Few steps away from the garden, Victoria heard whispers of incantations carried by the wind. The air turned frigid, and the sky darkened as if sensing an ominous presence. With a quickened pace, she rushed toward the garden, her heart pounding in her chest.
The sight that greeted her was both surreal and terrifying. Her younger sister, Emma, was surrounded by a ring of fire, her face illuminated by the flickering flames. Madeline stood beside her, chanting in a low, eerie voice. The sinister glow cast long shadows, twisting the scene into something out of a nightmare.
Victoria's voice broke through the chaos, desperate and urgent. "Emma! What are you doing? Stop this right now!"
Emma turned, and for the first time, Victoria saw a look of pure hatred and betrayal in her sister's eyes. It was a look so fierce it felt like a physical blow. Victoria gasped, clutching her chest as if trying to stifle the pain.
"Emma," Victoria said, her voice trembling but resolute, "please, whatever you're doing, stop. It's going to hurt you. Madeline—she lied to you. She doesn't have any family here. She's deceiving you."
Emma's eyes, once warm and loving, now bore into Victoria with an intensity that made her shiver. The fire crackled louder, seeming to feed off the tension between them. Victoria took a careful step forward, extending her hand in a gesture of peace.
"Emma, please," she implored, her voice cracking. "You have to believe me. We can get out of this together. Just trust me."
The chanting grew louder, and Madeline's eyes flickered with malicious glee.
The air was thick with tension, and the outcome hung in the balance.
Emma's laugh cut through the night like a blade, sending shivers down Victoria's spine. "Victoria, Victoria… You're quite the actress. I can't believe I didn't see through your deceit and whatever lies you're about to spew about Madelin... save it for whoever is willing to believe you."
Victoria's eyes widened in confusion. "Emma, what are you talking about? I've always been honest with you."
"Stop pretending!" Emma shouted, her voice rising in anger. Her laughter turned into a wild, unhinged cackle. "You think I don't know? I know everything , about what Mama and Papa told you."
Victoria's breath caught in her throat. "No, no… It's not what you think. I—"
"Shut up!" Emma's voice roared, her eyes glowing with an unnatural light. "When will you stop lying? I thought you were my sister… but you're just a lying little bitch. I wish you all would burn in hell!".
"Emma, don't," Victoria whispered, tears streaming down her face. "Please."
As she spoke, Emma's chanting grew louder, more frenzied. Her eyes blazed with an eerie intensity as she raised her hands towards the flames. Victoria stood paralyzed, tears streaming down her face, her heart breaking at the sight of her sister so consumed by anger and darkness.
Desperate to make her sister understand, Victoria took a tentative step forward. But before she could reach her, the air was filled with the sound of distant screams. Victoria turned sharply, her heart sinking as she saw the manor engulfed in flames. The fire raged out of control, the inferno casting an ominous glow over the entire scene.
Panic surged through Victoria. "No! The manor—"
She turned back to Emma, who was lost in her trance-like chanting, her expression a mask of rage and pain. Victoria's own anguish was overshadowed by the immediate threat.
With a burst of resolve, Victoria dashed towards the manor, her mind racing. The fire spread quickly, and the smoke billowed in thick, choking clouds. Victoria's focus shifted from Emma to the looming threat of the flames.
As she ran, the screams grew louder, mingling with the crackle of the fire. Victoria's heart pounded with fear and urgency.
Approaching the manor she could see the servants working frantically, their faces etched with desperation as they fought in vain against the spreading fire. Their efforts seemed futile, the blaze consuming everything in its path. The night air was filled with the acrid stench of smoke and the panicked shouts of those trying to salvage what they could.
Desperate for answers, Victoria grabbed one of the servants by the arm. "What happened here?"
The servant looked up, his face pale and strained. "No one knows how the fire started. Some guests are still inside, and it's difficult to get inside, We are trying...."
Victoria's heart pounded as she scanned the crowd, searching for her parents. "Where are Mama and Papa?" she asked, her voice trembling.
The servant's gaze faltered, and he shifted uncomfortably. Victoria's eyes widened in horror as she saw the fear in his eyes. She gripped him by the hem of his shirt, shaking him. "Where are they?" she demanded.
The servant swallowed hard, his voice barely audible. He pointed towards the manor, and Victoria's heart sank as she took in the sight of the inferno engulfing the building.
"No!" she screamed, tears streaming down her face. Without another thought, she bolted towards the manor. The fire roared and crackled around her, the heat searing her skin.
The servants, realizing the danger she was in, ran after her. They tried to restrain her, their hands gripping her shoulders and arms. "Lady Victoria, stop! It's too dangerous!" they shouted, but she struggled against them.
"No! I have to save them!" Victoria screamed, her voice breaking with anguish. She twisted and thrashed, trying to break free as she watched the manor burn, the flames roaring hungrily. She could see the smoke billowing out of the windows, the once-beautiful home now a raging inferno.
As the fire continued to consume the building, Victoria's cries grew louder, her grief and helplessness overwhelming. She slumped to the ground, tears blurring her vision, as the reality of the loss struck her like a crushing blow. The manor, her parents, everything she held dear was being reduced to ashes before her eyes.
The servants gathered around her, their faces filled with sorrow and helplessness. Victoria's sobs were the only sound amidst the crackling of the fire.