Max didn't speak for a long time.
They walked back through the forest, but everything felt different now. The same trees, the same path… but it no longer felt safe.
Because of the book.
Because of what they saw.
And because of Binu.
"Give it to me."
Max finally stopped walking and turned to her.
Binu held the book tightly against her chest.
"No."
Max frowned. "Binu, this is not a joke anymore. That thing—whatever it was—it was guarding this. That means this is dangerous."
"I know," she said quietly.
"Then why are you holding it like it's something precious?"
Binu didn't answer.
Max stepped closer. "You're scaring me."
That made her look at him.
For a second… she looked normal again.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
Max softened a little. "Then give it to me."
But Binu shook her head.
"I can't explain it," she said. "But it feels like… if I let it go, something bad will happen."
Max let out a frustrated breath. "Something bad is already happening!"
They continued walking.
The village wasn't far now.
But the silence returned again.
Not the same as before.
This silence felt… watchful.
Max looked around. "Do you feel that?"
Binu nodded slowly. "Yes."
"Like something is following us."
They both stopped.
No sound.
No movement.
Then—
A whisper.
Soft.
Right behind them.
"Give… it… back…"
Max spun around.
Nothing.
"Did you hear that?!" he said.
Binu's grip on the book tightened. "Yes."
Her voice trembled now.
The whisper came again.
Closer.
"Give… it… back…"
The air grew colder.
Max stepped in front of Binu. "Stay behind me."
Even though he had no idea what he was protecting her from.
The ground… moved.
Not like shaking.
Like something underneath was crawling.
Max stepped back. "No… no no…"
Then it broke through.
A hand.
Thin. Long. Not human.
It pushed out of the soil, followed by another… and another…
Until the creature pulled itself out.
This one was different.
Smaller than the one in the ruin.
But more disturbing.
Its face looked almost human… almost.
Eyes too wide.
Mouth too stretched.
And its neck… twisted at an impossible angle.
Binu gasped. "What is happening…"
The creature stared at her.
Not at Max.
At her.
At the book.
"Give… it… back…" it whispered again.
Max grabbed a fallen branch from the ground.
"Stay back!" he shouted.
The creature tilted its head.
Then suddenly—
It rushed forward.
Fast.
Too fast.
Max swung the branch.
It hit the creature's arm with a crack.
But the creature didn't stop.
It grabbed Max's shoulder.
Hard.
Max screamed in pain. "Binu run!"
But Binu didn't run.
She just stood there.
Watching.
Something changed.
Her expression…
Went blank.
Calm.
Too calm.
"Stop," she said softly.
The creature froze.
Max froze too.
"What…?"
The creature slowly turned its head toward Binu.
Like it was… listening.
Binu stepped forward.
"Leave him," she said.
The creature's grip loosened.
Max fell to the ground, breathing heavily.
The creature backed away.
Slowly.
Like it was afraid.
Not of Max.
Of Binu.
Max looked up at her, confused and terrified.
"How did you do that?"
Binu looked at her own hand.
The one holding the book.
"I… don't know."
But deep inside…
She did.
The creature disappeared back into the ground.
Just like that.
No sound.
No trace.
Only silence remained.
Max stood up slowly, holding his shoulder.
"You saw that, right? That thing… it listened to you."
Binu nodded.
Max's voice shook. "That's not normal, Binu."
"I know."
"No… you don't understand," Max said. "This is worse than before. That thing wasn't attacking you… it was obeying you."
Binu looked scared now.
"Max… what if… what if the book is doing this?"
Max stared at it.
"I don't think it's just the book," he said quietly.
"I think it's changing you."
They reached the edge of the village as the sun began to set.
The sky turned orange.
Everything looked peaceful.
Normal.
But it felt like a lie.
Don't tell anyone," Binu said suddenly.
Max looked at her. "What? Why not?"
"They won't understand," she said. "They'll take the book… or worse."
Max crossed his arms. "And you think keeping it is a good idea?"
"I don't know," she admitted. "But I feel like… it's important."
Max shook his head. "Important things don't come with monsters chasing you."
They stopped near Binu's house.
A small, quiet place at the end of the village.
"Just… trust me," she said.
Max looked at her for a long moment.
Then sighed.
"I don't like this," he said. "Not even a little."
"Me neither."
"But I'm not leaving you alone with that thing."
Binu gave a weak smile. "Thank you."
That night…
Max couldn't sleep.
Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the creatures.
The eyes.
The twisted bodies.
And Binu… standing there… controlling them.
Meanwhile, in her room…
Binu sat on the floor.
The book in front of her.
It was open.
She didn't remember opening it.
The pages were filled with strange symbols.
But somehow…
She understood them.
Her lips moved slowly.
Reading.
Whispering.
The air in the room grew colder.
The shadows on the wall… started to move.
Outside her window…
Something stood in the darkness.
Watching her.
Smiling.
And far away…
Deep in the forest ruin…
The first creature opened all its eyes.
Awake.
Alert.
Because the book…
Was no longer sleeping.