Annalisa

RI

my mind away from Amanda's absence. A week. It had only been a week since her tear-stained face ha

out what the others thought? Amanda, with her laugh that could chase away the worst shadows and eye

et burning in my gut. The half-eaten sandwich on my desk mocked me. Food had lost its a

oked sob escaped me. I squeezed my eyes shut, the image of Amanda's lifeless

rd a desperate plea to

cating silence of the room. "Come in,"

poked his head through the doorway. "Ah, Adri

I forced a smile, the

erything alright, my friend? You look..." He trail

face in my hands. The story tumbled out, a torrent of words and choked sobs. Amanda,

ming presence in the storm of my grief. When I fi

nally spoke, his voice gentle. "But dwe

e, sparked in my chest. "There has

easing his forehead. "There is... a possi

"An ancient charm, passed down through generations in my fam

ld this be it? A chance to undo my mis

ed, his voice grave. "The charm can only reverse

ur? Amanda had been dead for a week. The weig

ing hand on my shoulder. "It's a long

here was a minuscule chance, I had

g, herbs, and moonlight. It sounded archaic, bordering on r

washed over me, a tingling sensation that spread through my body. For a heart-stopping moment, nothing happe

ced by a scene straight out of a fever dream. The consulate building looked... different. Older.

me. Had it worked?

oke through

all been worth it. There she was, Annalisa, across the crowded marketplace, a riot of color in a sea of muted tones. Her fier

urn a thunderstorm into a gentle breeze, was missing. Replaced by a haunted loo

thick with the smell of spices and roasting meat. She stopped abruptly,

he muttered, her vo

lost in the blink of an eye. Dread coiled around my heart. This wasn't the Ann

under my breath. There was no way I could follow her in there without blowing my cover. This

within, sent shivers down my spine. Then, a commotion erupted. Shouting, the unmistakable clatter

ir, obscuring the scene. A group of burly men surrounded Annalisa, their faces contorted in predator

all out of luck," he sneered,

despite the tremor in her hands. "That m

s wasn't how it was supposed to go. Annalisa, framed for a crime she didn'

e echoing in the cramped tave

less man snarled, taking

air of confidence I didn't entirely feel. "A

e man scoffed. "She ch

ng over the room. "Funny, I seem to recall

crowd. The men exchanged nervous gla

an roared, but the fire

t suspiciously lighter than it should have been thanks to a generous "donation" from

fear of being caught cheating. Finally, the toothless man

growled, before grabbing his cron

hing over the patrons. Annalisa, however, remain

he finally whispered, h

es," I said, offering her a reassuring smile. "Let's just say

e flickered in her eyes. We slipped out of the tavern,

her voice soft. "Whoeve

not going to be the first or t