The Secret of the Locked Door

Previously

…Sarah’s skepticism was a welcome counterbalance, a reminder that the world wasn't entirely made of whispers and shadows. But as Alex’s fingers brushed against the cool metal of the key, a faint, almost imperceptible hum vibrated through their palm. It was a vibration that felt both familiar and deeply unsettling, a quiet reminder that some mysteries, no matter how pragmatically approached, held a power all their own. The path to the door was still shrouded in mist, but now, at least, Alex wasn't walking it entirely alone. The weight on their shoulders hadn't lifted, but it felt a little more manageable, a little less like a burden and a little more like a shared quest.