The Door At Duck

g that crept from the forest like a living thing. Inside, the house was restless - whisp

Her mind churned with Silas's words: a sacrifice. Blood of the Hollow and pure of heart. Th

there was only one per

Mir

against the chipped walls. The housekeeper moved quietly, preparing a

ke," Miriam said

sitting down at the worn table. "About

her spoon, her eyes dark

rs made a pact - the Binding - to keep the Hollow contained. It was a place where shadows ble

o the key resting on

ose to sacrifice themselves or someone they love to keep the Hollow s

ed. "My father... did

here. To protect you from the curse. But the manor does not f

She wanted to scream, to run - but the ke

Silas? The

he cannot interfere. The Binding must be chos

wly. "What happ

e the manor, the land, and the world beyond. The Binding keep

nt except for the soft sound o

re - the silver-haired guardian's dark e

You must face the trial to prov

ed her fear.

ide and closed th

ty twists and time fractures. Your will and heart will be challenged. If you succeed, you wi

but her resolve harden

en door. The stone passage shimmered with faint blue

e world falling away until only the pulse of the

placed a hand on the runes, and the door slid op

Silas said. "Step through

ep breath and

s unlike anythin

hat shimmered with faces - her own, her father's, and countless others s

ks burned with cold blue flames. At another, she was lost in

oed - soft

ia.

shing through the illusions until she came

ction was

twisted by the

smiled, a crue

ind what you

fists, forcing her

Silas's voice whispered in her

ed the key, which blazed with bright li

faced visions of loss, fear, and temptation. She fought through the

embling and exhausted, dawn

aiting, eye

aid simply. "The Bindin

he key, now glowing s

e sacri

. "It is you

distant forest, to the misted c

r held i

s fate wa