CHAPTER FIVE 

Scarlett’s POV

I woke up the next day feeling restless and determined to end the curse. I couldn't shake off the feeling that finding the symbol was my only hope. I went through my morning routine on autopilot, barely registering anything around me. My mind was consumed with thoughts of the symbol and how to break the curse.

As I sat in class, I tried to focus on the teacher's words, but my thoughts kept drifting. I wondered if anyone else knew about the symbol and the curse. Did they know what I was going through? I felt alone in my quest, but I knew that I had to keep going.

When the final bell rang, I practically sprinted out of the school building. I didn't care if anyone saw me; I had a mission to accomplish. I made my way to the forest, the same path I had taken many times before. As I entered the woods, I felt a sense of familiarity and dread wash over me. But I pushed those feelings aside and focused on my goal.

I walked for what seemed like hours, my eyes scanning the trees around for any sign of the symbol. My heart sank as I realized that I had no idea where to look. How was I supposed to find it in this vast forest? I couldn’t remember the exact spot from the picture again. I was ready to give up when I saw something out of the corner of my eye. I turned towards it, and there it was. The symbol etched into a tree trunk.

My heart raced as I approached the tree. I couldn't believe that I had finally found it. This was my chance to know exactly what this actually mean. I reached out to touch the symbol, but then I hesitated. What if this was a trap? What if touching the symbol only made things worse? I took a deep breath and steeled myself. I had come too far to back down now.

I touched the symbol, and a wave of energy surged through my body. It was like nothing I had ever felt before. I felt my limbs go numb, and I stumbled backward. I closed my eyes and waited for the sensation to pass. When I opened them again, everything was different. The forest was brighter, the colors more vibrant.

As I was still processing everything, I stepped on something, causing me to stop in my tracks. I looked down to see what it was, and my curiosity was piqued when I noticed that the portion of the ground beneath my feet was not covered with fresh grasses like the other sides. I felt a strange urge to investigate, and I bent down to take a closer look.

To my surprise, I found a small hole covered in dry grass. My heart racing with excitement, I dug through the grass with my hands until I uncovered an old-looking box. It was heavy, and I could feel its weight in my hands.

I tried to open the box, but it wouldn't budge. I tried and tried, but it seemed to be stuck shut. Frustrated, I decided to take the box home with me, thinking that I could figure out a way to open it later.

I tucked the box under my arm and started to make my way back to my house. As I walked, I couldn't help but feel like I was being watched. I turned around to look, but no one was there. I shook off the feeling and continued walking, eager to get home and examine the box more closely.

When I finally made it to my house, I set the box down on my desk and took a closer look. It was larger than I had initially thought, about the size of a shoebox, and made of dark, polished wood. The surface was covered in intricate carvings that seemed to tell a story. I ran my fingers over the carvings, trying to make out the patterns.

As I traced the carvings with my fingers, I noticed that they were incredibly detailed. It was as if every inch of the box had been carefully carved by hand. The patterns were so intricate that it was difficult to discern exactly what they depicted, but I could make out what seemed to be various animals and plants. The craftsmanship was stunning, and I couldn't help but wonder who had created such a beautiful object.

I flipped the box over in my hands, examining it from every angle. The sides were smooth and unblemished, and the corners were perfectly squared. There was no sign of wear or tear, and the wood felt almost new to the touch. It was as if the box had been carefully preserved for decades, waiting for someone to discover it.

As I looked at the box more closely, I noticed that there was a small keyhole on the front. It was so small that I almost missed it, but when I saw it, my heart skipped a beat. This was the first clue that there was something inside the box, something that had been kept hidden for a long time.

I examined the keyhole more closely, trying to discern if there was anything unusual about it. It looked like a normal keyhole, but something about it seemed different. Maybe it was just my imagination, but I had a feeling that this was no ordinary box.

As I examined the box, I noticed that there was a keyhole on the front. I felt a spark of hope; maybe I could find the key and unlock the box. But where would I even begin to look?

I couldn't help but wonder what could be inside, and why it was left in my room without any explanation. I tried shaking it, listening for any clues to its contents, but it remained silent.

