The Chronicles of Ashwood

Season 1 Episode 2

By Manuel

❗❗ DON'T COPY OR REPOST ❗❗

Alex walked alongside his friend Jack, to their English Literature class. They strolled down the long, winding hallway, adorned with covered portraits of former headmasters and faded plaques commemorating past achievements. The walls, painted a dull shade of beige, seemed to stretch on forever.

As they approached the classroom, a cozy room with wooden desks and a chalkboard, Alex's mind wandered back to the mysterious events in the Oak Room. He thought about the strange symbols etched into the walls, the ancient wooden panels, and the eerie feeling that lingered in the air.

"Hey, Alex, what's up?" Jack asked, nudging him with his elbow, as they walked past a row of lockers, metal compartments with rusted hinges and worn-out labels.

But Alex didn't respond, lost in his thoughts. Jack tried again, "Dude, are you even listening?" as they entered the classroom, a cozy room with a high, vaulted ceiling and large windows that let in a flood of natural light.

Ms. Thompson, their teacher, greeted them warmly from behind her desk, a sturdy oak table with carved legs and a worn, wooden surface

She was a kind-hearted woman in her mid-40s, with curly brown hair and a warm smile. Her bright green eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she wrote her name on the chalkboard in elegant cursive script.

She began the lesson, writing on the chalkboard, a smooth, black surface that seemed to absorb the chalk marks.

"Today, we're discussing the themes of love and fate in Romeo and Juliet," she announced, handing out worksheets, thin sheets of paper with printed questions and space for answers.

As she lectured, Alex's mind drifted back to the Oak Room. He wondered what secrets it held and why some mysterious spirits are coming out from a book. He gazed out the window, a large pane of glass overlooking the school's courtyard, a bustling hub surrounded by ancient buildings.

The lesson ended, and Ms. Thompson gathered her things. "Class dismissed," she said, smiling, as she packed her bag, a worn, leather satchel with a broken strap.

A few minutes later, Mr. Taylor, the history teacher, walked in. He carried a large stack of books, dusty tomes bound in worn leather, and a cup of steaming coffee, its aroma filling the room.

"Today, we're exploring the ancient civilizations of Egypt," he announced, writing on the chalkboard. "Let's start with the Pyramids of Giza."

As he taught, Alex found himself lost in thought again. But when Mr. Taylor assigned a project on past historical events, Alex's attention snapped back to the present.

"Work in pairs, three in a group." Mr. Taylor instructed, handing out project guidelines, a stapled packet of papers with detailed instructions. "Choose an event, research it, and present it to the class. I will reward the best group with marks"

Alex turned to Jack, who grinned. "Let's do something cool, like the Pyramids or something."

Alex nodded, and they began brainstorming ideas as Mr. Taylor left the classroom.

Alex, Emily, and Jack settled into a quiet corner of the library, surrounded by towering shelves of books and the musty smell of paper. They spread out their project materials, including a large piece of poster board, markers, and a stack of history books.

As they began brainstorming ideas, Emily pulled out a notebook, a worn, spiral-bound book with dog-eared pages and scribbled notes. "Okay, so we need to decide on an event to focus on," she said, her brow furrowed in concentration.

Just as they were getting started, Victoria, a student, sauntered into the library. She was a tall, slender girl with long, curly blonde hair and a smug expression. Her eyes, a piercing blue, scanned the room, landing on the trio with a hint of disdain.

Victoria was known for her ruthless competitiveness, and Alex could tell she was looking for ways to sabotage their project. She sashayed over to their table, her designer handbag slung over her shoulder.

"Well, well, well. Look what we have here," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "The three musketeers, working together on their little project."

Alex felt a surge of annoyance, but Emily remained calm. "Hey, Victoria. What brings you here?"

Victoria smiled sweetly. "Oh, just browsing. But I couldn't help noticing your project. It looks...interesting."

As she leaned in, Alex noticed she was trying to glimpse their notes. Jack, sensing her intentions, quickly covered their work with his arm.

