Chapter 4!

Julia and I entered the antique shop; I know I should've told my mom about the visions, but she believes I'm making it up. I hope I'm able to find the meaning behind the sentence in that book and why Marlene is so pissed. 

I could make things right. Julia and I looked at each other, seeing the older woman. She had a massive mole on her chin, and her hair and clothes were dirty. She gestured to me to come closer. 'You must follow me inside, but your friend mustn't enter and shall wait here,' the woman said. 

Julia and I looked at each other with a questionable expression, but she assured me to go in. 

"Please wait here for me! If I don't come out sooner, get help," I said. 

With that, I entered a dark room; the only light was a candle that didn't brighten up the place. However, the old dusty books were the first that caught my eye, and as I looked around, I noticed a book similar to Grandma Agatha's. 

I would've picked it up, but the woman stopped me. When I turned around, it wasn't the older woman but a beautiful lady wearing a red ball gown and brown hair. 

Mila Anderson, you must have met my daughter, Marlene," the woman said.

"How do you know my name? Because I didn't tell you my name, neither did I say anything about what I came here for," I replied. 

"I know you're here to translate the small passage in that book, but I can't tell you yet," she said. 

I'm starting to be annoyed with these people because I only wanted to know why Grandma kept those dolls in that room and what that stupid passage meant. 

"Dear, your grandmother took everything from my family; I wouldn't let you leave because today is the day I've waited to take what Agatha desired most in this world! You," she said. 

Then, as I tried to scream for Julia, I noticed the woman's claws—- "What are you?" I asked. 

"You'll know when I'm done," she said. 

Before I could protest, we reappeared in front of a bridge, and I was tied to the pole, and people chanted in an unknown language. However, I could tell they wanted to kill me; then I saw Marlene hiding behind the tree—-she wasn't dead, and her eyes weren't pitch black. 

She was beautiful, her black hair flowing carelessly in the wind and her green eyes staring at me. Then I called out for her. However, there was no sound. "Grandma Agatha, please help me," I faintly said. 

I closed my eyes as a tear rolled down my cheek, and then, I heard horrid screaming, and upon opening my eyes—-Grandma held the woman in a chokehold. "How dare you hurt my granddaughter, Ingrid?" She screamed. 

"Grandma, don't hurt her, please!" I pleaded. 

If she hurt her, then I'll suffer more pain, and Grandma runs towards me, quickly cutting the ropes with her dagger. I recognized it because I saw it when my mom and I were cleaning grandma's bedroom—-I wanted to take it, but my mom wouldn't let me. 

Upon freeing me, I saw Ingrid running towards me with a similar dagger. And I quickly pushed Grandma Agatha out of the way, and she stabbed the sword on my side. I dropped into grandma's arms, who mumbled: "For you shall suffer a pain greater than what you did to my granddaughter, I curse you to live as the hideous monster Crideo! {A Wolf-Elephant like creature}" she mumbled in an unknown language—a sentence before Ingrid started screaming in agony on the ground. 

The original: I, Agatha Durham, curse Ingrid Kaiser to suffer pain more significant than mine and to live with the hideous monster Crideo! 

I wanted to know what grandma said, but I couldn't figure it out—-it sounded like one of the passages in her book. "Let's go back to the future, and everything that happens today will be like a dream to her!" Grandma Agatha said.

I understood that because she didn't recite in whatever language she previously spoke. Before anything, I was in my room, and my mom held my hand tightly. "Mom, where am I?" I asked. 

"Mila, I'm so glad you're okay! If it weren't for Julia, you'd be stuck in that shop because you fainted and blood was all over your top," she said. 

"I didn't ask that! Where is Grandma Agatha? Where is Julia?" I asked. 

"Princess, stop talking about grandma. She is not with us anymore! Also, Julia went home with her parents, but she'll come visit tomorrow," she said. 

I know if I told her that grandma isn't dead and that I could see ghosts—-she would send me to Dr. Browning, my psychiatrist, or think I'm delirious. However, I must find a way to prove to my mom that I'm not making these things. 

"Mom, I'm hungry; please buy me something to eat," I said. 

I needed to get her out of there because I wanted to see if Marlene would come back. 

"Alright, I'll go ask Nurse Huang," she said, kissing my forehead. 

With that, my mom left, and as soon as the door closed, I saw Marlene—- "You are not dead? I called out for you to help me," I said. 

"Me? Help you? After what your grandmother did to my mother and me," Marlene grimly said. 

She laughed menacingly, and I knew she wouldn't help me. "Marlene, I know grandma was horrible to your family, but help me figure out what that said, and then I'll find a way to break the curse bestowed upon your mother," I said. 

I promise that I don't know if I can break the curse. "You promise?" Marlene asked. 

"Yes, I promise, and if I break it, you can take over my soul," I replied. 

"If you tricked me, I shall do as you say!" Marlene said. 

I gave her a slight nod, and she started telling me the meaning behind the passage: "I, Agatha Durham, placed a spell upon the Caldwell family and children of Bathurst, for their souls belong to me! I shall ensure everyone in Bathurst remains unhappy, and whoever dared to say my name shall be under my control!"