The lake was quiet again, and the gang was looking at the pendant Shin and Issac brought.
Too quiet and it was so dense, grim literally cut the air with a knife cup ate and shin ate it (it was bitter).
The ripples faded, the glow dimmed, and only the sound of wind brushing through the reeds remained.
Elena sat on the sand, knees pulled close to her chest, her ghostly form shimmering faintly under the moonlight.
In her trembling hands was the necklace Issac had brought up from the depths — the same one that had once hung around her neck thirteen years ago.
"…This," she whispered. "It was mine."
Her voice cracked as she stared at the pendant, water dripping from it like tears. Then, without warning, her eyes went distant — unfocused — as the memory hit her.
[Flashback]
Rain. Endless rain.
The night sky above Kyoto was a blur of gray and lightning.
A younger Elena, soaked to the bone, ran across the old bridge, clutching her necklace. Her eyes were red from crying.
Wind howled, almost screaming her name.
"I—I just wanted to see him again…" she muttered, taking one step closer to the railing.
The wood beneath her feet creaked.
She leaned forward, the river below raging like a monster hungry for sorrow.
Then—
Snap!
The necklace broke, falling into the water.
Without thinking, she jumped after it.
Cold. Crushing.
The world spun as she was dragged downstream, her body slamming against rocks and branches. She tried to scream, but only bubbles escaped.
Through blurred eyes, she saw it—a massive, rusted shipping container, half-submerged near the old dock.
The current shoved her inside through a broken gap.
Then—clang!—the door slammed shut.
She pounded on the metal.
"Help…! Please! Somebody!"
Her voice echoed hollowly inside the container.
Water rose around her, up to her waist… her shoulders… her lips.
"Mom… Chris… someone…"
Her final breath escaped in silence.
The pendant floated from her hand, catching the last flicker of moonlight before everything went black.
[Present]
Elena gasped, clutching her chest as if she could still feel her heart racing.
Her body flickered — half transparent, half solid — trembling between worlds.
Issac and Shin rushed to her side.
"Elena! Hey, breathe—uh, can you even breathe? But please don't go to the light or flames, sweetie," Issac panicked.
Shin crouched beside her, voice shaky. "What happened? Did you ascend or something?"
She nodded weakly. "The bridge… the river… the container. That's where I… died."
Issac rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly serious for once.
"So… her body's probably still inside that container. Trapped. Forgotten."
Grim's expression softened. "How poetic… and utterly tragic. Mortals always find the most dramatic ways to die."
Aiko folded her arms. "So the next step is obvious, right? We go find that container ."
Cupp groaned. "Great. Another 'field trip of doom again.' My favorite."
Elena smiled faintly, still staring at the pendant.
"But… this time, I won't be alone."
The wind howled through the trees, carrying her words into the dark.
And far away, deep beneath the water's surface, something metallic creaked — as if it heard her name.
"Thanks for reading chapter 13"
Hi guys, Morris here,
Guys, it's been a week and a lot has happened. I attempted suicide this morning and failed. I haven't told any of my family members and I am kind of hiding my cut hand with a hoodie. If anyone is wondering, it felt soothing and I didn't feel pain for a moment. Then you forget how you even cut yourself. As they say, better luck next time. Ciao guys.