Chapter 4 The Nightmare

"She had powers," Darius was taken aback by the words Fiona muttered.

"I'm sorry, okay, but I don't do grandmas; 50 is where I draw the line," Darius muttered bluntly.

Cyrus gave him a "talk again, and your head is gone" look. Darius immediately fell silent.

"I want to ask you something. When he left, how did you feel? I'm guessing you were pretty angry, right?" Cyrus asked. Crystal nodded and said, "That's putting it mildly."

"And I'm guessing when you're angry, you say things as if you're hurting, right?" Cyrus asked. "That's true," Crystal replied.

"So, where is this explanation of yours taking us?" Darius asked, confused.

"Get it; she's a witch. Her grandmother was a witch; they're all witches," Cyrus said bluntly, facing Darius.

"What? No? I go to church," Crystal said quickly.

"That doesn't make a difference. Look, whatever you said obviously came to reality," Cyrus said.

"I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean it, okay?" Crystal apologized.

"It's okay. It's fine; you don't have to be sorry. I just need you or your grandmother to undo whatever you did, okay?" Darius said.

"It's not that simple," Crystal said.

"It is simple; just say the words," Darius said.

"Don't you get it? There are no words. The only thing I can remember is that if you need to undo something, you need to right a wrong," Crystal muttered.

"But I already apologized," Darius said, devastated.

"Yes, I know, and I forgive you, but what about others? There are others, right?" Crystal asked.

"Of course, there are others," Cyrus muttered.

"So, you expect me to apologize to all the ladies I've been with?" Darius asked, surprised.

"Just the ones you hurt," Crystal replied.

"Those he hurt are those he has been with," Cyrus jibed in but received a deadly look from Darius.

"Oh, there must be another way," Darius pleaded.

"I'm afraid to say there's no other way. And you don't have much time," Crystal replied.

"What do you mean?" Darius and Cyrus asked.

"From what I remember, if the spell is not reversed in three days, it..." Crystal put them in suspense.

"It's what?" they both asked.

"If the spell is not reversed in three days, it becomes permanent," Crystal dropped the bomb.

"WHAT?" they chorused.

**Darius' Mansion**

Darius sat in his chair, deep in thought, while Cyrus paced around the living room as if tending to a newborn baby. They both pondered their predicament, their minds racing since returning from Crystal's office.

"So, we have to figure out a way to find 1,000 women in 3 days. That shouldn't be so hard," Cyrus suggested. Darius sighed in frustration.

Cyrus walked over to Darius, who sat there in silence, and to his surprise, Darius was quietly crying. "Hey, what's going on? Are you crying?" Cyrus asked.

"No, I just want to be left alone," Darius said, tears streaming down his face.

"Calm down. Everything will be fine, okay?" Cyrus consoled him, patting his back.

"You have no idea," Darius lamented.

"I won't rest until you're back to normal," Cyrus assured him. As Cyrus moved his hand from Darius's shoulder toward his chest, Darius issued a stern warning, "Swear, if you touch my boobs, I will kill you."

Just at that moment, a lady burst into the living room, and it turned out to be Cyrus's wife.

"You bastard!" Nydia, Cyrus's wife, yelled and lunged at Darius, whom she mistook for a woman. The room filled with the sounds of a scuffle.

**Chen's Mansion**

In a grand bedroom, a woman in her early 40s reclined on a bed, attempting to relax. Her daughter, Rana, burst into the room in a fit, dressed provocatively, chewing gum.

"Mum, can you believe that Crystal deprived me of half my monthly allowance just because I didn't go to the office?" Rana fumed.

"No, she wouldn't," Jessica, Rana's mother, disagreed.

"Jessica, I didn't say she would. She already did," Rana yelled.

"How dare she? No, no, she won't get away with this," Jessica said as she stood up.

"What do you plan to do? I told Dad, and he supported her," Rana complained.

"I allowed her to do as she pleased for too long. But not anymore. She's crossed a line. She seems to have forgotten she's a child born out of wedlock, an illegitimate child. Just like her mother. Now she's biting off more than she can chew," Jessica said through clenched teeth.

"I need to do something. First, I need to take some sense to your father," Jessica muttered, leaving Rana alone with her thoughts.

"I also need to take action. Crystal, you're going down. I've tolerated you long enough. I need a plan," Rana resolved and left the room.

