We stopped and asked Eclipse. We fell silent as the breeze became audible in the stillness. Jax spoke up: "We could create an eclipse using two satellites flying in a precise formation. One blocks the sun perfectly for the other, creating a 'man-made' total eclipse on demand so scientists can blah blah blah...."
I realized then that the butler had been standing at the door for an hour. When I turned to look at him, he looked puzzled.
"Sir," he said softly, "remember that 'collide' can also mean 'to meet.'"
I called him over, and he explained further. "Sir, the Moon often rises just an hour or two before dawn. As the Sun begins to meet the horizon, the Moon is still high enough to be seen in the sky. Because there are two distinct light sources—the brightening eastern horizon and the reflecting Moon—objects on Earth technically cast two shadows at once."
I patted his shoulder and said, "Thank you."
On the other side of the room, Jax had been chatting with Ruby, but the conversation had turned into an argument. I stepped in and explained what the butler had just told me. They both stopped mid-fight, looking stunned, and then went over to shake the butler's hand in appreciation.
We finally knew how to get there, but the location itself remained a mystery.
After lunch, Ruby mentioned she was going out to run an errand. Jax and I stayed behind, chatting about his work and his stories. As evening approached, the moon rose, and a sudden gust of wind swept through the study, throwing everything into disarray.The paper almost flew past the balcony, but I caught it just in time.
As I held the paper, the moonlight revealed a hidden second layer of writing. We were both stunned. Just then, the heavy iron front door rumbled as it opened. Ruby stepped out of the car and walked in, appearing visibly tense. We called out to her to meet us immediately. When Ruby arrived, she told us that Grandma Thalassa had fallen ill. She then shared a chilling warning: "Theo, you shouldn't leave." Those were the exact words Grandma had used.
"How did it happen? And what exactly happened?" Theo asked.Ruby stated calmly, "The doctor said it's just because she is getting older, and she's okay now."
Jax stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. "Then why are you so tense, Ruby?"
Ruby looked away. "No... it's nothing."
We showed Ruby the other writtings. I traced the faint, glowing ink on the hidden layer of the paper. He reads the five lines aloud.
I sit at the top of the wooden spine,
Behind a door of oak and pine.
My keys are lost, my lips are sealed,
Only in dust is my truth revealed.
I am the room where secrets sleep.
Ruby looked up at the ceiling, towards the dark hallway above them. "The 'wooden spine'... She means the grand staircase. The room at the very top."
. "The old study," Ruby realized, her voice trembling.
I asked her, "What happened there?"
Ruby swallowed hard and replied, "There is an abandoned study in the manor. When we first cleaned it, there was blood and strange objects scattered everywhere. It wasn't the ritual area, but we heard voices coming from the walls. After we finished cleaning, we locked it. Now, we only open it once a month."
Jax stopped us from going any further. "It's night," he said firmly. "We should return to your room."
As we turned to leave, Ruby spoke up. "Not today. For the next two days, the curse won't disturb you."
I asked her why, and she replied quietly, "Because we performed a sacrifice ritual today. That is why I went out. You are safe—but only for forty-eight hours."
"What did you sacrifice?" I asked.
"A deer," she replied simply. She began to climb the stairs, and soon we were standing in front of the locked study. A sudden chill swept over us, and a cold wind brushed past as we reached for the doorknob.
"Move," I said, pushing the door open. The room was thick with dust. As the three of us stepped inside, I began to hear it—a loud, distorted mumbling. The sound grew so sharp it felt like it was piercing my eardrums. Everything went black as I fainted.