Nana stood rigidly in place.
The figure's words filled her mind with confusion.
“You were the one who promised to come back for me.”
The sentence kept repeating in her head.
“I don’t remember ever making that promise,” Nana said softly.
The figure in front of her only smiled.
“Of course you don’t remember.”
Her voice sounded gentle, but something about it made Nana uncomfortable.
“Why don’t I remember?”
The figure walked closer.
“Because someone made you forget everything.”
Nana immediately turned toward her mother.
Her mother looked shocked.
“Don’t listen to her.”
The figure let out a soft laugh.
“Still the same as before. Always hiding the truth.”
Her mother stepped forward.
“That’s enough.”
Nana watched them both.
“Do you know her, Mom?”
Her mother fell silent.
That answer was enough for Nana to realize that something had been kept from her all this time.
“You know who she is?”
Her mother lowered her head.
“Nana...”
“Answer me.”
The room fell silent.
Finally, her mother spoke softly.
“Her name isn’t Mira.”
Nana froze.
“What?”
“She may look like Mira. But she isn’t Mira.”
Dita immediately stared at the figure.
“If she isn’t Mira, then who is she?”
There was no answer.
The figure only smiled.
“I’m part of the story they tried to erase.”
Nana slowly backed away.
“I don’t understand.”
The figure pointed toward the wall.
“You have to see for yourself.”
Suddenly, part of the wall moved.
A small hidden door opened.
Behind it was another room.
The room was filled with old things.
Photographs.
Letters.
And a large box.
Nana felt as though she had seen the place before in her memories.
“I’ve been here before.”
Her mother immediately looked at Nana.
“You remember?”
Nana held her head.
Little by little, her memories returned.
When she was little, she had entered this place.
She had sat on the floor.
She had spoken with someone.
But that person’s face had always been blurry.
“I wasn’t alone back then.”
Her mother looked sad.
“Yes.”
“Who was she?”
Her mother didn’t answer.
The figure answered instead.
“My name is Aria.”
Nana stared at her.
“Aria?”
“Yes.”
Dita asked,
“Who’s Aria?”
Her mother took a breath.
“Aria was the daughter of the owner of this house before our family lived here.”
Nana fell silent.
“So she’s the same as Mira?”
Her mother shook her head.
“No.”
“Then who is Mira?”
Her mother looked toward the figure.
“That’s the problem.”
Aria smiled faintly.
“Mira was the name they gave me.”
Nana grew even more confused.
“Why?”
“Because when I disappeared, my family didn’t know what else to call me.”
The room grew quiet.
Nana tried to understand.
“So all this time...”
Aria nodded.
“I was the one you met when you were little.”
Nana looked at the doll in her hands.
“You were the one who gave me this doll?”
“Yes.”
“Why did you say your name was Mira?”
Aria looked at the floor.
“Because I wanted to have a name someone could remember.”
Nana didn’t know what to say.
For the first time, the figure in front of her didn’t feel frightening.
She looked like someone who had been waiting for far too long.
“But why are you here?”
Aria looked toward the dark room behind them.
“Because I can’t leave yet.”
“Why?”
“Because something is still holding me here.”
Suddenly, the sound of knocking echoed through the room.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
Everyone fell silent.
Aria stared at the room’s door.
“Our time is almost up.”
Nana looked at her.
“What time?”
Aria didn’t answer.
Instead, she picked up a photograph from the table.
The photograph looked old.
It showed a young Nana.
Rani.
And Aria.
But a shadow could be seen behind them.
Nana studied the shadow.
“Who’s that?”
Aria looked frightened.
“That’s why I can’t leave.”
Her mother immediately grabbed Nana’s hand.
“We have to get out.”
“Wait.”
Nana was still staring at the photograph.
Something about it felt familiar.
That shadow.
She had seen it before.
Not only in the photograph.
But in her memories, too.
“I’ve met her before.”
Everyone immediately looked at Nana.
“What?”
Nana closed her eyes.
A fragment of her memory resurfaced.
When she was five years old.
She had been standing in a hallway.
Aria had been holding her hand.
Then someone had stood behind them.
Someone who said,
“Don’t let Nana leave.”
Nana opened her eyes.
“I remember now.”
Her mother looked panicked.
“What do you remember?”
Nana looked at them.
“Rani didn’t leave because she opened that door.”
She looked toward the dark door.
“She left because she tried to close it.”
Aria slowly nodded.
“Rani knew the truth.”
Nana stared at Aria.
“Then why didn’t she come back?”
Aria’s expression turned sorrowful.
“Because she chose to stay.”
Nana fell silent.
“To protect whom?”
Aria looked directly at Nana.
“To protect you.”
Suddenly, the entire room began to shake.
The knocking grew louder.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
Tiny cracks began to form in the walls.
Aria looked toward the dark door.
“She’s awake.”
Nana felt her heart begin to race.
“Who?”
Aria stared at Nana.
“Something that has made everyone in this house afraid all this time.”
A voice came from behind the door.
“Nana...”
Nana froze at the sound of it.
Because it wasn’t the voice of a stranger.
It was Rani’s voice.
“Rani?”
Aria immediately grabbed Nana’s hand.
“Don’t open the door.”
“But that’s Rani’s voice.”
“That isn’t Rani.”
Nana stared at the door.
The voice came from behind it again.
“Nana... I’ve been waiting for you.”
Nana stood motionless.
Part of her wanted to open the door.
She wanted to see Rani.
But on the other hand, everyone was warning her not to.
And for the first time, Nana realized...
Not every familiar voice comes bearing the truth.