There's a story about beauty it's the kind of beauty that can break people destroy friendships and ruin lives all for the title if miss World.
Serena Hawk was not like the other contestants in the beauty pageant, she didn't have the sweetness of charm or the gentle grace of most competitors.
First moment she entered the hotel, Serena had only one thought in her mind.... to wear that crown and to crush anyone who got in her way.
She had always been the most beautiful woman, she wanted more... she needed to be the best.
The hotel, an old building hidden deep in the forest where the competition would be held, it was grand yet eerie with walls that seemed to whisper, floor that creaked under foot and hallways that stretched into shadowed corners despite the luxury.
There was something unsettling about the place as if it had seen too many secrets, too many lives destroyed.
It was late; the others were asleep and Serena knew it was her moment, the hotel was quiet but her mind raced with thoughts of victory she couldn't afford to let any of the other contestants especially the fan favourite Naomi, a graceful woman with a heart of gold outshine her.
Serena had heard rumors about a local witch who had once lived nearby. This witch was said to be able to cast spells to manipulate the minds of others to sway the fate of anyone desperate enough to seek her power.
Serena had dismissed it as superstition but now the idea of influencing the judge's mind of bending; reality to her will seemed far too tempting to ignore.
She had arranged for the meeting, a stranger in a dark coat had slipped into her room under the cover of night. He wasn't like the other pageant organizers, there was something cold about him, something unsettling in his gaze but he had what Serena wanted..... the ritual to ensure her victory.
"Do it" Serena commanded her voice sharp with impatience, she watched as the stranger silent and deliberate spread a black cloth on the floor, the candle flames flickered casting long dancing shadows on the walls. She could feel her heartbeat echo in the silence room, the man whispered words Serena couldn't understand ancient words while placing strange items on the cloth, a black feather, a blood red stone and a lock of hair Serena had provided ((the hair of Naomi)) her biggest rival.She had been careful to snip it when Naomi was taking shower earlier that day.
The ritual began, Serena impatient for results leaned forward "will it work?" the man's lips curled into a smile, "the spell will influence the minds of those you wish they will see you as the perfect choice...the only choice but remember this when you play with forces, you don't understand there is always a price to pay". Serena didn't care, she would do anything she had to win.
The man finished the incantation his words trailing off into the thick oppressive air "it is done" he muttered his eyes meeting hers with a strange unsettling intensity, "be careful Serena you have unleashed something".
The next morning Serena woke to a strange feeling, one she couldn't quite like place the air felt heavier and when she looked into the mirror, her reflection seemed almost too perfect, her skin was flawless, her eyes brighter, her hair shining with unnatural luster she smiled at her reflection... it was working but as the hours passed Serena began to notice odd things happening around her.
Naomi who had always been warm and friendly seemed distant and anxious; her eyes were hollow her movements almost like a puppet being controlled by invisible strings and the other contestants; they looked at Serena differently as though she had somehow become the center of their world the one they couldn't take their eyes off. The judges almost seemed to be acting strange they whispered among themselves; their gazes lingering on Serena more than on anyone else but something didn't feel right.
That night Serena couldn't sleep, the hotel had grown eerily quiet; the shadows deeper as if the building itself was holding it's breth. She had to make sure the spell was still working; she needed to be certain that no one not even Naomi could steal her victory.
She slipped out of her room again; the hotel was dark and silent as she made her way to the backyard corridors, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched, a chill ran down her spine when Serena reached the ballroom she saw Naomi standing by the grand staircase her eyes wide looking terrified "Naomi..." Serena called out her but she didn't turn but her body trembled "what did you do?" she whispered "what did you make me do" Serena heart skipped "what are you talking about?" Naomi voice quivered, "I saw it in my dreams...the ritual you used on me, you used my hair...you're going to regret this" before Serena could respond Naomi suddenly collapsed onto the floor, her body convulsion violently. Serena rushed to her side but as she touched Naomi's shoulder something cold and heavy seemed to wrap around her wrist a presence a force gripping her from all sides "Naomi... wake up" Serena cried out but Naomi didn't move.
Her eyes were wide filled with terror as if seeing something Serena couldn't and then the lights went out in the darkness. Serena heard the sound of footsteps slow and deliberate echoing through the ballroom, they weren't the footsteps of a person but of something far more ominous... something ancient suddenly, Serena's skin crawled as a voice whispered in her ear "you thought you could control me but now I control you" she spun around her breath catching in her throat but no one was there.
The floor beneath her feet began to tremble the temperature dropped and the air felt suffocating. Serena backed away her heart pounding "who's there?" she stumbled back into the shadows trying to make sense of what was happening. The room seemed to stretch and distort around her like the walls themselves were closing in. The man's warning echoed in her mind "when you play with forces you don't understand there is always a price to pay" Serena stumbled through the dark hallways; her breath coming in ragged gasps the feeling of being watched never left her, the shadows seemed to move twisting and shifting in ways suddenly she heard a soft whispers almost imperceptible but growing louder "Serena...." she froze the voice was... hers but it sounded wrong "Serena.." the voice came again but this time it was not just her voice; it was the collective voice of every woman, she had ever heard every contestants; she had undermined it was the voice of Naomi... the witch of the forces she had disturbed "Serena you belong to us now" the hotel seemed to come alive the walls groaning as if the building itself was alive feeding off her.
Serena turned to run but her legs nummed and she collapsed to the floor.
The shadows pressed her, suffocating her the room grew colder; the darkness overwhelming and then she saw a figure of a woman tall and thin draped in a flowing black gown emerged from the shadows. Her face was twisted in a mask of anger and sadness, eyes glowing with an unnatural light, "you thought you could cheat your way to victory" the figure hissed, "now you'll pay for your vanity" Serena screamed but no sound came out.