Ryan said :
"It's fine. We'll take this house."
Jamal quickly responded,
"Hold on! Are you insane? What if there's an actual ghost inside?"
Ryan laughed sarcastically,
"Do you really believe in ghosts?"
Jamal said nervously,
"I didn't… but after everything weird that's happened to us, I'm ready to believe anything now."
Inside, Ryan thought:
Maybe Jamal… isn't completely wrong.
Ryan opened the door and he and Jamal stepped inside. The place was filled with dust, untouched for years. They walked around the old furniture and torn curtains.
Ryan said,
"See? No ghosts."
Jamal sighed in relief,
"Good… nothing scary then."
Suddenly—
A vase fell off a shelf and shattered.
Ryan turned instantly but saw nothing.
Then—
The TV turned on by itself.
Then—
Plates crashed from the shelves.
And finally—
The door slammed shut.
Ryan, trying hard to sound brave, said,
"It must be… the wind. Don't be scared."
But when he turned around to lean on Jamal…
Jamal was already gone, having run out through the back door.
Ryan chased after him shouting,
"Wait for me, you coward!"
They rushed outside. Ryan, panting, said:
"Selin… maybe I wasted all that money."
Selin replied,
"Or maybe not."
Ryan frowned,
"What do you mean?"
Selin said seriously,
"I sensed the energy of a Light Stone… but it wasn't stable."
Ryan's eyes widened,
"So all of this… was from a stone bearer?"
Selin nodded,
"Maybe. But I don't know what their power is."
Ryan asked,
"So how do we catch them?"
Selin smiled,
"We may need the help… of a friend."
Ryan blinked,
"Which friend?"
Selin answered,
"Remember that girl at the hospital? Maybe it's time to get her out."
Ryan looked around,
"Where did that idiot Jamal go?"
He then spotted him hiding behind a tiny bush in a ridiculous position.
Ryan said,
"What a coward… I still don't know how a stone chose you."
Jamal snapped,
"Shut up!"
Ryan sighed,
"Alright. Let's go to the hospital."
---
At the Hospital
When they arrived, the girl was waiting. She smiled lightly at Ryan,
"Why were you so late?"
Ryan said,
"Sorry."
Then asked,
"Have the voices returned?"
She answered,
"A little… but not like before."
Jamal pointed,
"Who's she?"
Ryan replied,
"This is… ah, I never asked your name last time."
The girl said,
"My name is Liana."
Ryan smiled,
"Nice to meet you. We're here to get you out."
Then he asked softly,
"But… what about your parents?"
Liana's expression darkened.
Ryan said quickly,
"If you don't want to talk about it… that's okay."
But she whispered,
"No… I'll tell you."
She took a breath and began:
"I lived a normal life until I turned nineteen. My grandmother gave me an anklet as a gift. She said it was precious… and that I must protect it.
I was so happy.
But the next day… my life flipped upside down.
I saw my parents talking… without moving their lips. I ignored it at first.
But then… I heard everything.
I learned my father was cheating on my mother with our neighbor… and my mother was gambling.
When I confronted them… they called me crazy.
My grandmother tried to take custody of me… but she suddenly died.
And since then… they left me here."
Ryan's face was serious… then he smiled softly,
"Come on. We're taking you out now."
She asked, confused,
"How?"
Ryan answered confidently,
"Anything is possible… if you have money."
---
The Office of the Director
Ryan and Jamal entered the director's office.
Jamal carried several heavy bags.
The director shouted,
"Who allowed you in?"
Ryan smirked,
"I have my ways."
Flashback:
Ryan bribing the security guards.
Ryan said,
"We want to release a girl from the psychiatric floor."
The director laughed,
"Impossible."
Ryan placed a bag on the table,
"And it won't be for free."
The director scoffed,
"How could a kid like you pay? And not everything is for sale."
Ryan leaned forward,
"Trust me… everything is. Name a price."
The director smirked arrogantly,
"Five hundred thousand dollars!"
Ryan immediately said,
"Deal."
Jamal's jaw dropped. He yelled from across the room,
"You idiot…"
The director panicked,
"No! One million!"
Ryan shrugged,
"Deal."
The director leaned toward Jamal and whispered,
"How much should I ask for?"
Ryan responded sharply,
"I'll give you one million five hundred thousand. final."
"Deal!" the director blurted instantly.
Ryan handed him three bags, each containing $500,000.
The director stared in disbelief.
The papers were finally completed… and Liana walked out with them at last.
She asked,
"Where are we going?"
Ryan smiled,
"Home. Our home."
Her eyes filled with warmth and surprise.
Then Ryan added,
"But first… we need your help."
She asked,
"Help with what?"
Back at the house, they explained everything:
the stones, the powers, and the strange phenomena.
Ryan said,
"We believe there's another stone bearer here.
And we need you… to listen to their thoughts so we can catch them."
Liana hesitated,
"Can I really do that?"
Ryan smiled gently,
"I believe in you. And even if you fail… nothing bad will happen."