Tom Riddle X Reader part 18 The Mansion

Within seconds the white figure with no face in front of Tom turned into thick, white smoke and formed itself into a circle of light then it distanced itself away slowly by brightning parts of the thin, old hallway with no windows as it moved deeper into the abyss.

Tom's wand was ready to use as he followed. Carefully, leisurely he tip toed silenty as his gaze was fixed on the aura on the move. It began to shine brighter than Tom's wand and he was willing to be led by something so unfamiliar. Step by step and then he was there, right at the centre of the mansion that was barely lit due the dazzle of the circle and as he seemed to finally catch up, it disappeared.

Tom found himself drowning inside the darkness once again as his wand could barely light up couple inches. But he did not find it a problem. Unsure of where to go he gave quick glances at the dusty, tall walls. It was obvious he had much more space now. The tip of his wand luminated some of the paintings that were actually alive but unlike usual ones that capture essence and purity, these ones reflected nothing else but horror and pain. Tom stared at one, particular portrait of a posh looking woman with brown hair tied in a bun. The painting was surrounded by fancy, broken frame as the canvas was covered in dust. The dust that tried to cover up the forsaken, silent cries that cried real substances. Tom slowly reached out and with his finger brushed off some of the liquid. He inspected it and came to a conclusion, it was blood. Thick and fresh.

A loud moan coming from his behind had startled him. It was more like a scream due torture but it was quick. Riddle felt an icy breeze on his neck as he breathed out smoke. His heart began to race faster but he clenched onto his wand and turned around instantly. But there was noone there, just pitch black darkness.

Unsure of what this isolated cage was, Tom knew he could not give up as everyone else made it out alive so he didn't think he could possibly fail. He stepped away from the horrific art and trekked further into the unknown. Eventually, he came across a staircase but it was leading down.

His hogwarts, black cloak dragged itself across the stairs.

Suddenly, there were noises coming from Tom's direction, from the hole of shadows and the old, broken and shattered light bulbs lighted on and off around him and it flickered as he was stepping down to his own doom.

At the end of the staircase, he was forced down by a massive, frosty force that iced his hand, he ended up on the ground while moaning silently in pain, he glanced down upon his hand that had left a red mark. It was a hand print.

He got up confused and picked up his wand from the ground. You looked at such event in great horror and you quietly prayed for his safety.

Suddenly, he was drowned in a scream of a woman, it was so loud that Tom had to cover his ears but it did not help. He frowned and bent untill the noise left a sound of one, long beep. He stretched only to see an old woman crouching in the corner, staring at Tom and pleading for help.

He lifted up his wand and pointed at the old female as he approached her.

"Help me" - the woman cried. She had very long, grey hair, her nails were long, her face was filled with wrinkles and her forehead was covered by her ancient, ragged hoodie.

"What are you?" - Tom's shout had silenced the woman "Whatever you are, you're not fooling me" - right as Tom was about to cast a spell, the old hag gave him a mischievous smile as she turned into dust.

Only her voice was echoing in thin air "You have failed, boy. Kindness is a perk that you lack." - she spoke in her cracking voice "Tell me, do you believe in after life?" - she laughed as the walls around her deformed into the ones with no exit, no staircase back.

Still unusually calm, Tom casted a fire spell to get a better view on his surroundings but it only revealed a maze of endless wondering. He knew that in order to get out, he'd have to cast a certain spell that he was told but that meant he'd give up his glory.

Minutes later, he was completely lost in the untold and right as the roars and cries were coming back, louder than ever, he saw a bright, blue form of an animal couple feet in front of him. It was clear someone casted a patronus but it wasn't his.