By the third night, the whispers turned into cries—agonizing, sorrowful pleas. Raj awoke to the sound of his mother sobbing, calling to him. "Raj, my son, please save me! I am trapped inside! Save me from her!" The voice was full of sorrow and pain.
This time, he couldn't ignore it. Drawn by an unseen force, he stepped out into the cold night, following the sound to the temple. The closer he got, the louder the cries became. His hands trembled as he reached for the temple doors.
Before he could open them, a strong hand grabbed his wrist—his father, Rama.
Earlier that evening, Tanu had sensed something was wrong and went to Rama, telling him about the whispers. Now, Rama pulled Raj away from the temple, his face pale with fear. "Never go near the temple at night!" he warned.
At dawn, Raj and Tanu demanded answers. Rama gathered them inside and finally revealed the truth.
"The temple holds an ancient evil," he said gravely. "For generations, our ancestors have been entrusted with keeping it sealed. The voices you hear are not your loved ones, but the darkness inside, trying to lure you in. Every villager has experienced this at some point. The moment the door is opened, the world will face an unspeakable disaster."
Raj and Tanu sat in stunned silence. They had nearly doomed themselves—and possibly the world. They vowed to obey the village's sacred duty.
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