Chapter 3: Chapter 4: The Awakening
Li Wei's heart pounds as the temperature in the chamber plummets, the icy chill sinking into their bones. The ghostly woman, her face still hidden by a veil of dark, matted hair, steps closer, her movements unnaturally slow yet deliberate. The whispers grow louder, filling Li Wei's ears with unintelligible sounds, but one word seems to repeat—*"death."*
Li Wei takes a cautious step backward, their mind racing. The book in their hands still hums with strange energy, its pages flicking as though it's alive. The woman's chilling voice breaks through the tension.
*"You are the one who disturbed the seal,"* she says, her voice both mournful and full of anger. *"The curse has been set in motion, and you will not escape."*
Li Wei takes a deep breath, forcing their fear aside. They are a detective, not one to be easily frightened. But something about the way the woman speaks, the undeniable presence of something ancient and powerful, causes a deep unease within them.
The ghostly woman raises her hand slowly, pointing at Li Wei. Her fingers stretch unnaturally long, like talons, and the air around them grows thick with a sense of impending doom.
*"You will not leave this place alive. Not until you pay for your sins."*
Just then, the ground trembles violently, and the walls of the chamber begin to crack, releasing clouds of dust and debris. Li Wei stumbles backward, trying to keep their footing as the woman's form becomes increasingly unstable. The air grows heavy with the stench of rot and decay.
A sudden thought flashes through Li Wei's mind: *the book*. Perhaps this is the key to stopping whatever is happening. They need to understand what the book holds—before it's too late.
Summoning their courage, Li Wei grips the book tightly, flipping through its pages frantically. The strange symbols seem to glow with an eerie light, and in the center of the pages, a diagram of the village appears. The village, with its old temple, is marked with symbols similar to the ones on the walls. A hidden ritual, a blood sacrifice, and a soul-binding curse are described in cryptic language.
The woman's voice interrupts their search, a sharp laugh echoing in the chamber.
*"You think you can stop it? The curse has already been sealed. You are the one who will feed it."*
Li Wei's thoughts race as they glance around, looking for an escape. The woman's ghostly form now hovers inches from them, her mouth twisting into a grotesque grin. The book's pages turn once more, revealing an ancient incantation. With no other choice, Li Wei begins to read the words aloud, the strange language unfamiliar yet strangely resonant.
As they speak the words, the temperature drops even further, and the woman's form flickers violently. But just as Li Wei speaks the final syllable, the woman lets out a terrifying scream. The room shakes violently, and everything goes black.
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- **Sneak Peek Question:**
What happens next after the incantation is spoken?
a) The woman's form vanishes, but the curse continues to spread.
b) A new, even more dangerous spirit awakens in the village.
c) The temple begins to collapse, and Li Wei is trapped underground.