81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfrLMec17n
chapter 1 :the whispering grave
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabUFNHABSh
In the dusky embrace of twilight, the air in Maplewood seemed thick with secrets. A subtle chill fluttered through the trees of Crestwood Middle School, as Jung and Lee, two inseparable friends, ambled home after an unusually long day. With backpacks slung over their shoulders, they took a shortcut through the old graveyard that hugged the edge of the schoolyard—a spot they often steered clear of.
“Come on, Jung,” Lee urged, her voice steady despite the shadows that loomed. “It’s just a bunch of stones. We’ll be in and out.”
Jung hesitated, glancing at the wrought iron gate adorned with twisting vines. “I don’t know, Lee. What if we see… something?” His imagination danced with the tales of ghosts and haunted tombs that older kids loved to share.
But Lee, the daredevil of their little duo, pushed him playfully. “Don’t be scared! I’ll protect you from any ghosts! Plus, I heard a story that there’s an old grave that tells your future if you whisper to it.”
With a nervous chuckle, Jung followed her inside. The graveyard was eerily quiet, the only sound was the faint rustle of leaves and the tall grass swaying with the wind. Graves, some crumbling and others immaculately kept, stood like watchful sentinels beneath the silvering sky.
“Look!” Lee pointed at a large, weathered gravestone that stood apart from the others—it was adorned with intricate carvings of swirling winds and flickering flames. “That one looks cool! Let’s go check it out.”
A knot twisted in Jung’s stomach, but he nodded, curiosity propelling him forward. As they approached the stone, a sudden gust whipped through the graveyard, sending a chill down their spines. Lee smirked. “See? It’s just the wind.”
“Yeah, right,” Jung scoffed, though he felt a shiver that had nothing to do with the cool air. They stood in front of the grave, reading the name etched into the surface: “Evelyn Gray—The Seer of Fates.”
“What do you think that means?” Jung asked nervously, glancing over his shoulder.
Lee shrugged. “Only one way to find out.” She leaned close to the stone, whispering in playful tones, “Oh, mighty Evelyn, tell me my future!”
Silence pressed in around them, then—softly at first—a whisper threaded through the night air, almost like a breeze. “The past holds your answers,” it seemed to breathe, echoing to their very bones. Lee’s eyes widened as she straightened up.
“Did you hear that?” Jung asked, breathless.
“Maybe it was just the wind!” Lee replied, though her voice cracked just a bit.
Suddenly, the ground beneath them trembled, and the shadows danced erratically as if they had sprung to life. The tombstone flickered like a candle, revealing outlines of people in old-fashioned clothing—figures of long-lost townsfolk who surrounded them with an aura of both despair and wonder.
Jung’s heart raced, and instinctively, he clutched Lee’s arm. She stood transfixed, watching the spectral figures, who pointed toward the grave and whispered secrets from a distant time. “Do not fear us,” one spirit uttered, its voice echoing like the wind, “but heed the story we tell.”
As they watched, the shadows began to unfold stories of the past—echoes of laughter and sorrow. Lost treasures, hidden fears, and lessons of courage revealed themselves in shimmering lights swirling about the graveyard.
And then, just as abruptly as it had started, the whispers faded and the shadows withdrew, leaving Jung and Lee breathless, their hearts still pounding from the encounter. They shared a speechless glance, feeling the weight of the ancient tales engraved in time.
“Okay, that was just… wow,” Jung finally said, though he was still shivering, partly from fright, partly from exhilaration.
“Yeah,” Lee grinned, still buzzing from the adrenaline. “We’ll just say we met Evelyn Gray, the Seer of Fates! But next time, maybe we should stick to the playground.”
As they navigated back through the graveyard, laughter echoed in the darkening dusk, reverberating through the centuries, as the spirit of adventure called them forth into the maze of their friendship and every story yet to come.
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnVXJvhr8n
81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1clX6sMLqC
