While Mira fought for her soul—screaming, clawing, breaking against the shadow wearing her face—
Elias stood frozen.
He couldn't move.
Not because of the monster in front of him.
But because of what he saw behind it.
A shadow—barely visible.
Slipping between the cracks of this fractured world.
He turned toward it.
Reached for it.
Gone.
Then it reappeared—closer now. More focused. More… familiar.
Elias's breath caught in his throat.
No.
He blinked once. Then twice.
But she was still there.
A woman.
Hair just how he remembered.
Eyes that once looked at him like he was worth saving.
Laeticia.
His wife.
The one he buried years ago.
He staggered back, heart pounding like a war drum.
"No. No no no… how—what are you doing here?"
He tried to look away.
Tried to tell himself it was a trick.
Another illusion. A trap.
But then she smiled.
And softly—almost kindly—she said:
"Hello, Elias. It's been a while."
Elias took a step back, shaking his head.
"No… I don't believe this."
She stepped closer through the fog, eyes calm—too calm.
"Elias… how did you end up here?" she asked sweetly.
"Did you die?"
She tilted her head.
"Oh, my dear husband…"
She moved to touch him.
Elias stepped back fast, drawing his weapon, hand shaking.
"No. You died. That's not you," he growled.
"Don't you dare wear her face."
The gun trembled in his grip.
Laeticia only smiled—sad, soft, almost loving.
"My body died," she whispered,
"but my soul? It remained… in you."
Her voice turned warmer.
Almost glowing.
"You never gave up on me, Elias.
You never stopped loving me."
"I watched you. Every day. While I was here.
Every step. Every corner. Every time you whispered my name when you thought no one heard."
A single tear slid down her cheek.
"I know my husband wouldn't die so easily."
Elias stared at her. His heart cracked in a way no monster had ever managed.
His voice came out hoarse.
"Losing you…
That's the only mystery I couldn't solve."