My boyfriend is a nine-tailed fox

Chapter 6: The Abandoned Temple

The temple loomed before them, its weathered stone walls whispering tales of a forgotten time. The air felt heavier here, as though the forest itself held its breath.

“This place is insane,” Max said, craning his neck to take in the broken archways and crumbled pillars. “How has no one ever talked about this before?”

“Probably because anyone smart enough stayed far away,” Claire muttered, sketching the temple’s façade with quick, deliberate strokes. “This thing looks like it could house a ghost—or ten.”

Anita’s fingers brushed over the cool, moss-covered stones as she stepped inside, her heartbeat quickening. Sunlight filtered through cracks in the ceiling, casting shifting patterns on the ground. The air smelled of damp earth and something else—something ancient.

She traced her gaze over intricate carvings etched into the walls. Strange symbols intertwined with depictions of animals—foxes, serpents, and birds—all woven together in a mesmerizing pattern.

“These carvings,” Anita murmured, running her fingers over a fox motif. Its eyes seemed to glint in the dim light, almost alive. “They’re incredible. It’s like they’re trying to tell a story.”

Max peeked over her shoulder. “Maybe it’s just ancient graffiti? Like, ‘Dave was here,’ but with extra flair.”

Claire snorted, but her voice was uneasy. “Or it’s a warning. You know, something along the lines of ‘Enter and die.’”

“Very optimistic,” Anita replied, her tone light but her focus sharp. Something about the carvings stirred a deep sense of familiarity, as if she’d seen them before.

As she ventured further into the main chamber, her foot brushed against a pile of debris. Hidden beneath the rubble was an object that caught her eye—a fox-shaped pendant, small but unmistakably glowing with a faint, golden light.

“What’s that?” Claire asked, stepping closer, her sketch forgotten.

Anita crouched and gently picked up the pendant, its warmth surprising against her skin. The fox’s design was delicate yet intricate, its eyes shimmering as though alive.

“Looks old,” Max said, leaning in. “Probably worth something. Or cursed. Definitely one of the two.”

Anita ignored him, mesmerized by the artifact. The faint glow pulsed, almost in sync with her heartbeat.

“Anita, I don’t think you should touch that,” Claire said, her voice tight with worry.

“It’s... fine,” Anita replied, though she wasn’t entirely sure herself. The pendant felt oddly heavy, as if it carried a weight beyond its size.

Suddenly, the atmosphere in the temple shifted. The faint light seemed to dim, and the carvings on the walls appeared to ripple in the shadows.

“Uh, guys?” Max said, backing toward the entrance. “Is it just me, or did it just get about ten times creepier in here?”

Anita clutched the pendant, her pulse racing. She felt the strange pull again, stronger this time, as though the temple—and the pendant—were linked to something much larger than her history project.

“We should go,” Claire said, grabbing Anita’s arm. “Now.”

Anita hesitated, her gaze lingering on the pendant. It felt important, like it had been waiting for her.

“Okay,” she said finally, tucking the pendant into her pocket.

As they stepped out into the forest, the temple behind them seemed to sigh, as if releasing them—or letting them leave with something it could no longer protect.