Her grandmother’s eyes sparkled with pride. “You are stronger than you know, my dear. The spirits cannot hold power over you unless you give it to them.”

Ria nodded, feeling the truth of her grandmother’s words resonate within her. The journey had been tumultuous, but she had emerged victorious. Yet, as she gazed out into the jungle, a lingering doubt remained—a whisper that perhaps the spirits were not entirely gone.

That evening, as Ria prepared for bed, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. The girl in the white dress seemed to linger in the shadows of her mind, a reminder of the darkness she had faced. But she was no longer afraid. She had claimed her power, and the choice was hers to make.

As she drifted off to sleep, the moonlight spilled into her room, casting...