In the eerie silence that enveloped the desolate woods, Astrid stumbled forward, her weary legs carrying a burden too heavy for her frail body.
Her arms were clasped tightly around the lifeless form of Thomas, her beloved husband, whose once-vibrant eyes now stared blankly into the void.
Beside her, Stella, their young daughter, clung to Astrid's hand, her tiny body trembling with fear.
The sight of her father's cold, unmoving form filled her with a primal terror that she had never known.
As they made their way deeper into the dense undergrowth, the shadows seemed to close in around them, suffocating them with their oppressive presence.
The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and decay, and the only sound was the gentle rustling of leaves beneath their feet.
Astrid's mind raced with a chaotic mix of grief and desperation. She had witnessed Thomas's untimely demise with her own eyes, and the horror of that moment was forever etched into her memory.
Now, she was determined to find a safe haven for herself and her daughter, a place where they could escape the relentless pursuit of their enemies.
Suddenly, Stella's cries pierced the silence, shattering the fragile illusion of peace. She had finally overcome her fear and reached out to touch her father's corpse.
Astrid watched in horror as the cold, lifeless flesh sent a shiver down Stella's spine.
'Papa!' Stella wailed, her voice filled with a mixture of sorrow and terror. 'Wake up, Papa!'
Astrid's heart broke into a million pieces as she witnessed her daughter's anguish.
She knew that there was nothing she could do to bring Thomas back, but she vowed to protect Stella with every ounce of her being.
'We'll find a safe place, my love,' Astrid whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. 'We'll be okay.'
With renewed determination, Astrid pressed on, her feet pounding against the unforgiving ground.
Astrid ventured deeper into its embrace. The air was filled with the scent of damp earth and the sound of rustling leaves beneath her feet.
Suddenly, a faint whisper seemed to echo through the trees. Astrid paused, her heart pounding in her chest.
The whisper grew louder, transforming into a chorus of disembodied voices chanting in unison.
Curiosity overcame fear as Astrid cautiously approached the source of the sound. She parted the thick foliage, her eyes widening in disbelief.
Before her, stood Nelson, his eyes ablaze with a strange fire. In his hands, he held Eleanor's family portrait, a haunting image of her smiling parents, Florence and Eugene.
Beside Nelson was another portrait, this one depicting Astrid, Matt, and her mother.
And then, another, showing Thomas, Magdalena, and a young Aiden. The chanting grew louder, its words echoing in Astrid's mind.
'Forgive them, Magdalena,' the voices whispered. 'Let go of your anger and pain.'
Astrid felt a surge of terror coursing through her veins. She stumbled backward, desperate to escape the eerie scene.
As she turned to flee, she caught a glimpse of Aiden's portrait. His eyes seemed to follow her, filled with an unspoken plea.
Panic consumed Astrid as she raced through the undergrowth, leaving Alice and Thomas behind.
The chanting voices pursued her, their words a relentless reminder of the past she had tried to forget.
Nelson's voice echoed through the woods, his chanting growing louder and more urgent as he called out to the ancient magic that dwelled within the trees.
He spun around, his eyes closed, his arms outstretched as if embracing the very forest itself.
"Eleanor, hear me! I summon you, ancient one! I call upon your power, your wisdom, and your strength! Hear me, Eleanor, and come forth! Don't make the same mistake your mother did!"
As he chanted, the trees seemed to lean in, their branches creaking and swaying in time with his words.
The air was filled with unexplained energy, and Nelson could feel the energy building within him.
Suddenly, he stopped chanting. He opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping around the clearing as if searching for something... or someone.
That was when he heard it - the soft rustling of leaves, the snapping of twigs, and the unmistakable sound of footsteps.
Nelson's heart skipped a beat as he turned around, his eyes scanning the underbrush. And then, he saw her.
Astrid emerged from the shadows, her eyes wide with fear.
Her skin was deathly pale, and her breathing was rapid and shallow. She stumbled forward, her hands outstretched as if seeking balance.
"Mr. Nelson?" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the pounding of her heart.
Nelson's gaze locked onto hers, his expression frozen in surprise. Astrid's fear was showing, and he could sense the weight of whatever had driven her to this place.
"Astrid?" he repeated, his voice low and cautious. "What are you doing here?"
Astrid's eyes darted back and forth, as if she was searching for an escape route or a savior. She took another step forward, her knees trembling beneath her.
"You leave me be!" she whispered, her voice shaking with terror.
Nelson's brow furrowed in concern.
As he turned to look behind her, his eyes widened in shock.
There, behind Astrid, stood little Stella, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and wonder.
And next to her, a lifeless corpse lay on the ground, its face contorted in a twisted grimace.
Nelson's jaw dropped as he took in the scene.
He felt a cold dread creeping up his spine as he realized that the black magic that had haunted the family for so long was now manifesting in a cursed form.
"Astrid, you shouldn't be here," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the pounding of his heart.
He nodded to himself, as if confirming some unspoken truth.
The black magic that had once been a power within the family was now turning into a curse.
The darkness that had consumed Florence was now spreading to Astrid herself.
Nelson's eyes locked onto Stella, who was still staring at the corpse with a mixture of fascination and horror.
"Astrid, your whole family is witnessing a tragedy right now"
Astrid slowly stepped back, "What do you mean?"
"Eleanor has ran into the woods with hallucinations in her mind, that ended up killing her most loved one, second, Magdalena is searching for you, and is ready to get Thomas away from you, I can't spare more details"
Astrid shook her head, "W...What? How do you know all these?"
"Your whole family is cursed!"
"What?"
"The Black Magic caused you all these misfortune!"
As Astrid stepped back, her eyes fixed on the corpse, Nelson knew that he had to tell her everything. He took a deep breath and began to speak, his voice low and steady.
"Astrid, I know that you've been struggling with the darkness within our family. I know that you've been feeling trapped and alone. But I have to tell you something. Something that I think will change everything."
Astrid's eyes snapped back to him, her expression skeptical. "What is it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
YOU ARE READING
Black Magic
Misteri / ThrillerA woman in the 19th century curses her husband with black magic, she doesn't know the exchange of that, it might end her whole bloodline.
