Darkness swallowed the entire hallway.
Rhea couldn't see Adrian.
She couldn't even see her own hands.
Only the cold.
Only the breathing.
Only the presence circling them like a predator.
"Adrian?" she whispered, voice trembling.
"I'm right here," he said, gripping her hand tighter. "Don't let go."
But suddenly—
Something pulled her hand away from his.
Rhea gasped. "Adrian—!"
He reached for her blindly. "Rhea, stay still! I'm coming!"
But she wasn't alone.
A cold whisper brushed her ear:
"Rhea… Malik."
Her blood turned to ice.
The ghost… knew her name.
"How—how do you know me?" she whispered, her voice barely a breath.
The ghost's broken laugh echoed like shattering glass.
"He told me about you. Long before you were born."
Rhea froze.
Before she was born?
What did that even mean?
A dim light flickered at the end of the hall—just enough to reveal the shape of the ghost.
Her long hair floated as if underwater.
Her eyes were hollow sockets.
Her skin cracked like old porcelain.
But her lips curled into a twisted smile.
"You're the girl tied to Adrian's fate… even before he knew your face."
Rhea backed away until her back hit the wall. "You're lying."
"Am I?" the ghost hissed. "You carry the same mark as she did."
Adrian's voice cut through the darkness like a blade:
"DON'T listen to her!"
His tone wasn't angry—
It was terrified.
The ghost turned toward him slowly.
"You never told her, Adrian."
Rhea looked between them, her chest tightening. "Told me what?"
Adrian held his breath. His jaw clenched. His fists tightened. The truth was something he didn't want her to hear—not like this.
The ghost drifted toward Rhea, head tilting unnaturally.
"You are the second girl with the same birthmark… the same destiny… the same curse."
Rhea's heart dropped.
"What birthmark?" she whispered.
The ghost lifted a finger and pointed—to the exact spot on Rhea's left collarbone.
The one she always thought was just a tiny reddish mole.
Rhea slapped her hand over it instinctively.
"No…" she breathed.
Adrian finally reached her, grabbing her shoulders protectively.
"Rhea," he said, voice low but firm, "listen to me. Whatever she says—"
But the ghost screamed suddenly, its voice shaking the mansion walls.
"She will die the same way I did!"
Rhea jolted back. Adrian stepped in front of her.
"Stop!" he roared. "You're not taking her!"
The shadow-woman's form twisted into a monstrous shape.
"You can't change the curse, Adrian Knight! You offered her life in exchange for yours. She is tied to you—your blood, your fate, your death!"
Rhea's knees went weak.
Adrian hissed between clenched teeth, "Enough."
The ghost lunged—
Adrian shoved Rhea behind a pillar, shielding her with his entire body.
The ghost collided with him, knocking him backwards.
"ADRIAN!" Rhea cried, reaching for him.
He slid across the floor harshly, hitting the wall. He groaned, clutching his side.
The ghost hovered above him.
"You broke the rules," it whispered. "You chose love. And now both of you will pay."
She turned toward Rhea.
"No—stay away from her!" Adrian shouted, forcing himself up.
But the ghost reached Rhea first.
A cold hand wrapped around Rhea's throat.
Rhea gasped, choking on icy air. Her fingers clawed at the invisible grip, heart racing.
"Let… me… go…"
The ghost whispered:
"You were chosen the moment you took his name… Knight."
Rhea's lungs burned. Her vision blurred. She tried to scream, but no sound came out.
Adrian staggered forward, his voice raw with desperation.
"RHEA!"
He crashed into the ghost with the last ounce of his strength, knocking the shadow away from her. The choking grip released.
Rhea collapsed to the floor, coughing, tears streaming.
Adrian wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.
"Rhea… stay with me," he whispered, his forehead against hers. His voice shook. "I won't let anything take you. Not even the curse."
The lights flickered violently—
The ghost screeched, retreating into the walls like smoke.
Rhea buried her face against Adrian's chest as the cold presence faded.
The mansion fell silent again.
Adrian held her trembling body.
For the first time, Rhea felt it clearly—
Adrian wasn't just protecting her.
He was afraid of losing her.