Natasha and Her Husband Stepped Out of the Restaurant After His Birthday Celebration

Emily and her husband were leaving the pub where they had celebrated his birthday. The night had been splendid. Many guests had turned up, including family and coworkers. Emily met several of them for the first time, but if William had invited them, he must have had his reasons.

Emily was the sort who never questioned her husbands choices; she shied away from arguments. It was simpler to nod along than to press her own opinion.

“Emily, did you tuck the house keys away? Can you fetch them, love?”

Emily rummaged through her handbag, searching for the keys. All at once, a sharp sting shot through her finger, and she flinched so violently that the bag tumbled to the pavement.

“What was that?”

“Something pricked me.”

“With all the junk in there, Im not surprised.”

Emily didnt argue. She scooped up the bag, carefully retrieved the keys, and by the time they stepped inside, the incident had slipped her mind. Her feet ached, and all she wanted was a hot shower and bed. The next morning, she woke to a throbbing pain in her handher fingertip was swollen and angry. Then she remembered. She emptied her bag piece by piece until she found it: a long, rusted needle nestled at the bottom.

“What on earth?”

She couldnt fathom how it had got there. Uneasy, she tossed it in the bin, then dressed the wound with antiseptic from the bathroom cabinet. By lunchtime, a fever had taken hold.

She rang William.

“William, Im not well. Fever, headacheeverything hurts. There was a rusty needle in my bag. Thats what jabbed me yesterday.”

“Shouldnt you see a doctor? Could be tetanus.”

“Dont fuss. Ive cleaned it. Itll be fine.”

But by evening, she was worse. She staggered home in a taxi, collapsed onto the sofa, and fell into a heavy sleep.

In her dream, she saw her grandmother Agnes, whod died when Emily was small. She didnt know how she recognised her, but she didbent and ancient, eyes cloudy yet kind. Agnes led her through a sunlit meadow, pointing out herbs. “Brew these,” she whispered. “Theyll purge the shadow inside you. Someone wishes you harm. Fight back. Time is short.”

Emily woke drenched in sweat. Only minutes had passed. The front door bangedWilliam was home.

“Blimey, look at you!” he gasped.

Emily faced the mirror. The woman staring back was hollow-eyed, her hair wild, skin sallow.

“This is madness,” William muttered.

Then Emily remembered the dream. “Grandma Agnes came to me. She told me what to do”

“Emily, were going to hospital.”

“No. She said doctors wont help.”

A row eruptedthe worst theyd ever had. William grabbed her arm, tried dragging her out. Emily wrenched free, stumbled, and fell. Furious, he snatched her bag, stormed off, and didnt return till midnight.

“Take me to Grandmas village tomorrow,” Emily begged.

By morning, she was gaunt, barely clinging to life. William pleaded, “Lets go to hospital. Please.”

But they drove to the village. Emily dozed the whole way, yet as they neared, she stirred. “Turn right here.”

She staggered from the car, collapsed onto the grass, but knew this was the place from her dream. She gathered the herbs, returned home, and William brewed the infusion. With each sip, strength trickled back.

Later, in the bathroom, she noticed her urine was pitch-black. “The darkness is leaving,” she murmured.

That night, Agnes returned in her dreams, smiling now.

“A curse was cast with that needle. The herbs will buy you time, but you must unmask the culprit. Your husbands involved. If youd kept the needle, I couldve seen clearer. Butlisten. Buy fresh needles. Chant over the largest: Spirits of night, once alive, show me the foe who sought my life. Hide it in Williams bag. Whoever cursed you will prick themselves. Then youll know.”

Emily woke weak but determined. William stayed home, but she insisted on going out alone.

“Dont be daft,” he said. “Youre ill.”

“Make some soup,” she replied. “Im starving.”

That evening, the enchanted needle found its way into Williams briefcase.

“How was your day?” Emily asked when he returned.

“Fine. Why?”

Just as she thought the trap had failed, he added, “Odd thingSophie from accounting tried helping me fish out my keys. Got pricked by a needle in my bag. Went spare at me.”

“Sophie?”

“Dont start. Shes just a colleague.”

Emily understood then.

As she slept, Agnes reappeared, instructing her how to reverse the curse onto Sophie. “She wants you gone,” Agnes said. “Shed have tried again.”

Emily obeyed. Days later, William mentioned Sophie had fallen gravely illdoctors were baffled.

Emily asked to visit the churchyard where Agnes was buried. She bought flowers, tidied the grave, and knelt.

“Grandma, Im sorry I never came. I thought once a year was enough. I was wrong. You saved me. I wont forget.”

A breeze brushed her shoulders. She turnedno one there. Only the rustle of leaves.

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Natasha and Her Husband Stepped Out of the Restaurant After His Birthday Celebration
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