READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 38: Chapter 38: The Shadow in Hawkins
The town of Hawkins lay under an oppressive blanket of gloom. Shadows stretched unnaturally long across the streets, and the air carried an electric charge that prickled the skin. The once-bustling Star court Mall now stood as the epicentre of a silent chaos, its neon lights flickering erratically, casting jagged patterns on the cracked asphalt of the parking lot.
Alexander stepped out from the woods, his presence a stark contrast to the eerie stillness around him. He was cloaked in darkness, his heavy robe swaying with each measured step. The hood concealed his face entirely, leaving only the faintest hint of his silhouette visible. His gloved hands rested at his sides, fingers curled as if preparing to unleash the immense power he carried.
The mall loomed ahead, its glass façade fractured, revealing glimpses of the unnatural storm brewing within. Inside, a pulsating red glow illuminated the Mind Flayer's towering form, its tendrils writhing as it hunted for prey. It was a beast of pure malice, its inky-black mass twisting with each guttural roar that echoed through the shattered halls.
The Encounter
Alexander moved with purpose, his footsteps silent against the concrete. The heavy scent of rot and decay grew stronger as he approached the mall's entrance. Broken glass crunched underfoot as he stepped inside, the sound swallowed by the oppressive atmosphere.
The Mind Flayer's attention snapped toward him, its massive, insect-like head swivelling unnaturally. It hissed, a sound that resonated with rage and hunger. Its crimson-lit tendrils whipped through the air, destroying a display of mannequins with a single swipe.
"You don't belong here," Alexander said, his voice a low, commanding growl that carried through the cavernous space.
The creature roared in response, its glowing eyes narrowing as it launched a tendril directly at him.
In an instant, Alexander raised his hand, murmuring an incantation under his breath. The tendril stopped mid-air, writhing against an invisible barrier before snapping back toward the Mind Flayer.
The Casting of the Curse
Alexander extended both hands, dark energy coalescing around him in tendrils of shadow that swirled like a vortex. His cloak rippled violently as if caught in a storm. His voice deepened, echoing with ancient power as he began to chant:
"Through shadow and flame, through endless despair,
I cast thee down to the void where none dare.
Be bound to the abyss, be chained to the night,
By my will and my wrath, you'll vanish from sight."
The air around him crackled, the energy forming a blackened sigil beneath his feet. The mall trembled, debris falling from the ceiling as the curse took hold.
The Mind Flayer thrashed wildly, its tendrils smashing into walls and pillars as it tried to resist the pull of Alexander's magic. But the spell's grip was unrelenting. Slowly, the beast began to disintegrate, its form unravelling into strands of black mist that were drawn toward the sigil.
The creature let out a final, ear-splitting shriek, its essence imploding in a flash of crimson light. Then, silence.
The Aftermath
The mall was eerily still. Dust hung in the air, illuminated by the faint glow of emergency lights that had somehow survived the chaos. Alexander stood in the center of the destruction, his cloak settling around him as the sigil faded into nothingness.
He lowered his hands, the faint traces of magic dissipating into the cold night air. Slowly, he turned and walked back toward the entrance, his figure shrouded once more in shadow.
Outside, the stars peeked through the dissipating storm clouds, the oppressive energy that had gripped Hawkins now gone. The town would heal, though its people might never know the truth of what had transpired.
Alexander paused at the edge of the woods, casting a final glance toward the mall. A faint smile tugged at his lips, though it was hidden beneath his hood.
"The shadow is gone," he murmured, his voice barely audible. "For now."
With that, he vanished into the darkness, leaving no trace of his presence behind. Only the whispers of a cloaked figure and the destruction of an otherworldly beast remained, etched into the fragile memory of a town that had survived the impossible.