Boma stepped into the living room and paused. Their father, Daniel, sat beside Christian, rubbing his arms to keep him warm. Christian was wrapped in a thick blanket, his face pale, his body still trembling from the cold. The glow from the small lantern in the corner cast soft shadows across the room, but even with the warmth inside, a strange chill lingered in the air.
"What happened?" Boma asked, her voice filled with concern.
Daniel sighed, his face lined with worry. "Christian came home drenched, shivering. He said he heard Helen's voice from the river."
Boma's eyes widened. She turned to Elizabeth, silently asking for an explanation.
Elizabeth took a deep breath. "Boma, there's something you need to know." She reached for Helen's old journal, which she had been holding close. "Helen… she wasn't just our stepmother. She was something more."
Boma frowned. "What do you mean?"
Elizabeth sat down and flipped open the journal. "Helen was a Keeper. She was responsible for protecting our family from something in the river. The water isn't just a river, Boma. It's a passage to something dangerous."
Boma shook her head. "That doesn't make any sense. Helen was just… Helen."
"I thought so too," Elizabeth said. "But there's more to her story. She gave her life to protect us. Now, something is happening again. That's why Christian keeps hearing her voice."
Boma glanced at their brother, who was still curled up under the blanket. His breathing was slow but steady. She pressed a hand to her forehead. "So what do we do now?"
Before Elizabeth could answer, a knock sounded at the door.
The sisters exchanged a glance. Elizabeth hesitated, then stood up and slowly opened it.
Ada stood outside, her expression calm but serious.
"May I come in?" she asked.
Elizabeth stepped aside, letting her enter. Ada's sharp gaze swept across the room before settling on Boma.
"You must be the older sister."
Boma folded her arms. "And you must be the one telling Elizabeth all these strange things."
Ada gave a small smile. "I know it's hard to believe. But it's the truth." She turned back to Elizabeth. "It's time."
"Time for what?" Boma asked.
Ada placed a small leather-bound book on the table. "For Elizabeth to prepare. She is the next Keeper."
Boma stiffened. "No. She can't do this. She doesn't even understand what it means."
Ada met her gaze steadily. "That's why I'm here. To guide her."
Elizabeth swallowed hard. "What do I have to do?"
Ada touched the book's cover. "Helen left behind instructions. This book holds the history of the Keepers—their duties, their rituals, and the rules they must follow. You need to learn everything."
Elizabeth traced the rough edges of the book with her fingers. "And after that?"
Ada's expression darkened. "Then, you must be ready. The river is waking up. If you don't take Helen's place, it will come for someone else."
Silence filled the room. Boma reached for Elizabeth's hand, squeezing it tightly. "Are you sure about this?"
Elizabeth met her sister's worried eyes and nodded. "I have to do this. For Christian. For all of us."
Ada gave a small nod. "Then we begin tomorrow."
That night, long after everyone had gone to bed, Elizabeth sat alone, staring at the book in front of her. She wasn't just Helen's stepdaughter anymore.
She was about to become the next Keeper.