"Hey, no cheating," he said, his tone light but firm.

Victoria pouted, but Alex could tell she was seething beneath the surface. "Fine, be that way. But I'm warning you, my project is going to blow yours out of the water."

With that, she flounced off, leaving the trio to their work. But Alex knew she wouldn't give up easily. He made a mental note to keep a close eye on their project, lest Victoria try to sabotage it.

As they delved deeper into their project, Alex, Emily, and Jack began to notice strange, unexplained things. At first, they dismissed it as fatigue or stress, but soon, the occurrences became too frequent to ignore.

One evening, while researching in the library, Emily gasped, her eyes fixed on a bookshelf. "Guys, look!" she whispered, her voice trembling.

Alex and Jack followed her gaze, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. "What is it?" Alex asked, confusion etched on his face.

"The books...they're shifting," Emily replied, her eyes wide with wonder. "I swear, I saw them move on their own."

Jack chuckled. "You're just tired, Em. Let's take a break."

But Emily insisted, "No, I saw it! And it's not just that. I've been seeing strange symbols etched into the walls, and hearing whispers in the hallway."

Alex exchanged a skeptical glance with Jack, but then, he began to recall strange occurrences himself. "Wait, I've seen those symbols too," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "And I thought I heard footsteps in the empty classroom yesterday."

Jack's grin faltered. "What's going on, guys? Are we all losing our minds?"

As they packed up their belongings, Emily whispered, "I saw a shadowy figure lurking behind the shelves. It vanished when I turned to look."

Alex and Jack exchanged nervous glances. They didn't know what to make of these strange events, but they thought they are loosing their minds.

The next day, while working on their project in the school's courtyard, Jack pointed to a nearby fountain. "Dude, look! The water's flowing backwards!"

Alex and Emily rushed to the fountain, but saw nothing unusual. "What are you talking about, Jack?" Alex asked, confusion etched on his face.

But Jack insisted, "I saw it! The water was flowing upwards, like it was being sucked into the air!"

As they continued working, they began to notice more bizarre occurrences – doors creaking open by themselves, strange noises in the hallways, and ghostly apparitions flitting around the edges of their vision.

They couldn't understand why they were seeing these things, or why no one else seemed to notice. But they knew they had to get to the bottom of it, before it was too late.

Alex walked down the empty hallway, his footsteps echoing off the lockers. He had stayed late to finish up some extra credit work, and now the school was deserted. As he turned a corner, he noticed something strange - a door he had never seen before. It was old and worn, with a large iron knocker in the shape of a lion's head.

Curiosity got the better of him, and he approached the door. He reached out to touch the knocker, and as he did, the door creaked open by itself. Alex hesitated for a moment, wondering if he should investigate further.

He stepped through the doorway, finding himself in a long, dark corridor. The air was musty and filled with the scent of old books. But as he looked around, the corridor began to fade away, like a dream disappearing upon waking.

Alex stumbled backwards, finding himself back in the hallway. But the door was gone. In its place was a solid wall, with no sign of the door's existence.

Confused and disoriented, Alex wondered if he had imagined the whole thing. But he knew what he saw, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something strange was going on.

He made his way back to his locker, his mind racing with questions. What was that door? Where did it lead? And why did it disappear?

As the days went by, more and more students began to experience strange occurrences. They would see things that didn't exist, hear whispers in the hallways, and feel an eerie presence lurking in the shadows.

One day, while walking down the hallway, Sarah suddenly let out a blood-curdling scream. "Oh my god, it's a dog!" she yelled, pointing down the hall.

But there was no dog. The other students looked around, confused, as Sarah took off running, her eyes fixed on something only she could see.

"What's wrong with her?" someone asked, shocked.

"I have no idea," another student replied, "but she is acting really weird."

As Sarah ran out of sight, the other students exchanged nervous glances. They had no idea of what was happening.

