That night, sleep refused to come.I lay on my bed staring at the ceiling crack that looked like a crooked cross, the scorched Bible resting on my chest like an anchor. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the four-headed demon. Then Mina—laughing on the swing set with ice cream on her nose, then spinning through shadows like she was born in them. Then Dad on his knees years ago, screaming over Mum's body while the old powers failed him.The emotional weight pressed down until my ribs hurt.Around 2 a.m., I heard soft footsteps in the hallway. I crept out. Mina stood at the back door, staring into the dark estate, her arms wrapped around herself like she was holding pieces together. The moonlight caught the faint gold still fading from her eyes."You couldn't sleep either," I whispered.She turned, and for once there was no teasing smile. Just raw, exhausted honesty. "I keep thinking… what if that thing had hurt you because of me? Your dad already lost your mum to this world. I don't want to be the reason he loses you too."Her voice cracked on the last word. I stepped closer, close enough to see the tear she quickly wiped away."Mina… I'm not scared of your shadows. I'm scared of going back to feeling nothing after Mum died. Like the whole estate was gray until you showed up and made everything loud and colorful again—even the scary parts."She let out a shaky laugh that turned into a sob. "You're such an idiot, Deji. I'm cursed. My family's power is supposed to stay buried, but it leaks out when I feel too much. Too happy. Too… attached." She looked up at me, eyes glistening. "And I feel too much around you."I took her hand. It was trembling. "Then feel it. I'm not running. Dad renounced the darkness because it took everything from him. But you… you fought beside me with it. Maybe that's what Mum meant in my dreams. Choose love, even when it scares you."We stood there in the doorway, foreheads almost touching, the night air thick with unspoken promises and fear. For a moment, the pastor's son and the girl with demon blood didn't exist—just two scared teenagers who had each other's backs against monsters, both human and otherwise.From inside, I heard Dad's study door creak. He didn't come out. Maybe he was listening. Maybe he remembered what it felt like to choose love over fear once, before everything burned.Mina squeezed my hand tighter. "Tomorrow's going to be hard. Your dad will want to 'fix' me. Pray it out. Send me away."Then we face it together," I said. "No more secrets. Not between us."She rested her head on my shoulder, and I felt her exhale like she'd been holding her breath since the day she joined choir. "I like the way you believe in things, Deji. Even in me."We stayed like that until the sky lightened, two hearts beating against the weight of legacies, loss, and the terrifying possibility that love might be stronger than both faith and shadows combined.The real storm was coming with sunrise. But for those few quiet minutes, the emotional core of everything—grief, hope, forbidden connection—felt worth every risk.