The Ritual

The stone circle was older than the village itself. Its massive stones, covered in ancient symbols and markings, stood like sentinels, silent witnesses to centuries of tragedy and ritual. Amelia stepped into the center, feeling the weight of history pressing down on her shoulders.

The Watcher raised his arms, and the air around them began to hum with a strange energy. The fog seemed to close in tighter, the coldness of it seeping into her bones. She could hear the whispers again, the voices of those who had come before her, those who had performed this very ritual. But there were no words of comfort in their murmurs. Only sorrow.

Liam stood just outside the circle, his face pale and filled with anguish. "Amelia," he cried out, his voice filled with desperation. "Please, don't do this. You don't have to sacrifice yourself."

But Amelia didn't respond. She had made her choice. She had to save Eldridge. She couldn't let the curse continue to claim lives.

The Watcher's voice rang out, clear and commanding. "It is time."

Amelia closed her eyes and took a deep breath. As the Watcher began to chant, the stones around her began to glow with a faint, otherworldly light. The air crackled with energy, and Amelia felt the ground beneath her feet tremble. A surge of power coursed through her, and she could feel the curse—like a dark shadow—coiling around her, pressing against her heart.

Pain shot through her chest as memories began to unravel. Her childhood, the laughter of her family, her first meeting with Liam—all of it started to fade, slipping through her mind like sand in an hourglass.

"Remember me," Liam's voice whispered from the edge of the circle, full of helplessness. "Please, remember us."

But Amelia couldn't hold on. The energy of the ritual was too strong. It was as if something deep inside her was being ripped apart.

Her vision blurred, and she collapsed to her knees. The last thing she saw before everything went dark was Liam's face, his expression filled with fear and love, his outstretched hand reaching toward her.