students, even Marcus seemed on edge. The journal warned that the shadow's influence grew when the ritual was delayed.Ethan, Marcus, and Lila returned to the chamber, armed with the journal

oose-bind the shadow or let it consume.""Consume what?" Marcus asked."The town," Ethan said, his voice barely a whisper. "It's why everything's falling apart."They fled the chamber, but the shadows followed, seeping into Ethan's dreams that night. He