Leah stood by the bedside of the frail old man, her eyes blazing with fury. This was the man who had taken everything from her—the one who had stolen her child and her peace. Her anger boiled beneath the surface, reigniting the hatred she thought she had buried long ago.
Let's see if he still remembers me, she thought with a bitter smirk.
Disguised as a nurse to heighten the thrill, she slipped silently into the hospital room. Her presence caused the old man to stir.
"You know the old man is sleeping here," Raymundo said with disdain, still clinging to his pride even in his frailty.
"Sorry, sir," she replied softly, lowering her gaze.
He studied her, suspicious and uneasy, as if she'd pay dearly for the smallest misstep. Leah turned away, pretending to look out the window at the tall buildings.
"Damn it. If you're not going to do anything here, just leave," Raymundo grumbled, annoyed.
Tears welled in her eyes. As she began to cry, Raymundo's face changed. A shadow of fear crossed his features. Something unexplainable was happening—and he felt it deep in his bones.
He frantically reached for the call button. Leah kept crying.
"W—Who are you? I'm not afraid of you!" Raymundo snapped, trying to hold his composure.
"Daddy... Daddy..." she whispered.
His face went pale. Panic overtook him. "Why? Why, Dad?" She screamed, her voice filled with grief and rage.
"C–Carmela?" he stammered.
Leah only smirked. She pretended to be Carmela at first… before revealing her true identity.
"C–Carmela, please stop. We'll be together soon. Just don't disturb your father right now," he begged, trembling.
"D–Daddy, why? Why did you do it?" she demanded, stepping closer, her feet now floating above the ground.
He gasped.
"C–Carmela!" He cried again, his hand still pressing the nurse button in desperation.
"Nurse! Nurse! Help!" he yelled. "Child, I will explain—"
"Why did you kill me?! What did you do to my child?! What have I ever done to deserve this!?" Leah wailed. She painted a horrifying picture of Carmela's pitiful fate.
Raymundo screamed, but no one seemed to hear.
"Nurse! Nurse!" He shouted again.
Leah's hands slowly reached toward him, tightening around his neck. Her smirk widened as she watched him struggle.
I will kill you slowly, she thought.
Raymundo weakly tried to remove her grip.
"C–Carmela," he choked.
"I'm not Carmela. Too bad your daughter doesn't even want to see you, Dad," she whispered.
She leaned close to his ear. "Surprise," she hissed, savoring the horror on his face.
"L–Leah…" he finally realized.
"Yeah, it's me, Raymundo. The woman you buried alive. I've come back from the depths to drag you down with me."
He shook his head violently.
"H–Help…" he croaked.
She laughed maniacally.
"Do you remember what you did to me? To my family? Even in death, you're not safe, Raymundo. You'll never be safe!" Her fury erupted like a storm.
Footsteps echoed in the hallway. The nurse arrived, shocked by what she saw.
"Don Raymundo? Don Raymundo!" She cried, rushing over.
"Help! Help!" the nurse panicked.
"He's choking himself! He's so strong! Help us loosen his grip around his neck!"
Leah faded into the shadows, her laughter growing louder as she vanished into darkness.
Then, Carmela appeared before her.
She wasn't crying this time—just watching, quietly searching.
"Leah," she said gently.
Leah looked at her. Carmela opened her hand.
"Come on. Let's go to the light, Leah. That's where you belong. Don't linger in the darkness. Don't let anger consume you," she pleaded.
"I'm not going to the light. I know the cost of revenge—even after death," Leah said coldly, refusing her hand.
"How long will you be like this?" Carmela asked, sorrow filling her voice.
"Until my anger runs out," Leah replied sharply. "You've found what you were looking for, Carmela. Now you can rest."
"I'll come for you one last time, Leah. If you refuse again… you'll be imprisoned here forever." Carmela's figure turned into dazzling light and faded.
Leah exhaled deeply. Her other self vanished into the void.
She visited her child's unmarked grave—still nameless, still alone.
If they find you and unearth you, you'll see the light too, she thought, touching the mound gently.
Child, have you seen the light? Have you been there already? I'm sorry I can't be with you. Mommy still has unfinished business.
But something caught her eye—fresh flowers had been placed on the grave.
Does Sharlene know? she wondered.
She returned to the palace she had built in the darkness, caressing the imprisoned soul of the child.
Then she met a pair of watching eyes—Manuel.
He didn't say a word at first.
"What must I do to free Ashley?" he asked.
The two others with him were stunned. Leah stayed quiet, waiting for their reactions.
"Ask Felicia," she answered curtly.
"You know the answer, Leah," Felicia said firmly.
"Absorb the curse. Reverse it, Manuel. Can you do that?" Leah challenged him.
"Let the child go," he insisted.
Leah sighed and slowly freed Ashley.
"Reverse the curse, Manuel," she said again.
"In exchange, my soul will rot here for eternity," Manuel declared. "Ashley, take care of your mommy for me. I will rot in this darkness."
And with a smile, he did it. Ashley was free from Felicia's curse.
They stepped into the shadows, Leah guiding the child to her rightful place.
"Uncle, thank you. I know Mom will return," Ashley said gratefully.
Manuel smiled. "I'm happy to see you again, Ellena. The little version of Sharlene Ellena and Carmela," he said fondly.
Together, they drifted into the endless dark.