The grand bungalow was cloaked in an air of solemnity.
Father Daniel, dressed in a flowing white cassock adorned with gold embroidery, stood in the center of the dimly hall room. A crucifix hung above a modest altar, and the faint aroma of incense filled the air. Beside him, his assistant prepared the final elements for the ritual. Candles were placed in a precise circle, their flickering flames casting long shadows across the walls. A chalice of holy water rested on the altar, accompanied by a small Bible and a sprig of olive leaves.
Father Daniel began the ritual with a calm but commanding voice, reciting verses from the Bible:
"I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die."
The room grew still, as though the very air were holding its breath. He dipped the olive leaves into the chalice and sprinkled holy water around the room in measured arcs.
"Through the intercession of Christ, we seek the peace of those who have passed and the clarity for those who remain. May their spirits find rest and their truths reveal themselves."
Father Daniel's assistant lit the incense, and the fragrant smoke spiraled upward, swirling like ethereal ribbons. Ruhan, standing near the altar, felt an inexplicable chill wash over him.
As Father Daniel continued the ritual, Ruhan's surroundings began to blur. The dim room seemed to shift, the lines between past and present dissolving. Suddenly, vivid images started forming in front of him-a window into another time.
Before him stood a lush garden, bathed in golden light. The fragrance of blooming roses and fresh earth filled the air. His breath caught in his throat as he saw her-Jenesis.
His little sister ran through the garden, her laughter ringing like delicate chimes in the wind. She twirled barefoot in the grass, arms stretched toward the sky, her curls bouncing with every step. Their mother stood nearby, watching her with the kind of warmth only a mother could give, her eyes glistening with adoration.
And then-his father.
A towering figure, strong yet gentle, scooped Jenesis into his arms, spinning her around as she shrieked with joy. Alive. They were all alive. Ruhan's chest ached, the sight of them both beautiful and unbearable.
And behind them-Evelyn Adamson.
His grandmother stood tall, dressed in an elegant gown of deep emerald green, her youth untouched by time. She smiled, her hands clasped together, radiating a quiet strength, an unspoken love that reached across death itself.
Ruhan staggered forward, his trembling fingers reaching out, desperate to touch them, to hold onto this impossible moment.
"Mom? Dad?" his voice cracked, raw with emotion.
His family turned to him. The joy in their eyes faded, replaced by something heavier, something unspoken. The wind in the garden stilled, and the sky above darkened into twilight.
Jenesis took a step forward, her small hand outstretched, her lips parting as if to speak-but no words came.
And then, the scene shifted.
The vibrant garden withered. The roses shriveled into blackened husks, the grass turned to dust beneath their feet. The golden sunlight dimmed into an eerie, pale glow. Ruhan's heartbeat pounded in his ears as the warmth of the vision bled away, leaving only the cold.
His mother's eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her lips trembling as she tried to form words. His father, always a pillar of strength, now looked at him with something unguarded-regret. Jenesis gripped the hem of her dress, her tiny shoulders quivering.
YOU ARE READING
Marked By Darkness
Paranormal(#1 in hauntedmantion) Ruhi's life has always been overshadowed by something dark. A haunting presence, a cursed bungalow, and the lingering ghost of her twin sister, threaten to destroy everything she holds dear. But when a mysterious figure from t...
