The Last Step Chapter 36: Strings of Fate

Kaiser's Perspective:

I took Emma's hand in mine, pulling her down gently to sit beside . She hesitated for a second, her fingers slightly trembling, but she didn't resist. Good. I needed her to stay open—vulnerable. If I wanted answers about the guilds, I had to make sure she trusted enough to talk.

She glanced at our hands, a faint blush dusting her cheeks. "Kaiser, you're really close, you know..." she murmured, voice barely above a whisper. Then, after a pause, she added, "But I like it..."

I smirked, tilting my head slightly as I leaned in just enough to fluster her more. "Oh? You like it? Should I be flattered?" My voice was smooth, teasing, but just enough to make her shift in place.

Emma huffed, turning away, her ears tinted pink. "That's not what I ant," she pouted.

I chuckled. "So you don't like it?"

She stayed quiet, lips pressing together. Caught.

Exactly what I was aiming for.

I tightened my grip on her hand slightly, running my thumb over her knuckles in slow, deliberate motions. "Emma," I said, my tone shifting just a little, enough to make her focus. "There's sothing I wanted to talk to you about."

She blinked, her flustered expression lting into curiosity. "?" She pointed at herself, then stuttered, "W-What's so important, Kaiser?"

I let out a small, almost thoughtful sigh. "It's about Levi's guild. The Celestial Apex."

Her expression tensed at the ntion.

I continued, voice laced with just the right amount of concern. "He spends too much ti there, doesn't he? Instead of spending ti with you."

Her fingers curled slightly in my grasp, and her expression turned a bit sad. "Yes... Kaiser, I know. Before the guild, we used to spend a lot more ti together..."

Bingo.

"You must miss him a lot," I said, my voice low and understanding.

She nodded, looking down. "I do..."

Before she could say more, I moved—wrapping an arm around her back in one smooth motion. She stiffened instantly, caught off guard, her breath hitching. Her warmth pressed against , and I could feel her heart racing.

"K-Kaiser..." she stamred, looking up at with wide, unsure eyes. "W-What are you—"

"Shh." I gave her a comforting squeeze, my voice dipping into sothing softer. "It's okay. I just... needed to do this."

Her lips parted slightly, stunned, but she didn't pull away. Slowly, hesitantly, she leaned into it.

I let the silence hang between us before lowering my voice again. "Actually... I need your help with sothing, Emma."

She blinked up at , her emotions still unsettled. "My help?"

I nodded. "But before I tell you..." I turned slightly, just enough to et her gaze properly. "Promise you'll help, no matter what. You trust , don't you?" My voice carried a weight to it—a quiet, unwavering confidence.

Emma hesitated for just a mont before her lips pressed together in resolve. "...Of course. I trust you."

A slow, warm smile spread across my lips. "Good."

Then, as I glanced to the side, my smile turned just a little sharper.

It was over now.

I could finally start gathering what I needed.

The quiet evening was so peaceful, yet I knew what I needed to ask. She had already given so much trust, so I knew this next step would be easy. At least, that's how I was going to make it feel.

"Emma," I said, my voice casual, light. "You know, I've been wondering. Your guild, Celestial Apex, it's... mysterious. You've told so much about it, but there's still so much I don't understand. Like how they pick their mbers. It's all so selective, right?"

Her eyes shifted away from mine for just a mont, the faintest trace of hesitation on her face. "I... I don't know, Kaiser. I promised Levi—"

I gave her hand a gentle squeeze, just enough to remind her I was here, that I wasn't going anywhere. "Levi's a good guy, I know. But this... it's just between us, okay? You trust , don't you? You can tell . I won't tell anyone."

Her fingers twitched, and I could feel her reluctance in the slight tension that held her body. "But I can't—"

I smiled, my tone turning softer, more coaxing. "It's not about breaking a promise, Emma. It's about trusting soone who cares about you. You said you trust , rember? Don't you want to share what you know? Just a little. I'll keep it safe. I'm not like the others."

She bit her lip, her gaze flickering between and the floor, as if weighing the words in her mind. "I... I don't know, Kaiser. It's not that simple."

I leaned in closer, making sure my voice was just above a whisper. "Of course, it's simple. You've already given a piece of your trust. Now, give just a little more. It's not like I'm asking for everything. Just tell about how they pick their mbers. That can't be too bad, right?"

