The Past Haunts

The days blurred together for Lila. She spent her time cleaning the grand halls and serving the family, but her mind never strayed far from the locked room, the mirror, and the mysterious woman who had appeared to her. What had the woman meant by "You must leave this place?" Was it a warning, or something more?

But every time Lila passed Adrian in the hall, she felt an unspoken tension, as if he knew what she had seen—or perhaps feared that she would find out. His cold demeanor never wavered, yet there was something in his eyes that seemed to betray him. A darkness he couldn’t hide, even when he tried.

The manor was unnaturally quiet that evening. Lila had just finished her chores when she saw Adrian leaving his study, the door closing behind him with a soft click. The air between them seemed to crackle with unspoken words, and as he turned down the corridor toward the stairs, Lila found herself following him without thought.

She wasn’t sure why she did it. Maybe it was the unanswered questions that burned in her chest, or maybe it was the undeniable pull that seemed to draw her closer to him despite the warnings.

She followed him through the maze of corridors until he stopped in front of a door she hadn’t seen before. This one wasn’t marked, no brass nameplate or ornate handle. Just a plain wooden door that looked out of place amidst the lavish surroundings.

Adrian paused before the door, his back to her. Lila stopped just a few feet behind, holding her breath.

He didn’t say anything for a long time, and for a moment, Lila wondered if she should turn back. But then, as if sensing her presence, he spoke.

“You shouldn’t be here, Miss Calder.” His voice was quiet but firm, his usual coldness absent.

“I don’t understand,” Lila said, stepping closer. She couldn’t help herself—there was something about this door, about Adrian’s reaction, that tugged at the very core of her being.

Adrian turned to face her, his eyes darker than ever. “You don’t know what you’re asking for.”

Lila met his gaze, refusing to back down. “What’s behind this door?”

He took a step closer, his presence overwhelming. For a moment, Lila felt as though the air itself had thickened, pressing down on her chest.

“It’s not for you to know,” he said, his voice low and strained. “You’re better off never knowing.”

But before she could respond, a faint sound from inside the room reached her ears—soft, almost imperceptible. A faint scraping, like something—or someone—was trying to break free.

Lila’s heart skipped a beat. She reached for the door handle without thinking, but Adrian grabbed her wrist before she could touch it.

“Don’t,” he whispered, his grip tightening around her. His eyes bore into hers with a force that was almost painful.

But despite the warning in his voice, Lila couldn’t stop herself. She turned the handle. The door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit room beyond.

The room was small, cluttered with dust and shadows. In the center, a lone figure sat in a chair, shrouded in darkness. Lila’s heart raced as she stepped closer, the air growing heavier with each passing moment.

And then, she saw her.

The woman from the mirror.

Her eyes were wide, unblinking, fixed on Lila as if she had been waiting for her all along. She was pale, with long black hair cascading around her face, and her clothes were tattered, as though they had been worn for years.

Lila’s breath caught in her throat. The woman spoke, her voice low and eerie.

“You shouldn’t have opened the door,” she whispered, her lips curling into a faint, sad smile.

Lila took a step back, her heart thudding in her chest. “Who are you?”

The woman tilted her head, her smile widening just a fraction. “I was once like you. Lost in this house. Trapped.”

Before Lila could respond, Adrian’s voice rang out from behind her, sharp and commanding.

“Get away from her.”

Lila turned to find Adrian standing in the doorway, his face contorted in fury. His usual coldness was gone, replaced by something darker, more primal.

The woman in the chair chuckled softly, a sound that sent chills down Lila’s spine. “You can’t stop it, Adrian. She knows now. She’s the key.”

Adrian’s eyes flicked to Lila, his expression hardening once more. “You shouldn’t have come here,” he said, his voice dangerously quiet.

Lila’s pulse raced as she glanced between Adrian and the woman. “What do you mean? Who is she?”

Adrian took a step toward her, his expression a mixture of anger and something that almost resembled fear. “Leave. Now.”

The woman’s laughter echoed through the room, her voice growing louder. “You can’t keep her in the dark forever, Adrian. She’ll find out the truth. She’ll break the curse.”

Before Lila could react, Adrian seized her arm, pulling her out of the room and slamming the door shut behind them.

They stood in the dark hallway, breathing heavily. Lila’s mind spun, her thoughts racing. Who was the woman? And what did she mean by "She’s the key"?

Adrian’s grip on her arm loosened, but his gaze remained intense. “Don’t ever go near that room again,” he said, his voice cold once more.

Lila nodded, though the questions swirled in her mind, unanswered.

She didn’t know what had just happened, but she knew one thing for certain: she was in far deeper than she had ever imagined.

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