Oliver and Violet were left reeling as Mr. Dunor's victorious laughing receded into the darkness, the weight of their failure bearing down on them like a tangible force.
"What have we done?" Violet's voice wavered as she whispered. "Now Dunor has the watch, and the curse will only grow stronger."
A wave of remorse and desperation swept through Oliver, and he balled his fists at his sides. "Violet, we have to persevere," he replied in a determined tone. "There has to be a way to stop him, to break the curse once and for all."
Oliver felt a deep grief mixed with a gleam of optimism in Violet's eyes as their gazes connected. She added, her voice hardly audible above a whisper, "There might be a way." "But it will require a great sacrifice."
Oliver's brow knitted as he extended his hand to take Violet's. His voice remained steady as he said, "Anything, Violet." "I'll do whatever it takes."
Violet gave him a gentle squeeze back, and her countenance relaxed. She answered, "I know, Oliver." "And that's why I have to do this alone."
Oliver was about to object when Violet withdrew her hand and turned her attention to the shadows, where Dunor had vanished. With a resolve in her voice, she declared, "The spectral realm itself is the source of its power and the only way to break the curse." "And I'm the only one who can do it."
Oliver experienced a panic attack, his heart racing. With a desperate voice, he exclaimed, "No, Violet, you can't!" "It's too dangerous, you said so yourself!"
With her eyes sparkling with unshed tears, Violet gave him a melancholic grin. Her voice hardly raised above a whisper, "I have to, Oliver," she murmured. "For you, Willow Grove, and my family. This is the only method to permanently break the curse."
Oliver extended his hands to take Violet's arms and gave her a fierce shake of his head. He questioned, his voice faltering, "But what about you?" "What if you get trapped, or worse?"
Violet's look softened, and she reached out to give Oliver a gentle cheek-cup. With a calming voice, she said, "I'll be okay, Oliver." I have to take care of this for everyone. You also need to assure me that you will stop Dunor at all costs."
Oliver's eyes began to flood up with tears, and he shook his head while holding Violet closer. With a broken voice, he muttered, "I can't lose you, Violet." "You're my best friend, I can't..."
Violet silenced him with her fingers on his lips. Her voice was forceful as she continued, "You won't lose me, Oliver." I swear, I'll figure out a way to return. But for the time being, you must put your trust in me and prevent Dunor from fully enacting the curse."
Oliver's heart ached from the weight of her words as he studied her face. He nodded at last, his shoulders drooping in surrender. His voice was hardly audible beyond a whisper when he murmured, "Alright, Violet." "I will carry it out. No matter what, I'll stop Dunor.
Violet smiled at him bitter sweetly, then turned and vanished into the darkness, leaving Oliver to bear the weight of her sacrifice and the difficult duty that waited for him.
Oliver watched her go, feeling a deep sense of loss and resolve as his fingers clenched around the rusty pocket watch he still held in his grasp. For the benefit of Violet and everyone else who had been harmed by the Sinclair family's curse, he was aware that he had to be successful.
Keeping that idea in mind, he started moving quickly to face Dunor and solve the eerie realm's mysteries, regardless of the consequences.