"You okay, child?" Grim said, materializing at Mari's side as they entered her room.
"Yeah, it didn't hurt that much," she replied, though her eyes wandered around the space with a displaced, detached look.
"This room looks like shit," Grim commented bluntly, floating lazily above her. "My previous master had a massive room filled with luxuries from all around the world."
"Well, this is just a temporary thing," Mari said, glancing at him.
"Oh? Do you have a plan I'm not aware of?" Grim asked, settling beside her as they both stared at the cracked ceiling.
"Yeah," Mari said quietly. Then she turned her head to look at him, her expression calm but resolute."But first… tell me the spell to give them nightmares."
"you truly are a delightful little gremlin of a girl," he muttered dryly. "Fine, if you must know—"
Pages fluttered open, glowing faintly with a soft blue light. A strange symbol pulsed briefly before Grim spoke again, voice lower and more serious
A tier spell - nightmare spell
Effect: Induces vivid, persistent nightmares tailored to the target's subconscious fears.
Duration: Customizable, but longer durations require more magical energy and mental focus.
Warning: Use excessively, and the mind may fracture. Use wisely… or not. I no longer care.
Mari listened silently, her eyes narrowing in thought.
"Perfect," she said, expression unreadable as she leaned back on the creaky mattress. "Just what I needed."
"lets just get our revenge plan started shall we not " Mair said
Grim let out a dry, papery chuckle. "Our? I think you mean your revenge, little child. I'm just the ancient, magical artifact being dragged along for the ride."
Mari rolled onto her side, propping her head up with one hand as a grin tugged at her lips.
"Well, you're here, aren't you? That makes you complicit. And besides—don't pretend you aren't enjoying this."
Grim fluttered in the air, feigning offense. "Enjoying corrupting the youth? What do you take me for?"
Mari raised an eyebrow. "A sentient book who tried to destroy someone's marriage."
"…Fair."
She sat up slowly, her yellow eyes glowing faintly in the dim light of the room. "Let's make them regret ever touching this body.
- - -
James was running.
Branches scratched at his arms. The thick, blackened forest closed in on all sides like a breathing cage. He didn't remember how he got there. One moment, he'd gone to sleep in his bed at the orphanage. The next… this. His legs ached. But he didn't dare stop.
If he stopped, it would catch him.
If it caught him, he wouldn't survive.
KIIIIIIIII—
The shriek cut through the woods again—piercing, unnatural, too loud to be anything human. His breath caught in his throat as his foot slipped in the mud, nearly sending him face-first into the dirt. He stumbled, caught himself, and kept running.
Behind him, it advanced fast, its bone-rattling screech. Its body was hunched and wrong, limbs too long, its skin pulled tight like old leather over twisted muscle. And its face—or what passed for one—was a bone-white deer skull, hollow-eyed and grinning in the way only death could.
James dared a glance back and instantly regretted it.
The monster was closer now, bounding on all fours with impossible speed, its long claws digging into the ground as it ran. It didn't tire. It didn't stumble. It only hunted.
"No no no no—!" he cried, eyes wide with terror.
And then—
The trees shifted. The path twisted like a serpent.
He turned left.
its was wrong choice as his foot caught on a root leading him to fall on the ground
Dirt in his mouth. Blood from his nose. Pain shooting up his leg.
He looked up and the monster was there, looming over him, its antlers casting jagged shadows across his trembling face.
The skull tilted slowly, almost curiously, as if it were wondering which part of him to tear open first.
James opened his mouth to scream—
And then—
He woke up.
Drenched in sweat. Gasping. Heart pounding.
it was morning
James shook violently, his heart still pounding like a drum in his chest.
"What the hell was that…" he muttered, voice trembling as he swung his legs over the bed.
He glanced around the dim room, the shadows suddenly feeling much thicker/
He rubbed his eyes, trying to chase away the lingering dread.
"No way that was just a dream…" he whispered, voice barely audible.
- - -
Grim hovered beside Mari, a faint smirk in his ancient voice. "Well, looking at him and the others, I'd say the nightmare spell worked perfectly."
Mari's eyes gleamed with a cold satisfaction. "Yeah. Let them suffer."
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hello guys i am doing a small time skip in the next chapter