a chill race down his spine, as though something invisible was watching him.

When he finally arrived, he saw the mill’s blades motionless, corroded by time, and the wooden door slightly ajar, inviting him in. A musty, damp smell filled the air the moment Alden crossed the threshold.

The creaking floorboards beneath his feet echoed through the dark interior, amplifying his sense of isolation. Even so, he pressed on, believing the truth was worth the risk.

Before long, soft sounds began to echo off the walls. They weren’t just the groans of old wood, but faint voices, as if someone were whispering right beside him.

Alden’s heart quickened, but he forced himself to stay calm. Following the murmurs, he came to a flight of stairs leading underground.

Each step down brought a tremor of uncertainty, for the darkness deepened, and the air grew heavier. At the bottom, he found a door locked with rusty chains.

Strangely, the voices seemed to be coming from behind that very door. Without hesitation, he took out his tools and, after some effort, managed to break the padlock. The clank of the chains blended with a sharper whisper, as though giving him one final warning.

With the door open, a narrow corridor appeared, lit only by Alden’s flickering flashlight. The air was stifling, heavy with moisture and a faint sulfuric odor.

With each step, the whispers became clearer, forming unintelligible phrases that echoed along the stone walls. Suddenly, he arrived at a circular chamber where a ring of ancient symbols was carved into the floor.

Spent, melted candles surrounded the design, suggesting some kind of ritual. In the center lay a small wooden box wrapped in slender chains. Alden’s heart pounded so hard it seemed to fill the entire space.

He approached cautiously, feeling the pulse of the place in every fiber of his being. There was no doubt that something here went beyond the ordinary.

Unable to contain his curiosity, he examined the box. The chains looked old yet strangely well-preserved. Using the same tool as before, Alden broke the metal, freeing the lid, which opened with a dry snap. Inside, he found a yellowed scroll covered in symbols similar to those on the floor.

Upon touching it, he felt a faint tremor, as if something were awakening. The whispers intensified, now sounding like multiple voices echoing in unison.

The flashlight flickered, and for a brief instant, the room plunged into total darkness. When the light returned, Alden noticed a hooded figure standing before him, eyes gleaming in the dimness.

A shiver coursed through him, for he knew he was no longer alone in that forsaken place.

The figure raised a hand, and the whispers transformed into a firm yet distant voice. It spoke an ancient language, but Alden could grasp its meaning: the scroll held a power meant to be released.

Its purpose was to seal an ancestral entity, imprisoned within the symbols etched into the floor and the box. By breaking the chains, Alden had broken the pact that kept that force dormant.

A violent gust of wind swept through the chamber, snuffing out the remaining candles. Feeling energy surge around him, Alden realized he had to act.

With trembling hands, he tried to replace the chains on the box, but the figure advanced, eyes gleaming red. A thunderous roar shook the mill, and the floor began to crack.

In a final act of courage, Alden clutched the scroll, reciting the words written upon it. The entity roared, the chamber was flooded with a blinding light… and then silence fell.