A faint sound echoed through the basement.
It wasn't footsteps.
More like a whisper in the ear.
Qin Yan and I looked in the direction where the sound came from at the same time.
In the deep shadow of the iron gate, a vague figure slowly emerged.
Her figure flickered in the candlelight like a mist, but her eyes were empty and pale that were fixed on us.
Then, she spoke.
"I'm Evelyn."
Her voice was gentle, like wind blowing over water, but behind that gentleness was a sense of brokenness that hadn't been spoken for too long.
"I… I'm finally free."
I took a cautious step forward.
"You're really her?"
She nodded, her messy long hair floating gently, as if soaking in water.
"Thank you," she said. "For finding me. For reading my story."
"I can't leave anything behind… but I want to give you what's left of me."
She raised her hand. The broken chain that once bound her shimmered faintly, floating toward me.
In her other hand appeared the torn letter—her last words, now strangely whole. She offered it to Qin Yan.
As soon as we touched the items, our phones chimed.
I looked down.
System item acquired: Chain of the Forgotten
(Notes: It can be used to bind any living or non-living entity.)
Qin Yan also checked his phone screen.
System item acquired: Letter of Regret
(Notes: Write a name on the page to end that existence. Only can write three times)
We exchanged a glance.
The air around us had gone eerily still..
I stepped closer to Evelyn's ghost.
"Can I ask something?" I said. "Was there ever… a fire in this mansion?"
She paused, and her figure swayed slightly.
"I don't know," she whispered. "I was locked in the basement for too long."
"If a fire happened… I didn't see it. I heard nothing."
Her words sent a chill down my spine.
Qin Yan looked over at me.
"Then… what about me?" I asked quietly. "I'm supposed to be… the young master here. Is that real?"
Evelyn tilted her head.
Then she smiled. It was not cruel, not cold, but just tired.
After that, she said:
"You were a character I created."
"You matched everything I imagined a child of mine would be. I was too lonely… too desperate for someone to love."
Her voice trembled.
"Just a simple wish."
I stood frozen.
My throat tightened, but no words came.
Evelyn's form began to fade.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice almost gone.
"Live well, my child."
Only the faint chill in the air remained.
Suddenly, there was system Notification:
Congratulations. You find the truth of Evelyn. You have earned 4 Weird Coins. Zeyang
, your total weird coins: 30 weirds coins.
At the same time, Qin Yan also received 4 weird coins.