Danger Comes at Twilight

by Andi Mason

This is an interactive story. The ducks are trapped in a strange castle, and the protagonist has a chance to help them if you can help her make the right choices. The story is now complete by the way, so check out the Day Three Begins chapter if you've already read the beginning of the story.

34. D3 Repeat the Curse

D3 Repeat the Curse

Mira held the parchment in front of her and began to read the whole curse out loud.

No chains exist to bind you here,

Strong enough are threads of fear.

And with the coming of each night,

With a foe of terror shall you fight.

One of six may leave the gate,

And so leave the rest to their fate.

If in these lines no hope you find,

You've heard them well; be resigned.

But if you would waste time considering what you lack,

Let your thoughts dwell on liberty and youth,

While here you remain in lasting bondage,

Naught can you do but repeat this riddle back.

But as she read it, the red light in the room only seemed to grow stronger and more intense. Mira began to feel like she didn't have a choice but to finish reading the curse, but also that somehow it was now gaining power over her. And she wanted it to stop.

The sorceress laughed as the last lines were read.

"And so you have called down the curse upon yourself. Now let your fears be your torment both day and night!"

As Alastrid pronounced this doom, Mira felt her mind grow numb as she slipped into a listless state. She remained awake, but as the cockatoo fluttered in front of her, she was unable to respond.

"The little mortal loved the power to choose, but that power she will have no more!" the sorceress said triumphantly as she disappeared.

And so Mira remained staring off into space, wishing she could have the power to change things or make a decision, but now she was incapable of acting upon any such thought. Though her gaze appeared blank, inwardly, she felt paralyzed by fear.

This is Ending #1 for our story. Grin remained distracted enough outside for the other ducks to make it through the night, but when they awoke the next day, they found Mira still in her advanced curse state. And they didn't know how to help her.

But if you want to try for a different ending, you still have choices.

Mira doesn't any choices more thanks to the curse. But you can choose to go back to an earlier point in the story, back when Mira still had choices, and choose differently.

Or the story can end here if you want.