Free Web NovelChapter 14: Whispers in the Stone
A loud alarm tore through the small apartment with a piercing noise, ripping Gabriel out of a deep sleep.
The sound was low and penetrating, carrying that grim quality only the city’s emergency sirens possessed.
He sat up abruptly, his heart pounding hard against his chest. His bare feet touched the cold floor as he searched blindly for his boots. The alarm kept blaring, echoing through the streets with ominous intent.
Just as he finished putting on the second boot, the sound abruptly cut off, leaving only a lingering echo in his ears and a heavy silence behind.
Gabriel frowned in confusion. He walked toward the door and looked outside.
A chaotic traffic jam stretched across the lower levels. People were pouring out of buildings, some still in sleepwear, others wearing expressions of restrained panic. No one seemed to know what was happening.
He activated his holographic screen with a quick hand gesture. He searched for news, official alerts, and emergency channels. He found nothing.
Not a single statement about it. He refreshed the page several times, but the result remained the same: informational silence.
Only vague speculation in local chats about a "possible technical failure" or a "simulation drill."
Gabriel took a deep breath, trying to calm the knot in his stomach. Those sirens usually meant real civil danger: toxic leaks, structural collapses, or riots. This time, however, it seemed to be nothing.
When the streets slowly began clearing and people returned to their routines with lingering distrust in their eyes, Gabriel finally allowed himself to relax.
He changed into clean, decent clothes and left the apartment. He claimed the credits earned from the in-game exchange, which would allow him to buy more food than usual.
In the end, he bought higher-quality synthetic protein packs and some specially cultivated vegetables. The clerk looked at him with surprise after seeing the amount, but said nothing.
Back home, he ate quietly while the holographic screen floated before him.
He opened the game forums and searched for the mysterious thread about the Abandoned Church. The original post had been written by an anonymous user with no visible account information.
The title was simple: "The Church Nobody Wants to Mention." freewёbnoνel.com
The post detailed how the area offered no real gameplay opportunity. It described encounters with NPCs who avoided talking about the place and could even lower a player’s reputation if they insisted too much.
The author admitted to reaching -20% reputation with the village inhabitants just from asking questions. They mentioned rumors about cult members, sacrifices, and strange events occurring at night.
However, the post concluded that none of it led to any tangible reward.
"Useless area," it stated at the end.
"Only good for wasting time and ruining your reputation."
Gabriel read every word with growing attention. Most of the comments were confirmations: other players shared similar experiences, but none added substantial information.
Some claimed to have seen strange lights. Others talked about whispers that didn’t come from any NPC.
Most simply mocked the story or dismissed it as some hidden lore within the game.
He decided to verify it himself.
The neural synchronization was smooth. The virtual world wrapped around him once again with its scent of damp earth and old wood. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
Gabriel appeared inside the Novice Village. The Jester Mask already rested inside his inventory, ready to be used if necessary.
This time, he preferred moving around with his face uncovered to avoid drawing too much attention in a relatively quiet area.
The first thing he noticed was the NPC behavior. Strangely, very few wandered near the church.
A path that should normally have been busy was almost completely deserted. He mentally noted the detail as he walked.
He tried casually speaking with several villagers... a baker, a seamstress, and an old beggar.
All of them responded evasively. The baker abruptly changed the subject when the church was mentioned. The seamstress turned pale and pretended to be in a hurry. The beggar simply spat on the ground and asked for coins to "forget the question."
The effort proved tedious and fruitless. After nearly half an hour gathering scraps of information that led nowhere, Gabriel decided to investigate personally.
The church stood at the end of a steep street, separated from the rest of the village by a rusted fence and a low stone wall.
Clear signs of abandonment and contempt surrounded it: tall weeds grew wildly, old graffiti covered sections of the wall, and a dark aura seemed to wrap around the entire building.
Gabriel looked both ways. No guards or players were in sight. He jumped over the fence effortlessly, using his enhanced agility.
He landed silently on the damp grass of the front yard.
The church interior remained permanently sealed. The massive reinforced wooden doors did not budge even a millimeter.
He carefully searched the front yard, inspecting every broken statue and stone bench. He found nothing. Through the dirty stained-glass windows, only absolute darkness could be seen.
Still, he mentally noted the strange symbols carved into the outer walls: circles and triangles.
He decided to explore the backyard. Moving stealthily along the wall, he constantly monitored his surroundings.
The wind blew hard through the twisted trees, making the branches creak. The place carried an oppressive atmosphere, as if the game itself were holding its breath.
Then he heard it.
A strange noise. A low whisper, almost like a distant chant, followed by a dull thud against wood. Gabriel held his breath and moved closer with greater caution, trying to locate the source. His foot stepped on a dry branch hidden in the grass.
Crack!
The sound was minimal, but enough.
Immediately afterward, he heard a short, sharp whistle, as though someone had forcefully exhaled. Gabriel froze.
He had accidentally revealed his position.
"Hey! What the hell are you doing there, pervert?" a male voice shouted from the other side of the wall.
Gabriel cursed silently. Beyond the corner of the building, he spotted a scruffy-looking player still pulling up his pants.
The guy had been pissing against the church’s side wall. He was low level, equipped with basic gear and wearing an expression caught between annoyance and surprise.
"What, were you spying on me or something?" the player continued, pointing at him.
"This is my private piss spot, so get lost."
Gabriel remained calm. The mask still wasn’t on, so he kept a neutral expression.
"Relax, man. I was just exploring. Didn’t see you."
The player looked him up and down suspiciously.
"Exploring the abandoned church? You’re one of those weirdos, huh?"
"Everyone knows this place has no quests or anything. Just gives off bad vibes. Some idiots even make up stories about voices."
Gabriel seized the opportunity.
"Voices? What kind of voices?"
The player let out a nervous laugh.
"No idea, brother. Just rumors. I never stay long enough to find out. If you’re looking for something useful, you should search somewhere else."
Gabriel nodded, pretending to be uninterested, but his mind was already racing. The player finished adjusting his clothes and walked away muttering something about "freaks."
Once alone again, Gabriel approached the area where he had heard the earlier sound.
He found nothing concrete, but the oppressive feeling had grown stronger.
He remained there for several minutes, watching and listening. Nothing else happened. Even so, he was certain there was something there.
The mission glowed in his interface, waiting for the next step.
Before leaving, he took mental snapshots of the symbols and surroundings. He would have to return better prepared.
With equipment, information, and perhaps with the Jester Mask on.
This place was not merely an abandoned area, just as Paranoid Dan had claimed.
It could be a gateway to something far greater.
Gabriel jumped back over the fence and blended into the sparse crowd along the main street. The church remained behind him, silent and threatening.
And while the mission continued glowing in his interface, he would not abandon his efforts.
