There is a strange, awkward atmosphere in the living room. The appearance of their best friend after so many years of absence leaves neither Joseph nor Hannah unable to get a word out. They stare at him with wide-open eyes, as if they still can't believe that he is really sitting in front of them, all right.
What's even stranger... despite his age, he still looks wonderful. He has the features of a mature man, but he hasn't changed much since he was over twenty.
- I'm going to sound like Tom, but do you drink the blood of virgins? - Joseph raises an eyebrow as Jin parries with laughter. - What is your secret to eternal youth? Have you signed a pact with the devil?
Jin doesn't answer his friend. He shifts his gaze to Danielle, who sits nailed down, looking at one point.
- The only person who signed the pact is her. - With a movement of his head, he points to the woman sitting next to him. - And by the end of today she must die.
Hannah is disturbed by his words.
- Danielle, will you explain to us what this is all about? Is that why you showed up after so many years of absence? Do you want to say goodbye? - At one point, the twin's voice breaks down. Her sister finally shifts her gaze to her, which gets even sadder when Jin grabs her hand.
- I came out of everything unscathed for a reason. Steven protected me, but that protection had a limit. Today is the deadline.
- How could you do something so idiotic? - Hannah is shocked and does not hide her anger.
- I was a kid, besides, I would have died when I was young, and this agreement allowed me to enjoy life a little longer. I wouldn't have made it if I hadn't met him. - She squeezes Jin's hand, forcing a sour smile. - He restored my will to live because probably that day I would have chosen death.
The man rubs his forehead.
- So now, you just let him take your soul? You? A person who could finish people off in cold blood and feel no remorse? The strongest person I know just like that wants to die? What about me?
Danielle closes her eyelids as her heart is torn by pain at the thought of her beloved. Their lifelong relationship has been tumultuous and toxic, but they can't live without each other. They don't even have a wedding, they live a stress-free life. So far, they have traveled all over the world, enjoyed the pleasures of life, and now she just so wants to leave him to go away with a demon. She doesn't intend to fight him, she wants to give up....
- This is a contract sealed with my blood. There is nothing I can do, Jin. Neither is you. - Her gaze rests on her sister's face a moment longer. - Hannah, after all, you know how powerful he is. You managed to win against him because apart from the curse, you had nothing more in common. - He does not tell her the truth regarding her children. She would rather not reveal her nephews' dark secret. Since she ultimately protected them, let the youngsters continue to keep secrets from their parents. - If I die, this curse will eventually end.
Hannah glances at Joseph, then at Jin, who is not about to agree with Danielle's words.
- Surely there is a way out of this.
- And you think I didn't look for it before! Do you think that I want to die? That I want to leave you and go to hell! - Tears gather in her eyes. - If I had a choice, I would stay with you, Jin. I would grow old in your arms and die a peaceful death, but I can't. And so I have cheated destiny several times. I should have been dead long ago. I should have died before I loved you to madness.
Joseph looks at his sister-in-law with her lips parted, unable to believe that after so many years she has become so effusive. And she doesn't mind doing it in company.
- Aunt Danielle. - The woman looks over her shoulder, looking at her niece's frightened, still pale face. - I'm so sorry... - Danielle rises from the couch, and Veronica runs up to her and hugs her tightly. - It's my fault, I'm sorry.
- It's not your fault. I just fulfilled the last request, and I would have to die today anyway.
Standing in the threshold, Eric and Lucas look at the adults.
- You protected me. You protected our entire family. It is thanks to you that the curse has its end. You are the bravest and greatest person I know - says the teenager through tears, not intending to let her go. - Only because of you, we can start all over again, we can start living peacefully and joyfully.
- Someone explain to me what is going on here? - Joseph looks irritated. He glances at his wife, who also doesn't understand any of this. - Veronica?
The teenager moves away from her aunt. She wipes tears from her face with the back of her hand and looks at her parents with sad eyes.
- Me and Eric have been lying to you all our lives. The demon lived with us. For sixteen years he hurt Eric and pretended to be my friend. It was a similar situation to you, Mom. He hurt you and protected Aunt Danielle. - Hannah puts her hands to her mouth, shocked by her daughter's confession. Both she and Joseph are horrified by her words. - When I sided with Eric, the demon turned against me as well. I managed to protect my brother, but I took the entire curse upon myself and implicated Lucas. I would have died today if not for Aunt Danielle....
- How could you hide something so important from us! - Father's shriek makes both Veronica and Eric flinch. - You guys are frivolous! You could have died and we didn't know anything! We had no idea what happened to you for so many years!
- I guessed and tried to protect them secretly - Hannah says quietly, lifting her face and looking at her husband. - I'm sorry that I hid the truth from you.
Joseph walks furiously out of the living room, and after a while the door is heard slamming. He needs to cool down and think everything over calmly, so as not to say words that might hurt his family.
- We're sorry, Mom," Veronica says in a tearful voice as the woman sits on the couch, burying her face in her hands. - We would rather not worry you. We know how much you have been through in your lives because of Steven.
- I think the biggest casualty in this situation is your father, who had no idea about anything. He is the one you should apologize to," Jin, who is only now drawing the attention of the youngsters, speaks up. Veronica's eyes widen in shock. She circles the couch and stands in front of him, getting the impression that she sees a ghost.
- Uncle Jin?
The man smiles from the corner of his mouth. He rises from the couch and Veronica snuggles into him, not believing that the day has come when she has the opportunity to meet him. Until now, she has only known him from photos, and now he is here — in her family home. This is the worst and both the best day of her life.
