CHAPTER 93: 93. BETWEEN TWO FATES

Without wasting any time, the man seated directly opposite Bernard and Maria’s parents smiled.

"Let’s go straight to the reason we’re all gathered here. We have both parents and the couple present, and we are about to witness the joining of these two wonderful people, Bernard and Maria, in marriage!"

Maria’s heart burned with rage as she watched the scene unfold before her eyes. She couldn’t stand it. She ran toward the man, desperate to stop the wedding.

She swung her arms wildly, trying to scatter the documents on the table to stop the ceremony.

But her hands passed through the papers as if they were made of air. Again and again, she tried to grab them, but she couldn’t touch a thing.

Panic flooded her. Her chest tightened as fear crept into her bones.

"Stop! Can’t you all see me? Please stop this!" Maria screamed, but no one heard her. No one saw her. It was as though she didn’t exist. She waved her arms, she stomped her feet, but her desperate actions were invisible to everyone in the room.

The wedding continued. Smiles spread across the faces of everyone present. The joining of Bernard and Maria was done successfully, and they all looked so happy.

But something didn’t sit right. Maria’s eyes darted between the faces of the parents. Both fathers wore satisfied smiles, but the mothers’ expressions were stiff and uneasy. They seemed unhappy, but no one else appeared to notice.

The couple walked out of the room, holding hands, full of joy as their family escorted them to the waiting car outside. Maria’s heart shattered as she watched them drive away from the court premises.

She stood there, helpless, furious, but there was no one to hear her. No one to understand her pain. She was trapped in this nightmare, alone.

Suddenly, heavy rain began to fall from the darkening skies. The clouds gathered, thick and menacing, swallowing the light until the world around her became so dark she could hardly see anything.

But what frightened Maria the most was that the rain wasn’t touching her.

She looked up, stretching out her hand to feel the cold drops—but nothing. The rain poured, but it didn’t reach her skin.

Her breathing became ragged as confusion and terror overwhelmed her.

"Am I dead?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "Why isn’t the rain touching me? Why can’t anyone see me or hear me? What’s happening to me?"

Her thoughts raced. Her face twisted in panic as she tried to make sense of it all.

Then, the same powerful voice she had once heard on the battlefield echoed through the dark clouds.

"Child, what have you noticed so far from all you have encountered?"

Maria’s eyes darted around, searching for the source, but she saw nothing.

"I don’t know what I’ve seen!" she screamed, her voice desperate. "None of this makes sense! I’ve found myself in impossible situations. I don’t think any of this is real!"

The voice spoke again, steady and thunderous. "Child, before you are two possibilities of life. One or both of them are yours. You must choose wisely."

"Choose? Choose from what?" Maria barked back angrily. "None of these lives belong to me! I have my own plans, and neither of these paths fits into them!"

The voice replied, firm and unshaken. "No one can escape their destiny. What you’ve seen, what you’ve experienced—they are yours to own. You cannot run from what is written. Your destiny is the fate that defines you."

Maria clenched her fists, her chest heaving with anger. "I will never marry Bernard or become a killer! Never! Get me out of here now!"

As her furious screams echoed into the dark, everything around her suddenly went cold and silent. Darkness consumed her, thick as a shroud. Strange sounds filled her ears—whispers, cries, voices she didn’t recognize.

Frightened and confused, Maria ran aimlessly into the darkness.

***

At about 10 a.m., Beta Gilbert, l Victoria, and Bernard stepped out of the house and made their way into the car, ready to head to the Celtic Hospital.

As the driver prepared to start the vehicle, Bernard’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen and saw it was an unknown number. His frustration surged instantly.

Without thinking, he answered the call and shouted, "Whoever you think you are, show yourself before me and I’ll destroy you and anyone behind you! Elijah Simons, I know you’re behind this!"

"Hello, Bernard, it’s Cassandra. Why are you shouting so angrily?" Cassandra’s shaky voice came through the phone, her tone confused and frightened.

Bernard froze. "Cassandra? Why are you calling me with an unknown number?"

"My phone got spoiled this morning, so I used a spare phone to reach you," she explained softly.

