Even after Her Death by Rita Bond

Chapter 381 Another Death

Chapter 381 Another Death 81%

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The old woman's gaze lingered on the Soul-Stabilizing Pendant, her face unreadable.

Without hesitation, I dropped to my knees. "Please, malam, if you know anything, tell me. This could mean everything to someone I care about."

Her eyes shifted toward me, calm yet piercing. "The man who came with you before-he's not with you this time?"

Zoey quickly knelt beside me, her hands gesturing in reassurance. "No, he's not here! Don't worry, he's far away. Look, if it'll help, I'll bow too. Just tell my sister what she needs to know."

"Both of you, get up," the old woman said, her tone firm but not unkind.

Zoey and I obeyed, settling cross-legged on the floor as she had.

"After you left last time," the old woman began, "that man returned to see me."

A sharp chill ran through me. Of course Carter would take matters into his own hands. A mere mention of him, and he'd already found her.

"What did he say?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

She ran her fingers over the smooth surface of the ocarina. "He gave me money. Told me to leave this place."

My hands curled into fists. "He's afraid you'll tell me the truth. But since you stayed, he won't let this drop!

Carter's nature was all too clear to me. His kindness was a mask he wore only for me.

If this was important enough to him, he'd stop at nothing to get what he wanted.

"I left," the old woman said, her voice calm, "but I knew you'd come."

Her words struck like a thunderclap. Zoey and I exchanged stunned glances.

"You knew we'd come?" Zoey asked, disbelief plain in her voice. "How could you possibly know that? It doesn't make sense!"

The woman's smile deepened, her eyes softening. The wrinkles at their corners somehow made her look gentler, as though she'd known us for years.

It was strange. Though I'd never seen her before, something about her felt familiar, like the echo of a memory I couldn't place.

"What do you want to ask me?" she said, ignoring Zoey's question entirely.

I drew in a shaky breath. "The last time we spoke, I told you I thought I understood what this was. But now, I'm not so sure. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe someone lied to me. You know what this is. Please, tell me the truth. What is this stone? What does it do? Is there a second one? And what did you mean by the things you said before?"

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Chapter 381 Another Death

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for mystone. Her hands, worn with age, moved slowly as her fingers traced the surface again and again, as if each pass revealed something only she

Duality, You were right-there is another piece. The

how on earth

on

gaze steady and intent. It changes

If you live a life of wealth and ease, another will share in your blessings. But if your life is cut short, their fate will mirror yours. Neither escapes unscathed I had suspected

anything without a fight, leaned forward. "But how could he

"Life and death are already written. No one gets something

like she was a step ahead of us in a game we didn't fully understand. I grabbed her hand, unable

"Are you sure you want to change it? If you do, there's a chance you'll die again. He brought you the Stone of Duality

her! Ma'am, you must know a way to save her. She doesn't deserve this. Take my life instead. I don't have anyone depending on me anyway. I'll-" "Zocy!" I snapped. "Don't say things

let out a deep sigh, her shoulders slumping slightly. "You

I gave her arm a reassuring squeeze. "Don't do anything reckless. If she's still here waiting for us,

smile breaking through her frustration. "You're probably right. Maybe we really did stumble onto someone who can help. Like

even Carter, with all his determination, could only find a life-for-life solution, was

do this unless he was out of

faintest hope, I had to hold

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led us outside to a cherry blossom tree, its branches covered in delicate blooms. Beside

Chapter 381 Another Death

an ancient stone well, its

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from

you believe in past

my mind. I had never

finally, my

time to face what's

unhooked a wind chime that hung from one of its lower branches. Without

couldn't ignore. My hands shook

the darkness, and the still water below began to shift. Its inky surface rippled, then transformed,

heavy and electric. For Zoey, standing beside me, it must have passed in

I saw it-every detail of the past

reason. Bonds don't form by chance; they are forged

chose to repay it with the only thing he could give-his

through my thoughts. "What did you see? I didn't

my knees, clutching at the old

"The Stone of Duality works over 81 days. How long have you kept it

a little over two months. Maybe seven