I took a step toward the light, but the ground beneath me disappeared. I was falling into the darkness, screaming, but no one came to help. I reached out, but there was nothing-no Logan, no Mr. Castlefield. I was all alone.
Suddenly, I was back in the clearing, gasping for air as I fell to my knees. My body shook, and my heart raced. The Silent Brothers stood over me, their eyes cold.
“You have failed,” the eldest Silent Brother said. “You are not worthy.”
The other brothers moved closer. Fear gripped me-I had failed, and now they were going to kill me.
I saw the eldest raise his hand, a blade gleaming in the light. I couldn’t believe this was happening.
“Run!” Logan shouted, his voice full of urgency.
Before I knew it, Logan grabbed my arm and pulled me to my feet. We started running, fast. Mr. Castlefield and the others were already ahead, dashing through the forest. Behind us, the Silent Brothers were chasing us, moving way faster than I could’ve imagined.
Branches scratched my skin as we ran, the sound of our footsteps filling the air. I couldn’t see clearly, but we kept going, Logan’s hand holding mine tightly. The ground was uneven, and it felt like I might trip at any second, but stopping wasn’t an option.
“Faster!” Logan yelled. “Don’t look back!”
But I did. The Silent Brothers were gaining on us, their dark robes flowing behind them like shadows.
Somehow, we made it out of the forest and collapsed to the ground, breathing hard. The Silent Brothers didn’t follow us out of the woods, but the fear still hung over me.
“What do we do now?” I gasped. “How are we going to find the book?”
Logan was beside me, looking serious but unsure. No one had an answer.
“I failed,” I whispered, tears in my eyes. “I couldn’t do it. I let everyone down.”
Logan crouched beside me, his eyes soft but filled with determination. “You didn’t let anyone down, Audrey,” he said firmly. “We’re still alive, and that’s what matters right now.”
I shook my head, the weight of my failure crushing me. “But we needed their help. Without them, we don’t know how to find the Eternity Book. I couldn’t even face my own fear. I failed us all.”
Mr. Castlefield approached us, his face serious but calm. He glanced at the forest where the Silent Brothers had disappeared and then turned to me. “Audrey,” he said, his voice steady, “we knew the Silent Brothers were a risk. They are powerful, but not the only way.”
I looked up at him, my chest tight. “But they were supposed to guide us. Now, we have nothing.”
Mr. Castlefield shook his head. “No, we still have something. There is another way. But…” He paused, glancing at Logan before continuing. “It’s more dangerous than anything we’ve faced so far.”
Logan straightened up, his eyes narrowing. “More dangerous than the Silent Brothers?” he asked.
“Yes,” Mr. Castlefield said gravely. “The path I’m thinking of leads us to a place few have returned from. It’s called the Veil of Shadows.”
“The Veil of Shadows?” I repeated, feeling a shiver down my spine just from the name. “What is that?”
“It’s a realm between life and death,” Mr. Castlefield explained. “A place where lost souls wander, and the living aren’t meant to go. The Eternity Book may be hidden there, but finding it will come at a cost.”
I stared at Mr. Castlefield, my heart pounding. The Veil of Shadows sounded like a nightmare come to life, and after what we had just escaped, the thought of something even worse felt overwhelming.
“What kind of cost?” I asked quietly, my voice trembling.
Mr. Castlefield’s gaze darkened. “The Veil of Shadows doesn’t just test your physical endurance. It tests your spirit, your very soul. Time bends there, and reality warps. People can lose themselves if they’re not careful. Once we enter, there’s no guarantee we’ll all make it back.”
I felt a lump in my throat as his words sank in. I thought of Logan, standing beside me with that unshakable confidence, and how he had already risked so much to protect me. Could we really handle this?
I stood frozen, trying to process the gravity of Mr. Castlefield’s words. The Veil of Shadows sounded like a death sentence, and the thought of facing it terrified me.
Mr. Castlefield studied me for a moment, his eyes softening as he spoke again. “Audrey, this next part… you and Logan need to go alone.”
I blinked, taken aback. “Alone?” My voice wavered. “Why can’t you come with us?”
He sighed, glancing at Logan before answering. “The Veil of Shadows is not a place meant for everyone. Only those with a strong connection to their inner self can hope to survive. You and Logan… your bond, your strength together, will give you the best chance to make it through. I would only be a hindrance.”
I stared at Mr. Castlefield in disbelief. The idea of going into the Veil of Shadows with only Logan by my side felt overwhelming. Every part of me wanted to protest, to beg him to come with us, but the look in his eyes told me there was no other option.
“But you’ve always been with us,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “How can we do this without you?”
Mr. Castlefield gave a sad smile, shaking his head. “This is something you both must face alone. I’ve guided you as far as I can. But the Veil… it will challenge you in ways I cannot protect you from. The connection you share with Logan is your best chance.”
I glanced at Logan, who was staring at his father with a determined expression. “We’ll do it,” Logan said firmly. “We can handle it.”
I didn’t feel as confident, but I knew there was no turning back. We needed the Eternity Book, and this was our only chance to get it.
“How do we find the Veil?” I asked, forcing myself to stay calm.
Mr. Castlefield gestured to the dark woods ahead of us. “It lies deep within these woods. You’ll come to a place where the air feels different, where everything seems… still. That’s the entrance. Once you cross over, the Veil will draw you in. But remember this, Audrey-trust in yourself, and trust in Logan. Don’t let the shadows consume you.”
I nodded, though fear twisted in my chest. Logan reached for my hand, squeezing it reassuringly.
“We’ve got this,” he said softly, his voice steady. “We’ll get through it. Together.”
I clung to that promise as we turned toward the forest, the trees looming over us like silent guardians of a terrible secret. The path ahead was uncertain, but I knew we couldn’t back down now.
With one last look at Mr. Castlefield, we stepped into the shadows, the weight of the unknown pressing down on us.