I was in a world where everything spun around me, swirling like a hypnotic trance. My body felt weightless, my senses blurred—until suddenly, light broke through the haze.
I opened my eyes, barely conscious—and found myself in Alan's arms.
He was staring at me like he'd been watching over me for hours. As soon as he saw my eyes flutter open, his voice cracked with raw relief.
"Serena!" he shouted.
And before I could even respond, he pulled me into a wild, desperate hug.
"Thank God you're okay! I thought we lost you—oh my God, thank God!" Alan started sobbing like a child. I had never seen him like this before—so vulnerable, so exposed, so human.
"Alan… let me go. I can't breathe," I managed to whisper.
He immediately pulled back, suddenly self-conscious, cheeks flushed.
"Sorry… I didn't mean to—" he mumbled, fumbling for an excuse.
"No worries," I said, managing a small smile. "It's completely fine."
Just then, the rain that had been thundering moments ago... stopped.
The fog began to fade.
"Serena! Alan!" Maria's voice rang out as she and Jared came running toward us. Without thinking, the four of us embraced—like a team celebrating an impossible victory.
Because, in truth, we had survived the impossible.
Just minutes ago, none of us knew if we'd make it out alive—and yet, here we were. Breathing. Whole.
But then I noticed something in my hand.
A book.
Its leather was old and marked, yet perfectly dry. I stared at the cover:
"The Curse Book – Part 1, Chapter A."
"Bruh!" Jared's voice broke the moment.
"Wasn't this place supposed to have the map to the book? Not the book itself!"
"And what the hell is Chapter A?" Alan added, confused.
All of us stood there, stunned, like someone had hit the pause button on our brains.
"It was raining like a hurricane out here," I said slowly. "So how is this book... bone dry?"
The realization hit everyone at once. This wasn't normal.
Maria tilted her head toward the sky, thinking hard. I was just about to open the book—curious, maybe foolishly so—when suddenly—
"No, Serena! Don't you dare open it!" Maria's voice rang out, sharp and commanding.
I froze. We all did.
I didn't question her. I set the book aside gently.
"We don't know what's inside," Maria continued quickly, her tone urgent. "Reading it could unleash anything. A curse, possession, ancient souls—who knows? And as for Chapter A, I think Part 1 might be split into multiple chapters. There were three hints on that old paper, right? That probably means Chapter A, B, and C."
She barely paused for breath.
"Yeah," I nodded, agreeing.
Jared narrowed his eyes. "How do you know all this, Maria?"
Even I wanted to ask that. Who exactly was Maria?
But before I could speak, she cut in.
"I'm just connecting dots. We don't have time to waste. Let's find the others—they're probably waiting."
She turned and started walking ahead.
Jared turned to me. "Can you walk, Serena? Or should I carry you?"
I gave him the deadliest glare I could muster.
"I can walk on my own," I said with pride, rising to my feet and following Maria—my legs trembling but determined.