Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
The air in the cave was damp and oppressive, each step on the cold rock echoing faintly. Alice and the fox moved slower, each footfall feeling as if it were pressing down on her heart, laden with an unsettling sense of foreboding. The surrounding darkness loomed like a vast net, gradually enveloping them. Alice's heartbeat quickened; she knew that with every step forward, danger was creeping closer, yet she could not bring herself to stop. The secret of the mask drew her in deeply, as if it were whispering to her, reminding her of an unresolved mission.
"Is this the stone wall?" Alice halted, her heart tightening at the sight of the massive rock face before her, covered in thick moss that nearly camouflaged it with the surrounding environment. There were almost no signs indicating that something unusual lay hidden behind it.
The fox's gaze deepened as he nodded slightly. "Yes." His voice was heavy like stones in the deep sea. After a moment of silence, he continued, "This stone wall was once a site of ancient rituals. It is not just an ordinary wall; it serves as a passageway to another kind of power. The mask lies on that altar, and its cracks are no longer merely physical damage. It has become part of the island's power."
A shiver ran down Alice's spine. She felt she was getting closer to the truth; however, she also knew that with each step nearer, she was approaching danger.
"My parents mentioned that something we cannot comprehend might be hidden here," Alice's voice was barely audible, yet her eyes sparkled with determination. "They must have known something; we cannot let it all end like this."
The fox gazed intently at her, his brow slightly furrowed. "The secrets of this place, Alice, are not something you can easily control. Your parents' disappearance and the power of the mask—this is all beyond what we anticipated. Don't you think... you should stop?"
"I can't stop," Alice replied resolutely; there was no turning back for her. "I won't give up, Fox. Whatever lies ahead, we will face it together."
Without waiting for the fox's response, she turned toward the massive stone wall. She pushed against the moss-covered surface with all her strength; the wall emitted a deep rumble and slowly began to open, revealing a narrow passageway. A cold light seeped through the shadows at the other end, seemingly beckoning her.
"Let's go," the fox followed closely behind, his voice lacking its previous calmness and tinged with an unmistakable urgency.
They traversed deeper into the passageway. With every step, Alice's heart raced faster. She could feel a mysterious force spreading through the air, pressing down on her until it became hard to breathe. Finally, they reached the end of the passage where a spacious cave lay before them.
In the center of the cave stood an ancient altar upon which rested a mask. The surface of the mask was no longer smooth; cracks crisscrossed it like a distorted face that seemed to conceal unspeakable pain. It lay there quietly, light dancing across its surface and refracting into eerie glimmers.
Alice's eyes were locked onto that mask, unable to look away. A surge of emotion welled up within her, almost overwhelming her. It was a familiar feeling as if she shared an indescribable connection with it.
"That's it," the fox whispered, his voice filled with alertness. "This is what your parents have been searching for all along, and it's the center of all the mysteries of this island. Don't you think it's too ancient? Every crack signifies that it holds too many secrets."
Alice dared not look directly at the mask; her gaze drifted past it to the rock walls surrounding the altar, which were etched with symbols. Those symbols appeared simple yet radiated a certain aura of power. They seemed to tell a story of a forgotten history.
She took a deep breath and stepped closer to the mask. "I need to know what this all is."
The fox's expression grew serious as he quickly grasped Alice's wrist. "Don't!" His voice was urgent. "You can't touch it! You have no idea what it can bring. Everyone who has tried to reach for it has failed to control its power."
But Alice did not stop; her fingers were almost brushing against the edge of the mask. In that instant, a faint tremor emanated from the mask, as if it had been awakened by some force. Alice froze, and the world before her suddenly blurred, as if everything was twisting.
A series of fragments flashed through her mind—her parents' faces, hazy memories, and that ancient stone tablet. She recalled overhearing her father discussing this mask when she was young—it was not merely an ancient relic but a source of some kind of power. Her father had said that the Mask's Crack represented its brokenness, and this very brokenness was key to the secrets hidden within.
Alice stumbled back, her awareness quickly returning. "I..." She opened her mouth but couldn't form a complete sentence. Her heart raced, and her head felt like it was swelling. "Fox, this mask... it can affect my memories."
The fox's face grew even graver as he grasped Alice's shoulders and swiftly pulled her aside. "Its power goes far beyond that; it can tear apart a person's soul. What did you see?"
"I..." A flicker of confusion crossed Alice's eyes. "I saw my parents. I saw... memories from my childhood. Fox, this mask isn't just altering my memories; it seems to be reshaping my past."
The fox's furrowed brow relaxed slightly, but he remained vigilant. "That's its power. Alice, we must stay away from it; its influence will only grow stronger. Moreover, your parents' disappearance is likely tied to its existence."
Alice took a deep breath, forcing herself to regain composure. "You're right; we can't continue like this." She finally resolved to let go of the intense pull and turned to leave the cave.
But just as she turned, a violent tremor erupted from beneath the altar. Alice's heart leaped in her chest, nearly causing her to fall. The fox quickly steadied her, scanning their surroundings with heightened alertness.
"This doesn't feel right," the fox said nervously. "We have to get out of here!"
Comment 0 Comment Count