Serena came home and feeling distraught. She sat on the couch, holding the black ring tightly. There was only a faint light in the room, and outside the window, the rain was still falling, with the sound of thunder coming and going.
Echoing the older woman's words, she couldn't contain the fear and confusion in her heart. Every flash of lightning in the room made her heart beat nervously. She felt like an animal caught in a hunter's trap, unable to escape no matter how much she struggled.
Suddenly, her cell phone vibrated. It was a text message from an unfamiliar number. She hesitated for a moment but finally opened the text message. "Please come to the gallery on Fifth Avenue, and you will find the answers you need." The text message was simple and direct, yet it gave Serena a sense of foreboding.
She stood up, changed into her raincoat, grabbed her umbrella, and left the house. Few people were on the street, and the downpour dispersed most of the pedestrians. Serena made her way up Fifth Avenue, her mind filled with doubt and unease.
She found the door open and empty when she arrived at the gallery. She walked in and found a painting hanging on the wall. It was a painting depicting a forest in the dark, with the figure of a woman in the center, holding a lamp. The woman's face was unreadable, but Serena found it strangely familiar.
She stepped closer for a closer look when suddenly she heard a voice behind her, "Do you like this painting?" Startled, Serena turned to see a man in a black suit, his eyes deep and mysterious.
"The painting..." Serena tried to speak, but the words fought on her lips.
"This painting is your destiny." The man's voice was low and powerful, "You have made a pact with the demon, and now, it is time for you to fulfill it."
Serena felt a wave of dizziness as she suddenly realized she could not escape the contract. She had to find the "blood-soaked soul," but where did she start?
As if reading her mind, the man took a small metal box from his pocket and handed it to her. "This contains the clues you need."
Serena opened the box to reveal a yellowed photograph and a note. On the photo was the face of a man she seemed to have seen somewhere before, but her memory was fuzzy. The note had an address written on it.
She looked up to ask the man about it but realized the gallery was empty. It was still raining outside, but it seemed much lighter. Serena knew there was no going back; she had to follow this lead and find the man.
She left the gallery, the rain dampening her hair and clothes. She felt lonely and helpless, but she knew she had to keep going. She had to solve this mystery to find her answers.
On the dark streets of New York City, Serena held the faded photo and a note with the address in her hand, her heart swarming with mixed emotions. The streetlights swayed in the rain on the night of the thunderstorm as if telling an unfinished story.
She knew what she had to do next. On the one hand, she needed to keep in touch with Ethan, oversee him, and figure out why he was the "blood-soaked soul." On the other hand, she needs to track down the man in the photo, which may be the key to solving the mystery.
Serena sits quietly on the couch, her mind crammed with mixed emotions as the man she once trusted the most turns out to be her murderer. Serena's eyes fall on the book Ethan gave her, and she flips through it to find a note with Ethan's phone number inside. This unexpected discovery makes her plans more transparent. She will start exacting her revenge, and the first step is to meet with Ethan.
Grabbing her cell phone, Serena typed in Ethan's phone number, and after taking a deep breath, she sent a text message, "Thanks for the book; if you're free, can we meet tomorrow?"
As she expected, Ethan's reply arrived quickly: "Sure, where would you like to meet?"
Serena pondered momentarily and chose their favorite cafe from their last life. The time was two in the afternoon.
The next day, Serena woke up early and dressed carefully. She chose a simple and elegant dress with delicate accessories. Facing the mirror, she adjusted her breathing, trying to calm her inner tension. This meeting was not only about her revenge but also an essential step towards the truth because until now, there was still a shadow of doubt in her mind that maybe Ethan wasn't the real murderer.
At two in the afternoon, Serena arrived at the café right on time. It was a place full of memories and the starting point of the transformation of her relationship with Ethan. She takes a seat by the window and waits for Ethan to arrive.
Soon, as promised, Ethan appeared in the doorway of the café, a flash of surprise in his eyes, but his expression softened when he saw Serena. He walked over and sat down across from Serena.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Serena took a deep breath, ready to begin this complex and delicate conversation. She knew that this was not only a chance to confront Ethan but also a crucial moment for her to unravel all the mysteries.