CHAPTER 12 Not a Curse

  Cynthia's POV

  "When I witnessed Aiden's concern for Nancy and his indifference toward me, it pierced my heart with a pain worse than all the injuries I had just endured. I felt overwhelmingly exhausted, and my eyelids grew heavy. It wouldn't be so bad to let go and die like this.

  "You can't sleep... Wake up... Cyn..." A gentle yet resolute voice echoed in my ears, calling out to me persistently.

  "Who is it?" I asked, suddenly opening my eyes. I found myself lying in darkness, surrounded by the scent of death. Struggling to sit up, I realized I was bound by an invisible force, rendering me immobile.

  "Do you want to live?" The gentle female voice spoke again. There was an inexplicable trust and closeness I felt towards her.

  "I do!"

  "Then stand up."

  "I can't; something is holding me back."

  "No one can bind you except yourself."

  With her words, a chorus of jumbled voices was around me, talking about me.