I stepped back sharply. "You have to leave me now!" I shouted at him, panic rising in my chest. My hands shook. My heart raced.
"Annabel!" he called, reaching out and grabbing my waist.
I froze. His eyes… they were full of genuine warmth, love, and concern. I could tell he cared deeply for Annabel—but I wasn't Annabel. Not even close. My chest tightened as I gently took his hands away from my face.
"I… I am not Annabel," I whispered, my voice shaking.
He blinked, confusion flashing across his handsome features. His hands went to his forehead, and he started pacing back and forth, muttering. "What do you mean by that?" he asked, his voice uncertain.
"I… I'm not Annabel," I repeated, sinking weakly onto the edge of the bed. My hands twisted in my lap. "The woman you slept with last night… it wasn't me. I swear it."
He froze, staring at me like I had suddenly gone mad.
"I… I need help," I said, my voice urgent now. "Please… help me, sir. Help me reclaim my body. Then… you can have your Annabel back."
For a moment, I thought he might understand. But then… he almost burst out laughing.
"Are you crazy?" he asked, his tone equal parts amusement and disbelief. "You're losing it, babe." He reached for my face, pressing his lips to mine.
I recoiled instantly, shoving him away, my hands trembling. I wiped my lips, disgusted, my chest heaving.
"I… I swear I am not your girlfriend!" I shouted, tears streaming down my cheeks. My voice cracked, filled with desperation.
He finally stepped back, his expression faltering. For a brief moment, I thought he might realize something. But the look he gave me… I couldn't place it. It was a mix of shock, concern, and disbelief.
Before I could process it, he grabbed my hands and pulled me outside the bar.
"Today is Saturday," he said, glancing around. "Tell your madam you have an emergency."
"W…" What emergency? And which madam?" I stammered, my mind spinning.
He ignored my questions, dragging me to where a woman sat—a woman I had seen the night before, the one chewing gum aggressively. My pulse quickened.
"Miss Chandelier," Mark greeted her, kissing her cheeks respectfully. My hands were still held firmly in his, and I bowed my head, unsure what to do.
"Shh…" shh," she signaled to Mark. Her eyes flicked to me. "What's wrong with your girlfriend? I notice she's been off lately."
He forced a smile, trying to reassure her. "She doesn't feel well. Could you maybe give her the day off?" he asked.
"Na na na," she said sharply, shaking her head. "No."
"Please, sister," Mark pressed, jamming his hands together, smirking at her.
"Sister?" I thought, confused, looking around at them all.
"Okay, Mark. Just today," she said reluctantly. "Besides… Annabel seems out of it. I told you, she isn't meant for this world," she added, her tone warning and harsh as she chewed her gum. "Bring her back tonight. The big guys are coming—you know they love her," she said, waving us off.
Mark held my hands tightly as he guided me away. For the first time since waking up, I felt a shred of safety. He was gentle, kind, and patient. I could see the depth of his love for Annabel in the way he looked at me—but it made me ache because I was not Annabel.
We tripped over Sonia in the hallway. "Watch it!" she shouted, glaring.
Then she looked at us closely, recognition flashing in her eyes. "Annabel! Where are you two sweethearts headed?" she shouted playfully.
"We need to go," Mark said hurriedly, pulling me along.
"Oooooouuu!" Sonia shouted in an exaggerated, corny way, waving her hands. "Where are you going, huh?"
Mark didn't slow down. He held me close, tugging me past her. "Come on. No time .
A faint signal blurred across my eyes as we finally approached the place. The words carved in bold letters became clear:
"THE WITCHES COVEN."
My stomach twisted nervously. Mark parked the car and motioned for me to get down. I obeyed, my legs stiff and trembling.
"Stay close," he said, concern lacing his voice. "Let's just go inside." His hand brushed mine, warm and grounding, but I could feel the tension in his grip.
I hesitated for a moment, looking at the coven from outside. The building was old, ancient even, with black stones weathered by centuries. Strange symbols were carved into the walls, glowing faintly under a dim, otherworldly light. Smoke swirled around the entrance, curling like living shadows. Candles flickered in iron sconces, and a faint scent of herbs and incense hung in the air. I swallowed hard, almost afraid to step in.
Mark guided me forward. "It's okay. Don't worry." he said, trying to reassure me.
We sat on a stone bench near the center. Mark's hand never left mine, his presence calming yet reminding me of the impossible situation I was in. I couldn't stop glancing around. Every flicker of shadow made my heart skip a beat.
Then she appeared.
A woman.
Pale as death, with red hair falling in tangled waves around her shoulders. Her skin was ghostly white, almost translucent, and her piercing blue eyes seemed to burn right through me. Her mouth was narrow, revealing only a few teeth, and she moved with deliberate slowness that made my spine tingle. She looked like someone from a horror story, yet her presence carried an authority I couldn't ignore.
I instinctively clung to Mark's arm. He stood immediately and approached her with respect, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek.
"Sorry about Annabel," he said quietly, his voice heavy.
"I think I was meant to know her too… I sensed it."
The woman smiled faintly and hummed, a sound that seemed to reverberate through the stones of the room. Finally, she sat down opposite us, her gaze unwavering.
"What brings you here once again, Mark?" she asked, her voice low and brittle, yet commanding.
"I… I don't know what's wrong with Annabel," he replied, glancing nervously at me. My stomach churned as I realized he thought I was her. "Could she… be possessed?" he added, nodding toward the woman, signaling her to evaluate me.
The woman nodded and instructed me to lie down. My heart pounded as I obeyed, feeling the cold stone press against my back. She pulled out a small, intricately carved lamp, its flame flickering unnaturally bright, casting strange shadows across the room. She stared deeply into my eyes, then shot Mark a look so sharp and intimidating that even I flinched.
"This… isn't Annabel," she said flatly, her voice cutting through the tension.
Mark stepped back, confusion written across his face. "What do you mean?" he asked, his hands slightly raised, unsure.
"Your Annabel is gone," the woman said, her eyes never leaving mine. "I can see her soul… floating beyond this room, weak and fading. She is fragile, Mark. Weak. This soul—this one sitting here—will completely take over in no time." Her gaze drilled into me, heavy and undeniable.
Mark's face went pale. His hands trembled as he ran them over his hair. "It's that damn necklace," he muttered, hitting his head in frustration. "Annabel… she's too stubborn. She won't put it on!"
The woman's voice rose sharply, sharp as broken glass. "I told her to always put it on! Now look at the result!"
Mark drew a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. "That… that shouldn't matter for now," he said softly, though his eyes were wide with fear. "What do we do? How do I… get my girlfriend back?"
I stayed silent, my heart hammering in my chest. I could feel the weight of her words, the looming presence of Annabel's floating soul, and the strange, invasive power that had taken over me. My body felt heavy, yet the energy inside me pulsed and writhed like it had a will of its own.
The coven woman's gaze softened ever so slightly, though her eyes never left mine. "Control yourself, Mark," she cautioned. "Youcan nott rush the process. But watch closely—time is running short. The longer she stays… the harder it will be to reclaim your Annabel."
Mark nodded slowly, swallowing hard. He kept one hand on mine, grounding me in reality, though I was fully aware that this body—this life—was slipping further into a world I did not belong to.
I swallowed, feeling the tension knot in my stomach. Fear, confusion, and strange curiosity battled inside me.
Then Mark looked at me. His eyes seemed dark this time , then to the woman.
"What if we had to kill her to get Anna back?"
I gasped