Whispers of the Victorian House

Chapter13- The Untouched Shrine

As Diya and Caleb gazed upon the untouched shrine, they were struck with a sense of wonder and awe. The delicately carved symbols and offerings that adorned the shrine seemed to defy the ravages of time as if they were frozen in a moment from the past. The eerie silence of the abandoned mansion was broken only by the sound of their own breathing, and a cold breeze that seemed to whisper secrets from the past.

Diya felt a shiver run down her spine as she realized that there was more to this shrine than met the eye. What was the story behind the woman it was dedicated to? Why had her shrine remained untouched for over fifty years while the rest of the manor crumbled into decay? These were questions that begged to be answered, and Diya knew that she had to uncover the truth.

"Who is she again, Caleb?" Diya asked Caleb curiously.

Caleb replied, "She is Roselle Manor, the wife of Edward Manor. After her death, Edward decided to build a shrine in the basement below this room. He believed that the shrine would protect the cursed book that his son, Manor Jr, used for his own purposes."

Diya couldn't believe her ears when Caleb mentioned magic, "Wow, so they don't believe in magic either? That's a relief," she scoffed in surprise. 

Caleb looked at her in shock, "Roselle had a belief in black magic, but her husband did not share the same belief."

Diya was feeling confused and wondered if he had built the shrine for her or the cursed book. Diya's mind was in a state of confusion, as she wrestled with the thought of whether the shrine had been built for Roselle or the cursed book. She was unable to interpret the true intention behind the construction of the shrine, which left her confused and lost in thought.

As Diya stepped further into the room, the musty smell of old books and papers filled her nostrils but she couldn't resist the urge to explore the place and started scanning the room. 

Caleb suddenly turned toward Diya and uttered, "I know I can't destroy the book, Diya. I've already given up everything, my family, my girlfriend, and my friend. I got nothing left to give."

"Caleb," Diya sounded confused and worried. "What do you mean?" 

Caleb spun around and said, "Put the cursed book in the wooden box next to the shrine. It'll protect it from the evil."

All of a sudden, Diya grabbed her head and heard a hysterical, high-pitched screech in her head. It was like she was being attacked by a whole marching band inside her brain! The pain she was going through was just off the charts like someone was playing a never-ending drum solo in there. It was absolutely unbearable, and poor Diya looked like she was about to lose her mind. 

Caleb's heart raced with concern as he hurried to be by her side. The sight of her writhing in agony left him feeling helpless and uncertain about how to help her. He stood there, feeling completely overwhelmed and unable to think clearly, as he watched her suffer. 

"Diya!" he frantically called her name and shook her like a snow globe.

Diya couldn't even find the right words to say as she was hit with an intense wave of pain. It was like her vision was playing tricks on her, everything appearing blurry and distorted. But, through the haze, she could still make out this creepy figure standing in front of her, wearing a smirk that sent chills down her spine.

With an evil chuckle, the figure whispered, "You shouldn't have come down here, Diya." 

Diya stood frozen as the stranger uttered her name with an uncanny familiarity. Her mind was reeling with confusion and disbelief as if her brain had turned into a throbbing drum. She wished she could detach her head from her body and leave it somewhere far away. Caleb, sensing her distress, wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly as she broke down in tears. 

It was as if history was repeating itself, and Caleb felt overwhelmed with a sense of deja vu. As Caleb stroked her hair and whispered words of comfort, she couldn't help but wonder if he had somehow predicted her sudden bout of distress.

Diya weakly called out to Caleb, "What's happening to me? Why do I feel like my head is about to explode?"

Caleb comforted her by gently pressing her chubby face against his broad chest and whispered, "Don't worry, Diya. Everything will be alright soon."

Diya was completely out of breath and felt utterly helpless as she leaned on Caleb for support. Her eyes were closed tightly as she struggled to regain her composure, and tears streamed down her plump cheeks. Despite the sweat pouring off her forehead, Caleb stayed by her side and gently wiped away her tears and perspiration with a soft cloth. 

As Caleb extended his hand to Diya, he noticed the shoulder bag slung across her body. He instinctively grabbed it, knowing that the cursed book was inside. However, he hesitated wanting to toss it into the wooden box as he had planned. He couldn't risk Diya's safety by making a hasty decision. As he stood there, he pondered his next move, carefully weighing the consequences of his actions.

Diya's heart was racing as she followed Caleb up the basement stairs. She was so focused on getting back to the safety of her mansion that she completely forgot about the cursed book that had caused so much trouble. 

As Caleb led her out of the musty basement, he took one last look at the small shrine where the book was kept and let out a deep sigh. He had intended to lock the book away, but he knew that Diya's safety was the top priority. Even though he knew he would regret his decision, he had no other choice but to leave the book behind. The weight of the decision he had made hung heavily on his shoulders as they made their way up to the first floor.

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💕Hey there! Have you noticed something strange about Caleb's behavior? It seems a bit suspicious, don't you think? And what's up with his secretiveness around Diya? Let's unravel this mystery together!

Your feedback is highly appreciated. Thank you for reading! ❤️