THE PRICE OF BEING CHOSEN

The town of Elmridge was just waking up when Lilith and Lena returned.

No one knew what had happened by the lake. No one felt the shift in the air.

But Lilith knew.

She could feel it in the silence between the wind, in the way her shadow no longer trembled behind her.

The curse was broken.

But the story wasn't over.

Agatha stood on the porch when Lilith arrived. She didn't speak — just opened her arms.

And for the first time in years, Lilith let herself fall into them.

"You knew all along," she whispered into her mother's shoulder.

Agatha didn't deny it.

"I tried to protect you the only way I knew how. By hiding it."

"You should've told me."

"You wouldn't have believed me."

Lilith pulled away, looking into her mother's tired eyes.

"You're right," she said. "But I believe now."

Later that night, Lilith sat alone by the fireplace, Lena asleep in the next room.

She turned the pendant over in her hands its glow gone, but its weight still heavy.

There was something comforting about the silence now.

Not empty. Not haunted.

Just... quiet.

She thought of the others the children who had vanished that summer.

Lena was saved.

But what about the rest?

And then she heard it.

A soft knock at the door.

Three slow taps.

Her heart stopped.

She opened the door.

But no one stood there.

Only a small box. Wrapped in black ribbon.

Inside was a note.

You kept your promise. So we kept ours.

There's still more to do. But not tonight.

Rest, Lilith. For now, you are free.

At the bottom of the note was a single symbol the same one carved into the old tree by the lake.

A sigil of binding.

Of balance.

Of debt.

Lilith stood under the moonlight, staring up at the stars.

She'd been chosen once, by accident.

Now she was chosen by fate.

And though the darkness had been pushed back, it was still out there.

Waiting.

Watching.

But this time, it wouldn't catch her off guard.

Because Lilith Aduna was ready.

PART TWO COMING SOON