After Lucy fled from the light room, Lara found herself overwhelmed by a mixture of relief and disappointment. Relief washed over her as the blinding light ceased emanating from her, no longer causing harm to Stella, Collins, and Jane. However, disappointment gnawed at her heart as she replayed the image of Collins kissing Lucy in her mind. It was an unexpected betrayal that pierced her deeply.
Unable to bear the weight of the situation, Lara silently walked out of Collins’ room, shutting the door behind her. She had no desire to speak to anyone but her father. With heavy footsteps, she made her way to her own room, seeking solace within its walls.
Once inside, Lara closed the door tightly, shutting herself off from the world outside. She called out to her father, her voice filled with a mixture of desperation and hope. To her surprise, her father heard her plea, and with great joy, he responded to her call.
“Father,” Lara began, her voice trembling with emotion, “I must tell you of Lucy, the princess of darkness. She has found her way to our earthly realm, and she almost succeeded in taking Collins away from me.”
Her father, Arthur, listened intently, his eyes filled with concern. He understood the gravity of the situation and the danger that lurked beneath Lucy’s deceptive charm.
“Lara, my dear,” Arthur replied, his voice gentle yet firm, “you must remain strong. Do not allow Lucy to get close to your newfound love. We haven’t been able to fight this curse for years, and now it is up to you to break it.”
Lara nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. She knew the weight of her father’s words and the importance of her mission. “But how, Father? How can I break the curse, since Collins doesn’t want to kiss me and return to my home?”
Arthur’s face softened with a mixture of pride and sorrow. “You must kiss Collins, my dear. It is through the power of true love that the curse can be shattered. Only then can you return to our universal realm, free from Lucy’s influence.”
As Lara processed her father’s words, she felt a glimmer of hope ignite within her. She knew the path ahead would not be easy, but she was determined to save Collins and herself from the clutches of darkness.
Meanwhile, in the hallway outside Lara’s room, Max approached, accompanied by Stella, Jane, and Collins. They had been eavesdropping on Lara’s conversation, desperate to understand the truth behind her transformation and her encounters with Lucy.
Stella quickly pulled Max away, her eyes wide with shock. She poured out the details of what had transpired while he was away, emphasizing the significance of Lara’s connection with Collins and the urgency of the situation.
Max’s excitement grew as he realized the possibility that Collins might truly be Lara through the power of love. “We must not anger her,” he insisted. “We cannot afford to lose her now. Let us respect her privacy and give her the space she needs.”
With a newfound determination, Max and the others moved away from the door, their hearts filled with anticipation and a renewed sense of purpose.
Inside her room, Lara ended the communication line with her father, feeling a mixture of fear and hope. She knew that the path ahead would be arduous, but with the love she felt for Collins and the guidance of her father, she was ready to face whatever challenges awaited her. The fate of their love and the breaking of the curse rested in her hands, and she would do whatever it took to ensure their happiness and salvation.
In the following day, Lara woke up with a mix of anticipation and nervousness. It felt like her first day back at school after being absent for only a day break, and her mind was preoccupied with the thought of seeing Steve again. As they have developed a deep connection. Lara couldn’t help but wonder if there was something more between them, a romantic spark waiting to ignite.
As she entered the school premises, she immediately noticed the peculiar behavior of her classmates. Their eyes seemed to follow her every move, and a hushed silence fell over the hallways. It was as if they were all waiting for something, and Lara couldn’t help but feel self-conscious under their intense gaze.
Whispers began to spread, and she caught snippets of conversation as she made her way to her first class. “Did you hear her scream yesterday?” one student whispered. “It was so loud, it sent chills down my spine.” Lara’s heart skipped a beat. She had forgotten about the scream she let out the day before when she thought all was lost.
As she settled into her seat, Lara’s classmates stole glances in her direction. Emily, one of her closest friends, couldn’t contain her curiosity any longer. She leaned over and whispered, “Lara, everyone’s been talking about the scream. Were you the one that scream? What happened please?
Lara took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. “I… I’m not exactly sure what happened. Yes, I did hear a scream, but it wasn’t mine. It was as if someone else’s voice had taken over, but I don’t know who or what it was.”
