Corridor Revelation
The moment Amber stepped back, Jonathan's shoulders dropped—not in relief, but in disappointment.
Jonathan: 😤 (…Why did she move away?)
Amber: 😳 (…Why was I that close?)
Silence stretched between them, thick and uncomfortable.
Finally, Amber exhaled.
Amber:
"It's the curse of the William family." 😑
Jonathan blinked.
Jonathan:
"William? …Isn't that your surname?" 😯
Amber nodded, her expression sharpening.
Amber:
"Listen carefully. Don't interrupt." 😤
Jonathan straightened like a scolded kid.
Jonathan: "Okay…" 😶
Amber crossed her arms, her tone turning cold and factual—
the tone she used when she knew something was dangerous.
Amber:
"The William family has an ancient curse.
A curse that forces every reincarnated member to live alone—
to be separated from the people they love."
Jonathan froze.
Amber continued:
Amber:
"When I was young, I saw this same mark in a portrait in my grandfather's house.
According to the texts, the mark only appears on someone who died young in their past life…
and was reborn within 24 hours of their death." 😑
She paused.
Amber:
"At first, I thought Justin had it because I left him for ten years."
Her voice cracked slightly before she forced it steady.
"But that's impossible. The curse doesn't come from loneliness.
It comes from rebirth." 😐
She looked him straight in the eyes.
Amber:
"You can talk now."
Jonathan opened his mouth—
but nothing came out.
Jonathan: "I… I—" 😶
Amber's brows twitched.
Amber:
"Speak something, or I swear I'll hit your head." 😑
Jonathan ran a hand through his hair, trembling slightly.
Jonathan:
"Rebirth…? My son… died? When he had us?!" 😶
Jonathan's mind spiraled.
Justin—
his other eye, the other half of his soul.
His son he would burn the world for.
His son he never allowed anyone to hurt.
Even when he was distant…
even when he was angry…
Jonathan never once stopped protecting him.
And now Amber was saying—
Justin died once.
Amber watched Jonathan's expression shift—
shock, confusion, pain, disbelief, and a terrifying emptiness.
She stepped closer.
Amber:
"Jonathan… if my guess is right—"
her voice softened, almost trembling,
"—Justin is a reborn child."
Jonathan stared ahead, unable to speak.
His heartbeat echoed in his ears.
His son…
died young.
Alone.
And came back.
And Jonathan hadn't even known.
His hands curled into fists.
Jonathan (internal):
No.
No matter who hurt him…
no matter what happened in that past life…
I will destroy everything before it happens again.
No one touches my family twice.
Amber placed a hand on his shoulder.
He flinched—
not from her touch, but from the weight of her words.
Amber:
"Jonathan… we need to be careful.
Because if this mark keeps spreading—
it means the past is trying to repeat itself."
Jonathan slowly lifted his gaze.
His voice was barely a whisper.
Jonathan:
"Amber… what happened to him in that past life?" 😶
Amber looked away.
Amber:
"That… is what I'm scared to find out." 😐
---continue