Chapter 9:
1st night: Part eight
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Whoa you guys review quick! Ah well, I was thinking about working on this chapter anyway. I have great news, though. I finally beat the first boss without my game freezing on me! I'm now ahead of the story, so I shouldn't have much trouble describing the backgrounds. It'll make my life sooo much more easier! ^_^ Anyway, Here we go, a longer chapter, just like promised. At least, I think it's longer…
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Lina walked over to the far door. There was a talisman of some sort on it. She tried to open it, but it held fast. She thought for a moment.
"Maybe…" She said a loud, looking at the talisman. "Maybe this talisman is what's holding it closed?" She thought for a moment, maybe her camera could reveal a clue?
Stepping back on the wooden floorboards, Lina brought her camera to her eye, holding her flashlight in her other hand. Aiming carefully, Lina pressed the shutter. Pulling the photo out of the slit, Lina looked it over carefully. Instead of the old brownish paper with symbols drawn on it, there was what looked like a large chest or trunk, and a latter leading up somewhere…
Lina thought for a moment. How odd, a chest and a latter. She hadn't been to a room like that.
Sighing, Lina wandered over to the other door. This one sat beside the tall dresser. The dresser, she now noticed, had several candlesticks standing on it. Lina slowly opened the heavy door. It swung open, revealing an old room with very rotten floorboards.
The room had broken pieces of wood everywhere. The room was scattered with broken furniture. Lina looked around carefully. There, on the floor beside the door, was a piece of old tattered paper. Kneeling down, Lina carefully looked it over.
Give thanks to the Five Gods' protection.
Place the stone, representing the Five Mirrors, in the correct location.
Lina raised an eyebrow while thinking. Carefully, she placed the paper with her other notes and stood up. Looking around once more, Lina noticed another piece of paper on the floor. It wasn't written in Sylphiel's handwriting, or in Xellos'.
Sept. 10, 9:30 AM
We found Metalium's body. He died in a cruel, gruesome manner, just as in old legends. His arms, legs, and neck were all strangled off… just like the religions and rituals the Mikumora—or Seilloon, whatever they called themselves--- family practiced.
There was a photo of Metalium near his remains. In it, it showed ropes tied to his arms, legs, and neck. A sign, that's the only thing I can think of as to what the ropes symbolized.
This may have something to do with the "Rope Shrine Maidens" here. The girls would have ropes tied to their body as well; I just hope that Sylphiel and I are safe. Somehow, however, I know that whatever did this to Xellos is after us as well.
Sept. 10, 12:10 PM
Sylphiel is acting strangely. She keeps mumbling about ropes and mirrors. This place has gotten to her as well. At this rate, her condition is only going to grow worse and worse. I can't blame her for going to pieces, after seeing what happened to Xellos. She must see some peace in her state of insanity--- or whatever it is that she is suffering from--- otherwise she would be here as I am, waiting, praying, and fearing the worst. I fear I may be going close to insanity myself.
Lina suddenly felt a sharp pain in her stomach. It wasn't as though she had been hurt, however, it was a sudden queasiness and fearful feeling. Her brother, what if he had been 'claimed' by the mansion and it's haunting inhabitants? Lina took a few deep breaths and calmed herself down. She couldn't break down now and loose hope. She would find her brother. She had to.
Relaxing slightly, Lina placed the piece of paper in her bag and took one last look around the room. From what she could see she hadn't missed anything. Turning around, she left the broken up room and entered the room filled with candles. She took a quick glance at the sealed door before leaving.
Once again in the long hallway, Lina walked over to the only other door left. It was locked, she knew that, but maybe she could find a way to open it, or maybe pick the lock if she had to. It was then that she got a good look at the lock. It was a special lock, in the form of a number dial. There must be some sort of combination. The numbers started with zero, and worked their way counter-clockwise around the circular tablet ending in nine.
Lina thought for a moment. She must have something that could help. Carefully, she pulled off her bag, wincing slightly at the sharp pain in her arm, and knelt down with it. She went through all her items. There was the stone mirror, all the scraps and articles, and then that scroll. Wait, the scroll! Lifting it out of the bag, Lina looked at it carefully. She hadn't bothered to really look it over before. On it, it had several numbers that were written in red ink instead of black; the numbers 1; 3; 1; and 2. Maybe that was the combination?
Lina gently punched in the numbers. There was a soft clicking noise from the lock. Lina put the scroll away and tried the door. It swung open with ease.
` Lina stepped in and her eyes grew wide. There, standing in front of her just beside a dresser and a latter, was her brother.
"Zel!" Lina began to run, but her foot caught on the edge of something and she tripped. She fell and slammed into the ground, her arm ached and her flashlight rolled away. She let out a small moan as she searched for her flashlight. Finding it, she stood up and shown it upon the area her brother had been.
Lina let out a tiny gasp. It wasn't her brother, but the young girl from before! "It's you!" she managed through her chapped lips. She suddenly felt a surge of anger. "Who are you? What do you want? Where is my brother?" She demanded.
The girl said nothing; she only took a step forwards. Lina's heart began to beat faster and her breath was suddenly shallow. The girl gently brought up a pale finger and tapped Lina's injured arm. Lina felt a rush of cold and then she felt nothing. No pain, not heat or cold, nothing. Lina gently touched her arm and put pressure where it had hurt. But still she felt nothing. The girl stepped back and then pointed to behind the latter.
"This way," She beckoned. Slowly, she began to disappear. Lina stepped forward.
"Wait! Don't go!" But the girl had already disappeared. "Who… who are you?" Lina mumbled. She thought of something that Sylphiel had said. "Could you be… Amelia…?"