Chapter 4.

Elena sat on the edge of the bed with the small paper in her hand. The table lamp dimmed, illuminating the simple yet life-shaking words:

"I'm still here."

Her heart beat uncontrollably, her hands trembling as she held the paper. Each letter seemed to pierce his chest, evoking both longing and fear. Adrian always wrote in such haste, as if his mind was faster than his hands.

But doubt stabbed.

If Adrian was really alive, why did Damien and Victoria lie? Why did everyone seem to be conspiring to bury the truth?

Tears fell without realizing it. Elena pressed the paper to her chest, trying to feel the warmth of the past again. But all that came was pain-a mixture of longing and fear.

If this is true, if Adrian is still here... why hasn't he shown up?

---

A soft knock on the door made Elena flinch. She hurriedly hid the paper under her pillow.

But when the door opened, it wasn't the waiter who entered, but Damien.

Damien stepped in, his eyes weighing her from head to toe, hands in his pockets. His steps were quiet, but every movement forced the air around him to tighten. His dark eyes swept the room for a moment, then stopped on Elena.

"What are you hiding?" his voice was flat, but there was tension behind the tone.

Elena tried to calm down. "Nothing."

Damien leaned closer, his gaze sharp. His hand moved quickly, pulling at the pillow, finding the small paper she had hidden. Elena tried to snatch it back, but Damien was faster.

He skimmed it, then his face changed. Damien clenched his hands into fists, his jaw hardening. With one swift movement, the paper crumbled in his hand. His breathing was heavy, his eyes flashing-something Elena had never seen before.

"Who gave you this?" his voice was low, almost trembling.

Elena shook her head, her eyes glazed over. "I found it. In my room. It's Adrian's writing, I know it!"

Damien clenched his hands into fists, then-kressh!-crumpled the paper to shreds.

"There's nothing for you to believe in this ridiculous writing," he said sternly, his eyes flashing. "Never look for things that should be buried."

Elena stared at him angrily. "Why did you lie to me? If Adrian really is dead, why do I keep hearing his voice?"

Damien held Elena's gaze for a few seconds, his breathing heavy. But he didn't answer. Just turned and walked out, slamming the door with a loud bang that echoed in the room.

Elena fell to the floor, her hands shaking.

It wasn't Damien's anger that haunted her, but the anxious glint in his eyes.

Damien knows something. He's afraid I'll find out.

---

That night, Elena was awakened by a sound.

A small knock. Faint footsteps.

She held her breath, waiting, making sure it wasn't a dream. The sound came again, from the long hallway outside her room.

Elena stood quietly, opened the door silently, and followed the echo of his steps.

The corridors of the house were silent, only the light of the oil lamps on the walls flickered. The air felt colder, bone chilling. She walked carefully, holding back the wild pounding of her heart. The steps led her to the old library where she had heard Adrian's whispers before.

This time, however, the door was slightly ajar.

Carefully, Elena pushed it open. The room was dark, the smell of old books mixed with dust pierced her nose. In the corner of the room, a large carpet was half draped, revealing a wooden door on the floor.

She swallowed, then descended the steep stairs that creaked with each step.

---

The underground passage was dark and damp. The cold stone walls were covered with moss, and the stale air was mixed with the smell of rusty iron. The candlelight from his hand trembled along with his hesitant steps.

"Elena..."

The voice slipped into her ears, cold yet familiar, making her skin crawl. She wanted to believe but was afraid it was just wishful thinking.

"Adrian?" Her voice broke, her eyes searching every dark corner.

Her feet moved faster, even as her body trembled.

And at the end of the hallway, she saw him.

The silhouette moved, turning its head slightly. The way he stood the way his hands clasped her body. Elena recognized him without seeing his face. That movement alone was enough to make her heart race.

"Elena..." The voice came again, closer this time.

Tears filled her eyes. She almost ran, wanting to touch, wanting to be sure. "Adrian! It's you, isn't it? I know it's you!"

But suddenly-

BRAKKK!

The heavy metal door behind the silhouette slammed shut, its boom shaking the hallway. The candle in Elena's hand almost went out.

"No! Wait!" Elena shouted, her hand slapping the metal wall. "Adrian! Don't go!"

Only silence answered.

Elena fell to her knees, her shoulders shaking violently. In her grasp, she realized there was something. A piece of paper that had somehow slipped into her palm.

Her hands trembled violently as she unfolded the paper. Her breath caught, her tears falling down the wet ink, soaking every letter. There was no longer any doubt, Adrian... was alive.