Story 926: The Hollowing

The mansion shuddered, its walls groaning like a dying beast. Mira clutched the Cursed Book, flipping through its now blank pages. Her breath came fast, cold fear creeping into her chest.

"The pages… they were full before!" she whispered.

Draven fired a shot at one of the writhing shadow limbs, but the bullet sank into nothingness, absorbed by the darkness. The Forsaken Girl stood motionless, her hollow eyes locked onto Mira.

“You took the book,” the girl said. Her voice was layered, distorted. “Now you must pay the price.”

The air thickened, pressing down as if the house itself was watching, waiting. A deep, gurgling laugh rolled through the corridors. The Rotting King stirred in the darkness beyond the girl, his form shifting, unraveling like something between life and death.

Elias cocked his revolver. “If we don’t move, we’re screwed.”

Zara spun a dagger between her fingers. “Already screwed, but noted.”

Then—the walls cracked open.