The Forbidden

In the heart of an ancient forest, there stood an old, dilapidated house. It was said to be cursed, and the villagers whispered that it was forbidden to go near it. But curiosity gnawed at young Tom, who had always been fascinated by the eerie tales of the house. One stormy night, he sneaked into the forest and found the house. The door creaked open, and he stepped inside. The air was thick with dust, and the walls seemed to close in around him. As he explored, he heard faint whispers echoing through the halls. He followed the sound to a hidden room, where an old book lay open on a table. The pages seemed to move on their own, and the whispers grew louder, urging him to read. Tom hesitated, but his curiosity got the better of him. He began to read, and the room suddenly plunged into darkness. When the lights flickered back on, Tom was gone. The villagers found him days later, wandering aimlessly in the forest, his eyes hollow and lifeless. He never spoke again, but they say he still hears the whispers of the forbidden secrets he uncovered.