Chapter 36 — The Album in the Dark
Three months had passed since the hospital incident.
The mansion had slowly returned to normal.
Care's health had improved a lot, though everyone had become ridiculously protective of her after the doctor's warning about dust and her lungs. Windows were cleaned daily, the garden paths watered to settle dust, and Ash constantly scolded anyone who even mentioned outdoor practice when the ground was dry.
It was annoying.
But Care secretly liked it.
Because for the first time in her life…
someone cared enough to worry.
Tonight the whole group was gathered again in the mansion.
Ash's room had unofficially become their meeting place. Clothes were thrown everywhere, snack packets scattered on the floor, and Kevin had somehow claimed the beanbag like it was his throne.
Joong and Daisy were arguing over a card game.
Ben and Alex were leaning against the wall, discussing something serious that nobody else cared about.
Nova sat quietly beside Care on the bed.
Cole stood near the window, watching the chaos with a small smile.
Lyra and Ash were sitting cross-legged on the carpet, complaining loudly about something.
"Kevin cheated!" Ash accused.
"I did not," Kevin said lazily.
"You literally changed the rules halfway through the game!"
"That's called strategy."
"That's called being annoying."
"Same thing."
Everyone burst into laughter.
For a moment, it felt peaceful.
Like nothing in the world could go wrong.
And then—
The lights went out.
The room plunged into complete darkness.
"WHAT THE—"
Daisy screamed.
"Relax," Alex said calmly. "Probably a short circuit."
Joong groaned.
"Great. Perfect timing."
Kevin muttered, "Someone find a torch before Daisy murders us all."
Daisy threw a pillow at him.
"Check the drawers," Ash said.
Everyone started searching blindly.
The room filled with the sounds of drawers opening, things falling, and people bumping into furniture.
"Who stepped on my foot?!" Ben shouted.
"Not me."
"That was definitely you."
"No it wasn't!"
Meanwhile Care quietly opened the drawer of Ash's study table.
Her fingers brushed across random things — papers, notebooks, pens—
And then something thicker.
A photo album.
Care pulled it out.
"Guys," she said softly.
Nova switched on a small flashlight she had found.
The weak light filled the room.
Everyone slowly gathered around.
"What is it?" Lyra asked.
Care held up the album.
"Did you guys know this was here?"
Ash leaned forward.
"Oh… that old thing?"
Lyra blinked.
"Wait. That's our childhood album."
Everyone suddenly became interested.
"Show us," Daisy said immediately.
"Yes," Kevin added dramatically. "We must see baby Ash."
Ash groaned.
"Oh god no."
Care opened the album.
The first photo appeared.
Two small girls.
One with messy hair and a fierce expression — clearly young Ash.
The other smiling brightly — young Lyra.
The group immediately burst into laughter.
"ASH YOU LOOK LIKE A GREMLIN."
"SHUT UP."
More photos followed.
Ash covered her face.
Lyra laughed helplessly.
"Look at your haircut!"
"You had the same haircut!"
"That was different!"
"HOW."
But then Care slowly turned another page.
And her fingers froze.
The room went quiet.
The photo showed three children.
Ash.
Lyra.
And another girl standing between them.
A girl with long messy hair and serious eyes.
Around her neck hung a jade pendant.
Care's heartbeat suddenly became louder.
Her breathing slowed.
Her eyes locked onto the pendant.
A strange feeling twisted inside her chest.
"…Care?"
Nova noticed first.
Care didn't respond.
She was staring at the photo like the world had disappeared.
Cole frowned slightly.
"What happened?"
Care slowly lifted the album closer to the flashlight.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
She pointed at the pendant.
"…this."
Everyone looked.
"What about it?" Ben asked.
Care swallowed.
Her voice sounded uncertain.
"…this pendant."
She hesitated.
Then whispered quietly—
"I've seen it before."
The group exchanged confused looks.
"Where?" Alex asked.
Care stared at the photo again.
Her chest felt tight.
Memories that didn't fully exist seemed to brush the edge of her mind.
Like fog.
Like something almost remembered.
"I… don't know."
Her voice was barely audible.
"But… this girl…"
Her eyes stayed fixed on the picture.
"…she looks familiar."
Silence filled the room.
Ash leaned closer to the album.
Lyra frowned.
"Wait."
Ash pointed at the girl in the photo.
"That's—"
The sentence stopped halfway.
For some reason, Ash suddenly felt uneasy.
Like something important was just out of reach.
Lyra felt the same strange discomfort.
"…weird," Lyra murmured.
"That girl…"
She stared harder at the photo.
"…why can't I remember her?"
The room grew colder somehow.
Everyone felt it.
Something was wrong.
But no one knew what.
Care slowly closed the album.
Her mind was spinning.
That pendant.
That face.
Why did it feel like a piece of her past was staring back at her?
Nova gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"You okay?"
Care nodded slowly.
"…yeah."
But her eyes drifted back to the album.
And deep inside her chest—
Something old…
Something forgotten…
Had just started waking up.