The Empty Mirror
Chapter 4: Daughter of rot
All that remained for me to do was to continue on my way, in search of a shelter where I could find a glimmer of rest, or at least a glimmer of safety in the midst of the gloomy landscape that loomed over me. The idea of building a shelter vanished completely, a victim of the adverse circumstances that surrounded me, denying me any possibility of respite.
In that seemingly self-absorbed forest, populated by trees with deciduous foliage whose leaves descended like shadowy whispers, I could perceive multiple details that revealed crucial information: they indicated a perpetual autumnal sunset, the hands of the clock seemed to be stuck between 2 and 4 a.m. The topography of the place was revealed through the prominences of the terrain, evidenced by the altitude of the superb birches and the solitary presence of the elms that rose with lofty grandeur. The topography of the place was revealed through the prominences of the terrain, evidenced by the altitude of the superb birch trees and the solitary presence of the elms that towered loftily in that place maddened by the most perverse dreams.
The only life forms that dared to show themselves were rats, squirrels and moles, creatures that seemed to intertwine with the shadows and peep out from the most sinister corners of the place. There were no springs or streams nearby, which lent a bitter aftertaste of abandonment to my situation. These were the primary facts that lay in my hands, but there were other disturbing details…
Because of all these characteristics, I could infer with absolute certainty that I was in a confinement far removed from any vestige of civilisation. There was no sign of human activity, only the tracks left by the tiny rodents that infested this doomed place, a desolate testimony to my isolation in the midst of darkness. Exhaustion loomed overwhelmingly over me, having marched tirelessly for about 40 minutes... Yet, in a fleeting instant, everything was transfigured.
It was then that my tireless search was rewarded. I came upon a castle... a building that looked as if it had been torn from the pages of a sinister work of literature. The building exhaled an aura of nostalgia and unease in equal measure. However, something immediately caught my attention: it was a monument to decadence in all its essence. The relentless passage of time had left its mark on the structure, which now stood lonely and abandoned, consumed by eternity.
The walls, once magnificent and built with stony splendour, lay worn and eroded by the inexorable embrace of nature. It gave the impression that the enclosure had witnessed a forgotten grandeur, but now languished in utter desolation. The surrounding walls had crumbled in many places, revealing the fragility of the ruined castle. The tower stood dangerously leaning, defying the laws of gravity and creating a disturbing unease of instability.
Compared to the dazzling castles of archaic times, this building seemed diminished, destined to dissolve in the shadows of the grandiose fortresses that loomed large over the panorama of the age. However, I must confess my limited experience in the contemplation of fortresses; this was the first one that gave me the opportunity to admire it in person. Erected mainly by the tenacity of sturdy stones, its main entrance was guarded by an imposing and mournful cedar gate, bearing the weight of centuries in its own bosom.
I approached the architectural landmark with unyielding determination, though before reaching sufficient proximity, I opted to divert my course towards the castle's rear domains... There I longed to revel in the meticulous detail of its construction before boldly entering its inner precincts. The sight that unfolded before my eyes was a heartbreaking and desolate picture in equal measure.
In times past, this corner would have been an opulent orchard, an Eden of meticulously crafted beauty. But now, only the ruins of such past splendour remained. Ivy and moss had assaulted the domain, devouring whatever vestiges of life once flourished there. I conjectured how the subtle fragrances of the flowers would have lifted their scent towards the sun, intoxicating the air with their intoxicating fragrance. Yet all that now lay buried in the abyss of oblivion.
A short distance away, in an abandoned corner, I spotted a well that once must have been a source of primeval vitality. However, its water had been extinguished, leaving behind only debris and desolation. The condition in which the castle lay fueled my speculation about its purpose, for it stood in a location distant from civilisation. Had it been erected for some particular purpose? Deep within me, a whispering voice urged me to believe so.
I scanned for signs of animal activity, any vestige of life that might inhabit such a lonely confine. However, I found only the insignificant tracks of rodents, tiny creatures that seemed to be the lonely witnesses of glorious days gone by.
The insatiable quest to satisfy our material needs and the everlasting yearning to enrich our spirit with virtues intertwine in a delicate harmony, delineating the purpose we give to our existence.
However, in that castle, there was no sign of human activity, which fuelled my urge to delve into its enigmatic depths.
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With the utmost diligence and resolve, I approached the ominous door, sensing the oppressive darkness looming behind it. It was imperative that I proceed with extreme caution, safeguarding my integrity and sanity at all times. My trembling fingers brushed the ancient wood, as if the door itself resisted yielding, as if it wished to conceal the unspeakable horror that awaited behind its threshold.
As I slid it with extreme caution, an icy, putrid wind emerged, enveloping me in an ominous symphony of chills that ruffled every fibre of my being. A shiver of terror ran down my spine, as if the air itself carried with it a sinister omen of doom and gloom. My senses were supernaturally heightened, and suddenly the unsettling sensation of being watched by countless unseen eyes came over me, eating away at my sanity and unbalancing my mind.
The interior of the castle was pitch black, an endless abyss that devoured any trace of luminous hope. Its oppressive, gloomy atmosphere clung to my lungs, hindering my breathing as I made my way through ruined halls that seemed to stretch into infinity. The space became an intricate labyrinth of shadows, where hissing whispers and ominous creaks intertwined in a melancholy, macabre symphony.
