Story 912: The Hollow Awakening

The cursed book lay open on the crypt floor, its pages turning on their own, ink shifting like writhing shadows. Mira and Draven barely had time to react before the air grew heavy, thick with a presence neither of them could see.

Elias Grimm stepped back, a knowing smirk fading from his face. “Oh, that’s bad.”

The crypt walls shook, dust raining from the ceiling as a deep, unnatural whisper crawled through the air.

“I see you.”

Mira’s breath caught. She recognized that voice.

The Hollow Man.

Draven raised his shotgun. “Tell me that’s just the book messing with us.”

Elias’s golden eyes flickered in the dim light. “Nope. You just rang a bell no one should ever ring.”

The shadows stretched, pooling unnaturally beneath them, twisting into long, bony fingers. A hunched figure began to rise from the darkness, its faceless head tilting in slow, jerky movements.

The Hollow Man had found them.

Mira grabbed Draven’s arm. “Run.”