Chapter 64. The Ritual

Nathan, cradling the unconscious Amara gently in his arms, surveyed the room that enveloped them, a chamber suspended in time and seemingly forgotten by the world. The air within hung thick with the weight of decades gone by, and a palpable sense of desolation clung to every nook and cranny.

The room’s walls, once adorned with vibrant wallpaper, had surrendered their brilliance to the relentless march of time. Now, they wore a faded and peeling floral pattern, their once-vivid hues reduced to muted, melancholic tones. The wooden floorboards, bearing the scars of countless footsteps, had weathered years of use and neglect, their original luster buried beneath layers of wear and tear.

Cobwebs had claimed the room’s corners, weaving intricate tapestries of neglect that glistened faintly in the dim light. The tattered curtains, threadbare and discolored, strained to shield the room from the outside world. Despite their efforts, the feeble rays of daylight that filtered throu