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AJ & ANRIENA

The young girl initially despised this creature, screaming and hurling obscenities as he would constantly wake her up earlier than she'd liked, but over time she noticed the beauty and sensitivity in this bird and looked forward to her morning encounters.

She started to leave little gifts, worms she would dig up from the garden, dead vermin she would find in her basement, anything she believed this large bird would indulge in.

This raven saw her grow, as years went by, the trust between them both became unparalleled, no human could relate.

The raven became her guardian, following her to university, perching nearby, ready to protect her. Once, he'd even attacked a postman, mistaking him for an intruder. Zen scolded him but forgave the misunderstanding, laughing about how fiercely he watched over her.

One evening, the raven knocked at her window again. This time, he carried a small crucifix, intricately carved, its details impossibly fine. Zen felt something emanating from it, an energy so intense it made her laugh uncontrollably.

She couldn't explain the feeling but was drawn to know more. She turned to the raven, and jokingly asked, "Where did this come from?"

For the first time, she tried to communicate with him beyond instinct. The raven seemed to understand, hopping onto her shoulder and nodding toward the door. Intrigued, she decided to follow him.

Zen was lead down her home street for what seemed like hours, but she didn't care, gaining the knowledge of this enigmatic crucifix was too powerful to deny.

She was navigated through a scarce park, the maintenance of which hadn't been considered in what seemed like a century. A place she'd never set foot but had always past viewing it as a homeless squalor.

The streetlights grew dim, and a chill crept into her chest. But the raven nestled against her neck, calming her nerves.

In the distance, a church emerged, as though materializing from the mist. Its gothic spires pierced the night sky. Zen approached in awe, her fingertips brushing its weathered stone, quivering at every texture.

Before she could lose herself in the details, the raven pecked gently at her head, guiding her to the door.

She pushed it open, stepping into an abyss of silence, until a piercing scream of a banshee shattered the stillness. It nearly sent her into tears, it was too scary, she was terrified.

She didn't understand what had just happened, where the fuck was she, where did she end up, why was she listening to this silly bird. The sound reverberated through her, threatening to unravel her composure.

Her breath caught. She felt as though she were being watched. Slowly, she turned her head.

To her left, a candle flickered in the darkness, illuminating a canvas painting on the wall. It depicted a family frozen in serene stillness. Two children in handmade pale white garments, a porcelain skinned woman in beautiful silk satin, and a young man in an embroidered tuxedo, his hair slicked back with precision.

The calmness on their faces unnerved her.

Who were they? What secrets did this family hold? And why had she been led here?

~ End of Chapter ~