Confession

I searched the building from top to bottom, looking for Theo.

Not a single person remained—not the people who had filled the party hall just moments ago, nor anyone else.

Thump, thump—

My heart was pounding like crazy.

Maybe it was from running around frantically, or maybe it was anxiety.

“Theo…”

Nothing’s going to happen. It’s just my imagination.

I repeated the words as if trying to hypnotize myself, but the anxiety that had taken root in my chest refused to go away.

[Fluch Lilis… a magic ring that lets you sense each other even when you’re apart…]

I remembered what Ellis had murmured...