Meanwhile, in another part of the school, Jake was experiencing his own strange occurrence. He was sitting in class when he saw a shadowy figure standing in the corner of the room. At first, he thought it was just his imagination, but as the figure began to move closer, Jake felt a chill run down his spine.

He tried to focus on the lesson, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Suddenly, the figure vanished, leaving Jake feeling confused and disoriented.

As the days went by, more and more students began to experience strange occurrences. Emily saw a ghostly figure in the library, while Matt heard whispers in the hallway. It was as if the school was haunted, but no one knew why.

The students were on edge, wondering what was happening to their school. Some tried to brush it off as mere hallucinations, but deep down, they knew something was amiss.

During lunch break on a Tuesday afternoon, Alex sat alone in the library, surrounded by stacks of dusty books and the faint scent of old paper. He was engrossed in his reading, oblivious to the silence around him.

Suddenly, he heard the sound of pages rustling and books shifting. He looked up, wondering who was there with him. "Hello?" he called out, but there was no answer.

Curious, Alex got up to investigate. He walked between the shelves, scanning the rows of books for any sign of movement. But as he turned a corner, he saw something that made his heart skip a beat.

A figure, tall and gaunt, with eyes that seemed to bore into his soul. But as Alex looked closer, the figure vanished, leaving him wondering if he had really seen it.

Shaking his head, Alex told himself it was just his imagination playing tricks on him. But as he turned to leave, he saw a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye.

A messy brown-haired boy, with a crooked grin and piercing blue eyes. He was standing just beyond the shelf, watching Alex with an unnerving intensity.

Alex spun around, but the boy was gone. He was alone in the library once again, surrounded by the silent stacks of books.

But he knew what he saw. And he knew that he was not alone.

Alex tried to focus on his reading, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. He kept looking over his shoulder, expecting to see the messy brown-haired boy again.

And then, he saw him. The boy was standing at the end of the row, leaning against a shelf with his arms crossed. He was grinning at Alex, his eyes glinting with mischief.

Alex felt a shiver run down his spine. He tried to tell himself it was just his imagination, but he knew what he saw. He got up and approached the boy, his heart pounding in his chest.

As he got closer, the boy pushed off from the shelf and started walking away. Alex followed him, his eyes fixed on the boy's back.

But when he turned a corner, the boy was gone. Alex was alone again, surrounded by the silent stacks of books.

He took a deep breath and tried to calm down. He told himself it was just an imagination, trying to scare him. But he couldn't shake the feeling that something more was going on.

Suddenly, he heard a whisper in his ear. "You can't catch me, Alex." He spun around, but there was no one there.

The whisper seemed to come from all around him, echoing off the shelves. Alex felt a chill run down his spine. He knew then that he was in for a wild ride.

Alex was determined to catch the boy, but as he turned another corner, he saw something that made his blood run cold.

The messy brown-haired boy was standing in front of him, but he was transparent, his eyes glowing with a mischievous light. Alex tried to speak, but his voice caught in his throat.

The boy started to fade away, but as he did, his grin grew wider. Alex saw that his eyes were black as coal, and they seemed to be sucking all the light out of the room.

Suddenly, the boy vanished, leaving Alex standing alone in the library. But as he looked down, he saw a message scrawled on the floor, in letters that seemed to be made of shadow and smoke.

"You'll never catch me," it read.

Alex knew then that he was dealing with something beyond his understanding. The person he is dealing with was not just a person, but a presence, a force that seemed to be haunting the school.

He took a deep breath and tried to shake off the feeling of unease. But as he turned to leave, he saw the boy again but this time not as a boy, he was standing in the distance, watching him with eyes that seemed to see right through him.

Alex saw him out of the corner of his eye - a figure, standing in the shadows, watching him with an unnerving intensity. He was tall, lean, and menacing, with a mop of messy brown hair and a crooked grin that seemed to suggest he was always up to something.

But as Alex turned to face him, the figure's appearance began to shift and distort, like a reflection in rippling water. His eyes seemed to stretch and elongate, his grin growing wider and more sinister.