Emma hesitated for a long ti, but I kept holding her hand, gently brushing my thumb over her skin. The connection between us, so simple, yet so real, made her feel safe—like she could tell everything.

Finally, she spoke, but her voice was quiet, like she wasn't sure whether she wanted to say the words aloud. "Celestial Apex... they only recruit people with extraordinary potential. If you don't make the cut, they... they cast you out. But it's worse than that. Sotis... they silence you. Permanently."

I kept my face neutral, though I felt a small surge of satisfaction. "Silence? What do you an by that?"

She looked away, clearly uncomfortable with the subject, but I wasn't going to let it go. "Emma," I said, my tone gentle but persistent, "you told you trust . And this is important. There's more to this, isn't there? Don't you want to tell the whole story? You don't have to hold back."

Her fingers tightened around mine for a mont, but she still looked conflicted. "I don't know, Kaiser... Many of those who join never leave. They disappear. No one talks about them. So of them... are just erased."

"Erased," I repeated, my voice low and thoughtful. "That sounds a little too extre for a guild, don't you think? But you've seen it happen. You know the truth, Emma. You can't hide it forever. So, why keep it in? Why not share it with soone who cares?"

She bit her lip again, her eyes filled with uncertainty, but the slight nod she gave confird what I already knew—she'd told more than she ant to. She trusted .

I gave her hand another squeeze. "Thank you for telling . You've been more open with than anyone else, and that ans a lot."

"You're doing great, Emma," I said softly, trying to keep my voice steady. "I know it's hard, but you've already been so honest with . I appreciate that. You know there's more to the story, right? There's always more hidden beneath the surface."

Her gaze dropped to our intertwined fingers, and I could feel her struggle. "I... I really shouldn't, Kaiser. This... This is different."

I raised an eyebrow, my tone light but with a hint of playful pressure. "Different how? You said you trust . And I trust you, too. Don't you want to make sure I know everything? I won't judge you. You're just telling what you know. It's not like you're responsible for what they do."

She bit her lip, glancing nervously around as if the walls might be listening, before slowly speaking again. "There's... there's a hidden arena. Deep inside the guild's stronghold. A place where... weaker mbers are forced to fight each other. Survival battles. The winners... they get higher rankings, privileges, things like that." Her voice wavered, and I could see her hesitation, the guilt creeping into her expression.

"That's... brutal," I said, my voice laced with disbelief, though inside, I felt a thrill at hearing this. The kind of power the guild wielded, the gas they played with people's lives... it was starting to make sense now. "And the losers?"

She looked at , her face clouded with sadness. "They're discarded. Or worse. Used for training exercises by the stronger mbers. They just... they vanish. So of them never co back."

I could feel her reluctance, the guilt, and the sadness that rolled off her in waves. She hated this, but she had told anyway. She trusted ... and that trust was a weapon I could use. Guilt, I knew, was a powerful motivator.

I leaned in just slightly, dropping my voice to a more intimate tone. "It must be hard, watching that happen. Knowing what they do to those people, and still staying there, right? You don't have to keep carrying that burden. You don't owe them anything. You've been nothing but honest with . But you don't have to protect them anymore. Not from . Not after all they've done."

Emma's eyes flickered with pain, but she didn't pull away. Her hand tightened in mine, and I could feel her hesitation crumbling beneath the weight of her own emotions.

"Why do you even care so much, Kaiser?" she asked softly, a note of confusion mixed with sothing else in her voice. "Why does it matter to you? You've already heard so much... I shouldn't have said anything."

I smiled, leaning in closer, my breath brushing against her ear. "Because you matter, Emma. And everything about you matters. If this is what you've been holding inside, then you don't need to carry it alone. Let carry it for you."

Her eyes glistened, and I knew I had her, not just in words but in that unspoken, fragile connection we had. The guilt she felt, the sadness, it was all too much for her to keep locked away. And I was here, holding her hand, coaxing her into revealing more, bit by bit.

"I—" She paused, swallowing, before her gaze fell. "I never wanted it to be this way. But... the arena. It's real. It's where they send the weakest. It's where they break them." Her voice dropped, barely above a whisper now. "So don't survive."

I nodded, keeping my expression soft, understanding. "You're not to bla for what they do, Emma. You're strong. You've been strong enough to tell . And that... that takes real courage."

