Chapter 40

The room felt suffocating as Anderson’s spirit chuckled, a cold, hollow sound that filled the air like smoke. "Oh, look who’s here again," its voice slithered through the silence, dripping with venom.

Jacob’s spirit tensed, a deep unease crawling up his spine. "You?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief, barely concealing his dread.

"I had such high hopes for you," Anderson sneered, its ghostly form looming closer, twisting the shadows in the void between them.

Jacob’s brow furrowed. "What do you mean by that?" His voice cracked slightly, his unease growing.

"Funny thing," Anderson mused, circling him like a predator, its presence oppressive, the air thickening with malice. "When the shaman warned her... I knew. I could’ve warned you, too, but why bother? I stopped myself." Anderson’s spirit laughed, the sound cold and unnatural, bouncing off the walls of the endless, dark expanse.

Jacob’s chest tightened. "Why would you do that?" he demanded, his voice trembling with frustration