As he continued wandering through the dark room, he felt an unsettling sensation creeping into his heart. There was something strange about this place. It was as if the shadows were watching him, following him with every step. His eyes flickered between the dark walls and the small details barely visible to the eye.
He approached the picture on the wall, trying to understand what the distorted face meant. The man in the picture bore strong features, yet it looked like he was in a struggle with something invisible. His face was disfigured, but his eyes were filled with knowledge. Just like what he felt in this moment, those eyes were looking toward something he couldn't yet comprehend.
As he studied the picture, the strange sound returned, becoming clearer. Whispers in the air, something calling him to move, to go somewhere else in this impenetrable darkness.
Suddenly, he felt something on his shoulder, so he quickly turned around. The girl he had first met among the ruins was standing behind him. Her eyes were wide, as though she wasn't sure of something.
"You're here!" she said quietly, then added quickly, "But the place… it looks so strange now. Do you feel it?"
He looked at her, trying to catch his breath. He felt a strange pain in his chest, as if the place itself was trying to pressure him. But despite that, there was something else, something linking him to this girl.
"Yes, I feel something strange here. But do you know what's happening?" he asked, watching her face filled with concern.
The girl answered hesitantly, "No, but… I've heard about these dark places. These places aren't just ruins, they are the kind of places that hold ancient secrets. The shadows here take many things, including time. They also take people who enter before you."
"People? Are there others here?" he asked, feeling an increasing unease.
She shook her head and replied, "No, not here, but… there's something in this place that makes those who enter it feel like they are a part of it. Something that creeps into their minds, into their memories, making them feel strangely connected to the place."
His heart was racing faster now, and suddenly he began to feel something odd in his mind. There were fleeting visions, as if the past was trying to reveal itself to him. He remembered unclear scenes, as if they belonged to someone else. In those moments, he was tying himself to this place, but in an incomprehensible way.
"Is this why?" he asked, but he wasn't sure of himself.
The girl answered, "It could be. This place is not just ordinary ruins. It's filled with mysterious forces. And everyone who enters feels their effect. Maybe these shadows, these halos you're feeling, are just part of the puzzle. Perhaps we are getting closer to discovering something bigger than just ruins."
She looked at the walls, then added in a low voice, "You need to be careful. There's something in this place trying to guide you. But don't follow the light that everyone sees. It may lead you to a place from which you can't return."
She said these words as though she feared what might happen if they continued to investigate further. Yet, there seemed to be something strange pulling them in, something that required them to learn more.
"The light?" he asked, turning to look at what she was pointing to. There was a faint light in the far corner of the room, as if it was emanating from somewhere inside the walls themselves.
"Yes. The light that sometimes appears and pulls you in. Some believe it's hope or salvation. But in truth, it's just a trap. If you follow that light, you'll find yourself deep in the heart of this place, and you won't be able to leave easily."
He paused for a moment, thinking about what she had said. There was something in her words that raised doubts in him. But at the same time, his curiosity grew.
"What happens if we reach that light?" he asked.
The girl said seriously, "You won't find what you're looking for. You'll only uncover more secrets you shouldn't know. And the shadows in this place may be more than just manifestations of time. They could be living beings… or perhaps mere apparitions showing the past."
As he pondered her words, he felt something else in the place. There was a strange pressure in the air, as though the place itself was breathing. The atmosphere was warm yet heavy. It felt as if the earth beneath his feet was burning, as if the entire place was pressing down on him intensely.
Suddenly, a faint noise echoed from inside the walls, as if something massive was moving in the dark. The girl seemed alarmed, her eyes quickly searching for the source of the sound.
"What was that?" he asked, turning around, cautious.
"I don't know, but we must leave now!" she said, then began moving quickly. "Come on, there's no time."
As soon as they started running, the sound grew louder, and the atmosphere around them changed noticeably. This place held secrets deeper than anything they could have imagined. And he felt they were on the verge of discovering something that could alter their fate.