As we neared my house, the headlights swept across three familiar figures waiting at the gate—Shawn, Maria, and Michael. But it was Maria's face that froze me.
She looked terrified.
Maria—the calmest, most composed among us—was pacing like she was seconds from breaking down.
I barely had time to park before she rushed forward and threw her arms around me, hugging me tighter than she ever had before.
"Thank God you're okay!" she cried, her voice shaking. "Why weren't you picking up your phone?! I was so damn worried!"
I quickly pulled my phone out of my jacket.
21 missed calls from Maria.
5 from Shawn.
Michael stepped in, placing a hand on her shoulder. "She's fine, Maria. I told you, didn't I? She's going to be alright."
But Maria shook her head. Her eyes, still misty, locked onto mine. "No... it wasn't just panic. I had this... feeling. Something horrible. Like you were in real danger."
Before I could ask more, the others arrived—panting, tired, and wide-eyed.
"Let's get inside. Quietly," I whispered. "My parents are asleep."
We tiptoed to my room and locked the door behind us like kids hiding a secret from the world.
Aphrodite quickly filled Shawn, Michael, and Maria in on everything. Shawn scoffed at the mention of spirits and curses, clearly not ready to cross over into that realm of belief. Maria, on the other hand, looked like she'd seen these shadows before.
Jason was already fiddling with his phone, googling. "Apparently this book's got stuff about black magic, true love, sacrifice, and... hope. It's kind of a poetic mess."
I reached into my drawer and pulled the book out. The familiar brown paper cover was still intact, like a fragile memory I couldn't let go of.
Everyone leaned in closer.
"Dude, why'd you keep this brown cover on? The actual cover is sick!" Jason said, flashing his phone with an image of the original. The design was hauntingly beautiful—moons tangled with vines, blood-red roses, an hourglass cracked in half.
"Because it was the last thing Uncle Benjamin gave me," I replied quietly. "I just wanted to protect it… keep it the way he gave it."
"Maybe the cover's hiding something important," Alan suggested, his eyes serious.
I pulled the book closer, holding it like it might disappear.
"No way. I'm not ripping it off."
Tom stepped forward, his voice soft and sweet. "Seri, please. I get it... I really do. But maybe the truth is waiting behind that paper."
I swallowed hard. My fingers trembled as I slowly peeled the cover off, carefully lifting each strip like it was a part of my soul.
That's when I felt it—something stiff wedged between the cover and the book.
An envelope.
I gasped. The room fell into a stunned silence.
"Holy shit," Shawn muttered.
"Is this even real?" Jason whispered.
I stared at the envelope like it might burn through my hands. How had I never noticed this? All this time, and I hadn't even looked.
"What's in there?" Jared asked.
I opened the flap carefully, heart pounding. Two pieces of paper.
"One's a letter," I said, voice shaking.
"Read it," Tom urged, his eyes locked on mine.
I nodded, taking a breath so deep it hurt.
---
"Dear Serena,
I hope—truly hope—you find this letter at the right moment. Not too early. Not too late.
If you're reading this, it means you've learned of the cursed book. That's good. That means the time has come.
Enclosed is a paper filled with riddles and symbols. Hints. This is a treasure hunt, yes, but not a game. Each clue leads to a piece of a map. And when all the pieces come together... you'll find it. The curse book.
I know it sounds insane. I'm sorry. This was the only way to keep the map safe.
You'll need all your strength, all your courage. Trust your friends. Trust your instincts. And above all—
Don't let the darkness get to you first.
Your loving uncle,
Benjamin"
---
Everyone stared at me like I'd just summoned a ghost into the room.
The air felt cold. Heavy. Unspoken words clung to every breath.
And for the first time since the nightmare began, it hit all of us at once.
This is real.
We weren't just kids anymore.
This was a war we hadn't asked for.
And it had already begun.