She looked at , eyes full of conflicting emotions. "I don't want to be a part of it anymore, Kaiser. But I can't leave. I... I can't."

I squeezed her hand again, pulling her a little closer, making sure she felt safe in this mont, despite everything. "You don't have to stay in that place forever. You don't have to be part of their cruelty. Not when you have a choice now. And you've got , Emma. I won't let anything happen to you. Not while you're with ."

I lied.

Her breath caught in her throat, and she didn't answer right away. But she didn't need to. The trust was there, blooming in the space between us. And I would use it.

Because I always did.

I watched Emma closely, her expression already tight with guilt, the emotions swirling inside her. The words she had shared so far—each one had been heavy, but this... this one would be the hardest for her to voice.

I could tell. She was scared. And maybe that was exactly why I couldn't stop now. If I let up, she'd close up again. But she had already co so far, and now, it was ti for to push her completely over the edge.

She looked at , eyes filled with so much conflict. "Kaiser, I... I can't say this. I shouldn't have even told you what I did."

I tilted my head, trying to soften my voice. "You know, Emma, I thought we were past that. I thought you trusted . It's hard, I get it. But this? Keeping secrets now after everything we've shared?" I let out a quiet sigh, as if disappointed. "I thought I was the one you could lean on. I guess I was wrong."

She jerked her hand away from mine, her lips trembling. "It's not like that," she whispered. "It's just... this is too much. I don't want you to think badly of ."

I leaned forward, my voice dropping low, soft enough to almost be a secret between us. "Think badly of you? Emma... you're the one holding back from . I'm not the one hiding things. You want to believe you, to trust you, but you're keeping this from ." I smiled just a little, making sure she could see the disappointnt in my eyes. "It's not like I'm asking for everything. But you promised trust, rember? If you can't be honest now... well, what does that say about us?"

Her face twisted with confusion, and she glanced away, clutching at her sleeve, clearly torn. "I—I'm scared, okay? I don't want to lose you, Kaiser."

I leaned in even closer, my voice softer but filled with a subtle, almost imperceptible threat. "And yet you won't trust enough to tell everything, Emma. What does that an? What does it say about us?"

I let the question linger, my gaze never leaving hers as I let the weight of my words settle in. "What happens when you stop trusting , huh? What happens when you shut out like this? What happens when I can't trust you anymore?"

I let the silence stretch painfully long, watching her fidget under the pressure, the guilt building in her eyes like a storm waiting to break. "I'm here for you, Emma. Always have been. But if you can't trust , then why should I stay?" I allowed my words to hit harder, my voice lowering, smooth as silk but razor-sharp beneath the surface.

"You've been telling you're lonely, you want soone to trust... but if you keep holding back, how can I believe you really want here? I've been nothing but honest with you, but you? You're pushing away. I don't know how I could ever look at you the sa way if you can't even be honest with ."

She flinched, her eyes flickering with panic. I could see her resisting, but I was determined to break her down.

I leaned even closer, my breath ghosting over her skin, my hand brushing against her cheek as I whispered, "I won't stay, Emma. Not if you can't trust . I'm not so stranger you can keep secrets from. You've been opening up to , and I've been patient, but now... now you're making wonder if you even want here. If you can't trust with this, maybe I should go."

I paused, letting the words hang heavy, my gaze intense. "You said you wanted to stay. But if you keep hiding from like this, I'll have no choice but to leave."

Her eyes welled up, guilt and regret washing over her, but still, she hesitated. "I don't want to lose you, Kaiser," she said, her voice barely a whisper.

I felt a flicker of victory but didn't let up. "Then why won't you trust ? You said I could have your trust, that I could be the one you lean on. But right now, I'm just a shadow, waiting to be pushed out. I can't keep standing by you if you keep things from . If you won't let in, if you can't be open with , maybe we're not as close as you say."

She trembled under the weight of my words, the guilt surging through her, and her lips parted as if to say sothing, but nothing ca out.

I pressed on, my voice barely a whisper, but it cut deep. "You're pushing away, Emma. You wanted to stay, to be here for you... but now I'm not sure you really an that. If I can't trust you, if you can't be honest with , I'll have no reason to stay."

Her chest tightened, the tears pooling in her eyes, her hand instinctively reaching for mine as if pleading for to stop. "I... I didn't an to... I just—"

I squeezed her hand gently, my voice now more coaxing, but the manipulation still evident in every word. "If you want to stay, if you want to trust you, you need to trust too. Otherwise, I'm afraid I won't have a place here anymore. You've made doubt everything, Emma."

