Chapter 6 The Price of Knowing

Ethan's dreams were haunted by the chamber, the smoke, the voice. He woke up to find the vial glowing brighter, its liquid almost alive. He hid it in his closet, afraid to touch it. At school, he was distracted, barely hearing Marcus and Lila argue about what to do next."We should burn the journal," Marcus said. "This is bad news."Lila shook her head. "We need to understand it. The journal says the shadow is tied to the town's survival. If we ignore it, something worse might happen."Ethan stayed quiet.

He didn't want to be a "guardian," but the journal felt personal, like it was written for him. After school, he went to the library alone, digging through old newspapers. He found an article from 1975 about a fire at the mill. Several people died, including a woman named Eleanor Carter. The official story called it an accident, but Ethan knew better.He called his dad. "Why didn't you tell me Eleanor died in a fire?"Tom's voice was strained. "I didn't want you digging into it. She was trying to stop something, Ethan. She thought she could fix it. She was wrong."Ethan's anger flared. "You knew and let me find that box?""I didn't know it was there!" Tom snapped. "Just... stay out of it."Ethan hung up, more determined than ever. He met Marcus and Lila at the diner, where they pieced together the journal's warnings. The shadow was a force, not evil but chaotic, and the Circle had kept it dormant through rituals. Eleanor had been the last guardian, and her death left the shadow unbound."The ritual's due again," Lila said. "And it needs someone new."Ethan's throat tightened. "It's me, isn't it?"Neither answered, but their silence was enough.