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The air thickened, turning heavy and suffocating, as if the entire house held its breath. A low rumble built beneath the floorboards, intensifying until the entire room shook violently.
The once-still air churned as though a storm had descended upon them, and the dim light flickered, casting erratic shadows across the walls.
Cheska flinched, her heart pounding in her chest as a black mist began to seep out of her skin. It coiled and writhed like a living thing, curling around her in slow, serpentine movements.
Her breath hitched as the realization dawned.
"What the hell? You didn't say anything about this!" she hissed, directing her words toward the whispers.
Her hands twitched, desperate to stop the ominous magic from spilling out, but they refused to obey. The mist seemed to take on a life of its own, moving with calculated intent, completely ignoring Cheska's frantic attempts to control it.