Chapter 16 - THE FIRE IN STUDIO SEVENThe theater burned three nights later.
The fire began in Studio Seven.
By the time the firefighters arrived, the old room was already engulfed.
The hidden passages were destroyed.
The archives burned.
The old photographs turned to ash.
But the people escaped.
All except one.
Adrian.
He had been transferred to a secure prison.
Yet the fire was not his doing.
The investigators discovered the truth.
Someone had entered the theater before the fire.
Someone had removed several files.
The person had left behind a single red ribbon.
Lila immediately knew.
“Anya.”
But Anya shook her head.
“No.”
“Then who?”
Anya looked at Elise.
Elise understood.
“Marin.”
They found her at the old train station.
She was carrying a suitcase.
Lila approached.
“Where are you going?”
Marin looked at her.
“Somewhere without ghosts.”
“You stole the files.”
Marin said nothing.
“Why?”
“Because they were mine.”
“They belong to the investigation.”
“They contain my memories.”
Lila stared.
“Your memories?”
Marin's face hardened.
“Do you know what it is like to discover that half of your childhood never happened?”
Lila said nothing.
“Do you know what it is like to remember people you never met?”
“I do now.”
Marin looked at her.
“Then you understand.”
Lila sat beside her.
“What are you going to do?”
“Leave.”
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
Lila looked at the suitcase.
“You don't have to run.”
Marin laughed.
“Everyone says that after they have spent their whole life running.”
Lila looked at her.
“Then don't run.”
Marin stared.
“What?”
“Stay.”
“Why?”
“Because we can remember together.”
Marin's expression softened.
For the first time, she looked less like a ghost.
And more like a young woman who had simply never been allowed to live.
May you like
She closed the suitcase.
“I'll stay.”
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