Emily and her husband were leaving the pub where theyd celebrated his birthday. The evening had been lovelyfull of friends, family, and coworkers. Emily hadnt met some of them before, but if James had invited them, she trusted his judgment.
She wasnt one to argue with her husbands choices; it was easier to go along than to stir up trouble.
“Emily, love, did you chuck the flat keys in your bag? Can you grab them?”
She rummaged through her handbag when a sudden sting made her jerk her hand back, sending the bag tumbling to the ground.
“Whats wrong?”
“Something just pricked me.”
“With all that junk in there, Im not surprised,” James chuckled.
Emily didnt argue. She picked up the bag, fished out the keys, and forgot about it by the time they got home. Her feet ached, and all she wanted was a hot shower and bed. But the next morning, her finger was red, swollen, and throbbing. She remembered the prick and emptied her bag onto the table. At the bottom was a huge, rusty needle.
“What on earth?”
She couldnt figure out how it got there. Shaken, she tossed it in the bin, cleaned the wound, and bandaged it before heading to work. By lunch, she was burning up.
She called James.
“Love, I feel awfulfever, headache, everything hurts. That needle I pricked myself on was rusty.”
“Blimey, you might need a doctor. Could be tetanus or worse.”
“Dont fuss, I cleaned it. Ill be fine.”
But she wasnt. By evening, she could barely stand. She took a cab home, collapsed on the sofa, and fell straight asleep.
In her dream, she saw her late nan, Margaret, whod passed when Emily was little. She didnt know how she recognized her, but she *knew*. Her nan looked frail, her back bent with age, but instead of fear, Emily felt safelike she was there to help.
Margaret led her through a field, pointing out herbs. “Brew these into tea,” she said. “Itll drive out the darkness poisoning you. Someones cursed you, but you can fight back. Hurry.”
Emily woke in a cold sweat. Only minutes had passed. The front door slammedJames was home.
“Bloody hell, Em, look at yourself!”
She staggered to the mirror. The woman staring back was a shadow of herselfhair matted, skin grey, eyes hollow.
“Whats happening?”
Then she remembered the dream. “I saw Nan. She told me what to do”
“Enough! Were going to hospital.”
“Im not. Nan said doctors cant help.”
James lost it. He called her mad, grabbed her arm, and tried dragging her out. She wrenched free, stumbled, and fell. Furious, he snatched her bag, stormed out, and left.
Alone, Emily texted her boss she was too ill to work. James returned late, full of apologies.
“Take me to Nans village tomorrow,” she whispered.
The next morning, she looked half-dead. James begged her to see a doctor, but they drove to the village anyway. Emily slept the whole way, yet as they neared, she suddenly said, “Turn right here.”
She collapsed onto the grass as soon as she stepped outbut shed found the right spot. She gathered the herbs, and back home, James brewed the tea. With each sip, she felt stronger.
Later, in the loo, she noticed her urine was black. Oddly calm, she murmured, “The poisons leaving”
That night, Margaret returned in her dream, smiling this time.
“A cursed needle did this. The teas helping, but you must find who did it. Your husbands involved. If youd kept the needle, I couldve seen more. Butheres what you do. Buy needles, chant over the biggest: *Spirits of night, once alive, reveal the foe who seeks to thrive!* Hide it in Jamess bag. Whoever cursed you will prick themselves. Then well know.”
Emily woke weak but determined. James stayed home, shocked when she insisted on going out alone.
“Dont be daft, love. Youre poorly.”
“Make us some soup,” she said lightly. “Im starving.”
That evening, the enchanted needle was in Jamess bag.
“You sure youll be alright without me?” he asked before bed.
“Ill manage.”
She felt better, the tea working. When James returned from work, she asked, “How was your day?”
“Fine. Why?”
Just as she thought it hadnt worked, he added, “Funny thingSarah from accounts tried helping me with my bag. Got pricked by a needle in there! Went spare at me.”
“Sarah?” Emilys blood ran cold.
“Dont start. Shes just a mate.”
But Emily knew now. Sarah had planted the needle.
That night, Margaret taught her how to undo the curse. Soon after, James mentioned Sarah had fallen gravely illdoctors were stumped.
Emily asked to visit the village cemetery. She bought flowers and gloves, found Margarets grave, and tidied it.
“Sorry I never came before,” she whispered. “You saved me. I wont forget again.”
A warm breeze brushed her shoulderslike a hug. When she turned, no one was there. Just peace.
