A quiet rumble seemed to reverberate through the chapel as he pushed one of the stones, which gave way with an eeri

, offering her a momentary glance that

a step toward the opening, her hand gripping the cold edge of the stone. The staircase stretched downward, its steps narrow and

ion unreadable. "You don't have to do this, Sophi

back at him, her voice steady. "I've already turned back, Ethan. The moment I stepped onto this ca

o deepen with every passing second. The dim light from the chapel barely illumin

y, pushing himself off the ston

descended the staircase first, the heavy silence pressing down on her with e

shake the feeling that they were being watched. At the bottom of the stairs, they emerged into a vast underground chamber. It was

d cobwebs, while others were clearly well-kept, as if someone had maintained them despite the passage of time. There were ornate chests, bookshelves l

started, her voice ba

ver. "This is what the university doesn't want you to know. It's not just about a tre

eyes widening in disbelie

massive, intricately carved door, its surface covered in strange symbols and arcane markings. "

ht despite the heaviness of the air

r, as if he were contemplating something. Finally, he spoke, his voice soft. "It's a place where

built to conceal. The architect, Edward Caldwell, was a man obsessed with preserving

acing. "What do you mean b

corrupts, Sophie. The kind of power that turns a university into something much darker. Caldwell's design wasn't about creating an institution o

e chamber around her. Every corner of the room seemed to whisper with

her voice shaking slightly. "You kn

able. "Because I'm part of it now, Sophie

aying. She had entered Eastwick looking for answers, but now she realized that th

Sophie asked, her voice

mixture of guilt and resigna

e symbols on the surface seemed to pulse faintly, as if responding to his touch.

mmering in the distance-a pedestal, crowned with a strange object. Her heart beat faster, her curiosit

h the silence. Sophie's eyes were locked on the pedestal, but

d, his voice tinged with

, turning tow

there too-fear. "Because it's not just a relic. It's a key. And

object now glowing faintly in the darkness. The temptation to touch it, to understa

sked, her voice tremb

"Trust me. Some things