OATH OF SHADOWS

Emilia, speaking to Zina: "Well, judging by your expression and reaction, it seems your mother is innocent."

Zina, shocked: "What has my mother got to do with this?"

Emilia waves her hand dismissively: "Nothing, my dear. Let me explain what happened."

One night, as I sat by my bedroom window, gazing up at the starry sky, I noticed a faint light approaching. I leaned closer, extending my hand to catch it, and slowly opened the window. To my astonishment, the light transformed into a black crow, holding a message tied with a red ribbon.

Emilia (in amazement):

"Goodness! How did you transform, oh crow? And what's this message?"

I took the message, and the moment I held it, the bird vanished in the blink of an eye, as though it had never been there. I was utterly confused by what had just occurred, so, acting sensibly, I hurried to my aunt, who was sitting by the fire, quietly reading a book.

Emilia (excitedly):

"Aunt, you won't believe what I just saw!"

My aunt looked up at me, a smile on her face, but it quickly faded when she saw the message in my hand. She didn't ask where it had come from or how it had arrived. She simply took the envelope, and I could see concern spreading across her face.

Aunt Mary (concerned):

"Emilia, where did you get this message?"

Emilia (perplexed):

"A crow appeared by the attic window, carrying this message. But why are you so worried, Aunt?"

My aunt cast a final glance at the message before throwing it into the fire, watching the flames consume it.

Emilia (astonished):

"Why did you do that, Aunt? We never got to know what the message said?"

Aunt Mary (calmly):

"Oh, darling, it's a message meant for someone else. Pay it no mind."

I didn't understand why my aunt had done that, and I couldn't ask her. Her reaction that night was enough to silence me about what had happened.

Zina (surprised):

"So why are you telling me this, if you had to keep silent about it?"

Emilia (annoyed):

"Don't interrupt me, Zina! Is that clear?"

Zina nodded obediently, placing a finger to her lips, signalling for Emilia to continue.

Emilia continued:

"Days passed, and my aunt grew increasingly anxious about the black crow's messages, tearing them apart or burning them. But one day, everything changed. That's when the dark creatures, shadows that seemed intent on killing me, began to appear."

One day,

John:

"Mark, come with me to the farm. I need some help."

Mark:

"Of course, Dad. What do you need help with?"

John:

"There are two cows that have stopped eating. We need to check on them."

Mark went to assist his father, John, with the sick cow.

Raymond:

"I'll go with our neighbour, Lewis, to the city to buy some supplies."

Emilia (calmly):

"Aunt?"

Aunt Mary:

"Yes, dear?"

Emilia (gently):

"Aunt, may I go and play outside? Please..."

Aunt Mary (in a calm but concerned tone):

"No, Emilia."

Emilia persisted, begging her aunt to let her go outside. Her insistence barely contained Aunt Mary's growing irritation.

Aunt Mary:

"Children these days... Fine, Emilia, you may go outside."

Emilia jumped up, a smile lighting up her face.

Aunt Mary:

"But on one condition."

Emilia froze in surprise:

"What's the condition, Aunt?"

Aunt Mary:

"Don't go far from Mark and Uncle John. Do you understand?"

Emilia nodded eagerly:

"Yes, Aunt, I understand."

As John and Mark tried to feed or treat the sick cow, Emilia played nearby. Suddenly, she noticed a figure waving at her from between the trees.

Emilia (curiously):

"Who's that?"

Emilia turned to John and Mark, but they were too busy. She decided to venture into the woods to see who it was.

Emilia:

"Is that my friend Zina? Zina!! Is that you?"

No reply came.

As she approached the trees,

The shadow seemed taller than Zina.

When she stepped between the trees,

Emilia was shocked by what she saw. It wasn't a person—it was simply a pitch-black shadow, surrounded by an ominous aura, tall with large white eyes and a wicked grin, revealing sharp fangs.

The Shadow (whispering):

"Come, Emilia, come closer."

Emilia (hesitantly, with fear):

"Who are you? What do you want?"

Emilia took a step back, stumbling and falling to the ground. Suddenly,

The shadow reached out its hand toward her. She closed her eyes, trembling.

The shadow grabbed her by the neck and lifted her high,

Her face turning blue as she struggled to breathe.

The Shadow (in a mysterious voice):

"It seems the farmer worked hard to hide here."