My faltering footsteps obeyed the call of an enigmatic instinct, as I struggled to keep my mind clear, though my thoughts crumbled like shards of glass. A throbbing headache and blurred vision threatened to drag me into an abyss of disorientation, but my unquenchable thirst for revelation and reckless daring urged me on, even at the expense of my own sanity.
The crumbling ceilings and twisted beams were silent witnesses to the inexorable passage of time that devoured this cursed place. The ground, littered with debris and treacherous trickery, became a testing ground for my staggering daring. With each step, my heartbeat echoed like a deafening drum, filling the air with ominous anticipation. Yet I could not stop, nor allow fear to consume me, for I had come too far to give in to it.
The walls, once festooned with splendour and beauty, now lie stripped and corroded, baring the rawness of the stone that supports them. The shattered windows stand as silent witnesses to a buried past, while their torn curtains dance like shrouds in the sinister waltz of the wind. A veil of dust and decay covers every surface, like a spider's web imprisoning forgotten memories and whispers.
The foyer, a vast desolate space, stood like a desecrated crypt, its grandeur crumbling and its ruins prostrate. On either side stretched stairs that stood like an anguished spine, their appearance reflecting the decay of time and neglect. I contemplated with a mixture of awe and fascination the upward challenge to the upper levels, aware that those steps led to secrets hidden in the maw of darkness.
My footsteps, directionless, echoed in the overwhelming silence as I entered the desolate foyer. The banqueting hall, the former beating heart of the castle, lay in sombre abandon. Echoes of opulent festivities had faded into the darkness, leaving behind a heap of rubble overrun by relentless nature, a mausoleum shrouded in mould. The torn tapestries hung like pitiful souls, while the great shattered table and old, broken chairs seemed to be silent witnesses to a glorious, faded past.
One of the walls, outraged by a gigantic abyss, revealed a macabre vision of the castle's interior. The structure that had once proudly displayed the family crest was now fading into primordial anarchy. A mournful echo of neglect and decay unfurled throughout the room, whispering in ominous tones and threatening to unleash unseen horrors.
On my way, near the entrance to the feasting hall, I found myself before a disturbing and totally misplaced presence: a mirror... Its imposing wingspan was diluted within the fractures of its broken surface, while a veil of dust enveloped it like an ancestral shroud. As I gazed at its tarnished reflection, an icy anguish came over me, as if the fragments reflected a terrifying truth that transcended my own comprehension…
After leaving the room, I made my way discreetly up the steps to the second level. As I passed through the entrance to a chamber, I was confronted with a harrowing scene, a grotesque sight that defied all rationality and comprehension... I immediately stepped back, feeling my heart gallop in sync with the impact of the aberrant vision.
Nearby, however, stood another room. Its appearance was almost identical to the previous one, but it emanated a darkness that chilled my blood. Every fibre of my being bristled at a silent warning, urging me to retreat. Yet, instead of fleeing, I found myself advancing towards its threshold, drawn by an invisible force that defied all logic.
My heart pounded with a mixture of trepidation and fear as I approached the ominous door. My fingers, trembling with anticipation, brushed its wooden surface in a desperate attempt to discover some trace of life. However, only the ethereal silence returned the echo of my own heartbeat.
Still, I ventured a faint "Hello?", waiting for an answer that refused to come. Uncertainty gripped me, and amidst the oppressive darkness there was no sign of any activity or sound. The lack of response led me to consider it all a figment of my imagination, an amalgam of exhaustion, discomfort and the weight of my own fears.
Perhaps there was no one there... perhaps I had just been carried away by the shadows dancing in my mind. With a lump in my throat, I turned the doorknob with extreme caution, allowing a beam of pale moonlight to filter into the room. My eyes anxiously scanned every nook and cranny for any hint of a presence. However, I soon realised that my assumption had been wrong... The castle did not lie abandoned; something inhabited the cloistered place.
On the threshold of the enclosure rested a coffin, stained like jet, forged in wood of high lineage, now worn. The coffin was embellished with silver fittings and ornaments, while the woven silk tapestry, milky white, appeared faded at the corners and torn in the centre. Despite its neat surface, without inscriptions or emblems, the lid was ajar. As I noticed it, my legs wavered, and an invisible callus cut me off from either advancing or retreating. I swallowed my saliva, and at that precise moment, an entity emerged from the mortuary bed: a beautiful lady, with emerald eyes, or rather, I take it back, a man of refined appearance.
My pulse, racing, struggled to discern the nature of this being. Its features faded, its outlines blurred in the gloom. I could not tell if it was indeed a human being or something else, something that defied all reason and assimilation. An oppression came over me, as if the air became thicker, saturated with an ineffable presence.
Fear, loathing, and rejection were entwined in my being, weaving a whirlwind of uncontrollable emotions. Every fibre of my existence yearned to escape, to evade this cursed place. However, a subtle, immaterial force kept me immobilised, unable to turn away from this macabre encounter. At that precise moment, I realised that I had crossed the threshold into a forbidden domain, a shadowy realm not meant to be explored by mortals. A sense of warning and danger enveloped me, but it was too late. I had crossed the boundary and now I had to face the consequences of my insatiable and unsettling longing.