Nightfall Mysteries

rescue 2

Nathan is still confused. "Help me to get my family back... get our family back," he pleaded.

"How do I help you?" Nathan asked Lucian.

"Thank you, son," Lucian replied, as he began preparing for the ritual. Lora watched Nathan closely.

"Nina, what happened to you?" Nathan asked, eyes filled with concern.

"My dear, I'm not Nina. I'm your aunt Lora," she replied with a chilling smile.

"Nina, I know you're in there! Talk to me!" Nathan shouted desperately.

"What are you trying to do, Nathan?" Lora taunted. "What did you do with my Nina?" Nathan demanded.

"I didn't do anything," Lora replied, a dark grin spreading across her face. "I just use her body, and my brother will use yours. This way, no one can separate you from us."

"What?" Nathan gasped, horror filling his voice.

Nathan screamed, "Nina! Nina! I know you're in there! Talk to me!" Lucian arrived, puzzled by the scene.

"What is happening here?" he asked.

"I want Nina back. When I know she is safe, I'll do the ritual," Nathan replied.

"No, Nathan. You are in no position to negotiate. Just follow my orders, and my brother will do the rest," Lora interrupted.

Nathan, still calling out for Nina, continued, "Nina, Nina!" Lucian, frustrated, punched Nathan in the face. "Shut up! There is no Nina in there; she's half dead by now, so shut up."

Nathan, filled with anger, refused to give up. "Nina, talk to me! I know you can hear me!"

Lucian hit him again. Lora intervened, "What are you doing? Go and watch the ritual process. I'll keep an eye on him."

Lucian left, and Nathan continued calling, "Nina, I know you're in there, alive!" Lora, unaffected by his pleas, paid him no mind. Meanwhile, Adam and Richee heard Nathan's voice and followed it to find him. They devised a plan to distract Lora, allowing Adam to approach Nathan.

Once Nathan was alone, Adam rushed over. "Thank God you're alive!" he exclaimed.

"Unlock me," Nathan urged.

Adam quickly unlocked Nathan's restraints and handed him a mushroom. "Use this on her. It won't hurt Nina, but it will weaken Lora."

They heard Lora approaching, and Adam hid. Lora saw Nathan and asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Nathan, acting fast, forced the mushroom into her mouth. Lora struggled, then fainted. Nathan, not wasting time, carried Nina to Richee's house, where they began a ritual similar to the one used to free Adam from the shadow.

However, Lora, being a powerful shadow, regained consciousness. Nathan held her within the mushroom circle, struggling to maintain control. Lora awakened, throwing Nathan out of the circle. Adam tried to intervene, but she threw him out as well.

"You want this girl, but you don't care about your family?" Lora sneered.

"I don't have any family left," Nathan shot back. "I had Mr. Hart, but he's gone too. I don't know any of you-how can I accept you as family?"

Lora grabbed Nathan, pinning him to the wall. Richee threw mushroom powder to weaken her, but she still held Nathan, suspended in the air.

Nathan screamed, "Nina! Nina! I know you're in there! Come out, Nina! You're a strong girl!"

Lora mocked, "It's no use. Your Nina is gone."

Adam and Richee continued chanting. Lora grew weaker, and Nathan fell to the ground. He rushed back into the circle and reached for Nina.

"Nina! Nina!" he called.

"Not yet, dear. I'm still here," Lora's voice lingered.

Just then, Lucian arrived and seized Lora's shadow, freeing Nina and disappeared. Nathan, in tears, hugged Nina tightly. "Thank you," she whispered.

"You didn't give up," Nina replied. "I could hear you in there, but I couldn't respond."

"Are you okay?" Nathan asked gently.

"Yeah, I think so," she answered.

He helped her to stand and laid her down on the bed.

"Nathan," she whispered.

"What?" he asked.

"I'm hungry. Can you bring me something to eat?"

"Sure, wait a minute," he replied. He brought her juice first and then her favorite food.

"Thanks for everything," she said softly. They exchanged a warm smile.

Adam interrupted, "Nina, are you okay?"

"Yes, thank you," she replied.

"Nathan, come with me," Adam said urgently. "They have Velori. Do you know where she is?"

"No, I don't. Why?" Nathan asked.

"We need to rescue her. She's our last hope to destroy them," Adam explained. "Lucian is planning a family reunion and revenge for what your dad and Mr. Hart did."

"Mr. Hart?" Richee asked, surprised. "He's your grandpa too."

Adam continued, explaining everything. "Yes, Nathan, you're my cousin," he said, catching Nathan up on all he had missed.

"We found a ritual to destroy them, but we need Velori," Adam stated.

They planned to rescue her. "Nina, do you remember anything about where they kept Velori?" Adam asked.

"Inside a tree, I think," Nina answered.

"How do we know which tree?" Nathan questioned.

"She's Velori, so she would've left a mark. Search for a weird carving on the tree, and Nathan, you can touch it to sense if she's inside or not," Nina suggested.

They set out into the woods, searching every tree, but as the day passed, they found nothing. The search continued.

Adam found a strange symbol carved into a tree at Valeria's place, specifically on her table. He knew it could be a clue. Gathering the others, they decided to find Nathan, knowing his help would be crucial in forming a plan to rescue her.

But Nathan was missing. They searched all the usual places he frequented, but there was no sign of him. Frustration grew among the group, and someone suggested they simply cut down the tree to see if it would help them find Veloria. Richee, sensing the urgency, agreed to this plan.

They brought a woodcutter to the spot, ready to proceed. Just as they were about to begin, Nathan suddenly appeared from the shadows. He rushed forward, placing his hand on the tree, and said with quiet certainty, "She's not here. I know where she is."

Adam, still holding the axe, turned to Nathan. "Nathan, have you found her?"

Nathan nodded. "Yes."