Chapter 3 Awakened

It was 9 p.m., and Sammy couldn't shake off the image of the mysterious book and the strange power it seemed to hold. His mind raced with questions: Why was it hidden away? What secrets did it contain? Unable to resist his curiosity any longer, he texted his friends, urging them to investigate with him.

Nana 💬: What!! No way! Are you crazy?

Ryan 💬: We can't do that! It's dangerous, don't you know that? We almost got killed last time!

Sammy 💬: I know, but we need to know why it was kept in there. Something must be to it. We can't just ignore it.

For a while, there was no response, and Sammy worried he might have to go alone. Then his phone buzzed.

Ryan 💬: Okay! But I'll kill you if anything happens to me.

Sammy 💬: What if you die first? 😆

Ryan 💬: My ghost will torment you forever. 🤪

Nana 💬: Ugh, fine! I'll just go with you guys. Someone has to keep you two idiots out of trouble.

They decided to meet at the library first thing the next morning to begin their investigation.

•••

The next day, the sun barely peeked over the horizon as the trio gathered outside the library. The school grounds were eerily quiet, and a light mist hung in the air, adding to the sense of unease that surrounded them.

"Are you sure about this, Sam?" Nana asked, her voice laced with concern as they walked through the dimly lit path crowded with towering bookshelves.

Sammy nodded, his face set with determination. "We need answers, Nana. That book... there's something about it. I can't just ignore it, not after what we saw yesterday."

Ryan tried to muster his usual bravado, but there was a clear edge of unease in his voice. "Yeah, whatever's in that book, it's gotta be important. But let's just make sure we don't get in over our heads, okay?"

The trio moved cautiously through the vast library, the shadows of the towering shelves looming over them. The place was deserted, the perfect setting for a ghost story. They made their way back to the hidden passage they had discovered the day before. The stone door was still slightly ajar, just as they had left it.

Nana turned on her flashlight, casting an eerie glow around the passage. They took a deep breath and carefully proceeded, the sound of their footsteps echoing through the narrow corridor. The air grew colder the further they went, and they could hear the faint sound of whispering winds.

At last, they reached the end of the passage where the ancient book lay on its stone pedestal. Sammy hesitated for a moment before stepping forward. He could feel the book's pull, like it was calling out to him.

"Okay, here goes nothing," Sammy whispered, his heart pounding in his chest.

"It's okay," Nana said softly, though she clung to Ryan's arm in fear.

Taking a deep breath, Sammy reached out and slowly unlocked the book. As soon as he did, a chilling breeze swept through the room, and the strange whispering noises from before filled the air. It was as if the book itself was alive, reacting to their presence.

Ignoring the noises, Sammy opened the book. A sudden force threw them back, and they landed on their butts, stunned. The book floated into the air, its pages fluttering wildly as a bright, blinding light enveloped the room. They shielded their eyes, feeling a strange energy wash over them.

When the light dimmed, they uncovered their eyes to see a girl in ancient clothing standing before them. She appeared to be around their age, with long, flowing hair and piercing eyes that seemed to hold centuries of knowledge. Her presence was both mesmerizing and intimidating.

As the light faded completely, the book fell back onto the pedestal with a loud thud. The girl looked down at the book, sighed with what seemed like relief, and then turned her gaze toward them, chuckling softly.

"Who... who are you?" Nana stammered, her eyes wide with shock.

The girl's eyes narrowed. "Did the Shadow King sent you?," She asked with a cold voice, as if ready to fight.

"Shadow king? Noo... No!," The trio said simultaneously.

The girl smiled, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Okay! I am Astara, once a powerful sorceress. And who might you be, young ones?"

Sammy slowly stood up, his legs trembling slightly as he tried to steady his voice. "I'm Samuel. These are my friends, Nana and Ryan. We found the book and thought..."

"And where is this place?," Astara asked, looking around.

"Oh, it's a cave we found in our school's library. We are students," Sammy said.

Astara's eyes sparkled with amusement as she twirled around, her arms outstretched. "Ah, my liberators! Thank you so much! It's been centuries since I've breathed this fresh air. You have no idea how good it feels to be free again!"

Sammy and his friends exchanged confused looks, trying to process what she was saying.

"How do we know you're not dangerous?" Ryan asked, his voice barely concealing his fear.

Astara chuckled lightly. "If I wanted to harm you, do you think I would have waited this long? You have nothing to fear from me. Besides, I'm just grateful to be out of that book. Even though I'm over 1500 years old, I still have my charm," she said with a playful wink.

"What the hell!" the trio exclaimed in unison, their faces a mix of shock and disbelief.

"Now this is really creepy," Ryan muttered, taking a step back.

"Why were you trapped in the book?" Sammy asked, still trying to wrap his head around everything that was happening. Astara's expression darkened for a moment, her playful demeanor slipping away.

"I was wrongfully condemned by those who feared my power," she explained, her voice tinged with sadness. "They bound me to that book, hoping to keep me hidden away forever. But now, thanks to you, I am free!"

"That sounds terrible," Nana said sympathetically. Then, she turned to her friends with a worried whisper, "Guys, doesn't this mean we're in serious trouble?"

Ryan, still on edge, asked, "How do we trap her back if things go south?"

Astara laughed again, her bright smile returning. "You have nothing to worry about. I am not your enemy. If anything, you freed me, and for that, I am in your debt."

Sammy hesitated but then decided to trust her. "We're glad you're free now," he said cautiously.

Astara stepped forward, her gaze locking onto Sammy's. She took his hand in hers, her touch sending a strange, warm sensation through him. "Thank you, dear Samuel," she said softly. Sammy felt a flutter in his chest, caught off guard by the intensity of her stare.

Nana nudged Ryan with her elbow, a sly smile creeping onto her face. "Looks like someone's got a crush," she whispered, giggling.

Ryan snickered. "Yeah, Sammy the sorceress saver," he joked quietly. Astara noticed their playful banter and smiled knowingly.