Part 4: The Room of Echoes

When the light subsided, Armedus found himself in a circular room, its walls covered in mirrors that reflected him from every angle. The air was unnaturally still, and the faint scent of vanilla lingered, stronger now, almost suffocating.

At the center of the room stood a pedestal, and on it lay an open book, its pages blank except for a single word written in deep red ink:

“Remember.”

Armedus approached the book cautiously, his reflection shifting strangely in the mirrors, their movements slightly delayed. He reached out, his hand trembling as he touched the page.

The room darkened, and the mirrors came alive with images—scenes from a life he didn’t recognize.

He saw himself—or someone who looked like him—standing at the edge of a forest, holding Ellie Ann’s hand. Her smile was radiant, her green eyes full of trust. The image shifted to show the two of them standing before the cabin, the same cabin that had loomed in his vision earlier.

The next scene was darker. Armedus watched as his reflection stood over Ellie Ann, her lifeless body crumpled on the ground. His hands were covered in blood, the silver band glowing on his finger.

“No,” Armedus whispered, shaking his head. “That’s not me. I didn’t—”

The mirrors shattered, the sound piercing and deafening. Armedus fell to his knees, clutching his head as memories that weren’t his own flooded his mind.

“You left her,” the ominous voice from the forest growled, now louder and more present. “You broke the vow, and she paid the price.”

“I don’t even know her!” Armedus shouted, his voice echoing in the shattered space.

The fragments of glass on the ground began to rise, swirling around him like shards of a storm. Then, out of the chaos, a figure emerged—the shadowed being from the cabin. It loomed over him, its formless body flickering like fire.

“She waits for you in the darkness. Finish what you started, Garrett.”

“My name is Armedus!” he roared, the band in his pocket burning against his leg. He pulled it out and held it up, its carvings glowing brighter than ever.

The shadow recoiled, and a new light burst from the silver band, consuming the room.