Chapter 157: Whispers in the Dark

The night had fully descended, casting a thick veil of darkness over the city. In the distance, the old, abandoned church stood silently, its once majestic spires now crumbling under the weight of time and neglect. The stone walls were covered in creeping ivy, and the heavy wooden doors groaned as the wind pushed against them. The church had long been forgotten by most of the city's inhabitants, left to rot in solitude. But tonight, it had a visitor.

A woman, cloaked in a long, dark coat that obscured her face and form, approached the entrance. Her footsteps were soft, almost silent, as they echoed faintly against the broken stone path leading to the church. She moved with purpose, her head held high despite the crumbling state of the place, and when she reached the heavy wooden doors, she pushed them open with a surprising strength. The door creaked loudly, its sound swallowed by the thick, humid air.