You approach the rickety side table, the moth-eaten cloth draped over it fluttering slightly with each deep inhale. Upon it, you spot a faded and crinkled note. It feels as if generations of knowledge are trapped beneath the seemingly delicate surface, yet the intensity of its message is palpable. A finger brushed against the ink, and your heart shudders with the sharp taste of iron that lingers on your tongue as if you'd bitten down too hard.
The note appears to be encrypted, its message a tantalizing enigma. As you squint to make sense of the obscure symbols, you feel a prickle of exhilaration in your scalp, mixed with an icy dread that trails down your spine. You notice the symbols are arranged symmetrically, like an encrypted message hidden in a mirror's reflection. Years of devouring mystery books and dabbling in riddles pay off, and your fingers tremble with anticipation.
Your friends gather around you, their once-frantic breathing slowing down ever so slightly. You can feel their combined heartbeats, a rhythmic pounding that resonates in your own chest. The air becomes thick with tension, as if imbued with the expectation that this note could hold the very secret to your collective end. With each passing second, the familiar scent of your friends mingles with the metallic ink fragrance and the mustiness that clings to everything.
You pull in a deep breath, filling your lungs with the stale air, as if it contains the secret key needed to break the code. Drawing upon every ounce of knowledge you possess, an idea finally emerges. You share your insights, fingers trembling as you each take turns attempting to decipher the riddled message.
Ascertaining the method by which to unravel the code, you're filled with a profound sense of wonder and unease. A clue materializes, and it feels as if the walls of the room tighten like the coil of a constricting snake.
The encoded message on the note reads: 'Mirror does not lie, look beyond shadows'. With bated breath, you decide how to proceed.