**Beneath the Surface**

The silence between us was like a living thing, pulsing with unspoken words and unresolved emotions. I could see the concern etched on Theo's face, the furrowed brow and the tight jaw, and I knew that I had to tread carefully. I took a deep breath and tried to choose my words wisely. "Theo, please listen to me," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm fine, really. It was just a stupid accident, and I'm sorry I didn't tell you about it sooner." Theo's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing as he searched for the truth behind my words. "What happened, Elodie?" he asked, his voice low and even. "You can tell me." I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But something in Theo's expression told me that he wouldn't let this go, not until he knew the truth. I took another deep breath and let my eyes drop to the floor, the memories flooding back like a tidal wave. I had been in the library, studying for my upcoming exams, when I had stumbled upon an old book that I had never seen before. It was bound in black leather, with strange symbols etched into the cover, and I had felt an inexplicable pull to open it. As I had flipped through the pages, I had noticed that the book was written in a language I didn't understand, but the illustrations had seemed to leap off the page, drawing me in with their dark beauty. But as I had read on, I had begun to feel a creeping sense of unease. The words had seemed to shift and change on the page, like they were alive, and I had felt a strange energy building inside me. I had tried to close the book, but it had seemed to slam shut of its own accord, and I had stumbled backward, my heart racing. In my panic, I had knocked over a candle, and the flames had set the edge of the book on fire. I had grabbed a nearby fire extinguisher and put out the flames, but not before the book had slipped from my grasp and fallen to the floor. As I had bent to pick it up, I had cut my wrist on a shard of glass, and... I trailed off, my eyes still fixed on the floor. I could feel Theo's gaze on me, burning with intensity. "Elodie?" he prompted, his voice soft but insistent. I took another deep breath and met his eyes, trying to convey the complexity of emotions that had been swirling inside me. "I was just...I was trying to get rid of it," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "The book, I mean. I didn't mean to hurt myself." Theo's expression changed, his concern giving way to shock and then to anger. "You were trying to get rid of it?" he repeated, his voice low and even. "What do you mean?" I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But something in Theo's eyes told me that he would understand, that he would see the truth behind my words. "I think it's cursed," I said, the words tumbling out of me like a confession. "The book, I mean. I feel like it's...it's inside me, Theo. Like it's pulling me down, deeper into the darkness." Theo's face went white, and for a moment, I thought he might faint. But then his eyes locked onto mine, and I saw a spark of determination ignite within them. "We need to tell someone," he said, his voice firm and resolute. "Professor McGonagall, or Dumbledore. They need to know about this book." But I shook my head, feeling a sense of trepidation. "I don't think that's a good idea," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I think we're in over our heads, Theo. I think we need to handle this ourselves." Theo's eyes narrowed, his jaw setting in a determined line. "We're in this together, Elodie," he said. "We'll face it together." And with that, I knew that we were stepping into the unknown, together, with no safety net to catch us if we fell.