The room had changed .
Aarohi felt it the moment she lifted her eyes from the open book . The air was heavier, colder, as if the walls themselves were breathing . The candles no longer burned steadily; their flames bent inward, leaning towards the encient page like they were like pulled by an unseen force.
The book trembled .
At first, Aarohi thought it was her imagination.
But then the pages begin to turn on the own-- slowly , deliberately -- each movement accompanied by a soft whisper , like dry leaves brushing against stone .
She stepped back." this isn't real",she murmured through her voice lacked conviction .
The symbols on the pages glowed faintly , rearranging themselves into shapes she didn't recognise , yet somehow understood.her head throbbed as if the knowledge was being pressed directly into her mind.
Then she heard it .
" Aa....ro....hi "
Her breath caught in her throat.
The whisper wasn't coming from the room .
It was coming from inside the book.
Her hand shook . "How do you know my name?" She asked , her voice barely louder than a breath.
The pages stoped turning.
Silence followed -- thick and unnatural .
Suddenly, images flooded her mind.
A forest beneath a moonless sky .
A circle drawn in ash .
A girl-- her face hidden-- holding the same book , it's cover glowing violently.
The visions shattered like glass.
She looked down and Froze.
A faint mark had appeared on her wrist, glowing the same pale blue as the book's symbols . It pulsed slowly like a heartbeat.
"No.. no.no", she whispered, rubbing it furiously . The mark didn't fade .
The book snapped shut on its own.
The glow vanished . The candles went out all at once , plunging the room into darkness.
Aarohi 's heart pounded so loudly she was sure it will give her away -- to whatever had awakened.
Then she heard footsteps .
Slow. careful.
They come from the outside of the door .
She held her breath.
The footsteps stopped.
The door handle begin to turn.
Aarohi backed away , her spine pressing against the cold wall. "There's no one here," she whispered , through she didn't believe it herself.
The door cracked open just enough to reveal darkness beyond.
A voice spoke -- soft, familiar and completely impossible.
"Aarohi," it said gently,
"Why did you open the book... When it was waiting for you all alone?"