Cursed Legacy

Chapter 8: Mystery of the Dusk

Eris

We sit in the quiet of the old house, the air thick with anticipation. The musty smell of aged wood and dust fills the room, mingling with the tension that grips us. Tianna and I are on edge, our hands fidgeting with the edges of our clothes, eyes darting around as we wait. Ciarinise sits with her usual calm demeanor, but I can see the unease behind her composed exterior. Dolores stands by, her hands clasped tightly in front of her, her knuckles white.

"Do you know anything about Tema Andrea?" I ask Dolores, my voice steady but carrying a thread of hope that barely masks my anxiety.

Dolores shakes her head slightly, her brows furrowed deeply. "I wish I could tell you more, sir," she says, her voice trembling slightly. "But I only know bits and pieces. My grandmother mentioned her a few times, but it was always vague. She was... mysterious, I guess."

Tianna’s frown deepens, her fingers drumming impatiently on her knee. "That's it? Nothing else?"

Dolores looks down, her gaze shifting to the floor as if avoiding the weight of our expectations. "Not much more than that. But... I can take you to see Manang Lelay. She remembers everything. She might know more."

We exchange glances, a spark of hope flickering in our eyes. "We’d appreciate that, Dolores," I say, nodding firmly. "Let’s go."

Dolores leads us out to her car, the gravel crunching underfoot as we move. The drive to her great-grandmother’s house is filled with a heavy silence, each of us lost in our thoughts. The landscape outside blurs as we make our way, the tension between us palpable, stretching the distance between us and the answers we seek.

When we arrive, the house is small and worn, its paint peeling and its garden overgrown. Despite its dilapidated state, it exudes a certain charm, as if holding onto memories of better days. Dolores helps her grandmother onto the porch, where we are greeted by the frail yet sharp-eyed Manang Lelay. At 109 years old, she moves with surprising agility, her eyes clear and penetrating, as though she can see right through us.

“Good evening, ma’am,” I say, trying to mask my surprise at her clarity. “We’re Darren Ace’s great-grandchildren.”

The moment the name leaves my lips, I see a flicker of recognition in Manang Lelay’s eyes. Her thin lips curl into a soft, nostalgic smile. “Darren Ace…” she murmurs, her voice warm but tinged with the weight of years. “Yes, I remember him well. He was a kind man, always polite, always with a smile.”

Tianna nods, her expression softening. “We’ve heard many stories about him,” she says. “We’re hoping you can help us learn more about someone he knew… someone named Tema Andrea.”

Manang Lelay’s smile fades, her expression growing serious. She motions for us to come closer, her gesture inviting us into the shadows of her memories. “Yes, I remember the whispers about her,” she begins, her voice steady yet heavy with the burden of the past. “Tema Andrea was a woman of many secrets…”

Ciarinise lean in, her eyes locked on Manang Lelay, eager for the answers her words might reveal.

“She had a way with words,” she continues, her gaze drifting as if searching the depths of time. “People said she could utter incantations that could sway one’s thoughts and desires. Some even believed she could communicate with forces beyond our understanding.”

A chill runs down my spine as I exchange a tense glance with Tianna. This sounds all too familiar, like pieces of a puzzle falling into place.

"But there was more to her than met the eye," Manang Lelay’s voice softens, carrying a sense of intimacy, as if sharing a hidden truth. "I remember one incident vividly. It was a summer day, much like today, when Tema Andrea visited your great-grandfather. The air seemed charged with an unusual energy."

I see Tianna lean in closer, her eyes wide with anticipation, hanging on Manang Lelay’s every word.

“Your great-grandfather was smitten by her, that much was clear,” Manang Lelay says, her voice a mix of nostalgia and sadness. “But she had a way of drawing people in, making them feel like they were under her spell.”

The word "spell" repeats in my mind. It ties together whatever we have learned at this point. The darkness of this story is becoming clearer and more threatening.

"She often spoke of things beyond our understanding, of powers that could shape destinies," Manang Lelay’s voice lowers to a whisper, her tone growing more secretive. "I remember one evening, as the sun set and cast an orange hue across the sky, I overheard her whispering to the wind."

My heart races with the urgency to know more. What did she say? The answer feels crucial.

“What did she whisper?” I ask, my voice barely a whisper, as if afraid to disturb the gravity of the moment.

Manang Lelay’s gaze meets mine, her eyes holding a depth of sorrow and perhaps fear. "She spoke of binding hearts, of ensuring loyalty through forces beyond our understanding," she says, each word heavy with the weight of unspoken darkness. "I knew then that whatever she was involved in, it held a darkness that I couldn't fully understand."

A heavy silence falls over us, thick and suffocating. The reality of Tema Andrea and her curse is no longer just a story; it’s a constant worry in our lives. We have gained this problem, and breaking the curse has become important.

"Thank you, Manang Lelay," I say, my voice thick with the gravity of the revelation.

She nods, her eyes still sharp and knowing. "It’s up to you now," she says softly. "Find the truth. Break the curse. It’s time."

We leave her house with more questions than answers, but one thing is clear: we’re closer to the truth than ever before. The curse is real, and ending it has become our most pressing mission—no matter what it takes.