“Oh my God! What are you doing, running around inside the house, Li?” Debi scolded, her body nearly getting hit by Liana.
“I-I heard Sis!” Liana blurted out, trembling with fear. “Her voice? What voice? Was it in your dream?” Debi teased. “I-I’m serious, Sis. There was a man’s voice in my room!” Curious, Debi decided to check Liana’s room herself.
Still in shock, Liana slowly followed behind Debi. Debi carefully reached for the doorknob, slipping her head inside first.
After making sure the situation was safe, Debi finally dared to enter Liana’s room. She walked around the room, but she didn’t find anyone there.
“Where? There’s no one here!” Debi blurted out. “I swear, Sis! I heard a man’s voice in here just now!” Liana replied, her face still pale with fear. “That’s what you get for watching too many horror movies!” Debi flicked Liana on the forehead, then left and returned to the living room.
Liana was still scared, but she decided to stay in her room. Remaining alert, Liana continued filling out the registration form.
“Phew… I’m finally done! Tomorrow, I just need to turn this form in with Ami,” Liana said as she straightened the stack of papers.
Liana was a nineteen-year-old girl born into a fairly prominent family. She lived in a beautiful, prosperous rural village. She had just graduated from high school and was now busy preparing to continue her education at a private college. Despite the strange things happening to her, Liana tried to stay focused on preparing for her future.
For almost a month now, Liana had been experiencing something that couldn’t be explained by reason. She kept having the same recurring dream, a dream about a certain place and a mysterious figure that continued to raise countless questions.
Sometimes, things from her dreams carried over into real life. Like the wound she had just gotten after dreaming that she fell and hurt herself. When she woke up, Liana’s leg was truly wounded—and it hurt, too.
However, Liana chose to keep all of it a secret from her family. She didn’t want to worry them, especially her mother.
After tidying everything up, Liana grabbed a box containing several medicines for first aid in case of injury. She cleaned her wound to keep it from getting infected, then wrapped it in a bandage.
Holding back the pain, Liana bandaged her wound very carefully. “Ow… that hurts!” Liana groaned.
Without realizing it, a pair of eyes was watching her from afar. The figure watched in silence, its gaze never leaving Liana. The darkening sky signaled that everyone needed to wrap up their activities and prepare to rest their weary bodies.
Liana was no exception. She began gathering the books scattered around and putting them back where they belonged. After that, she prepared to go to bed.
“I hope I don’t dream about that place again tonight!” she wished, hoping she wouldn’t have to experience that terrible event again.
But her hope was in vain. Once again, Liana dreamed of visiting Ether Valley. This time, she saw a figure who looked just like her. Liana watched as the figure, almost identical to her, knelt and begged an old man.
“Please, just this once! Let me live with him! I promise I’ll do anything for you!” the woman pleaded.
But the old man in front of her didn’t move, and suddenly, he set the woman’s body on fire.
“Llliiiaaannnkkkaaaaa…” cried a voice that sounded eerily familiar to Liana.