Realizing his mistake, Bernard sighed and softened his voice. "I’m sorry, Cassandra. Where are you now?"

"I’m still at home. I just wanted to know if you’ll be at the hospital this morning."

"Yes, my parents and I are already on our way there. Please join us," Bernard replied more gently.

"Alright. I’ll get going now," she said, ending the call.

Cassandra paused, staring at her phone with a worried frown. ’What’s troubling Bernard? And who’s Elijah Simons?’ she wondered, her mind uneasy.

Without calling for a driver, she picked up her bag and left the house quickly.

"Son, are you okay?" Beta Gilbert asked, studying Bernard’s tense face.

Bernard forced a smile. "I’m fine, Dad. Just a mix-up, but I’m okay now."

"You scared me," Luna Victoria said, reaching out to hold her son’s hand gently. "Please, try to stay calm. You know we love you, right?"

"I know, Mom. I love you both too," Bernard said, his heart easing as the driver started the car and drove them out of the house.

---

Meanwhile, at Mrs. Spencer’s house, Laura had arrived very early. Both women were waiting anxiously for Hadizah the Witch to arrive from the airport. Mrs. Spencer had sent a driver to bring her directly.

Laura’s heart pounded with hope and curiosity. She believed deeply in Hadizah’s power, which Mrs. Spencer had praised so highly.

Soon, they heard footsteps approaching, and the door swung open. Mrs. Spencer’s assistant stepped aside to reveal Hadizah—a tall, beautiful, dark-skinned African woman whose very presence radiated power.

Mrs. Spencer rose quickly to greet her. They hugged warmly.

"Sorry for the short notice, Hadizah. This is urgent—it’s about the girl I told you about ten years ago," Mrs. Spencer said, hoping to refresh her memory.

Hadizah’s sharp eyes met hers. "I see. Have the thunderstorms of pain started to disturb her fate?"

"Yes. It began long ago, but this is far worse than we expected. She’s in a coma now. If she stays in it much longer, she might lose her life," Mrs. Spencer explained, her worry evident.

"Say no more, my old friend. Let’s get to work. But first, who is this lovely young one here?" Hadizah asked, turning her attention to Laura.

"Oh, that’s Laura. She’s a mind listener and a truth seeker—one of the best I have with me," Mrs. Spencer introduced with a proud smile.

"It’s an honor to meet you, gifted one," Hadizah said, bowing her head respectfully to Laura.

Laura, feeling shy, simply waved in response.

Hadizah placed some folded clothes on the floor. Wrapped inside was an image resembling Maria. Mrs. Spencer instructed everyone else to leave the room, except Laura, who was asked to stand back and quietly observe.

Mrs. Spencer and Hadizah sat on the floor, closing their eyes as Hadizah set the image upright.

Hadizah began chanting softly, her words laced with ancient power as she called Maria’s name.

"Let the pains of the dead and the darkness of the past release your soul. Let your destiny speak loudly. Let the light that shines through the gate of no return bring your soul back!"

For ten minutes, Hadizah chanted in a language Laura couldn’t understand. Smoke slowly began to rise from the image.

Mrs. Spencer joined hands with Hadizah and they began chanting together.

"Wake and kiss the light to live. Bring with you the touch of fate and destiny, with no past holding you down!"

They repeated the chant over and over. More smoke poured out, yet Laura noticed something strange... the smoke had no scent. It wasn’t thick or suffocating. It was pure.

She expected to feel dizzy or overwhelmed by the smoke, but instead, she felt calm and curious.

***

At the Celtic Hospital, Bernard and his parents arrived and quickly walked toward the reception area. Bernard’s heart skipped when he spotted Cassandra sitting beside James.

Confusion and irritation washed over him. What was James doing there? Why was he sitting with Cassandra?

Bernard’s steps quickened as he moved toward them, ready to confront James.

But before he could say a word, a nurse rushed past them, calling out to the doctor as they both hurried toward Maria’s room.

Fear clenched Bernard’s chest.

Without hesitation, they all ran after the nurse and doctor, their hearts pounding, fear and uncertainty weighing heavily on them...