Whispers of the Victorian House

Chapter 39- Twists of Fate

As the night grew darker, Tabitha fell into a deep slumber while Damon and Brian drifted off on the huge couch downstairs. Earlier that evening, they had heard a blood-curdling scream and wanted to investigate if there was anything else to be heard. 

Diya, on the other hand, had pledged to help the little girl trapped in the basement but was hesitant to go down again. She had discovered a way to release the girl's soul and those of her companions, but she remained uncertain if it would work. The atmosphere was eerie, and the air was thick with mystery and intrigue as they all waited in anticipation for what was to come.

As she tiptoed down the stairs, she felt like a ninja on a secret mission. When she reached the bottom, she peeked over the couch and saw Brian and Damon snoring away like a couple of walruses. She couldn't help but stifle a giggle at the hilarious sight.

With bated breath, Diya clutched the Book of Shadows and inched towards the basement door. Her heart raced with anticipation as she knew what lay ahead - a cold and dark abyss that held the key to finding the little girl who had called out for her help. With a steadying hand, she pushed open the door and descended into the gloom. 

The air was thick with an eerie silence, broken only by the sound of her footsteps echoing through the empty space. A chill ran down Diya's spine as she drew closer to her goal. And just before closing the door, she flicked on the basement lights, watching as they slowly illuminated the room and revealed its secrets.

Diya spoke in a hushed tone, just above a whisper, carefully avoiding any noise that could disturb the slumber of those upstairs. She called out for the little girl with a soft and gentle voice, hoping to locate her without causing any disruption to the peacefulness of the house.

"I've been waiting for you," a sudden voice sounded from behind her.

Diya was startled and felt a chill run down her spine. Her heart was pounding so loudly that she thought it might jump out of her chest, do a little jig, and then jump back in - just in case it missed a beat. As she turned around, Diya noticed a faint figure of a little girl with a beaming smile, standing right in front of her. Without any hesitation, Diya extended her hand holding the Book of Shadows and presented it to the translucent child with confidence and assurance.

"This book can help you and your friends escape this basement," Diya said, holding the book out towards the girl. "I just need your help."

"Tell me what you need," the girl replied with a nod.

"I need you to listen carefully," Diya said, looking directly into the girl's eyes. "The ritual must be performed again in this basement by a Baxter. You and your friends must be sacrificed again."

The girl's face twisted in fear but then turned menacing. "I thought you were here to help me," she said.

"Please listen to me fully," Diya said patiently. "Before they can sacrifice you and your friends, the reverse curse must be read to end the ritual for good."

The girl looked at Diya with suspicion. "Have you told Caleb Baxter anything?" she asked.

Diya was taken aback by the little girl's knowledge and asked, "How did you know all that?"

"As I told you before, I know everything," replied the girl.

Diya then asked, "Can someone who is not from the Baxter family perform the ritual and reverse the curse?"

The girl smiled creepily and said, "The one who started it must end it."

Diya was determined to help Caleb and said, "I am willing to reverse the curse on his behalf, but I don't want him to get hurt."

The girl replied, "It is not in my hands for anyone to get hurt in the process of reversing the curse. If he is meant to get hurt, then so must be it."

Diya was taken aback by the girl's statement and looked at her with concern. "Are you sure? I don't want anyone to get hurt."

The girl looked at Diya with a dark sense and said, "I cannot control what happens during the ritual. All I know is that whoever started the curse must end it."

The air was thick with an eerie silence as Diya stood there, lost in thoughts. With a heavy heart, she knew she had to reveal the truth to Caleb about the sacrifice and the reverse curse. However, there was something else that was bothering her. 

As she watched the little girl gazing at the shrine, she couldn't help but feel that there was more to her fear than just the sacrifice itself. The way the girl looked at the shrine was filled with an inexplicable mystery, and Diya couldn't shake off the feeling that there was something else going on beneath the surface.

"You trust me, so tell me, what are you afraid of?" Diya asked the little girl.

"You wouldn't know what will happen when the ritual begins. The innocent will turn evil, promises will be broken, and the curse-," the girl's voice trailed off, her fear evident.

Diya empathized with the distressed little girl in front of her. She vividly remembered the day when she had stumbled upon Caleb in a trance-like state in the basement, and that memory still sent shivers down her spine. However, since then, a lot has changed between Caleb and Diya, and she has come to trust him implicitly. She believed that Caleb would act in the best interest of everyone when the need arose.

"The only way to reverse the curse is through love," the girl continued.

Diya found herself in a difficult situation as she struggled to convey the concept of the sacrifice and the reverse curse to Caleb. She felt completely clueless as to how he would receive this information and was at a loss as to how to approach the topic with him.

"He would definitely agree to reverse the curse, as he yearns to end it too. However, it all depends on you now," the girl stated as if she had read Diya's thoughts.

"How did you-" Diya was taken aback. "Hold on, what do you mean by 'it all depends on me'?" she questioned the girl with confusion.

"You'll understand when the time is right," the girl replied before vanishing into thin air, leaving Diya perplexed.

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💕What do you think Caleb's reaction would be to this?