*Chapter 13: Echoes of the Past*
The stone door slammed shut behind them with a deafening *boom*.
"Nope. Nooope. I'm out," Kaito said, turning to push it back open—only to find it sealed tight, glowing faintly with the same cursed sigil.
Alexander examined the runes. "We're trapped."
"Thanks, Mr. Obvious," David muttered, flicking a small orb of light to illuminate the room. "This wasn't your best idea, Kaito."
"I didn't *ask* for cursed secret notes under my pillow!" Kaito shot back.
Jin clung to David's sleeve. "Maybe it's a prank? From White or the twins? A really, really well-funded prank?"
David shook his head slowly. "No. This… feels old."
The room was circular, its walls lined with half-shattered mirrors and ancient paintings—each with their eyes scratched out. A single pedestal stood in the center with a cracked book resting on top.
Alexander approached cautiously.
"It's a memory tome," he said, brushing dust from the surface. "Used by soulbinders to store history."
He opened it. The pages flipped on their own—stopping at one covered in strange moving ink.
They all leaned in.
Suddenly, the ink rose off the page, swirling into the air—forming an image.
A boy with silver hair.
Violet eyes.
Kaito gasped.
"That's him."
"Him who?" Jin whispered.
"The boy from my dreams."
The ink-image of the boy turned, looking directly at Kaito. Then his voice echoed through the chamber:
*"You promised you'd return… Kaito Nakamura."*
Kaito stumbled back.
"How does he know my name?!"
David and Alexander exchanged a glance.
"That's… a soul imprint," Alexander explained. "Whoever this boy is—he had a bond with you. One that death couldn't erase."
"I don't *know* him!" Kaito insisted.
"Not in this life," David said. "But maybe… a past one?"
Jin blinked. "Wait. Are we doing reincarnation tropes now? Is this our tragic fated-lover arc?"
David sighed. "Jin, not now."
Kaito's head spun. "This is insane. I just wanted to survive training and maybe pass Ghost Algebra!"
Before anyone could respond, the ground trembled. The pedestal cracked—and the sigil on the wall burst into black flame.
Then came the voice again:
*"The curse begins with memory. And memory always finds its way back…"*
A door opened at the far end of the chamber.
Kaito groaned. "Why is it always a creepy tunnel?!"
—
Meanwhile, up above, White Louise sat in her dorm, staring at the same cursed symbol… glowing faintly from her mirror.
She wasn't alone in her room.
Clare and Mara Gold stood behind her, arms crossed.
"You felt it too?" White asked quietly.
Clare nodded. "The seal is weakening."
Mara added, "And they're involved. Especially *him*."
They all looked at the mirror.
Kaito's reflection blinked back at them.
—
Back in the tunnels, the group pressed forward, torches lighting automatically as they walked.
"I swear, if something jumps out, I will scream like a banshee," Kaito warned.
Jin whispered, "Wouldn't be the first time."
Suddenly, the floor gave way—and Kaito tumbled straight into a glowing pit.
Right into Alexander.
Face-first.
Their lips *bumped*.
*For the second time this week.*
"OH MY GHOSTS—WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING?!"
David cackled. Jin screamed.
Alexander just sighed. "You're an idiot."
Kaito blushed so hard he nearly evaporated.
—
As they finally emerged into another chamber, a memory orb hovered in the center.
They all stared.
Inside the orb: a young Kaito. A younger Alexander. In different uniforms. Holding hands.
The image shimmered.
"What the hell…" Kaito whispered.
David's voice dropped. "I think we just found our past lives."
And Alexander?
He said nothing.
But his knuckles had turned white.
—
*End of Chapter 13.*