Even after Her Death by Rita Bond

Chapter 381 Another Death

Chapter 381 Another Death 81%

+5 Free Coins

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?"

1/4

Chapter 381 Another Death

45 Free Coins

the ocarina down with care and reached for mystone. Her hands, worn with age, moved slowly as her fingers traced the surface again and

finally, "is the Stone of Duality, You were right-there is another piece. The black one represents negative energy, while the

how on

respond. My focus remained on the old woman

straight at me, her gaze steady

Duality can overturn destiny itself. 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 something like this, but hearing it laid out so plainly felt like

leaned forward. "But how could

death are already written. No

a game we didn't fully understand. I grabbed her hand, unable to mask my

chance you'll die again. He brought you the Stone of Duality to take your place to

are those monsters, not 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.

deep sigh, her shoulders slumping slightly. "You two... follow

and I exchanged a glance. I gave her arm a reassuring squeeze. "Don't do anything

someone who can

his determination, could only find a

knew him. He wouldn't do this unless he was out

faintest hope, I

2/4

outside to a cherry blossom tree, its

Chapter 381 Another Death

well, its edges

+5 Free Coins

light breeze rustled the petals, and the bells hanging from the

believe in past

my mind. I had never told her my name. Not once. How

didn't," I said finally, my voice

time to face what's waiting for

moved toward the tree and unhooked a wind chime that hung from one of its lower branches. Without hesitation, she placed it in my hands. "Drop this into

My hands shook as I held it over the black void of the well. Taking

the darkness, and the still water below began to shift. Its

stretched endlessly, the air heavy and electric. For Zoey, standing beside me, it must have passed in the blink of an

I saw it-every detail of the past

thing as love without reason. Bonds don't form by chance; they

that he chose to repay it

broke through my thoughts. "What did you see?

dropped to my knees, clutching at the old woman's sleeve. "You know who I am.

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

hesitated, counting. "It's been a little over two months.