Chapter 5: Veiled Pages, Unbound Shadows

Date: October 28th

The morning light filtered softly into Blackwell’s Apothecary as Lillie sat across from her father, recounting the chilling details of her nightmare. As she described the twisted figure of her mother and the cold, mocking laughter that had echoed through the darkened forest, the room fell silent, each person processing the gravity of her words.

Kirk was the first to speak, his face etched with concern. “If these shadows are reaching you in your dreams, Lillie, we’re dealing with something far more sinister. Shadows typically linger on the edges of perception; they don’t usually breach someone’s mind like this.”

Judith leaned forward, her gaze serious. “This isn’t just any haunting. This feels ... calculated. The way it twisted your mother’s memory and used her voice-there’s a dark intelligence behind this.”

Pam, seated beside Barry, nodded slowly. “Lillie, it sounds like the shadows are feeding on your connection to your mother. If they’re impersonating her, trying to lure you, it means they know exactly where your vulnerabilities lie.”

Barry, who had been silently listening, cleared his throat. “I’ve read about shadows that mimic loved ones, but nothing to this degree. If this thing is using her mother’s memory like a weapon, it’s not just shadows we’re dealing with.”

Joshua’s hand rested protectively on Lillie’s shoulder as he looked to Kirk. “So, what do we do? This can’t go on-there must be a way to understand what’s happening and stop it.”

Kirk exchanged a look with Judith before standing up with a determined expression. “There might be more in our restricted section of the library. We don’t usually open it to anyone, but if this entity is targeting Lillie through her dreams, then we need every bit of knowledge we have.”

The group followed Kirk and Judith to a quiet corner of the library, where Kirk pressed a latch behind a tall shelf. A hidden door creaked open, revealing a small, dimly lit room filled with foreboding, ancient books. A scent of old parchment and incense hung in the air, making the space feel charged with an electric energy.

“These are texts with a darker history,” Kirk explained, stepping into the room. “Accounts of entities powerful enough to manipulate memories and dreams. If there’s any knowledge about what’s haunting Lillie, we’ll find it here.”

Pam exchanged a wary glance with Barry, then moved forward, inspecting the shelves. Barry’s eyes landed on a large, black-bound book labeled The Tome of the Unbound. He lifted it carefully from the shelf and placed it on the table, its cracked leather cover hinting at the secrets within. The group gathered around as he opened it, his finger tracing faded lines of text.

Judith leaned closer, her voice low as she read aloud. “‘The Unbound: dark entities drawn to unfinished emotions, feeding on love, grief, and memories. These beings weave themselves into a person’s dreams, using memories to twist loved ones into weapons.’”

Lillie felt a shiver run down her spine, her fingers instinctively gripping the Black Tourmaline at her neck. “That sounds exactly like what happened in my dream. It used my mom’s face to try to pull me in.”

Judith nodded, her gaze fixed on the pages. “These creatures target deep connections to loved ones, finding a way to distort them. But they don’t just stop at haunting-they aim to manipulate, to ensnare.”

Barry flipped further along in the book, brow furrowed. “It mentions a ritual here, one that can repel or contain these beings by anchoring a spirit’s light with an item tied to them. But...” His voice trailed off as he peered at the faded text. “Parts of the instructions are missing. The specifics of the ritual are practically unreadable.”

A heavy silence settled over the room. Lillie glanced at her father, feeling both hope and despair warring within her. They had a lead, but the missing pieces felt like a roadblock they weren’t prepared for.

Kirk sighed, closing the book with a grim expression. “This ritual is the best lead we have, but it’s incomplete. And these beings ... they’re something beyond our typical experience. If we want to stand a chance of repelling or containing them, we need someone who truly understands these entities.”

Judith took a deep breath, casting a glance at Kirk. “There’s one person who could help us-Dorothy Ashwood. She’s studied demonology for years, especially entities like the Unbound.”