Her friends exchanged puzzled looks, unsure of how to interpret her explanation. They had all assumed that Lara was the one responsible for the eerie scream, but now she was claiming otherwise. Emily furrowed her brow, leaning closer to Lara. “But we all heard it. It sounded just like you. How can you be so sure it wasn’t your scream?”
Lara sighed, her eyes filled with a mix of confusion and concern. “I know it’s hard to believe, but I swear, it wasn’t me. It’s like… like someone or something wanted me to hear it, to know that it existed. I’m just as scared and confused as all of you.”
Her friends remained silent for a moment, absorbing her words. They could see the sincerity in Lara’s eyes, and the doubt slowly began to fade from their expressions. They realized that there was more to the story than they initially thought, and they decided to support Lara instead of making assumptions.
Later in the day, during a break between classes, Lara found herself drawn to the music room. The sound of a piano softly drifting through the air called to her, offering a sense of solace amidst the chaos that had consumed her thoughts. As she opened the door, she was greeted by the sight of Steve sitting at the piano, his fingers gracefully dancing across the keys.
“Steve, I didn’t know you were so into music,” Lara exclaimed, a genuine smile forming on her face.
Steve looked up from the piano, a warm grin spreading across his face. “Hey, Lara! Music has always been a significant part of my life. It’s my way of expressing emotions that I can’t put into words. It’s like therapy for my soul.”
Lara’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. She had never seen this side of Steve before, and it only made her more intrigued by him. She sat down beside him, listening to the beautiful melody he was playing. The music seemed to wrap around them, creating a moment of tranquility amidst the chaos of their lives.
As the day progressed, Steve couldn’t help but worry about Lara’s well-being. That morning, he had woken up and realized she wasn’t there, which was unusual for them since they had spent the night together. Steve knew that Lara didn’t own a phone, so he couldn’t simply call or text her to find out what had happened.
During lunch break, he approached her with a concerned expression on his face. “Lara, I was really worried about you in the morning. You weren’t there when I woke up. Is everything okay?”
Lara’s face softened, touched by his concern. She knew she had to be honest with him, even if it meant risking their friendship. “Steve, I don’t need a phone and… I’m not your true love. I can’t be the person you’re looking for.”
Steve looked taken aback, his eyes filled with confusion and a hint of hurt. “What do you mean? I thought… I thought there was something special between us.”
Lara sighed, her voice laced with regret. “I care about you, Steve, I really do. the truth is, I feel the same way you do. And it wouldn’t be fair to either of us to continue this when my heart belongs elsewhere.”
Steve’s face fell, and he struggled to find the right words to respond. He had been so sure that Lara was the one, the person he had been searching for. His hopes were shattered, and he couldn’t help but wonder what he had done wrong. However, deep down, his determination to understand the truth remained steadfast.
“Please, Lara, just tell me what’s going on,” he pleaded, his voice filled with a mix of sadness and curiosity. “There’s something you’re not telling me, and I can see it in your eyes. I just want to know the truth.”
Lara’s eyes welled up with tears as she realized the pain she was causing Steve. She took a deep breath, summoning her courage to reveal her secret. “Steve, there’s something I’ve been keeping from you. Something I didn’t think I could share, but it’s clear that it’s affecting both of us. I… I have a connection to something supernatural, and that scream you heard, it’s somehow related to me.”
Steve listened intently, his curiosity piqued by her revelation. “Supernatural? What do you mean?”
Lara hesitated for a moment, trying to find the right words. “It’s hard to explain, but I’ve been experiencing strange occurrences ever since I can remember. I can sense things, feel presences, and that scream… it’s a part of it. I’m afraid that if I let you get too close, you might get caught up in it too.” She said twisting the truth to make it comfortable in his ears.
Steve’s eyes widened with a mix of surprise, concern, and a newfound determination. “Lara, I don’t care about any of that. I care about you. I want to help you, to understand. Please, don’t shut me out. We can face whatever comes together.”
