Whispers of the Victorian House

Chapter 41- Forbidden Knowledge

"Why did your friends want to leave you here alone?" Caleb asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Diya, a determined young woman with a flair for mystery, looked at him with a steely gaze. "It was their decision," she replied, her voice tinged with a hint of defiance, "They believe I should prioritize my safety instead of continuing to investigate the mysteries of this place."

Caleb furrowed his brow, intrigued by Diya's resolve, "But why do you want to stay here alone?"

A flicker of determination sparked in Diya's eyes, "Because I know I can solve the mystery of this mansion without their constant hovering and lectures. It's easier for me to work without their distractions."

Upon entering the mansion, Diya was filled with a sense of urgency to divulge the secret of the curse and the plan to Caleb. However, she was troubled with hesitation, wondering how he would react to the news. She knew that she had to reveal the truth, even though it meant admitting that only a member of the Baxter family could perform the ritual and break the spell. Summoning all her courage, she disclosed everything to him, ready to face the consequences of her actions.

 "I need to talk to you, Caleb," Diya said, her voice barely above a whisper. 

As she approached him, she extended her arm and handed him a script. The script lay open on the decorated desk, with its pages rustling softly in the air as if it were a whisper from the past. Diya had been working tirelessly on this script, pouring over its contents, organizing and memorizing every step of the ritual, just in case Caleb couldn't remember. The script was a labor of hard work, and Diya had put her heart and soul into it, determined to make sure that everything went perfectly.

Caleb's brow furrowed as he scanned the mysterious symbols on the weathered pages, "What is this, Diya?"

She took a deep breath, steadying herself as she prepared to explain the curse that had plagued his family for centuries. As she spoke, her words hung heavy in the air, and the tension in the room seemed to grow thicker with each passing moment. Caleb's eyes were clouded with uncertainty, and it was clear that the weight of what she was saying was beginning to sink in. Despite the gravity of the situation, she remained calm and measured, carefully outlining the steps of the reverse ritual that could finally break the curse's hold.

"I understand if you're angry, Caleb. This burden is not yours to bear, but only a Baxter can perform the ritual," Diya said, her voice tremulous.

Caleb's gaze hardened, and he rose from his seat, the shadows dancing across his troubled face, "Let me get this straight, am I left with no choice but to carry out the ritual on my own?"

The atmosphere was heavy with unspoken words as Diya and Caleb stood facing each other. The weight of Caleb's family history hung over them, casting a shadow on the room. Diya's unwavering determination was obvious, but it seemed to only add to the mystery of the situation. 

The silence that surrounded them was almost suffocating, save for the rhythmic ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner. Caleb looked conflicted, showing that he was dealing with a lot on the inside. He was struggling to come to terms with his past and the uncertainty of what lies ahead. 

"What do you want me to do?" Caleb asked her, with a hint of frustration in his voice.

"Perform the ritual," said Diya.

Caleb dedicated some time to thinking about the ritual after being requested to carry it out. He carefully evaluated the advantages and disadvantages, as well as the possible results and ramifications, before ultimately determining to proceed. Nonetheless, Diya had a requirement that she was adamant about. She told Caleb that he must destroy the Book of Shadows by burning it once the ritual was complete.

Caleb took a deep breath and looked at Diya with a softened gaze. "I don't know if I can do that," he said. "The Book of Shadows has been with me for years. It's like a part of me."

"I understand," Diya said, placing her hand on Caleb's shoulder. "But this is important to me. We need to make sure that no one else can use it for evil purposes."

Caleb nodded his head and agreed with her that the book must be destroyed permanently. "Okay," he said. "I'll do it. But it's going to be hard."

"I know," Diya said, giving him a small smile. "But we'll do it together."

A loud noise came suddenly from the kitchen, causing a jarring sound in the air. With bated breath, they both swiveled their heads, half-expecting to catch a glimpse of a spirit or the mysterious woman in black. Caleb felt his heart pounding in his chest as they scanned the room, but he breathed a sigh of relief when they found no evidence of their worst fears coming true.

Caleb was meticulously rearranging the bulky pieces of furniture in the basement, carefully measuring the space between each item. He had a clear vision in his mind of what he wanted to achieve - a cozy and inviting area where his guests could unwind and feel at home. He spent hours deliberating on which items to keep and which ones to discard, making sure that each piece served a purpose. As he worked, he couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction knowing that his efforts would soon result in a comfortable and welcoming space for his loved ones.

As the night crept in, Diya found herself sitting alone in her room, staring at her laptop screen, trying to research the safest way to destroy a cursed book. But as she tried to type in the words on her search bar, something strange happened. The search bar kept getting jammed as if someone or something was trying to prevent her from finding the answers she was looking for. The air around her seemed to grow thick with a sense of foreboding, and Diya couldn't shake off the feeling that she was being watched.

After countless attempts at figuring out how to dispose of the cursed book, she threw her hands up in the air and exclaimed, "Screw it, bultaoreune(on fire/burning up)," while thinking of the BTS song "Fire".

________________________________________________________________________________

💕Hey there! You must be wondering why Diya's idea of safely destroying the Book of Shadows was rejected. Do you think there might have been some hidden intentions behind this decision? I'm really curious to hear your thoughts on this!