Her shoulders sank, and the last of her resistance crumbled. The words ca out in a strangled whisper, guilt and regret filling every syllable. "I trust you, Kaiser... I just didn't want to hurt you, but... I—I'll tell you everything."

I gave a small, almost imperceptible smile, the power shifting completely into my hands. "That's all I needed to hear."

It was all I needed to hear. She was mine.

"It's... it's about the guild," she whispered, barely audible now. "Those who betray Celestial Apex—they disappear. They're erased." She swallowed hard. "By Zain."

I could feel her sadness, the weight of her words pressing down on her, yet still, she went on. "Anyone who tries to leave the guild... they're hunted down. Killed. Or worse. So are taken for experints. Others are turned into... mindless soldiers. Used for the guild's army. But it's not just death. It's worse. It's... erasure."

Her voice cracked, and I could see the tears building up behind her eyes, but she blinked them away before they could fall.

I didn't speak right away. I let her words linger in the air. And then I leaned in, my breath warm against her skin, my words laced with a soft, dangerous comfort. "You've told so much already, Emma... but there's still more, isn't there?" I murmured, tracing my thumb across her cheek. "More about this Zain... about the erasure. You're still hiding it from . What does it really an? What happens to those who cross him? What happens when soone becos... nothing?"

Her whole body seed to freeze. She was so close to breaking, her chest rising and falling with the pressure of it all. She was almost there—so close. But I wasn't done. I let the silence stretch, urging her, forcing her to face the truth that had been haunting her all along.

She closed her eyes for a long mont, then opened them again, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Zain... he's the one who does it. He... kills them. If you betray Celestial Apex, he kills you." She shuddered as if the words themselves could burn her. "It's like you're erased from everything, they make sure the bodies are not even found."

I smiled softly, the truth seeping into her like poison. She was mine now, all of her fears, all of her trust. I had unraveled her completely.

"You see, Emma," I whispered, my tone filled with sothing darker now, sothing almost predatory, "there's nothing to fear as long as you have . But you need to trust , completely. Not just with the small things... but with everything. You owe it to yourself. To us."

She looked up at , her heart in her eyes. She was shattered, conflicted, but she had given in. She had revealed it all. And in that mont, I knew. I had her.

I've used her completely.

Celia's Perspective:

Aw man, I wonder what Kaiser and Emma are doing right now. It's almost sunset, and they're still not back. Levi's off doing whatever with his guild, leaving here alone. Again. It's not like I mind being by myself... but I kinda do, you know? The house feels... empty. Like, yeah, I could be out there, too, fighting or whatever, but I'm not like them. I'd just end up looking like a fool.

I can't help but smile, though, thinking about Kaiser's promise to take out tomorrow. He always knows how to make feel... special, I guess. I'm looking forward to it. I think maybe that's why I'm so antsy today, waiting for sothing to happen. It's like... waiting for the best part of your day, and it's just not here yet.

I bet Kaiser's with Emma. Maybe they're talking, walking by the lake, maybe just chilling sowhere... I can almost picture them. Well, maybe Emma isn't super comfy around him yet, but Kaiser's got that charm, you know? He's... well, he's Kaiser. I wonder if one day she'll trust him the way I do. She doesn't know him like I do... I an, how could she?

Ugh, I'm thinking too much again. It's just... I don't know. The thought of him with her—spending the day with her, like they're so team or sothing. I don't know why that bugs , but it does. I should be the one with him. I've known him longer, right? It's not fair. I an, I know he cares about . He promised . But still...

I shake my head, trying to get rid of the nagging thought. It's silly. But I keep walking around Levi's place, just aimlessly moving from room to room. I'm not sure what I'm even looking for, but I need sothing to distract from my thoughts. Maybe a book. A good book always makes things better.

That's when I see it—the shelf of books. They look... old. The kind of books you'd find in a dusty library that slls like parchnt and ink. I reach for a random one, but then a voice... a voice? It was more like whispers—like soft, dark murmurs tickling my ears.

"Read it. Beco one with us, our queen."

My hand freezes in mid-air. I don't know why, but those words feel... wrong. I quickly pull my hand back, my heart hamring against my chest. What was that? I shake my head, trying to brush it off, but the voice... the voice is still there. It's like it's in my head, echoing.