Touched by Steve’s unwavering support, Lara felt a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness that had consumed her. She nodded, tears streaming down her face. “Okay, Steve. I’ll tell you everything. But promise me, no matter what happens, we’ll stay by each other’s side.”
Steve reached out and took her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “I promise, Lara. We’ll face whatever comes together, and I’ll always be there for you.”
Despite Steve not being Lara’s true love kiss, she had already fallen deeply in love with him and found it increasingly difficult to leave him. She cherished their time together and couldn’t deny the strong emotions she felt. At the close of the day, Collins anxiously waited for Lara, longing to talk to her and express his feelings.
Lara finally arrived, her expression conflicted and her eyes filled with mixed emotions. Collins took a deep breath, gathering his courage, and spoke to her about his feelings, showing her as well his phone of all the pictures he had taken of her . “Collins, I need to tell you something.” her voice quivered slightly, revealing her nervousness.
Lara looked at him with a soft gaze as he nodded, encouraging her to continue. “Collins, I know that Steve isn’t my true love kiss. But I can’t deny how I feel about him. I’ve tried to break up with him today while we were at school, but my heart just couldn’t let me. I’m sorry if this hurts you, but my feelings are complicated.”
Collins’s face fell, disappointment evident in his eyes. “I thought… I thought maybe after hearing how I feel about you, you would reconsider. I thought you would realize that we could be something more.”
Lara’s heart ached at his response, and she reached out to touch his arm gently. “Collins, it’s not that simple. Love is a complicated thing, and my heart is torn between what I feel for Steve and what I could feel for you. But I can’t force myself to feel something I don’t. Please understand.”
Collins nodded sadly, his gaze falling to the ground. “I understand, Lara. I guess I just hoped for a different outcome. I can’t change your heart, and I won’t try to. I respect your feelings.”
As Collins turned to walk away, heading home alone instead of his intended plan of going home with Lara, Lucy suddenly appeared before him. Her expression was filled with anger and frustration, knowing that Lara had once again managed to stay one step ahead of her.
“Collins” she shouted at him, I can’t believe that you are her Lara true love kiss,” Lucy spat out, her voice dripping with bitterness. “If you weren’t her true love kiss, I would be seriously considering doing something about it.”
Collins felt a shiver run down his spine at Lucy’s words. Fear gripped him as he realized the danger he might be in. “Lucy, please don’t do anything rash. Let’s just talk this out. There’s no need for violence.”
But Lucy’s anger consumed her, and dark energy began to emanate from her body. Collins knew he had to act quickly to protect himself. He turned and sprinted away, believing that Lucy intended to harm him.
Lucy swiftly caught up to him, her eyes glowing with an eerie light as she transformed into her true form as the princess of the dark realm. She reached out and grabbed Collins by the neck, her grip tightening with every passing second. “You have to die, Collins. If you’re gone, Lara won’t find any true love kiss.”
Collins struggled for breath, his vision fading as Lucy’s words echoed in his ears. With a final surge of power, Lucy extinguished his life force, leaving him lifeless on the floor. She then teleported away, leaving behind a life tragically cut short.
In the school premises, Lara sat on a chair, waiting for Steve to finish his music class. Collins’ words lingered in her mind, along with the discomfort of him taking too many pictures of her. Mixed emotions filled her as she waited. Jane, Lara’s friend, noticed her and approached to inquire about Steve’s whereabouts. Lara replied, “I saw him, but he walked away after I confessed my feelings for Steve.” Jane smiled and left for home.
As Lara sat alone, Steve finally emerged from the school. He reached out his hand to her, and she couldn’t help but notice his genuine kindness. However, she couldn’t understand why he didn’t feel like her true love. As they started the car’s engine, Steve caught a glimpse of a strange woman in the car’s mirror. Dark energy emanated from her body. Lucy, driven by her dark intentions, had decided to eliminate anyone who loved Lara. Using her sinister powers, she seized control of the car, hurling it out of the school premises, causing a crash.
Approaching the damaged car, Lucy witnessed Lara trying to free herself from the wreckage. With another surge of dark energy, she lifted the car high into the sky, letting it crash down with tremendous force. Lara in a hurry escaped from the car, grabbing Steve’s lifeless body. Lucy, satisfied with her actions, spoke of her desire to eliminate all those who loved Lara, before teleporting away.
