Third Person's POV
“Did you ever wonder what lies beyond the shadows?” Aelion murmured, staring blankly at the notebook sprawled across their desk, a kaleidoscope of doodles and half-formed thoughts. The words of the mysterious woman haunted them like an echo bouncing off the walls of an empty room. “It’s not just a door. It’s a gateway.”
The room was dimly lit, curtains drawn tight against the late afternoon sun, casting long shadows that danced with every flicker of movement. Aelion’s pulse quickened, matching the chaotic rhythm of thoughts swirling in their mind. That door—the one that had appeared overnight, the one that led to darkness—was no mere architectural oddity. It was a puzzle, a challenge. And as much as Aelion wanted to dismiss it, the compelling pull of the unknown was irresistible.
They stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor, disrupting the silence. “Sige na, Aelion, focus ka!” they chastised themselves, pacing the room as if the movement could shake loose the answers. Their friends had been worried; they noticed the distant gaze, the way Aelion’s fingers drummed nervously against the table. But how could they explain the heaviness in their chest, the fear that curled around their heart? How could they make their friends understand that the door wasn’t just a door? It was a door into everything they didn’t know about themselves.
With a sigh, Aelion grabbed their bag and stepped out of the cramped room, the familiar scent of old books and dust wrapping around them. “Time to hit the library,” they muttered, shaking off the creeping shadows of doubt. The library, with its towering shelves and hushed whispers, felt like a sanctuary, a place where they could search for answers hidden among the pages of forgotten tomes.
As Aelion stepped into the library, the smell of aged paper and ink enveloped them, a comforting embrace that momentarily eased their worries. Rows of books stretched endlessly, like an ocean of knowledge waiting to be explored. “Whew, ang daming dapat i-research,” they whispered to themselves, glancing around as if to summon inspiration from the depths of the stacks.
“Hey, Aelion! You okay?” Thalia’s cheerful voice broke through their reverie, her dark hair pulled back in a messy bun, framing her animated face. “You look like you just saw a ghost or something.”
“Ugh, you have no idea,” Aelion replied, shaking their head. “I mean, I found this door, and it’s like... it’s not just a door, okay? It’s more like... a portal to—”
“A portal to what? The afterlife?” Thalia teased, raising an eyebrow with a grin. “You know you can’t just go around opening random doors, right? I mean, what if it’s, like, cursed?”
“Cursed or not, I have to know,” Aelion insisted, determination creeping into their voice. “The woman who appeared—she knew something, Thalia. I could feel it. I need to find her, but first, I have to understand what this door even means.”
“Okay, okay, fine!” Thalia relented, her playful demeanor shifting to concern. “What do you need? I’m here for you. Just—let’s not make this a solo adventure, please?”
“Thanks, Thalia,” Aelion said, gratitude warming their chest. “Let’s check out any references to the door or similar occurrences. If we can find out more about it, maybe we can figure out what’s really going on.”
The two of them delved into research, the hours melting away as they unearthed ancient manuscripts, local legends, and forgotten tales of doors that appeared unexpectedly. Aelion was lost in the labyrinth of knowledge, each word resonating within them like a hidden truth waiting to be revealed.
“Look at this!” Thalia exclaimed, flipping through the pages of a dusty tome. “It says here that in some cultures, doors symbolize transitions, or gateways to another realm. It’s like... it represents a choice. And if you cross it, you might never come back!”
“Great, just what I needed to hear,” Aelion replied dryly, a shiver of fear creeping down their spine. “But what if... what if it’s not just symbolic? What if the professor found something?”
Thalia paused, her expression shifting from curiosity to concern. “Aelion, do you really think that could be connected? Like, what if he disappeared because of this door?”
“I can’t shake the feeling that the two are linked,” Aelion admitted, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. “The professor was researching realities, dimensions—things that I can’t even wrap my head around. It feels too coincidental that he just vanished after I found the door.”
As they continued their research, Aelion noticed an increase in the whispers among the library patrons. Conversations quieted whenever they passed, as if Aelion carried an unsettling aura. It only heightened their urgency. “There has to be more people who’ve encountered something like this,” they said, scanning the shelves for books that might provide insight.
“Wait, look at this,” Thalia said, pointing to an old newspaper clipping on the wall, framed and yellowed with age. It detailed the mysterious disappearances of several students over the years, all linked to a similar incident involving unexplained doors and portals. “It’s like there’s a pattern!”
“Okay, that’s creepy,” Aelion replied, squinting at the clipping. “These were all students from our university? Do you think... they could have vanished through the same door?”
“Maybe it’s a warning? A warning to not mess with what we don’t understand?” Thalia suggested, her tone shifting to serious. “Aelion, we have to be careful. This is getting deeper than we thought.”
