The black tower projection began to shrink, collapsing inwards. The symbols on the screen faded. The whispers died down, replaced by a low hum, then silence. The rumbling of the house subsided.
The oppressive atmosphere began to dissipate, replaced by a sense of eerie stillness.
Minutes stretched into an eternity. We waited, breathless, in the semi-darkness.
Slowly, cautiously, Professor Lin and the others approached me. The black tower projection was gone. The symbols on my laptop screen were replaced by the familiar Windows desktop. My laptop was still on, battery draining but functional.
The black card in my hand felt inert now, just a piece of cardboard. The burning sensation on my chest subsided, leaving behind a faint warmth.
“Is it… is it over?” Professor Lin whispered, his voice hoarse.
I didn’t know. I felt exhausted, drained, as if I had just run a marathon with my mind. But the fear wasn’t completely gone. It lingered in the corners of the room, in the silence, in the eyes of my terrified companions.