Frustrated and curious, I knew I had to find a way to break it open. I searched my room for anything that could help, and my eyes landed on my old baseball bat, the one my dad had bought for me when I was younger. It had been years since I last used it, but I felt a sense of comfort seeing it again.

As I picked up the bat, memories flooded my mind. I remembered the joy I felt when my dad first gave it to me, how proud I was to have my very own baseball bat. I couldn't even sleep for two days after receiving it.

Shaking the memories away, I focused on the task at hand. I approached the box, holding the bat tightly in my hands. With a deep breath, I lifted the box and dropped it onto the ground. It made a loud thud, but the lid remained shut.

Without hesitation, I swung the bat at the box with all my might. The sound of the bat connecting with the box echoed in my room, and I swung again and again, each time with more force.

I had been trying to open the box for what felt like hours, but it seemed impenetrable. I had tried everything from prying it open with a screwdriver to hitting it with my shoe, but nothing seemed to work. Frustration started to creep in as I began to feel defeated.

As a last resort, I grabbed the box and threw it at the wall in a fit of annoyance. I screamed as it bounced off the wall and landed on the floor. But then, something unexpected happened - a key fell out of the box.

I was puzzled. Where had the key come from? Had it been inside the box all along? I picked up the box and inspected it closely, but I couldn't find a keyhole anywhere on the box.

That's when I noticed a small compartment underneath the box. I couldn't believe it - the key had been there all along, and I had been wasting my time trying to break the box open.

"Finally, I can see what's inside," I said to myself, relieved.

I could feel my heart racing with excitement. What was inside? What secrets did the box hold?

I sat on my bed, box in my lap, and examined the key. It was old and rusty, but it seemed to fit the lock on the box perfectly. I inserted the key into the lock and turned it, and the lid of the box creaked open.

As the lid creaked open, a cloud of dust billowed out, covering everything in the vicinity. I coughed and waved my hand in front of my face, trying to clear the air. It was obvious that this box hadn't been opened in a very long time.

Once the dust settled, I peered into the box. My eyes widened in amazement as I saw what was inside. There was an old parchment scroll that looked so ancient, it could have been written centuries ago. As I held the ancient scroll in my hands, I couldn't help but marvel at its age and the mysteries it held. The parchment was worn and brittle, and the symbols and writing on it were unlike anything I had ever seen before. I wondered what kind of knowledge or secrets it held, and who had written it.

With a careful touch, I began to unroll the scroll, watching as it unfolded and revealed more of the writing. The symbols were intricate and beautiful, but completely foreign to me. I couldn't even begin to decipher their meaning or origin. Was this a secret code? An ancient spell? The possibilities raced through my mind as I tried to make sense of it all.

I picked up the necklace and held it in my hand, feeling the weight of the metal against my palm. It was an old piece, that much was clear from the worn edges and the way the metal had darkened over time. The crow symbol was the centerpiece of the necklace, its wings outstretched and its beak open in a silent caw. The details were incredibly intricate, with each individual feather and claw carefully etched into the metal. It was a beautiful piece, and yet, there was something ominous about it.

As I turned the necklace over in my hand, I wondered who it had belonged to. Had it been passed down through generations of a powerful family, or had it once been worn by a famous warrior? Or perhaps it had a more sinister past, belonging to a cult or secret society. The possibilities were endless, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of intrigue as I examined the necklace more closely.

I wondered if it had any magical properties, if it was a powerful talisman that could protect its wearer or bring them great fortune. But then again, it could just be a decorative piece with a long and storied history. Either way, there was something about it that drew me in, and I couldn't wait to learn more about it.

I couldn't help but wonder about the origins of these artifacts and the secrets they held. Were they valuable? Were they dangerous? The possibilities were endless, and my mind raced with ideas and theories.

After studying the scroll and necklace for some time, I carefully wrapped the necklace back up and placed it back in the box, then did the same with the scroll. I knew I needed to do more research on these items, and uncover the secrets they held.

As I closed the box, I felt a sense of excitement and anticipation. I knew that these artifacts held something special and potentially life-changing. With a renewed determination, I made a promise to myself that I would delve deeper into their mysteries and unlock their secrets.

For the rest of the day, I was lost in thought, contemplating the possibilities and planning my next steps. I knew that this was just the beginning of a thrilling journey, and I couldn't wait to see where it would lead me.