Alex felt a chill run down his spine as the figure's form began to fade away, replaced by a dark, shadowy figure that seemed to be made of nothing more than smoke and darkness.

The figure loomed over Alex, its presence filling the room with an unspeakable horror. Alex tried to scream, but his voice was frozen in his throat.

And then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, the figure vanished. Alex was left standing alone, his heart pounding in his chest, wondering if he had really seen what he thought he had.

But as he looked down, he saw a small note on the floor, with a message scrawled in red ink - "You'll never be able to escape me."

Alex turned and ran, dashing out of the library and into the crowded hallway. But as he ran, the illusions escalated, causing chaos and confusion throughout the school.

Students saw ghostly apparitions flitting around the corners of their vision, heard eerie whispers in their ears, and felt unseen hands brushing against their skin.

No one knew what was real and what was just an illusion, and soon, the students were struggling to distinguish between the two.

Some saw a man standing in the shadows, grinning at them with his wicked eyes. Others saw shadowy figures lurking in the classrooms, or ghostly faces peering out from the lockers.

The students were terrified, and soon, they began to question their own sanity.

"What's happening to us?" one student cried, clinging to her friends in fear.

"I don't know, but I don't like it!" another replied, looking around nervously.

The teachers tried to restore order, but even they seemed unsure of what was happening.

"In all my years of teaching, I've never seen anything like this," Mrs. Johnson said, shaking her head. "It's as if some kind of mass hysteria has taken hold of our students."

"But what's causing it?" Ms. Thompson asked, frowning. "Is it some kind of prank gone wrong?"

"I don't know," Mrs. Johnson replied, "but we need to find out, and fast. Our students are losing their grip on reality."

As the teachers conferred, the illusions continued to escalate, causing more and more chaos throughout the school.

Alex sat down at a table with Jack and Emily in the cafeteria, his mind still reeling from the strange occurrences that had been happening in the school.

Eli and Jane spotted Alex and came over to say hi, noticing the serious looks on their friend's face.

"Hey, guys, what's up?" Eli asked, but Emily just shook her head, indicating she already knew what was going on.

They engaged in some conversations which includes all the strange things happening in the school. As the conversation goes on Alex remembered something and he called the attention of his friends to it.

"What is it?" Emily asked.

Alex took a deep breath, recounting the events of the night he snuck into the Oak Room. "I was reading the book, and I felt this strange energy building up. And then, the ghosts escaped. I saw them, swirling around me, their eyes glowing with this otherworldly light."

Jack's eyes widened in horror. "And you think that's what's causing all the chaos now?"

Alex nodded. "I'm sure of it. This ghost, it's one of them.

"We need to go back to the Oak Room," Emily said, her voice firm. "We need to find that book and put the ghosts back."

"But are you sure that's a good idea?" Jane asked, hesitantly.

"We don't have a choice," Alex said, his jaw set. "We have to try and stop this before it's too late."

The group nodded in agreement, determination etched on their faces.

"Let's do it," Eli said. "Let's go to the Oak Room and find that book."

Together, the friends steeled themselves for what lay ahead, ready to face whatever horrors awaited them in the Oak Room.

Under the cover of darkness, the five friends snuck out of their hostels, their hearts racing with anticipation and fear. Alex led the way, navigating through the deserted corridors and stairways with ease.

They moved swiftly, their footsteps muffled by the thick carpets and rugs. They avoided the main hallways, opting for narrower passages and backdoors.

As they approached the Oak Room, Alex slowed down, his senses heightened. He pushed open the creaky door, and the group slipped inside.

The room was dimly lit, the only sound the soft hum of old books and the creaking of wooden shelves. Alex's eyes adjusted slowly, and he made his way to the center table.

And there it was - the ancient tome, bound in black leather, adorned with strange symbols. Alex's heart skipped a beat as he reached out to touch it.

He opened the book, page after page, his eyes scanning the contents. But what he saw made his jaw drop in shock. The last time he saw the book, the words were written in a language he couldn't read. But now, they were in English.