What the heck? Am I losing my mind?

I glance at the book again. "Basics Over Curses." I swallow hard. Curses... I've always been a little scared of curses, especially my own. My cursed chains... I can't forget that mont, when they hurt Kaiser. The mory makes my chest tense, my heart aching. I can't... I can't touch it. Not again.

But it's just a book. A stupid book. Why should I be scared?

The voice in my head pushes again, its tone more insistent this ti.

"You can learn more. Learn about curses, how they work. You can be strong. Don't you want to know more?"

I bite my lip, trying to fight the temptation. I shouldn't, I tell myself. I can't. If I read it, what if... what if sothing happens? What if I hurt soone again?

The voice doesn't stop. It's almost soothing now, like a sweet lody trying to pull in.

"You won't hurt anyone. Not if you learn. You can protect him better. You can protect Kaiser."

Kaiser. That na echoes through like a bell, shaking to the core. Protect him. I know I want to. I don't want him to get hurt because of . I never want him to go through what he did because of my curse. But...

The mory flashes again—when my chains lashed out at him, causing him pain. I can still see his face, his eyes... filled with concern and anger. It's like a punch to the gut.

I hurt him... I can't do that again. I just can't.

But then the voice—her voice—cuts through my thoughts. It's different now. It's familiar, like a distant mory I can't quite place.

"You're weak, Celia. You're too weak. Kaiser is out there, fighting, protecting you, and you... you're standing here, afraid of what you could be. Do you really want him to get hurt? Do you want him to leave you?"

The words are like a cold slap to my face.

Leave ?

I freeze. I can't... I can't lose him. Not after everything. Not after he's been there for . Not after everything we've been through.

The voice goes on, twisting the words in my mind like a knife, digging deeper.

"If you don't get stronger, if you don't learn, he will. He'll get hurt protecting you. Or worse—he'll leave you. You'll be alone. Again."

The thought of him leaving , walking away, just... disappearing... makes my chest burn. I can't... I can't let that happen.

The voice then, almost like it's reading my mind, adds, "You don't want to be weak anymore, do you? You want to be strong, to stand by his side, and to never feel like you're holding him back. If you don't read this, if you don't take control... you'll never be enough."

Never be enough. The words crash into like a wave, knocking off balance. They hit harder than anything ever has. And just like that, sothing inside snaps.

I can't lose him. I won't.

I reach for the book. My fingers tremble as I pull it from the shelf, clutching it to my chest. I don't know what I'll find inside. I don't know if this is the right choice. But right now, all I can think about is him—Kaiser. His smile. His eyes. And how much I need to protect him.

I take a deep breath, my heart pounding.

"I'll do it," I whisper to myself, more to convince myself than anything. "I'll do it... for him. To learn more about myself."

The weight of the book feels heavier than I imagined, but I know I can't turn back now. Not after everything that's been said. Not after everything I've felt.

I hesitated for a mont, staring at the old book in my hands. The cover was worn, the title barely visible beneath the layer of dust—Basics Over Curses. Sothing about it felt... wrong. Like I shouldn't be holding it. Like it wasn't ant for soone like .

But I had already picked it up. And well... if a book practically calls out to you, what else are you supposed to do? Ignore it? Yeah, no. That's how people in scary stories get haunted. Not . Nope.

I sat on the floor, legs tucked beneath , and opened the book.

"The Nature of Cursed Magic"

Cursed magic is born from negative emotions—fear, hatred, sorrow, and despair. Unlike Celestial magic, it does not rely on external mana but rather corrupts the user's life force to fuel itself. The stronger the emotions, the more potent the curse.

I paused.

...Okay. That's. Um. Kind of terrifying?

So, basically, cursed magic is like a parasite. Instead of using mana like normal magic, it just eats away at you. And the stronger your bad feelings are, the stronger the curse gets?

I bit my lip, gripping the book tighter.

Then... does that an when I—when my chains hurt Kaiser... it was because of my emotions?

A sharp, awful pain twisted in my chest.

I shook my head and quickly flipped the page.

"The Concept of a Cursebearer"

Those born with cursed magic are called Cursebearers—their magic manifests naturally without learning. A Cursebearer's body is partially resistant to their own curses but not immune. So Cursebearers unknowingly pass their curse onto others, spreading suffering.

