The Forgotten Library

In the heart of an ancient city, hidden beneath layers of history, Marcus discovered a secret. He was a historian who had stumbled upon a crumbling map in an old archive, one that hinted at a lost library buried deep underground. The map bore a single warning: “Knowledge comes at a cost.”

Driven by his insatiable curiosity, Marcus followed the map through narrow alleys and forgotten tunnels. At last, he came upon a massive stone door marked with strange symbols. With a deep breath, he pushed it open.

The room was vast, filled with towering shelves of books, scrolls, and artifacts glowing faintly under the eerie blue light of floating orbs. Marcus marveled at the untouched knowledge before him, but something felt… wrong. The air was heavy, the silence oppressive.

As he reached for a book, a whisper broke the quiet: “Leave.” Marcus spun around, but no one was there. He ignored the warning and opened the book. Instantly, the symbols on the pages burned into his mind, flooding him with images of events long past and yet to come.

The whispers grew louder, forming a deafening chorus: “You have taken what is not yours!” The orbs dimmed, and shadows began creeping from the corners, solidifying into figures with hollow eyes.

Marcus tried to run, but the door had vanished, leaving him trapped. He realized the warning wasn’t a suggestion—it was a curse. Now, he was part of the library’s collection, his story bound within its endless shelves.