“I know,” Aelion replied, determination flooding back as they leaned closer to the clipping. “But we have to know the truth. I can’t ignore this. I won’t.”
Later that evening, back in their room, Aelion replayed the day’s discoveries in their mind, feeling a storm of emotions swirl within them. They stood by the window, gazing at the darkening sky. “Sana makahanap ako ng paraan,” they whispered to the shadows gathering outside. “I need to find that woman. I have to uncover the truth behind the door and what happened to the professor.”
Suddenly, a chill coursed through the air, making the hair on the back of their neck stand on end. Aelion turned sharply, eyes scanning the dimly lit corners of their room. The shadows felt thicker, more alive, as if they were waiting for something—or someone.
“What if she knows?” Aelion wondered aloud, feeling a mix of excitement and fear. “What if she can help me unlock whatever is behind that door?”
The whispers of the unknown lingered in the silence, echoing in their mind like a mantra. The urgency swelled, an unrelenting pull that beckoned them toward the darkness. “I have to find her.”
As Aelion prepared for bed, the flicker of a candlelight caught their eye. A strange feeling washed over them—like the room was alive with secrets, and the shadows were hiding something crucial. Just then, their phone buzzed, breaking the tension.
“Aelion! We need to talk,” a text from Felix flashed on the screen, urgent and insistent. “I found something you need to see. It’s about the door.”
Aelion’s heart raced, curiosity intertwining with trepidation. They glanced at the darkened corner of their room where the door stood, a constant reminder of the mystery that had unraveled their reality. “Sige na, it’s time to dive deeper,” they murmured to themselves.
“What else is hidden in the shadows?” They pondered, knowing that the journey had only just begun, and the whispers were growing louder.
As Aelion made their way to meet Felix, they felt an undeniable shift in the atmosphere, a sense of anticipation hanging in the air. Little did they know, the shadows were watching, waiting for the moment when they would finally step beyond the threshold.
As Aelion hurried through the dimly lit streets toward Felix's place, they couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being pulled into something far greater than themselves. The soft glow of streetlights created pools of illumination in the darkness, casting long shadows that seemed to whisper secrets of their own. “Sana, Lord, wag sana ako mangyari ang kakaiba tonight,” Aelion muttered under their breath, the weight of uncertainty heavy on their shoulders.
When they finally reached Felix’s apartment, they knocked twice, anxiety fluttering in their chest. Felix swung open the door, his glasses perched precariously on his nose, eyes wide with excitement. “Aelion! You came! I was starting to think I’d have to break down the door myself!”
“Sorry, traffic and all that,” Aelion replied, forcing a laugh. “What’s this about something you found? You were, like, super cryptic in your text!”
Felix led Aelion inside, and they were immediately enveloped in the comforting clutter of his apartment—books piled high, papers scattered, and the warm scent of something spicy wafting from the kitchen. “I was working on dinner, but this is way more important,” he said, waving his hands dramatically. “Sit, sit! You have to see this.”
“Okay, okay!” Aelion plopped down on the couch, their heart racing as Felix retrieved a folder from under a stack of books. The folder was battered and worn, the edges frayed like the mysteries that awaited them.
“So, I dug up some old reports about students who went missing over the years,” Felix began, his voice hushed as if the shadows themselves might overhear. “And guess what? All of them had strange connections to doors appearing out of nowhere.”
Aelion leaned in closer, intrigued. “That’s... insane! So it’s not just me, then?”
“Exactly! Look at this,” Felix urged, spreading out the papers. The articles detailed a series of mysterious disappearances, each one linked by common threads—a door, a shadow, and a feeling of being watched. “They say that the door appears, and then, poof! The person is gone, like a magic trick gone wrong.”
Aelion’s stomach knotted as they scanned the words. “So, the professor wasn’t the first? There’s a history of this?”
“Yes! And it’s way creepier than I thought. Like, it’s almost as if the door... it calls to people.” Felix’s eyes sparkled with a mix of fear and fascination. “Some claim they heard whispers before vanishing, like something was beckoning them.”
“Whispers...” Aelion echoed, remembering the echoes in their own mind. “I heard something too. I swear.”
Felix leaned back, eyebrows raised. “Dude, you have to be careful! What if it’s, like, trying to lure you in or something?”
Aelion shrugged, trying to brush off the anxiety creeping up their spine. “But I need to know what’s behind that door. If the professor is missing because of it, I can’t just sit here. I have to find out!”
Felix frowned, crossing his arms. “You sound like you’re, like, ready to jump into the abyss. Maybe we should think this through a bit more?”
