Chapter 9: Old Chapel Visit

"This is... the old chapel," Fredrick said as they stood before the ancient building, its crumbling facade a stark contrast to the surrounding desolation. The crew examined the place, a sense of foreboding settling over them.

"Have you been here before?" Thomas asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, I haven't," Fredrick replied.

"How long exactly have you been here?" Ellie asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Longer than you think," Fredrick replied, walking towards the weathered entrance of the chapel.

"So you've been here for like up to 10 years?" Dr. Isaac asked, his voice incredulous.

"Well... more than that, in fact," Fredrick replied.

"You don't seem like it to me. You haven't even reached middle age," Dr. Isaac said, his brows furrowed in confusion.

Fredrick just smiled mysteriously as they all entered the chapel.

---

Inside, the air was cold and damp, the smell of decay hanging heavily. The light from their torches flickered, casting eerie shadows on the walls. The chapel was vast, with high ceilings and long-forgotten relics scattered about. At the far end, they could see an altar, but something about it seemed off.

"We need to find the map of the sea. It should be here somewhere," Fredrick said, his voice echoing through the empty space.

They moved cautiously, their footsteps echoing. As they approached the altar, a sudden chill ran down their spines. The temperature dropped sharply, and their breaths turned to mist.

"Do you feel that?" Ellie whispered, her voice trembling.

Before anyone could respond, the chapel doors slammed shut with a deafening bang. The torches flickered wildly before being snuffed out, plunging them into darkness.

"Stay close," Fredrick instructed, his voice steady despite the fear gripping them all.

A faint, ghostly light began to emanate from the walls, revealing sinister carvings and ancient symbols. The ground beneath them started to crack, and eerie whispers filled the air, echoing through the chapel.

"We need to move," Dr. Isaac urged, his eyes darting around the room.

They cautiously approached the altar, where an old, tattered book lay open. Fredrick picked it up, his hands shaking slightly. "This book might hold the answers we need."

As he read aloud from the book, the whispers grew louder, and the cracks in the floor widened. Ghostly apparitions began to emerge, their hollow eyes staring at the crew.

"We have to finish the incantation," Fredrick said urgently. "It's the only way to dispel them."

The crew gathered around, their hearts pounding. Fredrick continued reading, his voice growing stronger as he spoke the ancient words. The apparitions swirled around them, their forms becoming more tangible with each passing moment.

Just as the apparitions were about to reach them, a blinding light burst forth from the altar, enveloping the crew. The ghostly figures let out a wail and dissolved into the air, the whispers fading into silence.

The light dimmed, revealing a hidden compartment beneath the altar. Fredrick opened it, pulling out an old, weathered map.

"The map of the sea," he said, holding it up for the crew to see.

They gathered around, examining the map. It was detailed, showing various islands and routes, with a clear path marked to their next destination.

"We did it," Ellie said, a smile breaking through the tension.

"But this is just the beginning," Fredrick warned. "The journey ahead will be even more dangerous."

As they walked out of the chapel, a familiar, eerie music began to sound, sending chills down their spines. The Echoe Man's tune. Their eyes widened, and they all immediately turned to Thomas, who was now visibly shaking.

"The Echoe Man," Ellie whispered, her voice trembling.