"Guys, look at this!" Alex whispered, his voice trembling with excitement.

The others gathered around, their eyes wide with wonder. They began reading, devouring the words on the pages.

As they read, they discovered secrets about the school, the Oak Room, and the ghosts that haunted them. They learned about an ancient ritual, and spells that was used to bound the ghosts in the book.

As they were reading, they stumbled upon a passage that caught their attention. It was a story about how the ghosts were bound in the book, 150 years ago.

"In the year 1874," the passage read, "a group of powerful sorcerers gathered. They had been tasked with containing a malevolent entity, known only as 'The Devourers', which had been terrorizing the local village.

"The sorcerers, led by a wise and powerful man named Malcolm, spent months preparing for the ritual. They gathered ancient artifacts, rare herbs, and sacred symbols, all of which were necessary to contain The Devourers.

"Finally, the day of the ritual arrived. The sorcerers gathered around a large, ancient book, adorned with strange symbols and markings. They opened the book, revealing pages of blank parchment.

"Malcolm began to read from the book, his voice chanting ancient words of power. The air around them began to shift and swirl, as The Devourers began to take form.

"The sorcerers continued their chant, pouring all of their energy into the ritual. Slowly but surely, The Devourers began to take shape, its form becoming more solid with each passing moment.

"Finally, with a burst of energy, The Devourers was sucked into the book, bound by the ancient words and symbols. The sorcerers closed the book, sealing The Devourers inside.

"But they knew that they had to be careful. They knew that The Devourers was still powerful, even bound. So they placed powerful spells and incantations around the book, to keep it from escaping but the spell won't last forever, it will be broken after 100 years and the devourers will escape easily if the book is opened.

"And so, the book was hidden away, locked in a secret room, deep within the earth."

"But now, 150 years later, the book has been found, the spell is broken. And The Devourers has been unleashed once more."

"So, the devourers, how many are they?" Emily asked.

"Let's read." Alex said opening the next page of the book.

As the friends delve deeper, they discovered that the devourers was not a single entity but a group of 12 malevolent spirits, each with its own unique powers and abilities.

The first one is the Prankster, a spirit that can manipulate reality itself, creating illusions and pranks that are both terrifying and confusing.

The five of them looked at themselves with fear in their eyes.

"How did this book get here in the first place?" Jane asked.

"Nobody knows." Eli answered opening his hands.

Eliza, the school's founder, had a dark past. She was once a member of a secret society that dabbled in the occult. During her time with the society, she discovered the ancient tome that contained The Devourers.

As she delved deeper into the book's secrets, she became increasingly obsessed with its power. But when the society discovered her intentions, they tried to take the book away from her.

Eliza fled, taking the book with her. She eventually settled in Ashwood, where she built the school as a front for her true intentions: to harness the power of The Devourers.

She hid the book in the Oak Room, a secret chamber beneath the school, where she could study it further. But as she continued to experiment with the book's power, she began to realize the horror she had unleashed.

The Devourers' influence consumed her, driving her mad. She disappeared under mysterious circumstances, leaving behind only the book and a cryptic warning: "Beware the hunger that lies within."

The book remained hidden in the Oak Room, waiting for the next unsuspecting victim to stumble upon it and unleash The Devourers' wrath once more.

"So the one disturbing the school is the Prankster," Alex said, his eyes scanning the pages of the ancient tome.

As if in response, the book flipped open several pages, stopping at a illustration of a mischievous-looking spirit with a wicked grin.

"Whoa, look at that!" Jack exclaimed. "That's the Prankster!"

"I saw him at the library," Alex said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I thought it was just my imagination, but...this is him."

The friends leaned in closer to the book, reading the text alongside the illustration.

"When mischief's master hath wrought his play,

And chaos reigns, come what may,

Open the page, where his essence lies,

And seal him in, with starry eyes."

The friends pondered the cryptic message, then understood. They opened the page, revealing a swirling vortex of colors.

