THE CURSED BLOOD

cent of damp moss and something far darker-fear, sorrow, and ancient rage. Her hands trembled as she traced a symbol into the soil, red as fresh wounds. Around her, shadows writh

r surged through her veins. She was both the curse and the curse's keeper, bound forever to blood that could never be cleansed. The l

find whatever we need, then get out." They moved through the house, their footsteps soft against the floor. Family photos hung crooked-faces smiling, frozen in happier times. Anna stopped before one. It was a picture of their grandmother, stern and proud, but her eyes held something cold, almost unreadable. "Do you think she left anything for us?" Luke asked quietly. Anna's breath hitched. "I don't know. But I have to find out." They entered the kitchen. On the counter sat a heavy wooden box tied with a faded red ribbon. Anna's heart hammered as she untied it, the knot loose like a secret begging to be told. Inside was a delicate necklace, its silver chain tangled and stained with dark, dried blood. A folded note lay beneath it. Anna unfolded the brittle paper, the words scrawled in shaky ink: "The curse is in the blood, but the blood chooses." She swallowed hard. The stories their grandmother had whispered late at night rushed back-tales of family curses, broken promises, and vengeance older than memory. Luke's uneasy voice broke the silence. "Curses are just stories, Anna." She looked at him, seeing the doubt in his eyes. "I want to believe that. But something about this place... it's different." Suddenly, a cold draft swept through the kitchen, rattling the windows. Anna shivered, pulling her jacket tighter. "Did you feel that?" Luke asked. Before she could answer, a sharp noise echoed from the basement door-a loud creak, as if someone-or something-had opened it. Luke froze. "The