Voices of the Past
914 Words
The next day, Arin and Rohan visit the local library again, determined to uncover more about The Veil Island. Armed with new clues from the photograph and the whispers, they dive deeper into the archives.
“This isn’t just a coincidence,” Arin says, flipping through another journal. “Everything points back to the island—and the rituals.”
Rohan nods, scanning a stack of newspaper clippings. “And these disappearances… they’re all connected. Every victim mentioned strange lights and voices before vanishing.”
As they piece together the puzzle, the atmosphere grows heavier. Shadows stretch unnaturally across the room, and the air feels colder than it should.
“It’s like the island is watching us,” Rohan mutters, glancing around nervously.
Arin shivers but presses on. “We can’t stop now. If we don’t figure this out, who will?”
Her determination fuels their search. They find references to ancient legends describing an entity tied to The Veil Island—an entity said to feed on fear and despair.
Later that afternoon, they return to Rohan’s family bookstore. Among the dusty shelves, Rohan uncovers an ancient tome bound in leather. Its pages are yellowed with age, filled with cryptic symbols and handwritten notes.
“This might be what we’re looking for,” he says, handing it to Arin.
She flips through the book, her breath catching at familiar runes etched into its margins. One passage stands out—a description of a ritual performed on The Veil Island centuries ago.
“To bind the entity,” she reads aloud, “one must offer a sacrifice. A life for a life, a soul for a soul.”
Rohan looks up sharply. “That’s heavy stuff. Do you think someone tried to summon—or trap—the entity using the radio?”
Arin hesitates. “It makes sense. But why would Grandma leave it behind? And why does it keep calling to me?”
Rohan places a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Whatever it is, we’ll face it together. You’re not alone in this.”
His words bring a flicker of comfort, but Arin knows the truth—this fight is far from over.
That evening, Arin pores over the journal they found earlier. Its pages contain haunting entries written by someone trapped on The Veil Island.
JOURNAL ENTRY (V.O.) : Day 7: The entity grows stronger each night. It whispers promises, but I know it lies. My friends… they’ve changed. Their eyes are empty now.
Arin shivers as she reads further. The entries grow increasingly desperate, culminating in a final plea for help.
“This isn’t just a story,” she whispers to herself. “These people were real.”
Suddenly, the whispers from the radio grow louder, echoing through her mind. She clutches her head, trying to block them out.
“Stop!” she cries, tears streaming down her face. “Just stop!”
Rohan rushes to her side, concern etched on his face. “Arin, are you okay?”
“I don’t know,” she replies, her voice trembling. “It feels like it’s inside my head.”
He pulls her into a tight embrace, offering silent support. For a moment, the world outside fades away, leaving only the two of them against whatever darkness lurks beyond.
Later that night, Arin attempts to sketch the visions she’s been having—the shadowy figures, the glowing runes, and the girl crying for help. Each stroke of her pencil seems to draw the whispers closer, as though the entity feeds off her creativity.
“What if it’s using me?” she wonders aloud, her hands shaking.
Rohan, who stayed late to help, leans over her shoulder. “Using you for what? To reach others? Or to break you?”
“I don’t know,” Arin admits. “But I have to find out. Before it consumes everything I care about.”
They spend hours poring over books, maps, and journals, searching for any clue that might weaken the entity. With each discovery, the stakes grow higher—and the danger becomes more personal.
Arin has another vivid dream that night. She stands on The Veil Island, surrounded by swirling fog. Shadows move just beyond her line of sight, whispering her name.
SHADOWS (WHISPERING) : Join us, Arin. You belong here.
She tries to run, but her feet feel rooted to the ground. A young girl appears in the distance, her face pale and her eyes filled with sorrow.
“Help me, Arin,” the girl pleads, her voice breaking. “Before it’s too late.”
Arin wakes up drenched in sweat, her heart pounding. Across the room, the radio hums softly, its surface glowing faintly with the same symbols she drew earlier.
As Arin approaches the radio, it emits a loud screech. A vision flashes before her eyes—a young girl crying for help, standing on the edge of a cliff overlooking The Veil Island.
“Help me, Arin,” the girl repeats, her voice tinged with desperation.
Arin hesitates, torn between fear and compassion. Can she trust the girl—or is this just another trick orchestrated by the entity?
And then, the radio speaks directly to her, its voice cold and menacing.
“You cannot escape your fate, child. Just like your parents did.”
Arin freezes, her blood running cold. What does the entity mean? Is her family somehow tied to its creation—or its destruction?
- Writer
