“We’re getting tired of waiting, Felicia,” Angely muttered, frustration thick in her voice.

Felicia glanced at her but didn’t respond. She hadn’t taken Ashley’s soul yet—doing so would open the way for their escape from the twisted world Leah had created.

I’ll do whatever it takes to be free from this place. I refuse to let my soul rot here, she thought bitterly.

Tsk.

She suddenly spotted Leah again, watching them from a distance—with Ashley beside her. Felicia’s eyes widened. Ashley’s body was still alive in the real world, but her soul could travel. That meant the child could be freed now.

“Are you planning to trap her too?” Felicia asked Leah, quiet venom in her voice.

Leah smirked. “As I said before, I don’t involve the innocent.”

“Ashley, come with us,” Angely coaxed gently. “We’ll help your mommy. Something happened to you, right? We can help her.”

“Do you know my mom?” Ashley asked softly.

Angely nodded quickly, trying to earn the child’s trust. “Your grandmother used to tell us stories. She and I were close friends. That’s how I met your mom—Sharlene.”

Ashley listened, brow furrowed, trying to understand. She stepped closer.

This is the chance, Felicia thought.

But Leah swiftly pulled Ashley behind her, shielding the child.

“Ashley, you don’t belong here,” Leah said gently. “You need to return to your body.”

“But Grandma called me here,” Ashley said, confused. “She said I should bring Mommy.”

“I just miss your mother, that’s all,” Felicia said, forcing a smile. “I only want to talk to her.”

“Grandma, lying is bad,” Ashley replied, calm but firm.

Leah chuckled. “Imagine that—a child reminding you of basic morality.”

Felicia extended her hand through the cell’s bars. “Hold my hand, Ashley. You’ll know if I’m telling the truth.”

Leah stayed silent, eyes fixed on the child.

Felicia waited. Slowly, Ashley reached out. Felicia smiled as she touched the small hand for a few seconds—then whispered a curse:

“I swear, Ashley—you’ll never escape from here unless you bring your mother. Disobey me, and you’ll be trapped in this darkness forever.”

A sudden gust of wind roared through the chamber. The words of a soul held power—and Felicia had used it.

But Leah acted fast. She sealed Ashley away, preventing the curse from fully taking hold. The child’s soul would not be so easily captured.

Felicia narrowed her eyes at Leah. “What happened to your rule about not involving the innocent?”

Leah’s smile faded. Her cold stare met Felicia’s. “You’re really good at twisting things, Felicia.”

“You think I’ll sit here in silence?” Felicia spat. “I’ll return every ounce of pain you caused me. That’s karma.”

“Karma?” Leah scoffed. “And using a child to get what you want—is that ethical?”

“She’s the key to bringing Sharlene here.”

Felicia had always known Sharlene had a gift—visions, soul travel. Even though Sharlene wasn’t her blood relative, she was special. Felicia had once hoped to use her own grandchildren, but they refused. So she clung to Sharlene… easier to manipulate.

Now Ashley had come. But Leah wasn’t allowing her to be used.

“You really want to play this game?” Leah said, still smiling. “Let’s see what happens, Felicia.”

Suddenly, Ashley collapsed—her soul faltering under the spiritual pressure.

“Sharlene will blame you,” Felicia warned. “She’ll never forgive you if anything happens to her daughter.”

Leah didn’t answer. Her cold smile returned. Felicia felt something shift—pain ripped through her soul. She was being pulled violently into a memory.

She saw her younger self: strong, sharp-tongued, raising a terrified young Sharlene.

“Fix that, you useless girl!” she screamed.

Sharlene trembled, eyes averted. She didn’t dare speak.

Felicia’s punishment had always been cruel. She had tied the child up, forcing smoke into her lungs. She had found pleasure in hurting a child who wasn’t even hers.

Now, Felicia found herself inside that same sack, flames licking at her skin, her soul on fire. The pain was unbearable.

“LEAH!” she screamed. “Let me out of here!”

But she wasn’t alone. The other three trapped souls cried with her, begging to be freed.

“I’LL RETURN THIS PAIN, LEAH! I SWEAR TO YOU—I’LL RETURN IT!”

Leah appeared, unfazed, smiling. No sympathy—only amusement.

“I’ll gladly accept it, Felicia,” she said calmly. “Let’s play. I’m excited to see how far you’ll go.”

She sat on a throne, watching them suffer.

“Oh, I’m sorry—does it hurt?” she asked sarcastically.

Felicia couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. Her scorched soul trembled.

“I will gladly welcome Sharlene when she visits my palace,” Leah added, voice icy. “And you—Felicia—you still don’t even know how to use your soul’s abilities.”

She whispered one last thing before disappearing: “In time, you’ll understand.”

Then came Angely’s scream. “Leah!”

Angely appeared, naked, writhing and covered in worms.

“Take them off!” she begged.

Leah laughed. “Oh no—I’m afraid of worms too. Why don’t you ask your husband to help you?”

Her laughter echoed through the chamber as she vanished into the shadows.

Ashley, still asleep, curled up in a corner, small hands clenched into trembling fists.