PHI AM – THE CURSE OF THE NIGHT (EP3)

1. A Prison of Shadows

Darkness swallowed them whole.

Jake’s breathing came in rapid gasps. He reached out, but the air was thick and suffocating, like an invisible force was pressing in on them.

Lisa clutched Alex’s arm. “This isn’t real. It can’t be real!”

A whisper slithered through the void.

"Stay... forever..."

Lisa’s skin crawled. Alex fumbled with his phone, turning on the flashlight—but the light barely cut through the unnatural darkness.

Then, the walls began to move.

The once-crumbling temple was shifting, twisting. The exit they had entered from was gone. The doors had disappeared.

They were trapped.

Jake’s voice was tense. “This isn’t just a ghost. The whole temple is alive.”

A cold wind howled through the temple, carrying a voice—a childlike giggle mixed with something much more sinister.

Lisa squeezed her eyes shut. “Than said this place was cursed. Maybe… maybe it was built for Phi Am.”

Alex swallowed hard. “We need to find another way out. Fast.”

Then, footsteps echoed behind them.

But none of them had moved.

2. Whispers from the Past

A dim light flickered ahead.

Cautiously, they followed it down a narrow corridor covered in faded murals. The images showed people sleeping—and a shadowy figure sitting on their chests. Phi Am.

One mural stood out. It showed monks performing a ritual. Surrounding them were terrified villagers, their faces twisted in agony.

Jake ran his hand over the ancient carvings. “It looks like… they tried to trap Phi Am here.”

Lisa pointed at an inscription beneath it. The words were in Thai, but she recognized a few characters.

Alex squinted at it. “What does it say?”

Than’s voice echoed in Lisa’s memory.

"Don’t open your eyes..."

She took a shaky breath. “It’s a warning. Something about a ritual… and an offering.”

Jake tensed. “An offering? What kind of offering?”

The temple shuddered.

A gust of wind blew past them, carrying another whisper. "One must stay..."

Lisa felt a chill snake down her spine. “It wants one of us.”

A door creaked open at the end of the corridor, revealing an ancient chamber lined with flickering candles. At the center lay a stone coffin.

And then—

A hand burst out from inside.

3. The Keeper of the Curse

Lisa screamed as the coffin trembled violently. The stone lid cracked, and a grotesque figure began to rise.

It was emaciated, its skin stretched tight over jagged bones. Its eyes were hollow, empty voids, yet they seemed to see everything.

Alex stumbled backward. “What the hell is that?!”

Jake grabbed a rusted candlestick. “I don’t know, but I’m not waiting to find out!”

The figure twitched, its head tilting unnaturally. Then, in a voice that was neither male nor female, it spoke:

"Who will take my place?"

Lisa’s heart slammed against her ribs.

Jake gritted his teeth. “We are NOT playing this game!” He swung the candlestick at the creature—but it passed right through its body.

The entity laughed softly.

"You cannot fight me. You must choose."

Lisa’s mind raced. “This is the offering the inscription spoke about. The monks didn’t destroy Phi Am. They just contained it—by sacrificing someone.”

Alex shook his head, stepping back. “We’re not sacrificing anyone!”

The figure’s grin stretched impossibly wide.

"Then all of you will stay..."

The walls lurched inward. The darkness thickened, swallowing the candlelight.

They were running out of time.

4. The Escape

Lisa’s pulse thundered in her ears. She gripped her amulet. Think! There has to be a way out!

Then—

The mural. The monks.

“Wait!” she shouted. “The ritual! They didn’t just sacrifice someone. They used a special chant! That’s how they sealed Phi Am!”

Jake’s eyes widened. “You mean… if we finish the ritual, we can trap it again?!”

Lisa nodded. “It’s our only chance.”

Alex frantically scanned the walls. “Where’s the chant?!”

The ghost lunged forward.

Lisa spotted the inscription. “Here! I think I can read it!” She took a deep breath and started chanting.

The temple shook violently.

The creature screeched, its form distorting as if it were being pulled away.

Jake and Alex joined in, shouting the words with her. The candles flared, casting shadows that twisted and writhed. The air became unbearably heavy.

Then, with an ear-splitting shriek—

The figure was sucked back into the coffin.

The stone lid slammed shut.

The darkness evaporated.

And the exit reappeared.

Lisa collapsed to her knees, gasping for air. Alex helped her up. “Is it over?”

Jake stared at the coffin. “I hope so.”

They didn’t wait to find out.

They ran.

5. The Final Omen

The sun was rising as they burst out of the temple. The air outside felt cleaner, lighter.

Than was waiting at the bottom of the hill. His face fell when he saw them. “You survived.”

Lisa nodded. “We sealed it away.”

Than’s expression darkened. “You think you sealed it. But Phi Am always returns.”

A cold breeze swept through them.

Jake shivered. “We should go. Now.”

They didn’t argue.

As they walked away, Lisa felt a slight pressure on her chest—just for a second.

A whisper curled through the wind.

"See you soon..."

Lisa didn’t look back.

(TO BE CONTINUED...)