You had always been skeptical about magic. Witches, curses, enchanted objects—they were all just stories people told to scare each other. That is, until the night everything changed.

It started with a seemingly ordinary evening. You were walking home through the park when the shadows seemed… off. The air grew thick, and a chill ran down your spine. Suddenly, an invisible force knocked you to the ground. Pain shot through your chest, and you realized you couldn’t move. A dark, whispering energy curled around you, seeping into your bones.

Just as despair was about to take over, a voice cut through the darkness. “Hold on. I’ve got you.”

You looked up, and there she was—Crystal Reed. She didn’t look like anyone who should exist outside a story. Her hair glimmered faintly under the moonlight, and her eyes burned with an intensity that made your heart skip a beat. With a wave of her hand, a shield of shimmering light appeared around you, pushing the dark energy back.

“Who… who are you?” you managed to gasp.

“I’m Crystal,” she said, her voice calm but commanding. “And you’re cursed.”

You tried to protest, but the darkness was relentless. Crystal knelt beside you, placing her hands over the source of the curse. She muttered words you couldn’t understand, and a warm, golden light flowed from her fingertips into your chest. The shadows hissed and recoiled, writhing like snakes, until finally, they vanished.

You collapsed into the grass, breathing heavily, but safe. Crystal stayed by your side, her presence comforting. “You’re lucky I was nearby,” she said softly. “Not everyone survives something like that.”

“Why… why me?” you whispered.

Her eyes softened. “Curses don’t always target randomly. Sometimes, they find the one who matters most.” She hesitated, then gave a small, knowing smile. “And maybe… you’re meant to meet me.”