“Thinking hasn’t gotten us anywhere,” Aelion retorted, a fire igniting within them. “I have to go. I can’t let fear win.”
Felix opened his mouth to argue but then paused, his expression softening. “Okay, okay! I get it. But you know I’m coming with you, right?”
Aelion blinked, momentarily taken aback. “You really want to join this crazy quest?”
“Of course! What kind of friend would I be if I let you face the darkness alone?” Felix replied, determination etching lines into his forehead. “I’d rather die trying than let you go in there by yourself.”
“Fine! Let’s do this,” Aelion agreed, feeling a rush of gratitude. “But first, let’s grab some snacks. Mag-raid tayo sa kitchen mo!”
The two friends rummaged through the kitchen, their laughter echoing against the walls as they tossed chips and soda into a bag. With each crunch and sip, the tension eased, and the weight of the unknown felt slightly lighter. But as the sun dipped below the horizon, Aelion couldn’t shake the gnawing feeling that time was running out.
“Felix, do you think... if we find the door again, we’ll find the professor?” Aelion asked, their voice suddenly serious.
Felix hesitated, the lighthearted atmosphere shifting. “Honestly? I don’t know. It feels like we might be stepping into something way over our heads.”
Aelion nodded, swallowing hard. “I just can’t help but think it’s all connected. If that woman knew something, maybe the professor did too.”
“Then we’ll have to be ready for anything,” Felix said, resolve hardening in his voice. “Just promise me you won’t rush in without a plan.”
“Deal. But we’re still going tonight,” Aelion said firmly. “The whispers won’t stop, and neither will I.”
With their hearts racing and bags packed, Aelion and Felix set out into the night, the cool air tinged with anticipation. The city felt different under the cloak of darkness, as if it held secrets just out of sight. Every corner seemed to loom with possibilities, and Aelion felt the thrill of the chase pulsating through their veins.
As they approached the familiar building where the door resided, Aelion’s pulse quickened, the whispers from earlier returning in a rush. “Felix, can you hear that?”
Felix tilted his head, straining to listen. “All I hear is the wind, Aelion.”
“No, wait! It’s there!” Aelion insisted, the sound rising and falling like a haunting melody. “It’s calling us.”
The building loomed in front of them, its dark façade a stark reminder of the mysteries hidden within. As they entered, the familiar chill crept over Aelion, a sensation of being watched settling heavily on their shoulders.
They made their way to the door, breathless with anticipation and fear. “What if we find something... or someone?” Aelion whispered, their heart racing.
Felix glanced at them, eyes wide. “Then we’ll face it together. I mean, that’s what friends are for, right?”
Aelion chuckled nervously, but their laughter felt fragile against the weight of the impending discovery. “Right. Let’s do this.”
As they reached the door, Aelion hesitated, heart pounding. “Are we really ready for this?”
“Only one way to find out,” Felix replied, his voice steady despite the tremor in his hands.
Aelion took a deep breath, steeling themselves. “Okay, on three. One, two—”
Suddenly, the door creaked open on its own, revealing a darkness that felt alive and beckoning. Aelion’s breath caught in their throat. “Felix! Did you see that?!”
Felix stumbled backward, eyes wide with shock. “Wha—? How did it open?”
Aelion peered into the inky void, a chill running down their spine. “I think... I think it wants us to come in.”
“Are you serious?” Felix exclaimed, voice high with panic. “That’s not reassuring at all!”
Ignoring the rising fear, Aelion stepped closer, feeling the air shift around them. “It’s time to uncover the truth. I have to know!”
As they crossed the threshold, a blinding light erupted from within, forcing Aelion and Felix to shield their eyes. “What the—?!” Aelion gasped, stumbling back as they were enveloped in a whirlwind of colors and sounds, the whispers growing louder, more insistent.
“Hold on!” Felix shouted, grabbing Aelion’s arm as they were pulled further into the unknown.
“Felix, I can’t—!” Aelion cried, feeling their grip slipping.
And then, just as suddenly as it began, the whirlwind halted. They found themselves standing in an unfamiliar landscape, vibrant and surreal, as if they had stepped into a painting.
“What... where are we?” Aelion breathed, taking in the sights around them.
But before Felix could respond, a figure emerged from the shadows—a woman with dark hair cascading down her back, her eyes gleaming with knowledge and secrets. She looked familiar yet unrecognizable, as if she had stepped out of Aelion’s dreams.
“Welcome, Aelion,” the woman said softly, her voice smooth like silk, wrapping around Aelion’s heart. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
Aelion’s breath caught in their throat, an electric pulse of recognition coursing through them. “You—who are you?”
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eye. “I hold the keys to the door’s secrets. But first, you must decide: are you ready to embrace the truth, no matter the cost?”