The next two days were terrifying for Rajat. Every shadow seemed to move, every dark corner seemed threatening. But he knew he had to do something. He began searching the internet for terms like unknown symbols, ancient stones, and supernatural events. The blue glow of his laptop was hitting his face.
He came across an old forum post that talked about the boundaries of the world and invisible wonders. The poster, a person named TrueNorth, claimed that a certain type of stone could bend the fabric of reality. Rajat messaged him curiously: Does the stone you talked about have an unknown texture? Does it feel warm?
The answer came immediately. You've found it, haven't you? Be careful. They can see you.
Sweat broke out on Rajat's back. Who? Lumine? He typed.
No. The Lumin are the guards. What I'm talking about are the hunters. The Knox. They're on this forum too. They must be looking for your IP address. Turn off your internet. Now!
It wasn't really a lie. Rajat looked at the screen and saw that his cursor had started moving of its own accord. A new email opened in his inbox, an empty one, but its subject was: We're waiting for you, stone-carrier.
He unplugged the laptop's power cord. The room went quiet and dark. But the peace didn't last.
There was a scraping sound on the window glass. As if someone was scratching with a fingernail. Rajat turned slowly. Outside the window, a suffocating shape, wrapped in a blanket, surrounded the window. It wasn't just a shadow. It was thick, oily, and moving. Inside it were two red, coal-like glowing dots – eyes.
The words came from a hoarse, double voice, which carried the company of the air directly to Silver's ears: We... love... him.
A long, dark sound came through the windowpane, heading straight for Silver. He tried to scream, but the sound caught in his throat. Then, from its bag, the Bridge Stone emitted a sharp, white-blue light. The dark sound retreated. The shadowy shape made an eerie, whispering sound and dissolved into the shadows of the night.
Silver was gasping, clutching the stone tightly in his hand. Lumine had been right. The enemy was here. And he was closer now. The stone was no longer just a mystery. It was an invitation. And a target.
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