Evelise's tone softened, her voice carrying a faint warmth that contrasted the cold air around them. Oshan and Sid stayed silent, both drawn in by her calm, reflective manner.
"When I entered the room, I expected dust and ruin, but… it was the same. Exactly as I left it before my wedding day. The red curtains, the books, my old notes… even the bed. Everything was untouched. It was as if time had stopped inside that room."
Her hands clenched slightly as she continued.
"I worked quickly. I packed what I needed— clothes, herbs, journals, the tools I couldn't replace. I thought I was almost done when I heard the sound. The door slammed behind me."
Evelise's eyes flickered with memory.
"I turned, shotgun ready, but what I saw… made me drop it."
Her voice trembled, just slightly.
"The statue. The one by the door— it had moved. It bowed. I recognized that motion. I've seen it hundreds of times before."
Evelise's expression darkened, her eyes softening with pain.
