As I stood in the center of the ritual circle, the weight of the air around me became almost unbearable. Angie's voice filled the room with rhythmic chants, the sound both soothing and eerie as it resonated against the walls. Each word seemed to amplify the pressure I felt in my chest. The curse, dormant only moments ago, stirred within me like a beast rousing from a deep slumber.
The darkness that lived inside me, sent by Emily, always lurked beneath the surface, but this time it was different. The curse seemed to recognize the threat Angie posed. It fought against the protective energy she was weaving around me, lashing out like a cornered animal. I felt its power tugging at my limbs, trying to pull me away from the ritual, trying to stop the inevitable.
