Chapter 53: Victoria’s Attack

Victoria seethed, her rage burning like an uncontrollable fire. Everything—everything—had been leading to this moment. She had waited, suffered, and fought for her second chance.

And now?

Some nameless soul had stolen it right out of her grasp.

This wasn't how it was supposed to happen.

"That was supposed to be me!" Victoria's voice echoed, reverberating like a violent storm through the dimly lit room. Shadows stretched unnaturally as her presence thickened, her fury turning the air ice-cold.

The thing inside Ellie's body—that impostor—simply smiled. "Oh, Victoria. Still throwing tantrums like a child?"

That mocking tone sent Victoria over the edge.

With a snarl, she lunged, her form twisting into a blur of dark energy as she crashed into the thief wearing Ellie's face. The walls shuddered, the lights flickered violently, and an unseen force sent furniture flying.

The imposter let out a low, amused chuckle, unmoved by Victoria's wrath. "You think you can harm me?" It tilted Ellie's head, a slow smirk forming. "You are nothing but a whisper in the wind, Victoria. Weak. Powerless."

Victoria's rage doubled.

"You stole what was meant for me!" Her voice was razor-sharp, filled with betrayal and loathing. "I will make you regret it."

Dark mist curled around her, tendrils of pure fury lashing out. The air vibrated, filled with the sound of an unnatural screech, like the very fabric of reality was ripping apart.

The windows shattered, shards of glass raining down like deadly daggers. Ben shielded his face, his heart pounding as he watched in horror.

"Victoria, stop!" he shouted, his voice drowned out by the roaring chaos around him.

But she didn't hear him. She didn't care.

The impostor laughed, unfazed by the destruction. "You're pathetic," it taunted. "A ghost, screaming for a life that was never meant to be yours. Face it, Victoria—you died, and the world moved on."

Victoria howled in fury, her very essence trembling with frustration. "I will rip you apart!"*

She launched herself forward, her hands clawing through Ellie's body, intending to wrench the soul out—to destroy it.

But the second she touched it—

A shockwave exploded outward.

Victoria screamed, blinding pain ripping through her ghostly form as if she had touched pure fire. She was thrown back, her vision blurring as her body flickered in and out of existence.

She gasped, feeling something she hadn't felt in years—

Weakness.

"W-what… what are you?" she hissed, staggering to stay visible.

The thing inside Ellie sighed, looking down at its own hands before grinning up at her. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

Victoria trembled, rage boiling inside her, but something unfamiliar slithered in too.

Fear.

For the first time since she died—she felt real, tangible fear.

Because whatever had taken Ellie's body…

It wasn't just a soul.

It was something far worse.