Chapter 7
The Key's Hum
As Daniel approaches the stone door, the key in his pocket grows warm, emitting a low, resonant hum. The air around the door shimmers, hinting at what lies beyond.
The forest floor, usually a tapestry of damp leaves and fallen pine needles, felt strangely muted under my boots. Each step seemed to absorb sound, leaving a peculiar stillness in its wake. It was a stillness that pressed in, thick and expectant, different from the usual hushed reverence of the woods. Mateo walked beside me, his usual easy stride a little more measured, his eyes darting from the dense undergrowth to the canopy of ancient trees that clawed at the sky. He’d stopped questioning my obsession with finding this damn door, at least outwardly. The worried frown lines etched deeper into his forehead were testament enough to his unease.
“Are you sure about this, Dani?” he finally asked, his voice barely a whisper, as if afraid to break the fragile silence. “We’ve been walking for hours, and the sun’s starting to dip. This place gives me the creeps.”
I didn't answer immediately. My hand, almost unconsciously, drifted to my pocket, where the key rested. It was no longer