The wind howled through the twisted trees as Dryzza stepped out of the car, the old mansion looming before her like a decaying specter. The moonlight struggled to pierce the heavy clouds, casting eerie shadows that danced across the crumbling facade. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and rotting wood, a stench that seemed to seep from the very walls of Takumi’s abandoned estate. Beside her, Sai shivered, his eyes wide with a mix of fear and anticipation, while Esmeralda, ever the stoic professional, moved ahead with the quiet confidence of someone accustomed to confronting the dark unknown. Their mission tonight was crucial: they had come to the mansion specifically to search for the grimoire mentioned by the man in Dryzza's dream that could help them—however it will. The urgency of their task was compounded by the strange destruction outside—the garden had been widely torn apart by an unknown force from beneath the ground, a troubling sign that something malevol
"I want you to do something for me and I'd you did it well, with no flaws, I'll get you away from here; you and your child will live a normal life free from curses... Demons." The weight of Kim's words from that fateful day lingered heavily on Jess's mind, the day when Scott's life teetered on the brink of death. Although Scott is still in a fragile state, Jess clings to the hope that he will pull through. The memory of that conversation plays on a loop in her mind, like a haunting melody she can't escape. "Are you suggesting a t-trade?" Jess had stammered, her voice betraying her fear and uncertainty. "Honey, trade is when you're given an option to choose from," Kim had replied with a chilling calmness, her words cutting deeper than Jess had anticipated. Kim's offer wasn't merely an exchange; it was an ultimatum, a demand cloaked in the guise of salvation. Though Kim hadn't approached her since that day, the mere thought of her was enough to send shivers down Jess's spine, remin
"You heartless bitch," Jess whispered faintly, trying to suppress the wave of anger that threatened to surge through her. She couldn't afford to feel such emotions, not with the baby. But Kim’s laughter, soft and mocking, pierced the silence. "Oh, don’t look at me like that," she taunted. "I wanted to meet sooner, but I figured your little mind would need time to process with everything going on. Consider it... my kindness." “Kindness, my ass!” Jess hissed through clenched teeth, her voice low but seething with barely contained fury. “Your kind could never understand something so human, and I pity you for it.” Her words hung in the air, venomous and sharp, meant to pierce through Kim’s pretense. It wasn’t just the insult; it was the truth Jess wanted to wield like a weapon, a blade aimed at the heart of the twisted figure before her. But she knew, deep down, that such a sentiment was lost on someone like Kim, whose cruelty ran so deep it had long since masked any capacity for e
"Home sweet home," Jess murmured softly, her eyes sweeping over the estate with a mixture of nostalgia and wariness. Her gaze was sharp and judging, taking in every detail of the place that once held her childhood. The estate loomed before her, unchanged and yet foreign, as though it was frozen in time but distorted by years of absence and untold stories.She stood behind a slender, ancient tree that had been a silent witness to her youth. It was the same tree that had offered her shade during long, lazy afternoons when life had been simpler, untouched by the darkness that would later creep in. Jess swallowed hard as images flashed before her eyes—memories of a time when everything was still normal, or at least, as it should have been. The echoes of her past stirred unbidden in the cool air, filling her mind with fragments of a life long buried.The rusty gate, once a barrier to the outside world, now seemed pristine to Jess, as if time had reversed itself. She felt as though she ha
[A Preceding Chapter of Chapter 58]The investigation room, though bright and spacious, felt suffocating to Jess. She sat stiffly, the weight of her pregnancy making her uncomfortable in the cold, metal chair. Almost ready to give birth, she found herself trapped in more ways than one. Despite the room's ample space, it felt narrow and confining. Across from her sat Zach, who despite his calm demeanor, was determined to unravel the mysteries he has been detangling ever since. Zach leaned forward slightly, his eyes fixed on Jess, probing for a reaction. "We already know you grew up at the Takahashi manor," he said, his voice measured but persistent. Jess, she didn't feel surprised at all. After all, she knew this very day would come and for some reason, she's almost thankful she has been caught. Yet, getting her to talk felt like trying to coax words out of a stone; no matter how hard they pressed, Jess remained silent, like a dam holding back a torrent of truth that could fl
[Continuation of Chapter 63] Dryzza followed the young Takumi as he led her through the grand corridors of the estate, his small figure walking confidently ahead of her. Despite his youth, there was something unnerving about his demeanor—something that made her skin crawl. His movements were precise, calculated, as though he knew more than a child should. She could tell from the way his gaze flickered toward her, sharp and suspicious, that he wasn’t entirely convinced of her presence. Yet, strangely, he didn’t call for the servants. He didn’t question her any further. It was almost as if he was toying with her, testing her, and she hated the feeling. As they turned a corner, Dryzza nearly stumbled when a figure emerged from the shadows—a woman in the attire of a servant. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with surprise, and Dryzza’s heart skipped a beat as she recognized her. “Joline,” she whispered under her breath, her voice trembling with disbelief. The servant’s eyes darted b
Make this longer and sound more intellectual. Dryzza was never the type to be fazed easily. Years of working as a detective had sharpened her instincts, enabling her to read people and situations with clarity. Even so, she felt the weight of suspicion thick in the air the moment she teleported into such a time. Standing across from her was Joline— still Joline. “I’m sorry for being late,” Dryzza managed to say, her voice steady. She didn’t waver under the intensity of Joline’s gaze. Joline’s eyes remained sharp, and though her expression remained neutral, Dryzza could sense the unease radiating from her. There was no point in pressing too hard at this stage. A calculated approach was always best in such situations. “It seems like we have a little misunderstanding,” Dryzza added cautiously, choosing her words carefully to diffuse any brewing tension. It was a delicate dance. She wasn’t here to cause conflict, but the atmosphere made it clear that her mere presence was already an
In the hushed stillness of the cemetery, Samantha whispered softly to the gravestones before her, her voice barely above a murmur. "Hey, mom, dad. It’s been a while," she began, her breath hitching as she leaned down to place a bouquet of tulips, a feeble offering to the memory of her estranged parents. As she traced the letters of their names etched in stone, Samantha's fingers brushed away the accumulated dust, revealing the cold permanence of their absence. "Daniel Brown, Josefina Brown," she recited, her eyes flickering to the identification card hanging from her white coat. "Samantha Shane Andersen," she added with a bitter laugh. "Twenty years later, and I still can’t comprehend how you could despise your own flesh and blood." A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she gestured to her ID. "Look at me now, mom, dad. I'm a licensed psychiatrist," she choked out between soft sobs. "I have the career you always wanted for me. I even have my own office, soon to be filled with comforts rem