Aarohi stood Frozen, her back pressedagainst the cold wall as the door remained half_open . Darkness stretched beyond it, thick and endless, as if it were alive. The air around her felt heavier with every passing second, pressing down on her chest until breathing became difficult.
The voice echoed again, closer now.
"Aarohi"...
Her heart raced. That voice did not sound angry or cruel. Instead, it carried a strange familiarity__ one that frightened her more than hatred ever could.
"Who are you " ?
She whispered .
The shadows beyond the door shifted slowly, farming shapes that dissolve the movement she tried to focus on them. The candles on the table flickered again back to life, but their light refuse to cross the doorway, as if something invisible blocked it.
"You have always known me," the voice replied softl
A sudden sharp pain shot through her wrist. Aarohi gasped, clutching it tightly as the glowing mark pulsed brighter, burning against her skin. The pain wasn't just physical, it felt like memories trying to break free.
The book begin to tremble violently on the table .
"I didn't mean to open it", she said desperately. "I don't know what it was".
The book lifted into the air, hovering between her and the door. It's cover glowed faintly , and the whispers returned clear now, layered with urgency. Images flooded her mind again: a young girl version of herself , standing in the same room, her small hand resting on the book cover while someone unseen stored beside her.
Aarohi Sook her head. "That's not possible.
I would remember."
"You were not meant to", the voice replied.
The door creaked open wider . A cold wind rushed into the room, sending shivers down her spine. The shadows stretched forward , inching closer to her feet.
"What do you want from me?" Aarohi asked ,
Her voice trembling .
The book snapped open mid--air . It's pages flipped rapidly before stopping on a single glowing page. Slowly, words appeared -- words she could read without ever learning the language.
The keeper has awakened.
Her breath caught . "No", she whispered .
You are wrong. I'm not special."
The whisper felt silent .
Then the voice spoke again, calm and certain.
"Then why" it asked,
"Does the grimoire answer only to you"?
The mark on her wrist flared with blinding light .
And suddenly ____
The door slammed shut.