She silently watched the souls imprisoned in the cell she had created—sitting, indifferent, yet seething with wrath. Her head was held high, her heart burning with the sting of betrayal.

Draped in mourning clothes, Leah felt a twisted satisfaction in her appearance. It mirrored her grief—her rage.

She had been visiting the human world often, silently watching the lives of those she once loved.

“Felicia,” she whispered.

The soul stirred, struggling to stand. Hatred carved deep lines into Felicia’s face, yet she managed a slow, bitter smile.

“Are you asking your grandchildren for help?” Leah asked, amused.

“You don’t care,” Felicia spat, her voice trembling with fury as she strained against her invisible bonds.

Leah chuckled softly. “Just tell me if you are. I’d like to prepare myself. After all, it’s embarrassing when people peek into my life.”

Her smile sharpened. “It’s funny, isn’t it, being the villain in their story?”

Felicia glared, reading her too well. She knew what Leah was planning. What soul would want to remain in this suffocating darkness with her?

“Let us go, Leah. If it’s wealth you’re after, I’ll give it to you,” came Manuel’s voice from the shadows.

“Manuel, Manuel, my dear Manuel,” Leah mocked. Her form shimmered—her mourning gown turned to white, her face softened with false innocence.

“I’ll let you go,” she said sweetly, glancing around. “I won’t find peace here either. Let’s help each other. Because, truthfully, I still love you.”

She opened the cell slowly. The curtain rose. None of it was an accident—Leah knew exactly how to pull at their memories, how to twist their hearts. Then, she vanished.

“Manuel, let’s go,” Angely whispered.

“Leah is playing with us again,” Felicia muttered.

“If you want to stay, then stay,” Manuel snapped. “You’re the reason she’s still here.”

“What? You’re blaming me now? If you hadn’t cheated—if you hadn’t been such a womanizer—I wouldn’t have been dragged into this mess!” Felicia shot back.

From the shadows, Leah listened, laughter bubbling beneath her breath. The air around them grew heavy with her amusement. Her power bent reality—illusions made of memory and desire.

“All right,” her voice whispered faintly, “follow the light.”

“Stop arguing,” Angely urged. “We can finally find peace.”

Despite her hesitation, Felicia followed, drawn by the false warmth of hope.

Leah smiled coldly, twisting the illusion even tighter, feeding on their confusion.

“You won’t escape!” her voice thundered.

Two versions of Leah appeared—the gentle one and the twisted one.

The calm dissolved. Darkness crept in.

“Leave them alone,” the gentler Leah pleaded.

“Have you forgotten what they did to us?” the darker Leah hissed, eyes blazing.

“We need to forgive,” whispered the kind one. “Go on. Follow the light.”

Her smile was tender, fragile.

Angely looked back once more. “We’ll meet there, Leah. Thank you.”

“You’ve set us free,” Manuel added softly.

Then his voice hardened. “You’re still the same foolish girl.”

Angely shook her head. “You never learn.”

Leah stood still. They don’t know I’m just playing.

The illusion shattered. Darkness devoured everything again.

“Leah! Why are we still here?!” Angely screamed.

“I—I’m sorry,” the kind Leah sobbed.

The mourning gown darkened, its fabric twisting into something monstrous. Leah threw her head back and laughed—wild, echoing laughter that filled the void.

“Really? You believed that?”

She clutched her stomach, laughing harder.

“Leah!” Manuel shouted, slamming his fists against the barrier. His face burned with rage.

“You didn’t use your brains. It was too easy to fool you,” she mocked.

“How does it feel to be tricked by me?” Her smirk was sharp enough to cut.

Felicia glared. “We’ll drag you to hell, Leah.”

Leah grinned. “You’re already in hell—my hell.”

“We’ll get back at you,” Manuel said.

“Really?” Leah tilted her head, her voice dripping venom. “Let me have my revenge first. You’re the reason I can’t rest.”

“You won’t succeed,” Angely whispered. “Someone will help us. Your soul is alone, decaying in this place.”

“Rotting? No.” Leah’s voice rose, trembling with fury. “I’ll never forget what you did. My soul isn’t decaying—it’s alive. It’s burning.”

“You built this prison, Leah,” Felicia said coldly. “None of us are innocent—but this is your creation.”

A sudden force burst from Leah’s rage, throwing them to the ground. They cried out in pain.

“We will return your karma, Leah!” Felicia shouted.

Leah only laughed, stepping away into the shadows.

“Karma?” she echoed, almost playfully.

Karma against karma?

Let’s see who wins.

The karma I’ve carried since birth… since death. Let’s see how far it goes.

Emerging from the darkness, Leah looked upon the world she had built—constructed from lies, vengeance, and seething hate.

Her heart hardened like stone.

I will never forgive you.