Who are you?

John, eager to explore the doorway once more, found himself at a loss for the way. In a stroke of serendipity, his attention was drawn to a sword lying on the floor, its presence suggesting a potential key to unlocking the path he sought.

He attempted to pick it up, but as soon as he touched the sword, he began descending into an endless pit. The fall seemed to stretch on for an eternity. Just when he thought it was truly boundless, he suddenly touched the ground. Upon landing, he struggled to get back on his feet.

Surveying his surroundings, John discovered an ancient village in flames, with every structure and inhabitant engulfed in the fiery chaos. Overwhelmed with shock, he desperately searched for a means to extinguish the blaze. Spotting a bucket of water near a large well, he rushed towards it. However, his attempts to pick it up proved futile as his hands inexplicably passed through it. Perplexed, he tried repeatedly, yet the mysterious phenomenon persisted.

In his quest to find survivors, John was drawn by the screams of a little girl. Following the sound led him to a small house where, to his frustration, he couldn't physically touch the door. Undeterred, he entered through an open section and called out for the girl. Despite the raging flames around him, he felt no heat. Searching through the hall and into the kitchen, he discovered the crying girl huddled in a corner.

John, perplexed, approached the crying girl and attempted to assist her, only to pass through her as if she were insubstantial. Bewildered by this strange occurrence, he pondered the inexplicable events unfolding around him.

"What is happening to me? Am I dead? What is this place? What happened here? Why is everything burning? Is this hell?"

John questioned, grappling with the bewildering circumstances surrounding him.

The girl's tears persisted, oblivious to John's cries for help. His desperate screams echoed unheard, even by the inconsolable girl. Unable to bear the impending tragedy, he left the house, shielding himself from witnessing her inevitable demise. As he stepped outside, the girl's final scream pierced the air, marking the culmination of a tragic moment.

Abandoning the heart-wrenching scenes, John pressed on, witnessing more death and destruction. Feeling powerless, he aimed to exit the town. Along the way, he encountered a group of people atop donkeys who appeared to be missionaries.

Observing the missionaries standing atop the hills on the town's outskirts, John couldn't comprehend their apparent indifference. Puzzled by their inaction and detached gaze, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. "Why aren't they helping these people? Why are they standing there like they don't care? Why are they watching it like they are emotionless people? Something isn't right," John thought.

Approaching the missionaries to get a closer look at their faces, John felt a sense of familiarity with one of them. With each step, he walked closer, seeking recognition and answers.

"June… wake up"

John awoke, his eyes filled with fear as he glanced at Natasha. She asked,

"What is wrong with you? You are always out of the world when we are on a job. Not to mention how scared you become."

John didn't say anything. He looked at the sword, realizing it held the story of the past. He understood that beneath the surface of a mere family murder, there was a much more complex and haunting history.

He got up and looked for the door to the well again. He said to Natasha,

"Nat, I've been having nightmares lately, but there's something more unsettling. It feels like the nightmares are trying to convey a message,"

Natasha gazed at him, her familiarity with John revealing the unusual shift in his demeanor. His newfound fear was uncharacteristic, and he, too, realized the change. The exorcism on Donna seemed to be the turning point, possibly influenced by the haunting words spoken by the ghost.

The life he lived, the paths he followed, the things he believed—everything felt wrong to him. From the beginning, John always felt that not even his name was real. Only by discovering the truth, whether by finding his parents or seeking information about his birth, could he unravel the mystery.

One day, the nun from the church discovered John outside and decided to designate that day as his birthday, giving him a name. Since then, he has been raised in the church and the nearby orphanage.

Contemplating everything and wandering in search of the well's entrance, John finally located it. Although the well looked the same, its position had changed. The handprint created by Natasha with Donna's hand still remained. John looked at Natasha and she started to fly in front.

Suddenly he heard some footsteps, John turned around and spotted a shadow approaching. He quickly hid behind a wall to observe. Natasha, sensing something, swiftly flew to investigate. She unexpectedly encountered the same woman John had seen earlier. A collision occurred, both falling backward, and Natasha began screaming.

"She's a ghost... She touched me... She's gonna kill me... Oh God... Please help me…"

The woman became scared and said,

"I'm not a ghost. Why are you screaming like that?"

John slowly came near Natasha and looked at her. He said,

"Give me a break"

John approached the woman and offered a helping hand to help her up. Natasha pouted and sat there, seemingly angry.

John looked at the woman and asked her,

"Who are you, ma'am? Why are you here in this haunted house? This isn't a safe place for you. But I do believe that you have some connection with this place."

She looked at him and said,

"John, I know you. I've been waiting for you for years. Someone told me that this day would come, and that person killed my family."

John became suspicious. He was amazed that she knew his name and moreover she touched Natasha and talked to her. He asked,

"If you know me and you were waiting for me, then why did you run that day? How can you see Natasha?"

The woman didn't reply. She looked down, sitting as if in pain. John sat beside her and said,

"You can trust me. If you were waiting for me, then you should tell me everything."

She looked at him, exhaled, and began talking,

"My name is Priya. Your suspicion is right. I'm the girl who ran away from this house 20 years ago. My family was killed by something before that day. It was all my fault. I played with entities I shouldn't have."

Saying that, Priya started crying. John tried to comfort her by touching her shoulder. She wiped her eyes and continued,

"In my childhood, our residence was a modest village nestled near the outskirts of town. Struggling in the shadows, it felt as if our existence went unnoticed, burdened by poverty to the extent of going without meals on certain days. The whispers in the community hinted that our plight was tied to the forbidden nature of our clan, amplifying the challenges we faced."

Overcome with emotion, she began shedding tears once more. Natasha approached, joining them, and knelt down in front of her. The two of them, curious yet empathetic, listened intently to Priya's story, sensing the depth of emotion that accompanied her words. Priya's recounting carried a poignant weight, rendering the atmosphere more charged with her emotional connection to the narrative.

John said,

"Don't let the emotions consume you. It happened years ago, and dwelling on it won't change anything. No matter what, we have to keep living. Within us, the memories of our loved ones will endure,"

Natasha offered a counseling perspective, encouraging resilience amidst the echoes of past pain."

Priya gazed at John, finding resonance in his wise words coming from a teenage boy. His thoughtful perspective instilled a belief within her that he might be the right person to share the life story she has to tell. She continued,

"In the midst of our impoverished existence, happiness prevailed in our family. Even on days when our plates were empty, my grandfather wove enchanting tales from his past life. The captivating narratives became a source of joy, magically diverting our attention from hunger and wrapping us in the warmth of shared stories."

She wiped her eyes and said,

"Grandfather was an extraordinary person. His wisdom and teachings have shaped who I am today. Being the best energy bender of his time, his legacy undoubtedly left a profound impact on my understanding and abilities. Still they are useless because of them."

John become more enthusiastic and asked,

"Them? Who are they?"

The woman's gaze shifted downward, a hint of fear apparent in her demeanor. When she finally locked eyes with him, her face mirrored a mixture of apprehension and gravity. With a deep breath, she began,

"The missionaries."

During this moment, the black and white-furred cat sat nearby, observing them with keen interest. Its curiosity piqued, as if silently questioning what John's intentions were in the unfolding scene.