Chapter 13: Shadows of the Past

The library's collapse was disturbing and brutal. Bookshelves fell on each other, waste dropped from the ceiling, and shining cracks were seen across the floor that littered everywhere. Olivia's ears rang from the noise, her vision blurry from the very bright flashes that occurred.

She barely recognized the arms that were around her waist, pulling her back as the ground underneath her feet crumbled.

"Olivia!" Austin's voice sounded through the chaos. "Hold on to me!"

Before she could respond, he carried her into his arms and jumped toward the door. The world behind them seemed to explode as the library collapsed into a pile of dust and rumbles.

The hallway was no better. The timeline's fractures spread, disturbing the castle around them. Walls shone like mirrors, flashing between their usual stone texture and scary transparent look. Austin didn't stop running until they reached the eastern wing, where the air felt more settled and breathable.

He set Olivia down gently, his hands stayed on her shoulders to steady her. "Are you hurt?" he asked, his brow raised with concern.

"I'm fine," Olivia replied, her voice sharp. She stepped back, shaking his hands off. "But you're not off the hook, Austin. You knew this would happen, didn't you?"

"What are you talking about?" Austin said, his tone sharp.

"Don't act like you are not aware of all this happening," Olivia asked. "You've been hiding things from me. You warned me I was in danger, but you didn't say the danger. And now the timeline is falling apart because of secrets you, Paul, and Tom refuse to share with me."

Austin's jaw tightened. "I've been trying to protect you, Olivia. That's all I've ever done."

"Protect me from what?" she asked, her voice rising. "From the truth? From myself? What aren't you telling me?"

Austin hesitated, his lips turning to a curve. Olivia could see through his eyes the evidence of whatever he was hiding. But before he could answer, she suddenly saw something surprising that caught her attention, a small book lying on the ground nearby.

It was a journal, its leather cover old and faded. Olivia bent down to pick it up, using her hand to dust the dirt from its surface. She held it firmly and opened it, immediately she recognized the handwriting.

"This is mine," she said with a low voice, her fingers tracing the ink on the first page.

"What?" Austin shifted closer, his expression confused.

"This journal... it's mine. From when I was a child."

Olivia's hands kept shaking as she turned the pages. The entries were written in her youthful handwriting, filled with the thinking of a curious and imaginative child. But as she went through, one entry made her pause.

The page was dated on her eighth birthday. The words were written in unfamiliar letters, as though written in a rush.

"Today, Father told me I'm special. He said I've been chosen for a higher purpose. I don't know what that means, but he looked serious. I hope it's something good."

Olivia's breath seized. "Chosen for a higher purpose?" she whispered.

"What does it mean?" Austin asked, his voice low.

"I don't know," Olivia replied. "But it's strange. My father never spoke to me like this. He never mentioned anything about being 'chosen.'"

As Olivia turned to the next page, her heart seized. At the bottom of the entry, a signature had been added, her father's name, written in bold, beautiful handwriting. But something about it was wrong.

"This isn't his handwriting," Olivia said, her voice shaking.

Austin frowned. "What do you mean?"

"My father had a distinct way of writing. His letters slanted to the right, and he always used a particular flourish on the letter 'R.'" Olivia pointed to the signature. "This isn't his style. Someone else signed this."

Austin's expression darkened. "Are you sure?"

"Am very certain," Olivia replied, her mind racing. "Why would someone forge my father's signature in my own journal? And why would they write about a 'higher purpose'?"

Austin stepped closer, his gaze serious. "This is not just random, Olivia. Someone has been deceiving you for a long time, and it seems since your childhood. This might be why the Weaver is so connected to you."

"deceiving me for what?" Olivia asked, her voice was filled with frustration. "I don't even know myself anymore, My family, my memories, my entire life, everything has been a lie."

Austin stretched to hold her hand, but she pulled away, taking a step back.

"Don't," she said, her voice still shaking. "I can't trust you either, Austin. Not when you're hiding things from me."

"Olivia," Austin said, his tone desperate. "I swear, I'm on your side. But there are things I can't tell you now and I mean not yet."

"That's not good enough," Olivia replied, holding the journal firmly at her chest.

Before Austin could reply, the ground they stood on began to shake. The air around them became filled with dust and it had an unnatural energy.

"It's happening again," Austin said, his eyes checking around seriously. "The timeline is destabilizing."

"We need to move," Olivia said, her voice firm despite the panic increasing in her chest.

Austin nodded, but as they turned to leave, the journal in Olivia's hands began to shine. A small, golden light came out from its pages, vibrating like a heartbeat.

"What's happening?" Olivia asked, staring at the shining book.

"I don't know," Austin replied. "But we need to get somewhere safe before—"

A very loud crack disorganized him as the walls around them began to collapse. The timeline's fractures spread like wildfire, destroying everything in their path.

Olivia held the journal tightly as the light became brighter, putting her in a warm glow. She looked around and saw the journal vibrating and felt it saved her from all the troubles that just happened.

Then, she heard a voice that sounded both familiar and different.

"The truth lies within, Olivia. Find it before it's too late."

The light went off, and Olivia found herself lying on the cold stone floor. Austin was by her side, shaking her gently.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice was sharp.

"I'm fine," Olivia replied, even though her head was still hurt. She looked down at the journal, now dull and lifeless in her hands. "But I think this journal is the key to everything."

Austin helped her to her feet, his expression unreadable. "Then we'll figure it out together. But for now, we need to get out of here."

As they rushed down the hallway, Olivia couldn't forget the feeling that the journal had answers she wasn't ready to face. But one thing was clear—her journey was far from over.