**Chapter 4: The Secrets of Blackwood**

As I read the words on the page, a shiver ran down my spine. The story was an old legend, one that spoke of a family curse that had plagued the Blackwood family for generations. Elijah's eyes never left mine, his gaze burning with intensity as he watched my reaction. "This is it," he whispered, his voice full of excitement. "This is the story I've been searching for." I felt a sense of trepidation as I continued to read, the words on the page seeming to come alive in my mind. The story spoke of a young woman named Emily Blackwood, who had made a pact with a dark and malevolent force to save her family's fortune. But the pact had come at a terrible cost, cursing the family with a legacy of tragedy and misfortune. As I finished reading, Elijah closed the book, his eyes still locked onto mine. "Do you believe it?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. I hesitated, unsure of what to think. The story seemed like a mere legend, but there was something about it that seemed to resonate deep within me. I felt a sense of unease, as if I was being watched by unseen eyes. "I don't know," I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. Elijah nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. "I think it's true," he said, his voice full of conviction. "I think the Blackwood family was cursed, and I think that's why this house is so...off." I shivered, despite the warmth of Elijah's jacket still wrapped around my shoulders. "Let's get out of here," I said, my voice firm. But Elijah hesitated, his eyes scanning the room as if searching for something. "Wait," he said, his voice low and urgent. "I think there's more to this story." He pulled out another book from the shelf, blowing off the dust that had accumulated on its cover. As he opened the book, I saw that it was a diary, written in a handwriting that seemed to dance across the page. "This is Emily Blackwood's diary," Elijah said, his voice full of excitement. "I think it might hold some clues." As I began to read, I felt a sense of unease growing within me. The diary spoke of a dark and malevolent force that had consumed Emily's life, driving her to madness and despair. The entries grew more and more erratic, as if Emily was struggling to maintain her grip on reality. And then, the entries stopped. The last entry was a cryptic message, one that sent shivers down my spine. "It's coming," the message read. "I can feel it. Oh God, it's coming for me." I looked up at Elijah, my eyes locking onto his. "What does it mean?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. Elijah's eyes were grim, his face pale in the flickering candlelight. "I think it means we're not alone in this house," he said, his voice low and urgent. "I think something is coming for us, too."