I stared at that last sentence for a long ti.

Spreading suffering.

I suddenly felt sick.

So... people like —Cursebears—are basically walking disasters, huh? Great. Fantastic. Just what I wanted to hear.

I groaned, burying my face in my hands.

"Kaiser's never gonna leave , right?" I mumbled. "I an... it's not like I'll curse him more just by being around him, right?"

Silence.

...I don't like that I have to ask that question.

I exhaled sharply and continued reading.

"The Difference Between Celestial Magic & Cursed Magic"

Celestial magic requires spellcasting and external mana control. Cursed magic activates instinctively, needing only intent and emotion. Normal magic weakens with exhaustion, while cursed magic gets stronger when the user is hurt or emotionally unstable.

I blinked.

"...Wait, what?"

That ans—if I'm emotionally unstable, my curses get stronger?!

Oh no. No, no, no. That's not fair. I get emotionally unstable all the ti!

So you're telling every ti I panic, get scared, or—worse—feel sad, my cursed chains just get stronger on their own?!

I flopped onto my back, staring blankly at the ceiling. "I'm dood," I whispered.

Kaiser always tells not to worry too much, but how can I not worry about this?! What if I'm next to him and I get upset and my cursed chains just—just go wild again?! What if—

I squeezed my eyes shut.

No. No, stop. Breathe.

I took a deep breath and turned the page.

"The Forbidden Rule of Curses"

A curse always takes sothing in return—whether it's a part of the caster's body, mind, or soul. The more powerful the curse, the greater the price. No curse can ever be undone completely—it can only be transferred or sealed.

...Oh.

Oh, I really don't like that.

So no matter what, once you're cursed, that's it? You're stuck with it? And if you use your curse too much, it takes sothing from you? Your body, your mind... your soul?!

I gulped.

Have I already lost sothing?

The thought made shiver.

I flipped to the next page.

"The Queen of Curses & Her Legacy"

The Queen of Curses was the strongest Cursebearer in history, wielding curses without limits. Her re presence twisted reality itself, and her magic could wipe entire towns off the map in seconds, reducing them to nothing but dust beneath her feet. No fortress, no army, no mage could withstand her power. Wherever she walked, only ruin remained.

Yet... I had heard she left behind no descendants. Her cursed magic was said to have consud everything—even herself. And my family? My village? No one had cursed magic. Not a single person.

But then I rember... Kiel had used cursed magic during the battle a few days ago. He was a Cursebearer. Did that an—?

I stopped breathing.

Wait.

Wait, wait, wait.

Queen of Curses?! Strongest Cursebearer?! Bloodline?!

Does that an—there's a chance—could I be—

The air grew heavy. A chill crawled up my spine. The room felt colder.

And then, just barely, I heard it.

A voice. Soft. Amused. Familiar.

But I couldn't focus on it. Not yet. My heart was pounding too hard, my mind racing too fast.

No one in my family had cursed energy. Not my parents. Not my grandparents. Not a single person from my village had ever shown signs of it. We were just normal. Just normal except Kiel who moved into the village, not born there.

But then—when I transford. When my hair turned white, my eyes burned red—everything changed. I could feel sothing. Sothing dark. It wrapped around like unseen chains, tightening, pulling. My body was mine, but at the sa ti, it wasn't.

So what if... it had always been there?

What if it wasn't new but sothing buried—sothing waiting?

Cursed magic grows from emotions. That's what the book said. Fear. Hatred. Sorrow. Despair.

I had been scared. I had felt helpless.

And in that mont—when I changed—was it because... it was finally ti? Because it had always been inside , just waiting for the right mont to break free?

My hands curled into fists.

I swallowed hard.

And then, finally, I listened.

To the voice that should not have been there.

"You've barely scratched the surface... but at least you're starting to understand."

My heart nearly jumped out of my chest.

That voice—

It was mine.

But not .

A deeper, older, colder version of . A version of that didn't belong to this mont.

A version of that felt—wrong.

I swallowed hard, fingers gripping the book like a lifeline.

"W-Who...?" My voice was barely above a whisper.

The voice chuckled. "You'll know soon enough."

I shuddered.

This book. This stupid book.

I should close it. I should put it back. I shouldn't be reading this.

But my fingers refused to let go.

Because deep down, I already knew.

I couldn't stop.

Not until I found out the truth.

And for so reason... that terrified .