Chapter 0002

My mother-in-law jumped in fright when I screamed. It was the first time I had ever seen my plump mother-in-law move with such insane speed and agility.

I felt the slap just as Jaden shouted, "Mom!"

I was stunned as I held my hand to my swollen cheek. My mother-in-law carefully picked up the four incense sticks from the ground and inspected them thoroughly, making sure none were broken.

Once she was satisfied, she sighed in relief and placed the incense sticks into the holder.

"Nadine," she called, turning to face me.

For a moment, I thought I was imagining it. Her pupils looked thin and elongated, almost murky and yellowish. She stared at me like a cat.

"Be careful next time," she warned. "Her Grace will get angry."

The weight of her words lingered, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.

The next day, I couldn't focus at work. I searched online for different kinds of figurines and idols, from orthodox religions to more obscure ones, but nothing looked familiar. None resembled the strange figurine my mother-in-law had brought home.

Out of sorts, I decided not to drive that day and took the subway instead.

At the subway station, an old blind man sat at a small stall with signs reading "Hexagram Reading" and "Water Divination." The red signs felt eerie as I read them, so I quickened my steps when passing by.

Suddenly, the blind man called out to me. "There is something dark around you, Miss. You might come into trouble soon."

If it had been any other day, I would have brushed him off as a scam artist. Today, his words felt like a lifeline.

Before I could respond, a man with a crew-cut burst out laughing. "This is the modern era! Who would believe in superstitions like that?"

Crew-cut grabbed my arm and pulled me closer. "Listen, young lady. You've been staring at a computer for too long. Just relax and give your head a good massage."

His suggestion seemed more logical, and I hesitated.

The blind man pressed a small, scented pouch into my hands. "Put this on you. Don't throw it away!"

It felt like it was meant to happen, like a sign.

In times of extreme fear, we tend to cling to anything that might offer comfort. So, I hung the maroon-colored pouch around my neck, making sure to tuck it deep inside my thermal wear to hide it.

That night, I slept soundly without dreaming for the first time in weeks. When I woke up the next day, my mind felt bright and clear.

It had been a long time since I felt that way. I was convinced it was the pouch that had helped.

Curious, I pulled the scented pouch from under my clothes. My heart sank when I saw the right corner of it was burned. The ugly black mark seemed to be telling me something—something I hadn't understood the night before.

It felt ominous, like something bad had happened.

I walked out like a zombie. My mother-in-law served me breakfast, and I kissed Jaden goodbye before leaving the house.

However, I didn't go to work. After making sure Jaden had left, I pulled out my phone with trembling hands and called an Uber. I was going to meet the old blind man at the subway station.

It was still early, and I expected to wait for a long time. To my surprise, he was sitting in the exact spot as yesterday. He greeted me with a warm smile as though I were an old friend.

"You're here," he said.

"S… Sir?" I waved my hand in front of him, making sure he was really blind.

"Stop waving your hand at me, young lady. I'm really blind," he said bluntly, and I blushed in embarrassment.

I sat down in front of him. "What did you mean when you said I might come into trouble soon?"

He explained that I carried the scent of Lady Nefarious.

"Lady Nefarious is an evil deity worshipped by the Morro Tribe. You need to offer her what she demands, and she'll make your wish come true."

A chill ran down my spine, but I was still stubborn. "You're not trying to scam me out of my money, are you?"

He didn't seem offended. Instead, he asked, "Let me ask you this. How many incense sticks were used to pray to Lady Nefarious?"

I was caught off guard by the question. It reminded me of the night I saw Jaden praying, and I thought carefully before answering.

"F… Four?"

"That's right!" he exclaimed, clapping his hands. "When have you ever seen anyone pray to a deity with four incense sticks? Three is for deities, but four is for… evil spirits!"

I don't remember how I left the blind man's stall. The freezing wind howled around me as I clutched the protection talisman he gave me. His words replayed in my mind over and over.

"The Morro Tribe believes the full moon is the source of power," he had said. "They pray to the moon when it's full. The freshest raw meat is offered to Lady Nefarious in prayer."

Tonight was the full moon.

I set my alarm for 3 a.m. and lay in bed. When the alarm rang, I reached out to touch the spot next to me.

No one was there.