KATHERINE

So I did it.

Taking a deep breath, I grasped the tassel in my hand and pulled the rope downward.

Track, track, track!

"Ah!" I let out a yelp and jumped back, startled, as an old wooden ladder dropped from the ceiling with a loud clatter.

A cloud of dust immediately engulfed the hallway, making me cough almost to the point of choking. I waved my hand in front of my face, trying to clear the air.

When I finally refocused, I saw the dark hole that had opened above.

It was unsettling, as if unseen eyes might be watching me from the shadows. I lowered my gaze to the ladder now hanging before me. The steps looked worn, termites crawling over the decaying wood.

Yet, something inside me urged me forward, the same instinct that had led me to follow Francis—a powerful magic tugging at my soul.

I decided to take the risk and climb.

With slight disgust, I placed my hands on the wooden supports, lifted my boot, and made sure I wouldn’t fall at the first step.

Slowly, I ascended, uneasy w