The old woman stared at Adrian's wrist for a long moment.
The room fell silent.
Sarah shifted uneasily. "What is it?"
The old woman did not answer immediately. Her eyes remained fixed on the black mark carved into Adrian's skin.
Then she sighed.
"I see."
Sarah's heart dropped.
"You see what?" she demanded. "Just tell us."
The old woman looked between them.
"I was hoping I was wrong."
Adrian frowned. "Wrong about what?"
The old woman leaned back in her chair.
"The mark on Sarah's wrist and the mark on yours are connected."
Sarah instinctively grabbed her wrist.
"What does that mean?"
"It means the Scarecrow does not see both of you the same way."
A chill ran through the room.
The old woman pointed toward Sarah.
"Your mark is a sign of attachment."
Then she pointed toward Adrian.
"But his..."
Her expression darkened.
"...is a mark of death."
Sarah's face went pale.
"What?"
"The Scarecrow considers him a threat."
Adrian remained silent.
"The upside-down symbol is not protection. It is a target."
The old woman folded her hands together.
"It means the Scarecrow intends to destroy him."
The room became unbearably quiet.
Sarah could hear her own heartbeat.
"No..." she whispered.
The old woman stood from her chair and slowly walked toward an old wooden cabinet hidden in the corner of the room.
She opened one of the drawers.
Something gleamed inside.
A dagger.
Its silver blade shimmered beneath the sunlight pouring through the window.
The old woman carefully lifted it out.
Sarah stared at it.
"What is that?"
"The only thing capable of ending this."
She placed the dagger in Sarah's trembling hands.
The blade felt colder than ice.
"What am I supposed to do with it?"
The old woman took a deep breath.
"You must lure the Scarecrow to the field."
"The field?"
"Yes."
She nodded.
"You will draw a circle in the soil."
Her voice became lower.
"The Scarecrow must stand inside that circle."
Sarah swallowed.
"And then?"
"You must stand inside it as well."
The old woman slowly spoke a strange word.
"Cantamodres."
Neither Sarah nor Adrian recognized it.
"When the circle is complete, speak that word."
The old woman pointed at the dagger.
"And drive this into his heart."
Sarah nearly dropped the weapon.
"What?!"
The old woman remained calm.
"The mark will disappear."
She looked at Adrian.
"His curse will end."
Then at Sarah.
"Yours as well."
Sarah shook her head.
"That's impossible."
She stood up so quickly her chair nearly fell.
"If the Scarecrow is real, he's not just going to stand there while I draw a circle around him!"
Her voice cracked.
"And he's definitely not going to let me stab him!"
The old woman nodded.
"I know."
"Then how is this supposed to work?"
The old woman stepped closer.
"Because you are the only person he trusts."
Sarah froze.
"You are the only one capable of getting close enough."
The old woman gently pushed the dagger back toward her.
"Just lure him there."
Her eyes narrowed.
"I'll take care of the rest."
Before Sarah could ask another question, the old woman walked toward the door.
The conversation was over.
---
Outside, the evening air felt colder than before.
Sarah and Adrian walked home in silence.
The dagger felt heavy inside Sarah's bag.
Nothing made sense anymore.
Her thoughts tangled together until her head ached.
When they finally reached home, Adrian broke the silence.
"So..."
He forced a smile.
"What's the plan?"
Sarah stopped walking.
Then suddenly tears filled her eyes.
Adrian's smile vanished.
"Sarah?"
"This is all my fault."
Her voice shook.
"If I hadn't dragged you into this..."
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"You wouldn't have that mark."
Adrian opened his mouth to speak, but she continued.
"You wouldn't be a target."
She wiped her face.
"I should've handled everything myself."
Adrian stepped closer.
"Sarah."
"No."
She shook her head.
"You shouldn't be involved anymore."
The words hurt to say.
"I'll deal with the Scarecrow myself."
For a moment, Adrian simply stared at her.
Then he laughed softly.
Sarah blinked.
"What?"
"We're way past that."
He placed a hand on her shoulder.
"We're in this together."
Sarah looked away.
"But—"
"No."
His voice was firm.
"We finish this together."
The fear in Sarah's chest tightened.
Adrian smiled.
A genuine smile.
"I'm still here, aren't I?"
He squeezed her shoulder.
"So stop acting like I'm already dead."
Sarah stared at him.
For the first time that day, she laughed through her tears.
And neither of them noticed the figure standing far away in the field.
Watching.
Waiting.
The stitched smile stretched wider