*
Eric sits at the table next to a friend of his parents, all the while watching a sad mother who is remorseful about the fact that she hid the truth from Joseph. The youth feels even worse about this fact. Not surprisingly, their father is angry with them and didn't even come down for dinner.
Although the table is set with various dishes, no one feels like eating. This is the most depressing day in their family's history.
The long silence is interrupted by the enthusiastic voice of Danielle, who unexpectedly grunts and takes the cutlery in her hand.
- Let's just say this is my last supper. I will eat to my heart's content, tasting all the dishes before I die.
Jin threatens her with his eyes. She slaps her hands on the table, then gets up from her chair and heads toward the door.
- Excuse me. I will talk to Joseph. Maybe he's already cooled down," he announces.
Danielle watches him with pained eyes. It's the look of a loving person who may be seeing the love of her life for the last time. She curves her lips in a slight smile, thinking about how much she loves him, then begins to put various dishes on her plate. Her sister, as well as her children, watch her, full of admiration at how big her appetite is.
- If I were you, Auntie, I wouldn't be able to swallow a bite," Eric says, raising an eyebrow in surprise.
- Prisoners before the death penalty also eat their last meal. This is normal.
Hannah gets up from the table and leaves the dining room without a word. Too much has hit her today. She can't listen to her sister, who is calmly waiting for her death.
- Auntie... - begins Veronica, but Danielle doesn't let her finish as she interjects her word.
- I hope, shitheads, that you will bring nice flowers to my grave. At least repay me this way for the rescue. - She waves her fork in front of their faces, all the while forcing a smile. - This is supposed to be the prettiest grave in the entire cemetery. I've stood out all my life, so the tombstone has to be impressive, too. You can even paint it red. It's my favorite color.
Veronica unexpectedly lowers her face and starts choking back tears.
- How can you just talk about it like that....
- And what are you roaring about again, kid? Enjoy your life. I've already lived mine. It seems to me that in hell I will feel at home. I'll probably meet my adoptive mother there. - Danielle bites her fork. - I bet she seduced Satan a long time ago and is flogging him the money.
The girl can't take it. It's too heavy for her, and she can't listen to her aunt humorously talk about her plans after death.
- I think, Vera, that you should go to bed. It's been a tiring day. You still haven't recovered. - The brother looks at his sister with caring eyes. - Rest at last, come to your senses.
- You're right. I think that's where the mood swings are coming from. I'm going to go lie down. Likewise, I can't stand it here much longer.
Choking back tears, she energetically gets up from the chair and leaves the room. Eric shifts his gaze to his aunt.
- We have sent everyone away, so we can end this. I will be by your side the whole time, until the very end. - The woman forces a slight smile as her nephew squeezes her hand.
- They think my end will come at midnight, that's why no one will prevent me now. - Eric nods his head. - I am glad that you are the only one who understands me and is on my side.
- I will not stop you. I know you have no choice," he says quietly.
*
The teenager stares at his aunt's lifeless body, which lies in a bathtub filled with blood-red water. He still holds her cold hand, and his cheeks show already dried tears.
Steven finally took her with him. Their family's curse was gone along with Aunt Danielle's soul.
He will never forget the last words he heard from her. Undoubtedly, this is a sentence he must repeat to his uncle.
Pulling his nose, he pulls his phone out of his pants pocket and texts his sister.
"Aunt Danielle has passed away. You won't believe how calm she was when she died. Steven took her with him. Forever."
These are the seconds when he hears his sister's terrified exhortation in the hallway. He lets go of his aunt's hand and walks out of the bathroom, coming face to face with Veronica.
- She did it faster than she should have because she knew you would try to protect her. She had no choice anyway," the boy whispers back.
Veronica pushes past him and falls into the bathroom, and a shriek comes out of her mouth. She puts her hands to her mouth, with terrified eyes staring at the dead body, which is in water mixed with blood.
The scream draws the household members away. It seems to Eric that everything is playing out in slow motion. He watches his shaken mother, his uncle, who runs up to the dead body of his beloved and tries to pull her out of the water, and his father, who pales in the face.
Joseph gets weak as memories of the past come back to him. It's the same sight he saw then as a child. He found his mother in the bathtub with her veins slashed.
A panicked Jin holds Danielle's cold body in his embrace, shouting to Hannah to call 911.
Of them all, Eric is the calmest because he knows his aunt must have died that day. They wouldn't have done anything to help her anyway. They didn't stand a chance.
- Eric! Are you crazy? Why did you let her do this? How could you calmly watch her die! - His sister beats his chest, looking at him with a furious gaze like never before. - Why didn't you react in any way!
- And what was I supposed to do? Play chess with Steven? After all, I couldn't see him anymore anyway, so all I could do was to be by her side so she wouldn't die alone. Every pact has an end.
Veronica acts on the spur of the moment and punches her brother in the face. She is devastated by his behavior.
- I thought you had changed, but you already have such a character. You are an emotionless bastard, when you could calmly watch her die before your eyes.
Eric forces a smile.
- I think I was actually born a bastard. It's not the demon's influence; however, it's my character," he answers her, feeling pity towards her. - Think what you want. I, however, believe that I did the right thing. Everyone has their time. Aunt Danielle's is over right now.
He walks away, and Veronica watches him with weeping eyes, unable to believe that her brother behaved so callously.
Only a sociopath is capable of watching someone's death up close....