The Tower Reversed: Back to 18 (Venus) novel Chapter 45

**One Step Changes Everything**
By Ruby Parker

**Chapter 45: Not a Stalker, Thanks**

The walls were marred with small, black handprints, an unsettling sight that sent chills racing down Neoma’s spine.

She crumpled over the table, her sobs echoing through the room like a mournful melody. “It’s not gonna let me go. I’m so stupid… so stupid… Someone please help me…” Her voice trembled, laden with despair.

In the midst of her breakdown, Venus spoke with an unnerving calmness, her tone almost devoid of emotion. “Ms. Day, that’s precisely why I’m here.”

Neoma’s thoughts spiraled into darkness. *I know it’s trying to kill me.*

She lifted her tear-streaked face, her makeup a tragic mess, eyes swollen and red, filled with skepticism. “You? Really? Before you showed up, I was frantically searching for protection sigils online. They’re everywhere! You just got lucky that it worked on me. You didn’t actually solve anything. I can’t believe I was foolish enough to trust a random stranger from the internet…” A scoff escaped her lips, bitterness lacing her words.

Venus, however, didn’t waste precious moments engaging in a fruitless argument. Instead, she swiftly retrieved a small spray bottle from her pocket and aimed it directly at Neoma’s face, spritzing her with a quick flick of her wrist.

“Ah! What the hell did you just spray on me?!” Neoma shouted, instinctively shielding her eyes with her hands, panic rising within her.

“Gravewater,” Venus replied nonchalantly, as if she were discussing the weather.

“What? You mean the urban legend? That gravewater lets you see ghosts? Are you trying to kill me?” Neoma’s heart raced, and she lunged for a water bottle on the table, desperate to rinse her eyes.

But then she opened her eyes, and time seemed to freeze.

Handprints—black, five-fingered marks—were smeared all over the water bottle, the table, her skincare products, her makeup, the mirror, her purse, her clothes…

Tiny handprints, unmistakably left by a child.

“Ahhhh-!” Neoma’s scream pierced the air, her face draining of color until it resembled freshly fallen snow. In an instant, she collapsed, unconscious.

Venus stepped forward, reflexively catching her before she could hit the ground. “Neoma? Are you okay? Open the door!”

Outside, Elaine had heard the chilling scream and was knocking frantically, her heart racing in her chest. The door, however, was locked from the inside. Just as panic began to claw at her, a calm, soothing voice broke through her distress.

“What’s going on?”

Elaine turned around, relief flooding her as she spotted Rayne. “Rayne! Thank goodness! Neoma’s not feeling well, and her friend went in to check on her, but right after that, I heard her scream. The door’s locked, and I’m worried something happened—”

Before she could finish her frantic explanation, Rayne’s expression darkened, his instincts kicking in. That was all he needed to hear. He inhaled deeply, steeling himself, and propelled himself forward, launching a powerful kick aimed straight at the door.

Creak—

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