SOUL SNATCHERS

Chapter 24

"No one will leave, unless you tell me what is happening here!" Edna shouted angrily. She was filled with frustration and needed to let out her irritation about the events unfolding.

"Calm down, this is not the time for this, my dear wife," Roland said, approaching Edna to comfort her.

"Calm down? I won't calm down until you tell me what's going on, Roland," she replied firmly to her husband, breaking free from his hands just as he was about to embrace her.

Rose remained silent, bowing her head, holding her slapped cheek. She wanted to cry, but she couldn't because she knew it was her fault that her mother had slapped her. This was the first time her mother had laid a hand on her. Julius, on the other hand, embraced her tightly, crying because of what their mother had done to his beloved sibling.

"You need to calm down first, please. We need to get away from here because your life, and our children's lives, are in danger," Roland pleaded. "Please, Edna, just listen to me this once," he pleaded with his wife.

A deafening thunder roared, almost causing them to jump in surprise. Then, a strong mixture of the smell of sulfur and decaying flesh suddenly wafted through the air. However, only Roland and their two children noticed it. Roland's anxiety grew stronger as he detected the foul stench in the surroundings.

"Rose, grab the bags and other belongings, and take your sibling to the car, quickly!" Roland commanded his eldest child.

Hesitant to comply with her father, Rose swiftly grabbed their bags and tightly held her brother's hand as they made their way into the car. However, before they could depart, Rose was abruptly startled by something she saw. Julius, on the other hand, began shouting and clung tightly to his sister.

Through the hotel's glass dome, they could clearly see dark figures cloaked in black soaring through the air. Their eyes burned fiery red, seemingly reveling in the events unfolding around them.

Edna grew increasingly concerned as she observed the fear in her children's eyes. She approached Julius, who still clung tightly to his older sibling, trembling with fear.

"Julius, what's wrong?" she inquired, her voice filled with worry.

Roland, too, became alarmed by what he witnessed. Though uncertain of the situation, he understood the malevolent intentions of these shadows. Hastily, he comforted the terrified Julius and held his wife's hand.

"We don't have time, Edna. Whether you agree or not, we need to leave this place," Roland urged his wife.

Edna looked at him, her face devoid of expression.

"No, if you want to go, then go. Leave me and your children behind," Edna retorted, her words laced with harshness.

"Mom?" Rose reacted, taken aback by her mother's statement.

Edna turned to Rose, her face still emotionless.

"If you want to go with your father, then go. But leave Julius with me," she declared, attempting to grasp their youngest child.

"Edna, what's happening to you? Our children's lives are in danger, can't you see that?" Roland implored.

"Mom, please. Just this once, listen to Dad," Rose pleaded with desperation.

"I'll explain everything to you, but please, for the sake of our children, we need to leave," Roland once again pleaded desperately with his wife. This time, Edna managed to compose herself, recognizing the fear in Julius' eyes. She sighed and picked up the other bag, handing it to her daughter.

"Thank you," Roland whispered barely audibly, as he breathed a sigh of relief at his wife's action which is a sign of submission. Without wasting any time, they hurried towards the hotel's exit door.