The Ghost of You

Chapter 6: The Truth

Lingling thrashed against the invisible chains that bound her, her frustration mounting as she tried to seize control of Tawan's body. But no matter how hard she fought, Faye's magic held her back, blocking her every attempt.

"I told you, Lingling, no," Faye's voice drifted through the darkness, calm and unyielding.

"Faye, please!" Lingling pleaded, desperation clawing at her heart. "I need to stop this madness! I need to save Tawan, save Orm—this can't happen!"

Faye sighed softly, her tone unbothered but firm. "You wanted to see the past, Lingling. I granted you that wish, but altering it is against my rules. I don't answer to anyone, but I'm not foolish enough to challenge the powers above by meddling with time. You are merely a witness here."

Lingling's chest tightened with helplessness, her eyes filled with panic as she saw Tawan's hesitation growing. "But... it's wrong! Tawan doesn't know what she's doing! She's being manipulated!"

Faye remained unmoved, her voice unwavering. "Perhaps. But this is not for you to fix. She has to face the consequences of her choices, just like everyone else. That is the law of time."

Tears of frustration blurred Lingling's vision as she screamed silently in her mind, watching the scene play out, powerless to stop it.

—

Orm lay on the cold ground, her body limp and broken, her tears falling like rain, mixing with the dark void that surrounded her. She felt hollow—neither fully human nor ghost, trapped in the twisted world her sister, Ira, had created. There was no escape, no freedom from this curse. Ira had taken everything from her: her identity, her life, and now, her connection to Tawan.

She never asked for this. Orm had been willing to sacrifice herself to ensure her family's happiness. She had accepted her fate. But Ira, her kind, loving sister, couldn't bear to see her go. Ira, who had loved her so much, took her place—offering herself to the evil spirit in an act of selfless devotion. Orm had tried to stop her, but it was too late. The darkness didn't take Ira's life as expected; instead, it latched onto her, merging with her soul.

The Ira who existed now was nothing like the sister Orm had once known. The sister who would smile, laugh, and worry whenever Orm was hurt—the sister who was kind, gentle, and always looked out for her—was gone. In her place was a twisted version, consumed by hatred and power. Orm's heart ached for the Ira she once knew, the sister who would crack jokes with her late into the night. She wanted her back.

But Ira had changed in more ways than one. Orm never knew her sister had fallen for Tawan. She never saw it coming. Ira had been locked away after merging with the evil spirit, her confinement a desperate attempt to protect everyone around her. Orm had been devastated by her sister's fate, her guilt eating away at her, making her vulnerable to manipulation.

The evil spirit, seeing Orm's grief and longing, whispered lies to her, convincing her to form a connection with Ira's soul. Through Orm's eyes, Ira could live outside her prison, taste freedom, and experience life vicariously. Orm thought it would bring Ira peace, maybe even help her find happiness.

Orm stood in the suffocating darkness, the weight of her imprisonment crushing her spirit. Her mind replayed the twisted events that led to her downfall. The day she first met Tawan, a family friend she had only heard about, was supposed to be a moment of joy. Orm hadn't anticipated falling in love so quickly, so deeply. Nor did she expect Ira, her twin, to harbor the same feelings.

Tawan's departure to the warzone had left a gaping hole in Orm's heart. She had wanted to do something, anything, to help Tawan. Ira, ever watchful and cunning, had seized on that vulnerability. She'd convinced Orm that she possessed a way to protect Tawan, luring her into the forbidden part of their estate where Ira was confined.