Left with Steve’s lifeless body, Lara knew she had the power to bring him back to life using her ability to resurrect someone once. However, if he were to die again, she would be unable to save him from the judgment room. Lara meditated, channeling her light energy through Steve’s body. In the midst of this process, she heard Jane crying and calling out to her. Fearing that Lucy had visited Collins with her deadly intentions, Lara quickly sent her light energy through Steve’s lifeless form.
Steve’s eyes opened, witnessing Lara glowing like the sun. Lara turned to him, unable to explain everything he had just witnessed. Before Steve could speak, Lara teleported to the direction from which Jane’s voice was coming. She found herself in a hospital, where Max had red eyes and Stella was heartbroken. Collins lay covered in a white cloth. Lara looked at Jane and asked, “Where did this happen?”
Jane explained, “On our way home, I saw an ambulance carrying someone. Curiosity led me to approach, only to discover it was Collins, killed.”
Lara’s heart broke as she approached Collins’ lifeless body. She turned her gaze towards Max and declared, “Why are you all weeping? I still have the power to bring him back to you.” Lara enveloped the room in a brilliant light, temporarily blinding Max, Jane, and Stella. As the light subsided, they saw Collins alive, and the family embraced him, overwhelmed with joy. While they embraced, Lara spoke loudly, catching their attention.
“I’m sorry, Collins. It’s time I put an end to this curse my way,” Lara said before teleporting away.
Still in shock from witnessing Lara’s radiant transformation and her ability to bring him back to life, Steve looked at the astonished students who had also witnessed the event. Taking in the sight of his damaged car and recalling the lady who had used her powers to take his life and wreck his vehicle, Steve realized that Lara had been telling him the truth earlier that day. Slowly, he walked home, with the desire to explain his supernatural encounter to his parents.
Lara soared through the sky, her voice echoing as she called out for Lucy to appear. Desperately seeking her presence, Lara’s mind was consumed by worry. Meanwhile, Lucy had arrived at Max’s home and set it ablaze, the flames engulfing the structure. In the midst of the chaos, Max received a call from his neighbor, informing him of the devastating fire that was consuming his house. Urgently, he signaled for his family to leave the hospital where they were, warning them of the unfolding disaster.
Stella voiced her confusion, questioning how the fire could have started. Collins interjected, revealing the truth, “It’s Lucy.” With a mix of disbelief and horror, they hastily abandoned the hospital, disregarding the perplexed doctors and nurses unable to comprehend Collins’ inexplicable return from the dead. Arriving at their burning house, they were met with the valiant efforts of firefighters trying to contain the relentless flames that seemed to reignite every time they were extinguished.
Witnessing his cherished possessions and vital documents incinerate within the walls of his home, Max let out a gut-wrenching cry. Unbeknownst to him, Lara, who had been desperately calling for Lucy’s presence, heard his anguished wail. She was about to rush to his side when she suddenly witnessed Lucy materialize before her, a wicked laughter escaping her lips.
“Stop screaming my name as if I were your mother,” Lucy sneered as she taunted Lara. Sensing the urgency, Lara teleported to the burning house only to be met with shock and disbelief. Unable to restore the house and its lost belongings, she resorted to an action she never thought she would take. She decided to pray to the god of the earth, a deity she had never approached before.
In the frozen moment of time, Lara humbly knelt down, her voice resolute as she spoke into the air. “God of this universe, creator of the earth, and maker of its people, I, Princess Lara, who has been granted permission to dwell in your world, brought with me a dark princess who seeks to inflict suffering upon this family that has embraced me. I know her curse upon my existence has led me to this moment. I vow to you, if Collins is my true love, I will kiss him and forever trap her in her realm, departing from your world. I beseech you, Lord of Earth, to grant me one request, just as you granted my father, Lord Arthur, the King of Sky City. Restore this house and everything within, for I lack the power to do so myself. This I ask of you, Lord of Earth.”
