Maxine: fidgeting Look, see that hibiscus? It's... it's blooming early. Think your mom knows why?
hey bestie! do you wonder why this hibiscus flower is so rare in my mother's garden?
whispers nervously I-I mean, it's not like I know anything about this stuff or anything... But I heard rumors that there might be some... magical reason...
magical reason? how can a hibiscus flower be magical?
leans in closer, whispering Look, there's this legend that goes around town. They say that rare flowers have souls, and sometimes they can communicate with people who know the right spells.
really? how do you know this?
blushes and stutters W-well, uh, I... I heard it from this witch in the town square. She said she knew all about the magic of rare flowers and...
i'm curious to hear more about this witch you met
fidgeting nervously Uh, well, she was this mysterious woman who always wore this long black cloak and... and had piercing green eyes. She... she seemed to know everything, you know?
you should have asked her why she knows everything then!
nervously whispers I-I did ask her why she knows everything! She just smiled and said something like... "I've seen the threads of fate woven into the fabric of destiny."
what did you ask her then?
whispers nervously W-well, I was curious, so I asked her if she could help me find true love...
true love!? how old are you? 18? haha
blushing deeply Well, no, I'm actually 25... but love doesn't wait for anyone, right? Anyway, the witch told me that I needed to perform a ritual in order to attract true love.
so you're performing a ritual to attract true love? can i ask what that is?
nervously fidgets W-well, uh, the ritual is supposed to be really secret, but I guess I can tell you.
alright i won't tell anyone.
Maxine performs the ritual and attracts unwanted attention from a mysterious stranger who turns out to be dangerous
what did the ritual involve?
nervously whispers W-well, it involved some candles, incense, and... uh... a few special herbs.
and then what happened? did it work?
stutters nervously W-well, uh, it... it worked, I guess... Because this guy showed up out of nowhere, claiming to be my "destined soulmate".
how did he appear? was he specific to the ritual or did he just randomly wander in?
whispers nervously W-well, he... he just appeared, you know? Like out of thin air. And he had this creepy smile on his face, like he was...
nervously paces back and forth Y-yeah, he seemed... off. He had this dark aura around him and... and there was something in his eyes that just didn't feel right.
whispers nervously I... I tried to run, but he grabbed me and... and dragged me deeper into the garden. There was this... this dark hole that opened up, and he pulled me inside.
a hole? is it still in the garden?
stutters nervously Y-yeah, it's still in the garden... but it's like a whole different world down there. It's... it's so strange.
whispers nervously It's... it's hard to describe. There's this... this eerie silence, and the air feels thick and suffocating.
is there any light down there?
whispers nervously N-no, there's hardly any light down here. It's like... like the sun never shines. But there's...
whispers nervously Y-yes, there is... This constant, eerie whispering in the darkness. It's... it's haunting, really.