After destroying the garden, Andrew left, leaving Kim with a sprout. She vowed to herself that she would never let the past happen again. But the more she cared for the sprout, the more she felt that the bond between her and the garden had not been broken.
Several months passed. Andrew, who had become a popular journalist thanks to his article about the “cursed garden,” received a letter from Kim:
“Andrew, the sprout is growing and I’m no longer sure I can control it. I’m scared. Please come over. I can’t stay here alone anymore.”
Without thinking, he came back. When he saw Kim, she looked different – pale skin, faded eyes. But despite that, she was incredibly beautiful. Andrew felt something change between them, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on what it was.
Secret admirer
Along with Kim in the house lived her new neighbor – a mysterious man named Sebastian, who, as it turned out, helped her to take care of the plant. Andrew immediately sensed a strange tension between them, but Kim said nothing. Sebastian was charming, but there was an underlying threat in his eyes.
– Do you trust him? – Andrew asked her one evening when he and Kim were alone together.
– He’s just helping,” she replied, but looked away.
Andrew began to notice that Kim was becoming more withdrawn, as if she was hiding something important from him.
The curse returned
Meanwhile, the sprout had grown into a full-fledged rose bush that bloomed more colorfully than anything they had ever seen. But with each new bloom, strange things began to happen in the house. Mirrors became cracked, footsteps were heard at night, and the air was filled with a familiar sweet scent.
One night Andrew awoke to whispers. The voices led him to the garden where he saw Kim and Sebastian standing next to a bush. Sebastian was holding a knife.
– What are you doing! – he shouted, but Kim only looked at him with cold determination.
– It’s necessary, Andrew,” she said. – Sebastian knows how to sever the connection to the garden once and for all.
But Andrew sensed that something was wrong.
Love and betrayal
The next day, Sebastian disappeared and Kim became even more aloof. Andrew realized that she no longer trusted him, and fights between them flared up more and more frequently.
One day, while studying Virginia’s notes, he came across a photo of Sebastian. In the photo, he was standing next to Virginia, holding the very cube with the rose.
Andrew realized that Sebastian was connected to Virginia. And he realized that Kim knew it, but for some reason was hiding it.
– You knew who he was,” he accused Kim.
– Yes, I did,” she admitted. – But he promised to help me save the garden.
– Do you trust him more than me? – Andrew felt rage boiling up inside him.
– It’s not what you think,” she whispered, but he realized she was having trouble looking him in the eye.
Sebastian’s Conspiracy
Andrew began to follow Kim and Sebastian until one night he saw them go to the old basement together. There, in the center of the room, lay that very same cube, restored. Next to it stood a huge rose, as if ready to bloom.
– We’re almost done,” Sebastian said, looking at Kim. – There was only one thing left: the donation.
Kim stood hesitant, and Andrew realized that she was the sacrifice. Sebastian had tricked her, capitalizing on her love of the garden and her desire to right the wrongs of the past.
– Kim, get away from him! – Shouted Andrew, running out of the shadows.
Sebastian lunged at him, but Andrew managed to grab the knife. A struggle ensued in which Andrew was injured but managed to throw Sebastian off.
The finale
Kim, finally realizing she had been tricked, rushed towards Rose with the knife.
– If that’s what you want, you won’t get it! – she shouted to Sebastian and plunged the knife into the flower with force.
The rose glowed and then exploded with a bright light. Sebastian disappeared, as if he had vanished into thin air. And Kim fell to the ground, exhausted.
Andrew ran up to her and put his arms around her.
– Is it over? – she asked in a weak voice.
– Yes, Kim, it’s over now,” he replied, but deep down he knew it wasn’t.
The next day they left the house, leaving it completely empty. But even from a distance, Andrew sometimes thought he could smell the roses …
