The Deadly Charm

Part 56 : The Shadow of Danger

The soft glow of the desk lamp fell on the open pages of the thick book Kritin was reading. A gentle breeze drifted through the window, creating a calm and quiet atmosphere. But that calm was soon shattered by a strange, uneasy feeling creeping into his chest.

Kritin looked up from the book, his eyes narrowing as he stared toward the window—almost as if something, or someone, was waiting outside. He closed his eyes and focused, reaching inward...

And that's when he felt it—a presence.
A dark energy.

It wasn't ordinary darkness.
It was twisted, hateful, and filled with malice. A sinister aura that slithered like a shadow through the night.
And Kritin could sense exactly where it was going: Teerathep and Nattrinee.

"Again...?" he muttered under his breath, quickly shutting the book.

"Hey! You felt it too, right?"
Sora, his guardian spirit, materialized in a flash—already on alert.

Kritin nodded, thinking fast.
"You go first. I'll catch up."

"Heh. About time we had some fun," Sora smirked before leaping through the window, his figure disappearing into the night sky.

Kritin grabbed his car keys from the desk, hesitating only for a moment as he debated whether to bring Akira along. He sighed deeply.

"This is dangerous... but I need her power."

Akira's ability—to see and connect with spirits—was crucial. And Aria, the fearsome spirit who protected her, could shift the tide of any battle. Kritin knew he couldn't face what was coming alone.

He raced down the quiet roads, heart pounding faster with every turn. The peaceful streets seemed longer than usual. The closer he got, the more intense the foreboding grew.

Why them?
Why Teerathep and Nattrinee?
Who is behind this?

But there was no time for questions now. He had to protect the people he cared about.

The Arrival

Kritin reached Akira's house and jumped out of the car. He ran straight to the front door and knocked urgently.

Soft footsteps approached from inside.

The door opened, revealing Akira's surprised face.

"Krit? What are you—what's going on?"

"There's no time. You need to come with me," he said firmly, grabbing her wrist.

Without waiting for a reply, he pulled her out the door.
Aria appeared beside them, as expected—deadly calm and ever-watchful.

Confronting the Evil Spirits

They arrived at Teerathep and Nattrinee's house under the cover of night. The moment Kritin stepped out of the car, he felt it—a suffocating darkness swirling around the building.

This wasn't natural.
It was malevolent.
Like shadows lurking, ready to strike.

Above them, Sora soared through the sky, flapping his great wings to scatter the black mist lingering in the air. He landed swiftly.

"You're late," Sora snapped.

"Yeah, yeah," Kritin replied with a grunt.

Kritin could now see the black shapes forming all around the house.
They looked like spirits—pulled from the void of the afterlife. Hatred and bitterness radiated from them like thick, choking fog.

"There's something controlling them..." Akira murmured, eyes narrowed.

"Hmph. Just a bunch of weaklings," Aria scoffed as she stepped beside Akira, flashing a cruel smile.