Chapter 18
Olivia Lopez bought two tickets for the dolphin show.
She pulled Sophia Sullivan toward the performance hall.
Cool air from the air conditioning greeted them inside.
Sophia had little interest in animal performances.
But Olivia was exceptionally excited.
She shoved her camera into Sophia's hands.
She needed to document the interaction segment.
Olivia smiled sweetly when the dolphin leaped from the water.
Sophia found herself smiling too.
After the show, she handed her bag to Olivia.
She turned and headed for the restroom.
Rounding the corner, she saw Isabella Langley at the sinks.
Sophia didn't pause.
She walked straight into a stall.
When she came out, Isabella was still there.
Clearly waiting for her.
Sophia turned on the faucet.
The sound of running water broke the silence.
The atmosphere was tense and subtle.
She looked up and met Isabella's gaze.
Sophia coolly looked away.
Isabella suddenly laughed.
She raised her wrist, showing off a bracelet.
"What a coincidence, Sophia."
Sophia didn't respond.
Isabella kept talking.
"How have you been lately?"
Sophia's lips curved into a slight smile.
"Not bad."
Isabella studied her.
Searching for any crack in her composure.
After a few seconds, she gave a light laugh.
"It must be tough, living outside the mansion now."
Sophia turned off the water.
"None of your concern."
Tears welled in Isabella's eyes.
"Thank you for being willing to step aside."
"It lets me have Ethan completely."
Sophia continued washing her hands.
She worked the soap into a lather between her fingers.
Focused and meticulous.
Isabella twisted her wrist.
"You saw the balloon display, right?"
"Ethan's birthday surprise for me."
"And this bracelet."
"He said it suits my pale skin."
Sophia glimpsed the bracelet's logo.
Understanding dawned instantly.
So the jewelry store visit was to pick a gift for her.
Her nails dug into her palms.
The pain brought her back to herself.
She forced a smile.
"Congratulations."
Then she turned and walked away.
Olivia was waiting at the exit.
She waved Sophia over.
"You look pale. Are you okay?"
Sophia rubbed her temples.
"Vivi, I want to go home."
"But it's barely past three."
Olivia grabbed her arm.
"I got us tickets for the Haunted Town."
"They say it's super popular."
Sophia raised an eyebrow.
"I thought you were scared of ghosts."
Olivia grinned.
"Not when I'm with you."
They ended up going.
Their tickets were checked at the haunted house entrance.
A curtain was pulled aside, releasing a chill draft.
Screams echoed from a pitch-black corridor.
Olivia gripped Sophia's hand tightly.
She inched forward reluctantly.
Sophia practically dragged her along.
"We can skip this."
Olivia shook her head.
"We're already here."
A terrifying mannequin suddenly jumped out.
Olivia shrieked and dodged.
"Sophia, save me!"
Ethan Roscente turned his head sharply.
He thought he heard a familiar name.
He looked around but saw no one.
He frowned.
Isabella clung to his arm.
"Ethan, I'm scared."
"You have to protect me."
Ethan answered absently.
A red light flashed in the darkness.
Isabella gripped his arm tightly.
She hid at his side, too afraid to move.
A female ghost NPC appeared suddenly.
Isabella buried her face in his chest.
She trembled violently.
"Is it gone, Ethan?"
Ethan patted her back gently.
"It's okay now."
The cheap makeup was laughable.
But it made him think of Sophia.
She was never this timid.
Her name surfaced in his mind, startling him.
Why did he keep thinking of her unintentionally?
He had clearly wanted to end things.
Isabella looked up.
She noticed the depth in his eyes.
"Ethan, what's wrong?"
Ethan reined in his emotions.
"Let's keep going."
Olivia mustered her courage and entered.
A small zombie in a coffin opened its eyes.
She screamed and bolted.
She vanished in an instant.
Sophia stood there, stunned.
She really ran fast.
The exit was closed.
Sophia had to find another way out.
Wandering around, she locked eyes with an NPC.
The NPC in the coffin blinked.
Its long tongue prop fell out.
Sophia was silent for two seconds.
She stepped forward and pushed it back in.
The NPC's eyes held gratitude.
The town had three exit paths.
Sophia got lost.
Ten minutes later, she was still going in circles.
It was more like a maze.
The three paths looked almost identical.
One was a dead end.
An alarm suddenly blared overhead.
Sophia was speechless.
So effective.
A fire alarm announcement sounded.
The crowd panicked, surging toward the exit.
Sophia