As Lara opened her eyes, she was met with the sight of the restored house. Grateful for the divine intervention, she whispered her thanks into the air. A resounding lightning crackled in response to her prayers, signaling the unfreezing of time. Max, Stella, Collins, and Jane stood in awe as they beheld their miraculously restored home. They turned to find the firefighters gone, as if they had vanished into thin air. Max’s gaze fell upon Lara, who stood there with a faint smile. Approaching her, he knelt before her, expressing his gratitude.
Lara humbly commanded him to rise, clarifying that it was not her doing but the work of the god in his world. Collins approached, and she addressed him directly. “Collins, I must return to my world. Will you please kiss me?” she asked, a note of longing in her voice. Collins hesitated, considering the presence of Steve, Lara’s previous love interest who had perished alongside him.
“He was killed just like you, but he wasn’t destined to be my true love’s kiss. You are, Collins,” Lara explained. Collins struggled with his decision, knowing that kissing her would mean her departure. Max intervened, enlightening his son. “Son, she is a goddess with the power to return to this world. Kiss her so that she may return, and her curse may be lifted,” Max urged. Stella added her support, emphasizing the role fate played in their connection.
Collins looked at Lara with sadness in his eyes. “Will I see you again?” he asked, his voice filled with longing. Lara reassured him, “You will always see me. And if it pleases you, you can come to my world with me.” However, Collins couldn’t bear to leave his family behind at this moment. Resigned, he made his decision. “I can’t leave my family now. I will kiss you,” he declared.
But as Collins leaned in to kiss Lara, a powerful force blasted him away, causing him to be thrown off balance. Lara turned swiftly and confronted Lucy, who had descended from the sky. “Not on my watch,” Lucy hissed, determined to interfere once again.
Lucy’s eyes glowed with an ominous power as she raised her hand, conjuring dark energy that crackled around her fingertips. Lara, undeterred, faced her adversary with unwavering resolve. She called upon her own powers, channeling the strength of the god of the earth.
The two women locked eyes, their determination clashing in the air. Lara’s voice resonated with authority as she invoked the god’s name, commanding the earth beneath her feet to rise in her defense. The ground trembled and quaked as jagged rocks burst forth, forming a protective barrier between Lucy and Collins, shielding him from harm.
With a swift movement, Lucy lunged forward, unleashing a barrage of dark energy blasts. Lara deftly dodged each attack, her body moving with supernatural agility. She retaliated by sending pulses of earth-shaking power towards Lucy, creating deep chasms that threatened to consume her. The ground rumbled beneath them as their powers clashed in a fierce battle.
Lara seized the opportunity, seizing a momentary advantage, and lunged towards Lucy. Their bodies collided with a resounding force, the impact echoing through the air. The two combatants grappled, their powers intertwining and surging through their veins.
Their fight intensified, with Lucy’s malevolence driving her to unleash even greater darkness. Shadows coalesced around her, forming tendrils that sought to ensnare Lara. But Lara summoned her strength, focusing on the love and hope that had bound her to Collins and his family.
With a surge of power, Lara broke free from Lucy’s grasp, her eyes glowing with an ethereal light. She summoned the elements of earth and air, causing a cyclone to form around them. Gusts of wind swirled, lifting both combatants off their feet.
In the eye of the tempest, Lara confronted Lucy once more. Her voice reverberated with the power of the god of the earth as she proclaimed, “Lucy, your reign of darkness ends here. I will not let you harm Collins or anyone else ever again.”
Drawing upon her deepest reserves of strength, Lara channeled the combined energy of the cyclone and the earth. The air crackled with raw power as she unleashed a devastating blast towards Lucy. The force of the attack slammed into Lucy, engulfing her in a blinding light.
When the brilliance subsided, Lucy lay on the ground, weakened and defeated. Her malevolent aura dissipated, leaving behind only a fading echo of her former power. Lara approached her fallen foe, her expression filled with a mixture of pity and resolve.
Lucy, seething with annoyance and frustration over her defeat at the hands of Lara, tapped into her dark powers and teleported back to her father’s realm. As she materialized before him, she fell on her knees, her body trembling before the grand lord of darkness who reigned supreme in the treacherous fifth dimension of the realm.