Marlina sat alone in the spacious living room of her house, her eyes fixed on the mobile phone in her hand. Her husband, Merilton, had just left for work that morning, as usual, claiming to be managing his ever-growing family business. Although their life appeared perfect in the eyes of outsiders, Marlina felt that something was being kept from her.
Lately, Merilton had become more withdrawn, speaking only about important matters such as expenses and household bills. He had even started treating her harshly since they moved here. He often avoided talking about work or his personal life, and Marlina was growing increasingly suspicious of these changes.
She began to suspect that her husband was hiding something, especially after overhearing conversations among women at the market. However, she did not want to make baseless accusations without proof. So, she devised a plan to monitor her husband's every move without his knowledge.
Marlina's hand gripped a small mini GoPro camera she had initially bought to track her cat's movements. She had removed it when taking the cat for a routine check-up at the veterinary clinic and had forgotten to put it back. Now, she secured the camera onto the collar of her beloved cat, Kelabu. Kelabu had long been her loyal companion, often roaming around the house. The camera was connected to her phone, allowing her to watch Kelabu’s outdoor activities and receive alerts if the cat moved more than 0.05 kilometres from her phone’s location.
With a racing heart, Marlina watched Kelabu step out through the back door. The cat leaped and ran across the vast yard, leisurely sniffing the grass along its path before rolling on the sand. Marlina let her cat wander freely. However, unbeknownst to her, Kelabu was heading toward Tenuksia’s house at the end of the street. The cat swiftly slipped through the fence, unnoticed by anyone.
Marlina took a deep breath and opened her phone screen to check Kelabu’s location and activity. She could clearly see everything happening inside her neighbor’s house. Kelabu stepped into Tenuksia’s house, which was tidy yet eerily dim. Inside, Marlina saw Tenuksia standing in the middle of a dark living room, surrounded by glowing red candles casting eerie shadows on the walls. Tenuksia looked extremely serious as she stood before a large table filled with thick books and antique items that resembled tools for a ritual.
"A spell... a spell that will bind his fate…," Tenuksia’s voice echoed in the stillness of the night.
Marlina listened intently, but what terrified her the most was the language Tenuksia was speaking. It was not an ordinary language but something unfamiliar, perhaps an incantation calling upon something unseen, something that should not exist in this world.
Around Tenuksia were various ritual tools, a small container filled with black powder, several peculiar wooden figurines, and a large pot containing a bubbling concoction. Tenuksia raised her left hand and chanted incantations louder and louder, each word seeming to summon spirits hidden in another realm.
Marlina watched anxiously, her eyes glued to the phone screen. During the tense atmosphere, Kelabu wandered further into the house. The cat jumped swiftly through a slightly open door, entering an even darker room. Marlina followed its every movement, watching as it ventured deeper inside.
Suddenly, Kelabu stopped in front of a room that looked different from the rest. When the camera adjusted, Marlina gasped at the sight before her. The room was filled with glittering jewellery, neatly stacked foreign currencies, and gold bars arranged meticulously on wooden shelves. The sight clearly revealed the extraordinary wealth possessed by Tenuksia’s family.
Curious, Kelabu continued exploring the room cautiously, barely touching the floor scattered with treasures. Every item in the room seemed to belong to their neighbours gifts sent during a gathering a few weeks ago. Perhaps, it was all obtained through the magic Tenuksia had performed.
But then, something unexpected happened. While Kelabu was busy exploring, it accidentally knocked over some gold bars and hanging jewellery. The clattering sound shattered the silence, alerting Tenuksia. In an instant, she turned toward the noise, her eyes wide with rage.
"What are you doing here?" Tenuksia’s voice boomed with anger, echoing even into Marlina’s house.
Kelabu, startled, swiftly leaped out of the room. But before escaping, it managed to snatch a large fried fish from the kitchen table. Tenuksia, still in shock, chased after the fleeing cat and shouted, "Thief! Is there anything in my house you won't steal?"
Marlina nearly fell off her seat, overwhelmed by shock and fear. She realized she had just witnessed something incredibly dangerous. Unbeknownst to Tenuksia, she had seen every detail of the ritual and uncovered a huge secret about her wealth.
Outside, Kelabu sprinted away, disappearing into the dense bushes, while Marlina sat frozen in terror. Every move Tenuksia made, every incantation she chanted, and every mysterious object in that house sent chills down Marlina’s spine. She knew she was in danger, especially if anyone discovered the camera on Kelabu’s collar.