Chapter 13 - The Ribbon Tightens

School hallway, morning light streaming in. Anastasya is walking quietly to her locker when Lev suddenly appears beside her.

Lev: "You're still going back to the shrine every night?"

Anastasya: "Lev? Uh, yeah, why?"

Lev: "You shouldn’t. You’re running out of time."

Anastasya: "What does that mean?"

Lev: "Soon, you won’t be able to leave it anymore."

Anastasya: "... You're just trying to scare me."

Lev: "You’ve felt it, haven’t you? That heaviness. That pull. Every morning it gets harder."

He walks off without explaining. Anastasya stares after him, heart pounding.

...

School classroom. Anastasya’s friends chatter around her, but she’s in her own head.

Tanya: "Nasya, what’s with you lately? You zone out a lot."

Anastasya: "I’m fine."

Darya: grinning "You sure that shrine boy didn’t curse you or something?"

Sasha: "Or romance you into a haunted housewife."

They all laugh. Anastasya doesn’t. Her hand grazes the ribbon. She tucks it under her sleeve quickly.

...

That night. Rain drizzles. The shrine glows faintly as Anastasya steps through the torii. Haruki is waiting on the steps with an umbrella.

Haruki: "Back again. I was starting to think you’d ghost me."

Anastasya: "We need to talk."

Haruki: "Ooh. Serious voice. What’s wrong, my bride?"

Anastasya: "Don’t call me that. Just tell me… is it true? That I’ll soon not be able to leave the shrine?"

Haruki pauses. His teasing smile fades. The rain falls heavier around them.

Haruki: "... It’s true. But it’s not something to be afraid of."

Anastasya: "Not afraid?! Haruki, this isn’t normal! You didn’t tell me-"

Haruki: "Because I didn’t want to scare you. You’re changing. The shrine is claiming what’s already been bound. But it’s okay. I’m here with you. I’ll always be-"

Anastasya: "No! Don’t do that! Don’t act like it’s okay!"

She rips her hand away as he reaches for her.

Haruki: "Anastasya-"

Anastasya: "Don’t follow me!"

She turns and runs. Her bare feet slap against the wet stones. She rushes deeper into the shrine grounds, past the hidden torii, through the mossy overgrowth, until she finds an old structure, an abandoned ceremonial hall with broken doors and dusty relics. She slams them shut behind her and sinks to the floor, chest heaving.

Rain drums on the roof. Her ribbon glows faintly. Her fingers tremble as she touches it.

Anastasya: "What’s happening to me…?"

...

Anastasya runs blindly through the halls, the flickering spirit lights bending away from her path like they didn’t dare stop her. Her heart pounds, not from exhaustion, but from that horrible tightening feeling in her chest. She wasn’t sure if it was panic, betrayal, or fear of becoming something… not her.

Then, she stops. There’s a room she’s never seen before, half-swallowed by creeping vines, as though the shrine itself tried to forget it. The door is slightly ajar.

Inside, the air is cold and humming. Her eyes catch on something at the center.

An old pedestal. Upon it: a dark violet cloak. The fabric ripples faintly despite no breeze. It glows around the edges with ancient, golden threads that spell something she can’t quite read.

She steps forward slowly.

Anastasya: “... Why do I feel like I’ve seen you before?”

She reaches out-

Aurelya: “Don’t.”

Anastasya freezes. Aurelya stands just behind her, the glow from the cloak reflecting in her serious eyes.

Anastasya: “You again! Why do you keep popping up out of nowhere?!”

Aurelya: “Because you keep walking into things you shouldn’t.”

She walks past Anastasya, gazing down at the cloak with unreadable expression.

Aurelya: “This cloak belongs to the shrine’s vessel. It binds what’s already been claimed. If you put it on, you’ll never leave.”

Anastasya: “So… Haruki was telling the truth.”

Aurelya: “Not all of it, I imagine. But yes… you’re running out of time.”

Anastasya: “No. No, no, no, this can’t be happening…”

Aurelya: quietly “Go home, Anastasya. Your spirit is still yours. For now.”

...

Later, inside her shrine home…

Anastasya slams the door shut. The walls seem to close in. Her bed flutters its sheets toward her again, her desk shifts an inch closer. Her candlelight hums a lullaby.

Anastasya: to the room, fuming “I am not in the mood for your haunted feng shui.”

The bed tucks itself anyway. She kicks it.

Anastasya: “I SAID NO.”

She marches to the desk, yanks out parchment, and begins scribbling furiously.

Operation: Escape The Shrine Before It Eats Me

– Find weak points in the barrier.

– Ask Aurelya what happens if I burn the cloak.

– Don’t tell Haruki anything. He’s too calm. Way too calm.

– Test how far I can go from the shrine.

– Study the ribbon. Cut it?

She glares at the cursed marriage ribbon tied around her wrist. It wriggles slightly like it heard her thoughts.

Anastasya: “Try anything, and I’ll microwave you.”