HEART OF ICE

UntitledChapter 19 — Blood Sacrifice

The night felt heavier than ever before.

Rain hammered against the roof of Davis's mansion as if the heavens themselves were delivering a final warning. Thunder ripped through the sky again and again, and every flash of lightning that entered through the windows made the room look like a doorway to hell.

Inside the large bedroom…

Rehema lay weak on the bed, worse than before.

Her body trembled faintly beneath the blankets. Dark veins had spread across her neck and arms like roots of darkness growing beneath her skin. Her breathing was uneven… painful.

"Aaaahhh…" she cried softly, clutching her stomach.

Davis, sitting beside her, felt his heart shatter piece by piece.

For the first time since chasing wealth and power—

he regretted everything.

Slowly, he adjusted her carefully on the bed while tears rolled down his face.

"I'm sorry…" he whispered painfully. "I'm sorry for bringing this curse into your life…"

Rehema slowly opened her eyes.

Though weak, they still carried the same love she had always given him.

"Don't blame yourself…" she said weakly. "I chose to stay…"

But suddenly—

her stomach tightened violently.

"AAAAAHHH!"

Her body arched in agony.

"Rehema!" Davis grabbed her in panic.

Nearby, Neema began crying helplessly.

"All of this…" she whispered while trembling, "we did it to protect our children…"

Tamimu stood silently in the corner, unable to speak.

Everything was collapsing before their eyes.

And none of them had the power to stop it.

Suddenly, Davis stood up.

His face darkened with desperation.

"There's still someone who can help us."

Everyone looked at him.

"Bibi Lulu."

The Journey Through Darkness

Minutes later, they were driving through the storm.

Rain battered the windows violently while thunder echoed through the roads.

No one spoke.

Only the sound of the storm filled the silence.

Inside the car…

Rehema rested weakly on Neema's lap, struggling to breathe. Her hands were ice cold.

"Sister…" she whispered painfully. "I'm scared…"

Neema hugged her tightly as tears streamed down her face.

"You're not going to die. Do you hear me? You won't die."

But deep inside—

even she no longer believed her own words.

When they finally arrived at Bibi Lulu's hut deep inside the forest…

the wind suddenly stopped.

An unnatural silence swallowed everything.

A small fire burned outside the hut with a strange green glow.

Bibi Lulu sat beside it as if she had been expecting them all along.

Her eyes carried deep sorrow.

"You came back…" she said quietly.

Davis immediately fell to his knees before her.

"Please help us…" he begged. "My wife is dying…"

Bibi Lulu stared at Rehema for a long moment.

Then she slowly closed her eyes.

"I warned you already…"

"If the ring's conditions are broken…"

"…the curse awakens."

Neema broke down into louder tears.

"There must be something we can do!"

Bibi Lulu slowly shook her head.

"The darkness has already entered her body."

Rehema let out another painful cry.

"My body… it feels like it's burning…"

Davis held her tightly.

"I'll do anything!" he shouted desperately. "Anything!"

Silence.

The green fire flickered strangely.

Then Bibi Lulu slowly opened her eyes.

"If you want her to survive…"

She stood up slowly.

"…blood must be spilled."

Tamimu's heart pounded violently.

"Whose blood?" he asked nervously.

But Bibi Lulu did not answer directly.

Instead, she said:

"The spirits never give without taking."

"You must pay."

Those words froze everyone in place.

Before anyone could ask further—

Bibi Lulu turned away slowly.

"You are already too late."

Returning Home

The ride back felt like a funeral procession.

No one spoke.

Only silent tears filled the vehicle.

When they returned to the mansion—

Rehema's condition worsened.

Her body grew colder.

Her breathing became slower and weaker.

"Sister…" she whispered painfully to Neema, "I can't even move my legs…"

Neema gripped her hand tightly.

"You're not leaving me… okay?"

But the light in Rehema's eyes was slowly fading.

Davis turned away silently.

Something inside him had changed.

His eyes were darker now.

Heavier.

Like a man who had reached the edge of his soul.

Without saying a word—

he walked out of the mansion.

Tamimu looked after him with concern.

"Davis… where are you going?"

But Davis never answered.

The Spirits' Demand

That same night—

Davis returned alone to the ancient forest.

Tall trees stood silently around him like witnesses to his sins.

Not even insects could be heard.

As he stepped into the stone circle once again—

the green flames ignited by themselves.

And the deep voice returned.

"You came back…"

Davis fell to his knees immediately.

"My wife is dying…"

"Please… help her…"

A terrifying laugh echoed through the forest.

"You tried to break the pact."

"Your wife sought help from our enemy."

"And now you beg for mercy?"

Tears streamed down Davis's face.

"I'm sorry…" he cried. "I'll do anything…"

Silence.

Then the voice spoke slowly.

"Anything…?"

Davis trembled.

"Yes."

The green flames rose higher.

Inside them, horrifying faces appeared.

"If you want your wife to live…"

"…offer a sacrifice."

Davis swallowed painfully.

"What sacrifice?"

Silence filled the forest.

Then—

"Kill Tamimu…"

"…and his family."

Davis felt the blood freeze inside his veins.

His eyes widened in horror.

Memories flooded his mind instantly—

He and Tamimu as children.

Running barefoot through dusty roads.

Sharing food from the same plate.

Swearing they would change their lives together.

Calling each other brothers.

"No…" Davis whispered painfully. "I can't…"

But the voice became colder.

"Their blood…"

"…for your wife's life."

"Choose."

"Your wife…"

"…or them."

Suddenly—

the flames vanished.

Silence returned.

Davis remained kneeling there, breathing heavily.

It felt as though his soul was being ripped apart.

Slowly, he rose and began walking back home.

But he did not realize—

something was following him.

A dark shadow crawled silently behind him.

It did not move like a human.

It dragged itself like living smoke.

Every few seconds, its glowing red eyes disappeared…

then reappeared closer.

As if it was waiting.

Waiting for blood to be spilled.

Back at the Mansion

The moment Davis entered the mansion—

everyone rushed toward him.

Neema was the first.

"What happened?!"

"Is there a way to save her?!"

Tamimu stepped closer too.

"What did they say?"

But Davis did not answer.

He simply stood there silently.

His face looked broken.

Inside his mind—

those words echoed endlessly.

"Kill Tamimu…"

"…and his family…"

Slowly, Davis lifted his eyes.

They met Tamimu's.

And for the first time since their friendship began—

Tamimu felt afraid of him.

There was something different in Davis's eyes now.

Something dark.

Something dangerous.

And while everyone stared at him—

none of them noticed that behind Davis…

on the wall of the room—

the dark shadow had appeared silently.

Its glowing red eyes turned toward Neema.

Then a horrifying whisper echoed through the darkness—

"The first sacrifice…"

"…has been chosen."