she suggested.

They climbed upstairs. The attic was dark, dusty, and cold, with cobwebs hanging everywhere. It seemed like no one had set foot here in years. They stood in silence for a moment, taking it all in. Then Rimma, who had wisely brought candles, lit them. Ruslan was impressed by her quick thinking.

They began searching through the attic’s contents. Old chairs, boxes, paintings, and pieces of furniture were scattered all around. Suddenly, Rimma gasped excitedly.

"Look what I found!"

Ruslan hurried over. In front of them stood a large, worn-out chest.

"I wonder what’s inside?" Rimma asked curiously.

"Shall we open it?" she suggested.

Ruslan hesitated for a moment before nodding. A nervous excitement gripped his heart. Inside the chest, they found only two items—a single old book with a worn-out cover and a photo album. Noticing Ruslan’s state, Rimma boldly picked up the album and handed it to him. Ruslan took a shaky breath, his hands trembling.

Slowly, he opened it. He ran his fingers over the photographs, staring at the familiar faces of loved ones who were no longer there. Tears streamed down his cheeks. He could see them now. But it was too late.

Meanwhile, Rimma examined the black book. There was a strange image on its cover—a silhouette of a pyramid. The moment she opened it, something like a bolt of lightning flashed before her eyes. Startled, she screamed, dropped the book, and instinctively rushed toward Ruslan. Even as it lay on the floor, the book seemed to pulse with endless flashes of blinding light. Then, as suddenly as it began, it stopped.

"Ruslan, let’s get out of here. This place is scaring me," Rimma whispered in fear.

"Alright," Ruslan said. "But what was that just now?"

Rimma shook her head, too stunned to answer. Gently moving her aside, Ruslan took a cautious step toward the mysterious book. For a moment, he hesitated. Then, he bent down and picked it up. Nothing happened. He looked at Rimma questioningly, but she was just as puzzled as he was. Back downstairs, they decided to open the eerie book again. But this time, nothing unusual occurred. Everything remained still.

So they continued flipping through the pages. Just in case, Rimma asked Ruslan to hold her hand. Feeling braver, she carefully turned the pages. The text inside was even more mysterious than everything they had just experienced. The book spoke of three unusual stones. When brought together, they could grant any wish—but only one. As Rimma read, Ruslan listened intently, never interrupting. Yet an uneasy feeling of dread crept back into his heart. He couldn’t understand why. Rimma’s question pulled him out of his unsettling thoughts.

"I wonder where this book came from? If it belonged to your mother, why would she have it? The book talks about spells—about a person entering another world by passing through three gates. Beyond them, the magic stones can be found, and if united, they grant a wish. Do you understand any of this?"