Amara stared at the old man in front of her, filled with curiosity. Countless questions immediately sprang to mind after hearing Arman's final statement.
"The shadow chose me?" Amara repeated.
Arman didn't answer right away. He slowly walked into the room and sat in the chair beside the table where Alina's diary lay.
Dika was still standing there, looking wary.
"Sorry, sir, but what do you mean? Everyone's been talking about the shadow like it's normal."
Arman looked at Dika.
"Because for some people, things like that have happened before."
Amara gripped Alina's diary.
"Alina saw the shadow too?"
Arman nodded.
"Yes."
"Then what exactly did she see?"
Arman remained silent for quite some time before finally answering.
"Alina saw someone no one else could see. Just like you."
The room instantly fell silent.
Amara looked at the blue bracelet on her wrist.
"Who is that figure?"
Arman stared at the dust-covered window.
"He's someone connected to this family's past."
"What kind of connection?"
Arman sighed.
"The answer isn't simple."
Dika was beginning to look impatient.
"Sir, we came here because we want to know what happened to Alina. She disappeared, right? Do you know something?"
Arman lowered his head.
"I do."
Amara immediately stepped closer.
"Then tell us."
The old man looked at Amara's face.
"Do you really want to know?"
Amara nodded.
"I have to know. The shadow keeps appearing and leading me to places connected to Alina."
Arman watched Amara for several seconds.
"I've been expecting this day to come."
"Expecting it?"
"Yes. Before she disappeared, Alina once said that someday, someone would come to finish what had been left unfinished."
Amara shuddered.
"Did she ever say who that person was?"
Arman shook his head.
"No. But she left behind several clues."
Arman stood and walked toward the old cabinet in the corner of the room.
He opened the door and took out a small box.
"We kept some of Alina's belongings after she left."
He set the box on the table.
Amara stared at it curiously.
"What's inside?"
"Just open it."
Amara opened the box.
Inside were several sheets of paper, an old photograph, and a uniquely shaped key.
Dika picked up the photograph.
"This is the same house."
Amara looked at the picture.
It showed Alina standing with a young boy.
Raka.
But this time, they weren't standing in front of the house.
They were in a place that looked like a basement.
"Where is this?"
Arman answered softly.
"Under this house."
Amara immediately looked down at the floor.
"This house has a basement?"
"Yes."
"Why doesn't anyone know about it?"
"Because the door is hidden."
Dika stared at Arman.
"Why hide it?"
Arman fell silent.
"Because that's where everything began."
Amara opened one of the papers in the box.
Alina's handwriting was visible on it.
I found out why the shadow appears. But I don't know whether I should be afraid of it or help it.
Amara read the sentence over and over.
"What does she mean by help it?"
Arman sat down again.
"Alina didn't just see the shadow. She began communicating with it."
"Communicating?"
"Yes. At first, only through mirrors. Then through dreams. Until finally, the shadow showed her something."
"What?"
Arman looked at the small key on the table.
"The place where a secret is hidden."
Amara picked up the key.
"Is this for the basement?"
Arman nodded.
But before Amara could move, the old man caught her hand.
"Don't rush."
"Why not?"
"Because not everything down there wants to be found."
Dika immediately looked at Arman.
"What do you mean?"
Arman didn't answer.
Amara was beginning to feel that something much bigger than Alina's disappearance was going on.
"What's really down there?"
Arman walked toward the bedroom door.
"I'll show you."
They followed Arman to the back of the house.
There was a narrow hallway blocked by a wooden shelf.
Arman pushed the shelf aside.
Behind it was an old metal door.
Amara stared at the door.
She felt the same chill she'd felt when she first saw the mirror.
"Is this the place?"
"Yes."
Arman handed her the key.
Amara inserted it into the lock.
Click.
The door opened.
Cold air immediately spilled out from inside.
Dika turned on his phone's flashlight.
"Are we really going in?"
Amara looked at him.
"You can wait outside if you're scared."
Dika immediately walked in ahead of them.
"I never said I was scared."
Amara gave a small smile.
They descended a narrow staircase into the basement.
Inside, the walls were covered in old writing.
Photographs had been pinned up.
There were notes.
And in the center of the room stood a large mirror.
Amara stopped.
The mirror looked just like the one in her grandmother's house.
Arman stood behind them.
"That's the same mirror."
Amara stared at her reflection.
There was nothing there.
Until a few seconds later.
A shadowy figure appeared.
This time, it was clearer.
Amara could make out the shape of its face.
It wasn't the face of a stranger.
It was the face of a young boy.
Raka.
Amara was startled.
"That's him..."
Dika looked at the mirror.
"You know him?"
Amara shook her head.
"No."
Raka's shadow slowly raised its hand.
It pointed to a wall behind them.
Amara followed the direction of its hand.
There was a large message covered in dust.
"Alina didn't leave on her own."
Amara froze.
Arman immediately lowered his head.
"So you've finally seen it too."
Amara spun around.
"You knew?"
Arman didn't answer.
"Mr. Arman, what happened to Alina and Raka?"
The old man looked sad.
"All this time, everyone thought Alina had disappeared."
He looked at the mirror.
"But the truth is..."
Arman paused for a moment.
"Alina left because she was trying to find Raka."
Amara held her breath.
"Raka disappeared?"
Arman nodded.
"And before Alina left, she left behind one message."
"What was it?"
Arman looked at Amara.
"If someday, someone can see Raka's shadow..."
"...then that person has to continue the search he never got the chance to finish."