A Warning in the Shadows

Back in the safety of her apartment, Maya couldn't shake the memory of the figure wearing Felix's face. The whispers were gone, but an oppressive silence lingered, heavier than before. She spent her days poring over Felix's notes and the documents they had collected, searching for anything that might hint at what they were up against.

One evening, as she sorted through the papers, a knock at her door startled her. She opened it to find an envelope lying on the floor. There was no sign of the person who had left it. Inside was a single photograph: the ancient tree, its branches now completely barren. Written beneath it in bold, jagged letters were the words: "The end is the beginning."

Maya brought the photograph to Mr. Park, her hands trembling. He examined it carefully, his expression grim. "Someone's trying to send a message," he said. "But whether it's a warning or a threat, we can't ignore it."

The following night, Maya dreamed of Felix again. This time, he stood in the clearing, his expression sorrowful. "You're not ready," he said, his voice distant. "It's coming, Maya. And you have to be stronger."

She woke with a start, his words echoing in her mind. Whatever they were dealing with, it was far from over. But she wasn't about to back down. She had faced the darkness before, and she would do it again. For Felix. For herself. For everyone the curse had touched.