Just then, the lights in the room began to flicker, and the sound of laughter echoed down the room. The Prankster had arrived.

The friends watched as the Prankster materialized before them, its mischievous grin growing wider as it took in the scene.

Without a word, Alex opened the book, holding it up so that the page with the swirling vortex faced the Prankster.

The Prankster's grin faltered as it saw the page, and for a moment, it seemed to hesitate.

Then, as if drawn by an unseen force, the Prankster began to move towards the book, its eyes fixed on the vortex.

As it reached the center of the page, the Prankster was sucked in, swirling into the colors until it disappeared.

The page slammed shut, trapping the Prankster inside. The book creaked, its leather cover embossed with a mischievous grin, now still and silent.

The friends let out a collective sigh of relief, knowing that the Prankster was bound once more.

The room fell silent, the only sound the quiet creaking of the old book. The friends stood frozen, their eyes fixed on the closed page.

Then, without warning, the book slammed open again, the page with the vortex glowing with a soft, pulsing light.

The friends exchanged nervous glances, wondering if they had succeeded in trapping the Prankster after all.

But as they watched, the light from the page began to fade, and the book's cover grew still once more.

"It's done," Alex said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "The Prankster is trapped."

The friends nodded in agreement, their faces filled with relief.

But as they turned to leave, they noticed something strange - the book's cover seemed to be...smiling.

And in the center of the smile, a small, mischievous eye winked out at them.

The friends froze, their hearts skipping a beat. Had they really trapped the Prankster, or had it just pretended to be caught?

As they watched, the eye winked again, and the smile grew wider.

Suddenly, the book's cover began to change, the leather rippling and shifting like a living thing.

The friends took a step back, unsure of what was happening.

And then, in a burst of color and light, the book's cover transformed into a elaborate, swirling pattern, like a mad artist's canvas.

In the center of the pattern, the Prankster's grin stared out at them, taunting them.

"You may have trapped me," the grin seemed to say, "but I'll always be one step ahead."

The friends exchanged nervous glances. Had they really trapped the Prankster, or had it just found a new way to play its tricks?

The friends stared at the transformed book cover, their minds racing.

"Wait a minute," Alex said, a sly grin spreading across his face. "This is just another prank, isn't it?"

The others nodded in agreement, relief washing over them.

"Of course it is," Emily said, rolling her eyes.

"But we can't let our guard down," Jack said, his brow furrowed in concern. "If the Prankster is a member of the Devourers, who knows if other spirits might come after us?"

"Exactly," Alex said, his eyes gleaming with determination. "That's why we need to keep the book. If other spirits come to attack the students, we'll need all the help we can get."

"And maybe even trap other spirits like the Prankster," Jack said, a hint of excitement in his voice.

The friends nodded in agreement, their faces set with resolve.

"We'll keep the book safe," Alex said. "And if any other spirits come to attack, we'll be ready."

With a sense of determination, the friends parted ways, each heading to their respective hostels. Alex carefully tucked the book into his backpack, feeling a sense of responsibility wash over him.

The next day, Alex sat in class, his eyes fixed on the clock, his mind still reeling from the events of the previous day. The Prankster's grin still lingered in his mind, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

Suddenly, the classroom door creaked open by itself, and a chill ran down Alex's spine. He glanced around, but no one seemed to notice. The teacher droned on, oblivious to the eerie atmosphere.

"Hey, did you guys see that?" Alex asked his friends, Jack and Emily, who were already seated.

"See what?" Jack replied, looking up from his phone.

"The door. It just opened by itself."

Emily raised an eyebrow. "Maybe it was just the wind?"

But Alex knew what he saw. He looked at the blackboard, and that's when he saw it. A message, scrawled in chalk, seemed to leap out at him:

"When shadows dance, the darkness whispers your name"

Alex felt a chill run down his spine. What did it mean? He looked around, but Jack and Emily seemed oblivious to the message.

"Guys, look at this!" Alex whispered urgently.

But when they turned to look, the message was gone. The blackboard was blank.

To be continued....