“Dorothy Ashwood?” Pam asked, her eyes widening. “I’ve heard of her. She’s known to be incredibly thorough ... and intense.”

Barry chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Intense is one way of putting it. Dorothy doesn’t do things halfway. And her husband, Jerald, well ... he spends most of his time trying to keep up with her. Poor guy. She barks orders like he’s her assistant, and he just nods and does his best.”

Joshua tightened his grip on Lillie’s shoulder. “If she knows anything that can help, we’ll work with her, quirks and all. We need to understand what we’re up against.”

Nodding, Judith pulled out her phone. “I’ll call her. Dorothy lives a bit out of town, but if I tell her what’s happening, she’ll come. She’s not one to ignore an unusual case, especially one with stakes like this.”

Judith stepped aside to make the call. As she dialed, the group fell silent, each waiting with bated breath. After a few rings, a sharp voice cut through from the other end, loud enough for everyone nearby to hear.

“Judith, this better be worth interrupting my morning,” Dorothy’s voice came through, equal parts impatience and curiosity.

Judith didn’t miss a beat. “Dorothy, we have a situation that fits squarely within your expertise-an Unbound, preying on grief and memory. It’s begun to invade dreams, using a loved one’s memory as a lure.”

There was a pause on the other end, and then Dorothy’s voice sharpened. “An Unbound targeting a grieving family? How long has this been going on?”

“Long enough that it’s affecting the girl’s health and safety,” Judith replied firmly. “We need your guidance, Dorothy. Will you come to Blackwell’s Apothecary?”

There was a sound of shuffling papers, and Dorothy’s tone softened slightly, with a hint of intrigue. “Jerald and I can be there within the hour. Clear some space-I’ll need room to work.”

Judith rolled her eyes. “Remember, Dorothy, this is a family, not just another case study. Keep that in mind.”

Dorothy laughed, a low chuckle that carried through the speaker. “Judith, I’m a professional ... mostly. But I’ll see you soon. And tell Kirk to make sure his protections are up to date.”

With that, she hung up, leaving a heavy silence in her wake. Judith turned back to the group. “They’re on their way. Dorothy’s bringing her own supplies, and knowing her, she’ll expect space to work.”

Kirk exhaled, setting the heavy tome back onto the shelf. “Dorothy doesn’t travel lightly, so we’ll need to clear some space for her. She tends to bring ... quite a bit.”

Barry chuckled, his expression a mixture of respect and exasperation. “That’s putting it mildly. Dorothy is brilliant, but she’s thorough to a fault. And poor Jerald-he’ll be here with his arms full of supplies, doing his best to keep up with her.”

Pam nodded, organizing herbs and charms on a nearby table. “Let’s make sure she has everything she needs to focus on Lillie’s case. We’re asking a lot from her, but we’ll make sure she knows we’re not here for anything beyond that.”

Joshua turned to Lillie, his expression serious but comforting. “Dorothy will have knowledge that can help us, but remember, Lillie, we’re here for you. Whatever Dorothy suggests, we’ll only do what feels right.”

Lillie nodded, feeling the weight of the moment. “I understand, Dad. I want to know what’s happening, but I’ll stay close to you all.”

Judith adjusted some books on the main table, clearing space. “Good. Dorothy has a tendency to get ... absorbed in her work. Jerald might be the one to keep an eye on her, but we’ll stay close, too. If she suggests anything risky, we’ll rein her in.”

Pam laughed softly, muttering under her breath. “If Jerald can’t keep her grounded, then heaven help us. She listens to him but doesn’t make it easy.”

Barry added a few protective stones to the layout on the table. “With everything we’ve learned, it’s clear we’re dealing with a dangerous force. We’ll need all of Dorothy’s insight, but we’ll keep our priorities straight.”

As they finished preparing, Kirk took one last look around the apothecary, feeling the charged energy in the room. “Dorothy’s expertise could be exactly what we need to confront this. But let’s be ready for her-she can be ... intense.”