Eternal whispers

Part 4

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Sierra was still sitting there, in the same spot where The Whispering Shadows had slipped from her hands and landed on the table. But… how was this possible?

Yesterday, she had seen it with her own eyes—a picture of a mansion on that very page. Beautiful, mysterious, and so eerily realistic that she had lost herself in it. But now…?

With trembling hands, she placed her finger at the corner of the last page. Something was there…

She paused for a moment, her breath hitching. Looking up at Ruhan, who sat across from her, she wanted to gauge if he would believe her or not. But his deep gaze… There was something in it—something that made her words catch in her throat.

"What was written there?" Ruhan asked softly but with an air of seriousness.

Sierra ran her tongue over her dry lips, hesitating. "Nothing," she said quickly, beginning to rise from her seat.

"Wait."

Ruhan's voice echoed in the silent library—firm, a little sharp. A few people around them turned to look. Realizing his tone, he softened his voice. "Please, sit down."

Sierra hesitated for a moment, then sat back down quietly.

"You said there was something written there," Ruhan spoke gently. "Would you tell me what it was?"

"You won't believe me. You'll think I'm… insane." Her eyes were fixed on the book as if she herself couldn't believe it.

A small smile tugged at Ruhan's lips, but curiosity flickered in his eyes. "And what if I say that I will believe you?"

Sierra looked up at him in disbelief. For a fleeting moment, she felt something strange. As if her heart was telling her that she could trust this boy.

But… not yet.

"I'll tell you some other time."

Saying this, she picked up the book and hurried away.

Ruhan watched her go, certain that she would return.

---

Sierra's Home

Sierra reached home, her face reflecting exhaustion. In her hands was the same book—The Whispering Shadows—the one she had taken from the library, with that mysterious line written on the last page.

"Sierra, dinner is ready. Freshen up and come downstairs!" her mother, Nadia Begum, called from the lounge.

Sierra didn't respond. She went straight to her room.

Thirty minutes later—

"Sierra?"

Nadia Begum knocked on the door. When there was no reply, she gently pushed it open.

The room was dimly lit. Sierra lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

"Are you feeling okay?" Nadia Begum touched her forehead.

"Mom, I need to tell you something." Sierra's voice was barely above a whisper.

"What happened?"

Sierra sat up, confusion and fear clouding her eyes. "Yesterday, I was reading a book in the library. There was a picture of a mansion on the last page. And…" She hesitated before whispering, "Below it was written: Sierra, come to me."

Silence filled the room.

Nadia Begum chuckled lightly, as if it was nothing serious. "That's why I keep telling you to stop watching horror movies!" She patted Sierra's shoulder affectionately. "Come on now, dinner is getting cold."

But Sierra knew this wasn't just her imagination.

---

Midnight—

The room was swallowed in darkness. The window was slightly open, letting in a cold breeze that gently swayed the curtains.

Lying on her bed, Sierra's breaths were uneven. She was drenched in sweat.

"You can't escape from me…"

The voice came again. A whisper. But so clear, as if someone was right next to her.

"Not this time, Sierra…"

Sierra's eyes flew open. She quickly looked around.

The room was empty.

But the door…

It was slowly… creaking open.

To be continued…