Held by the Past

: Shadows

mes and weathered parchment scattered across the long oak table. The storm had passed, leaving behind a hushed calm, but the

as deeply tied to their emotions. A choice between love and life. E

sleep, and the faint shadow of stubble traced his jawline. Despite the gravity of thei

said, his voice low a

g around the warm ceramic. "We're running out of ti

is piercing gaze held hers for a moment too long, and Elena felt a flus

ions," she said firmly, m

soft but deliberate. "What we feel-it's real. And it's part of wh

ery stolen glance, every unspoken word between them seemed to dra

the house. Elena and Adrian exchanged a wary glance. Visitors were r

Adrian said, ri

woman stood on the threshold, her dark hair swept into an elegant braid, her expres

woman asked, her sharp

na replied

ide without waiting for an invitation. "I've been assigned to

caught. "Unusua

e was just the beginning. There have been reports of strange activity in this a

beside Elena. "What exact

not accusing you of anything-yet. But the name Thompson has appeared in every incident

rse deep enough to avoid outside attention, but now i

out," Elena said, her voice steady d

au curse. I know about the rituals. And I know that people connected to yo

How much did Calloway really know? And

Adrian said, stepping prot

lling a card from her coat and placing it on the entryway table. "But this isn't o

haled shakily. Adrian turned to her, hi

too much,

" Elena replied, her voi

r them, but so did the knowledge that their time was running out. The curse wasn't just their bu

ther's writings, she came across a pas

. Love is its fuel, and despair is its weapon. To confront

She felt Adrian's presence beside her, his

said, her voice shaking. "If

nd brushing hers. "We'll find a way to

d them seemed to fade. The bond between them was

, the curse waited, watching

fleeting touch igniting a warmth she couldn't ignore. But before either could speak, a sudden

said sharply,

of her heart. She reached for the lantern on the table, fumblin

ough the room. It vibrated in her chest, growing louder unt

drian whispered,

dows on the walls. The wailing sound seemed to come from everywhere

id, her voice barely audib

ildly as it landed on the floor with a deafening thud. Another followed, then

, pulling her close. "We n

er head. "It's trying to sc

le

She stepped forward, her voice rising above

a figure began to materialize. It was a woman, her form translucent and

r voice echoing with an otherwor

ed, her legs feeling like the

curse... it's stronger now. It feeds on your emotions,

eyes. "Why didn't you te

lickering like a dying flame. "I tried to break i

ng step forward. "Ho

k to Elena. "You must let go of what you hold

what she held most dear? Her eyes darted to Adrian

, stepping forward. "The

e a faint whisper. "The choice is your

leaving Elena and Adrian al

m spoke. The weight of her mother

and urgent. "You don't have to do

mination and despair. "What if there isn't one, Adrian

" he said fiercely, his hands grippi

s. "It's not just about us anymore. The curse is sp

spite the fire in his eyes. "We'll fight th

he shadow of doubt lingered. Could they truly defy th

f the wailing returned, a chilling rem

wailing faded into a haunting echo. Elena stepped out

now. "If my mother couldn't break the curse, maybe th

xpression resolute.

"She left clues. The diary we found earlier-it might have more than what we'v

ecing together fragments of a history that seemed determined to stay burie

age. "Look at this," he said, spreading it out on the table. "It marks a location-

gers tracing the lines. The manor'

. "She mentioned it once. Said

where the curse started, it mig

ng down on her. "It's dangerous. If the curse is s

e a choice. If we stay here, it'll only g

his eyes matching her own. "

-

to Rosewood Estate was long and fraught with unease. The closer they got, the mor

nce-grand façade now marred by time and decay. Vines crawled

of a nightmare," Adrian muttered as t

my mother was here, she must have left

rouded in darkness. Their footsteps echoed as they ventured inside, t

traits, and remnants of lives long forgotten. But in the study, tucked inside a secret compar

trembling. The handwriting was her moth

s it, gives it power. To break it, one must sever the bond

his expression grim. "Sever lif

per. "I don't know. But if my mother wrote th

owl, guttural and menacing. They turned, their lant

a said, her vo

lied, his hand tigh

r seen. Its body was a grotesque amalgamation of shapes, its e

front of her, his voice steady des

clutching his arm. "

roar shaking the very f

slicing through the air with terrifying speed. The force of its attack se

" he shouted, his voice ech

k where the journal lay. Her fingers trembled as she flipped through

grabbed a broken chair leg, wielding it like a makeshift weapon. He swung with all hi

n yelled, dodging another s

age scrawled in frantic handwri

rily by invoking the bond it feeds on.

need to invoke the bond! It's tied

determined. "It feeds on love, right? May

g through him. "You won't win," he said, his words ringing with convictio

tated, its glowin

hat's ours! Love isn't just a bond-it's sacrifice, hope, and resilience. Yo

ir around them grew heavy, pulsing with an almost tangible energy. Elena a

ing in on itself until it was nothing more than a faint, flicke

hat followed

g against the wall for s

ing to give out beneath her. "W

not over. My mother's notes said binding it is only temporary. I

aw set. "Then we'll find w

t swelling with a mix of fear

pressive gloom, casting light on the path ahead. But in the distance, the