The Pink House - The Temple by the River

21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcuDdGIBZT

Chapter 8 – The Temple by the River

“She will turn you into her doorway.”

The pale boy’s words echoed in my mind as we ran through the dark forest.

Navya was breathing heavily beside me.

“Run faster!” she shouted.

Behind us, hundreds of wings flapped through the trees.

The black-eyed pigeons were getting closer.

The moonlight barely reached the forest floor. Branches scratched our faces and roots nearly made us fall.

Then suddenly—

We heard water.

A river.

“The temple must be near!” the pale boy said.

We pushed through a wall of bushes and stopped.

In front of us stood an ancient stone temple.

It was small, old, and covered with vines.

Unlike the pink house and the palace, this place felt peaceful.

The air was warmer.

The whispers in my head became quieter.

Navya looked relieved.

“We made it.”

But the pale boy didn't smile.

“She knows we're here.”

A cold feeling ran through me.

As if to answer him, the forest behind us became silent.

No wings.

No footsteps.

Nothing.

That silence felt worse than the chase.

We carefully entered the temple.

Inside stood a cracked stone statue holding a lamp.

The lamp wasn't lit.

Beneath it were strange symbols carved into the floor.

The pale boy stared at them.

"My grandmother told me about this place," he whispered.

"What does it mean?" Navya asked.

"The lamp must be lit before sunrise."

"And then?" I asked.

"Then the barrier protecting this world will strengthen."

Before anyone could say another word—

A loud crack echoed outside.

Then another.

The temple walls shook.

Dust fell from the ceiling.

Navya grabbed my arm.

"Something is out there."

Slowly, we looked toward the entrance.

A shadow stood outside.

Tall.

Still.

Watching.

The girl.

For the first time, she wasn't in a mirror.

She wasn't in a dream.

She was standing outside the temple.

Her long black hair moved in the wind.

The darkness around her seemed alive.

She slowly lifted one hand.

At once, hundreds of black-eyed pigeons landed around the temple.

They covered the ground, the roof, the trees.

Thousands of black eyes stared at us.

Navya's face turned pale.

"We're trapped."

The girl smiled.

A terrible smile.

Then she spoke.

"Give me the key."

The pale boy stepped backward.

"What key?" I whispered.

The girl pointed directly at me.

My blood turned cold.

"The key is inside you."

The temple shook violently.

The lamp in the statue flickered by itself.

And for a brief second—

I saw something glowing beneath my skin.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FYFAiStqQ

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