**Crystal's Nightmare**

A scream echoed through the room as Crystal sat up on her bed, trembling and crying. Her little sister, Diana, rushed in, her small legs carrying her quickly. She found Crystal in distress and approached her.

"Sister, you're crying. What happened?" Diana asked, concerned, and touched her sister. Crystal's tears began to subside at the comforting touch. She looked down at her little sister, who was also crying, and said, "Sister isn't crying, okay? So, dry your tears, baby. It's just a nightmare that sister had, okay."

"A nightmare? But sister was shaking. Do nightmares make sister shake?" Diana asked innocently.

"Yes, baby. Nightmares make sister shake, but don't worry, sister will be fine," Crystal assured her.

As soon as Diana left the room, Crystal let out a heavy sigh. She had been haunted by this recurring nightmare since the incident that occurred five years ago.

"The worst heartbreak that can ever befall someone is the one that leaves clear evidence behind," she whispered to herself.

"Fate is indeed cruel. You made me endure that incident five years ago, and you've left behind undeniable proof that continually reminds me of what transpired that day, even though I can't recall the details," Crystal sobbed, her tears uncontrollable.

Just then, Aubrey entered the room and found her friend in tears. "Crystal, not again. You can't keep crying like this; it's affecting the little girl," Aubrey said as she sat down beside her. Her own eyes welled up with tears. It pained her to see her friend like this.

"Aubrey, you're here. I wasn't expecting you," Crystal said, faking a smile full of hidden pain.

"Yes, I'm here. Diana called me and said you were crying. I guess you didn't know that she's been standing at your door since, also crying," Aubrey informed her.

"But I told her to go back to her room and play with her toys," Crystal said while still sobbing.

"You know that girl is wiser than you think. She came into the room because you screamed, and you expect her to believe the lies you told her and go back to play? You know she won't," Aubrey pointed out.

"Babes, it's not easy for me, not when I still keep having this blurry nightmare," Crystal explained.

"I feel your pain, girlfriend. But Diana is also suffering. She needs your sisterly love," Aubrey reminded.

Crystal's sobs grew louder. Aubrey continued, "I'm sorry, okay, but it's the honest truth. We both know that she needs you."

"I know," Crystal said, and Aubrey began to sing to comfort her.

🎶 It's alright to cry, it's alright to cry 🎶

🎶 It's alright to let tears fall from your eyes 🎶

🎶 Even the darkest part will find a light 🎶

Aubrey continued to sing, and Crystal joined in, singing through her tears.

🎶 It's all, it's all, it's alright to cry 🎶

🎶 It's alright to cry 🎶

They sang emotionally until they heard a small voice joining them. They turned to see Diana, with her sweet voice, singing along. She had been standing at the door, captivated by their singing.

Impressed by Diana's singing, Crystal extended her hand, inviting her closer. Diana walked into her sister's embrace without hesitation.

"Baby, you have a sweet voice," Crystal complimented.

"Thanks, sister. You also have a nice voice. I definitely got that from you, not from Mum," Diana remarked, and both Crystal and Aubrey exchanged smiles.

"Sister, I hate to see you in tears. Please, can you do me a favor and not cry again? Can you do that for me?" Little Diana asked.

Crystal looked at Aubrey, who nodded in agreement. Crystal then said, "Sure, baby. Sister can do that for you, okay. Now, we need to go downstairs and make dinner."

"Okay, sister, but on one condition," Diana added.

"Baby, what's the condition?" Aubrey inquired.

"Sing along with me, and Sister Aubrey will video us while we sing like sisters," Diana proposed. Crystal playfully poked her nose and agreed, "Sure, baby. What's the song? Bring it on, and let's sing."

They sang together:

🎶 🎙️You're gonna get up, you're gonna make a move 🎶

🎙️ 'Cause the world will never see you till you do 🎙️

🎶 No, they don't really care what you're going through 🎶

🎙️ So, you've got to show them the real you, you've got to give them what you've got 🎙️

🎶 No, don't let them see what you are 🎶

🎙️ 'Cause you are strong, you're wise 🎙️

🎶 You're worth beyond a thousand reasons why 🎶

🎙️ 'Cause you can't be perfect, baby, 'cause nobody is perfect, darling 🎙️

🎶 No, no, no, there's nobody in the world like you 🎶

Their beautiful singing filled the room, and Aubrey captured it on video.