The images and thoughts flashing throughout Alex's mind had left her
quite depressed, and she feared what else she might find out within these
walls. The last story had been dramatic and a bit foreboding, with the
graphic descriptions of the warrior's actions. But she would not give up
yet, the truth of her grandfather's death had to be obtained.
Alex left the study and went upstairs again. This was still an entire new floor to discover. She went left, and into a moderate-sized bedroom. The walls were without paper or insulation. More portraits hung, disturbing as ever. One was of a woman and a demon lover, with three half- bred children. Another was of a disturbingly peaceful mountain scene, similar to the one in the front hall, but from a different perspective. It seemed to bring forth a glimmer of hope.
A small bathroom connected to it. Inside, Alex saw a note on the sink. It looked very old, but thoroughly brushed off. She read it in whispers to herself.
---Everything that brightened my life now engulfed me in darkness. I fed on the light of truth yet starved on the shadows of lies. I have learned through my lifetime, but know less than a newborn baby---
It was labeled Maximillian Roivas. Who was that? She thought. A long lost uncle, or perhaps one of her ancestors? A date on the paper might solve things. She decided to leave, but noticed something strange about the bathtub. Something white peeked over the rim. She slowly stepped over to it, and she noticed that the water was a dark, thick red. The white glimpse turned out to be fleshy and rotten; the arm of Alex's body, lying in a pool of her own blood.
After a few minutes resuscitation, Alex gathered the courage to go downstairs again, but on the way, saw the painting again in the center of the hallway. Something didn't seem the same. The sky was darker, a bit more night-like. Clouds floated overhead, with the slightest glaze of red at the bottom. The once peaceful villagers now toiled in the fields, and some of the bushes and trees looked a little deader. Two planted sticks stood in the foreground, as if to impale someone.
Alex decided to shrug it off and go back to the kitchen, where she'd remembered the strange symbol, as it had sounded just like the symbol in the story. She pulled out her Gladius blade, and the mysterious coin. She chose the runes and shouted "Antorbok Magermor Chattur'gha". It flashed red, and little sparkles fell off. She pushed it in, and the symbol disappeared letting her open the heavy closet door. It had a shelf of cooking supplies and spices. One jar had an old piece of paper stuck inside it. She opened it up, and sure enough, it was another verse of depressing story from that book.
Going back to the study, she placed the page inside of the book and let it take her away.
Alex left the study and went upstairs again. This was still an entire new floor to discover. She went left, and into a moderate-sized bedroom. The walls were without paper or insulation. More portraits hung, disturbing as ever. One was of a woman and a demon lover, with three half- bred children. Another was of a disturbingly peaceful mountain scene, similar to the one in the front hall, but from a different perspective. It seemed to bring forth a glimmer of hope.
A small bathroom connected to it. Inside, Alex saw a note on the sink. It looked very old, but thoroughly brushed off. She read it in whispers to herself.
---Everything that brightened my life now engulfed me in darkness. I fed on the light of truth yet starved on the shadows of lies. I have learned through my lifetime, but know less than a newborn baby---
It was labeled Maximillian Roivas. Who was that? She thought. A long lost uncle, or perhaps one of her ancestors? A date on the paper might solve things. She decided to leave, but noticed something strange about the bathtub. Something white peeked over the rim. She slowly stepped over to it, and she noticed that the water was a dark, thick red. The white glimpse turned out to be fleshy and rotten; the arm of Alex's body, lying in a pool of her own blood.
After a few minutes resuscitation, Alex gathered the courage to go downstairs again, but on the way, saw the painting again in the center of the hallway. Something didn't seem the same. The sky was darker, a bit more night-like. Clouds floated overhead, with the slightest glaze of red at the bottom. The once peaceful villagers now toiled in the fields, and some of the bushes and trees looked a little deader. Two planted sticks stood in the foreground, as if to impale someone.
Alex decided to shrug it off and go back to the kitchen, where she'd remembered the strange symbol, as it had sounded just like the symbol in the story. She pulled out her Gladius blade, and the mysterious coin. She chose the runes and shouted "Antorbok Magermor Chattur'gha". It flashed red, and little sparkles fell off. She pushed it in, and the symbol disappeared letting her open the heavy closet door. It had a shelf of cooking supplies and spices. One jar had an old piece of paper stuck inside it. She opened it up, and sure enough, it was another verse of depressing story from that book.
Going back to the study, she placed the page inside of the book and let it take her away.