The mornings in Greystone were always damp and chilly, and the sunlight that poured onto the ground through the heavy clouds was especially faint. Allison sat at her desk, Sarah's diary in her hands, her gaze fixed on the edges of the torn pages. Her fingertips brushed over the tattered paper as if she could feel Sarah's emotions.
"What are you hiding, Sarah?" she murmured. she murmured, her voice filled with pain and doubt.
She opened her drawer and took out a knife, carefully cutting the seams of the diary in an attempt to find more of what had been hidden. Suddenly, a folded piece of paper slipped out of the spine and fell to the floor. Alison's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly picked up the piece of paper, unfolded it, and saw that it was filled with dense handwriting.
"November 3rd, Cloudy
Today, I finally discovered the truth. Jackson's family is hiding a terrible secret, and it's a secret that could destroy the entire town of Greystone. I don't know what to do, but I have to tell someone. Maybe Ethan would help me. He was always so gentle and reliable.
But I was afraid. The look in Jackson's eyes made me feel uneasy, as if he already knew everything. What should I do? Who do I trust?"
Alison's hands trembled slightly and her eyes reddened. She continued to read, and found what came next even more shocking.
"November 5th, rain.
I decided to go to Ethan. He promised to help me, but we had to be careful. Jackson's family has a lot of power in this town, and they can easily make a person disappear. I don't want to get Ethan involved, but I have no choice.
Tonight, I'll go to Greystone Manor and find the last piece of evidence. If I can come back alive, it will all be over."
Alison's heart sank as if clutched in an invisible hand. She knew that this was the day that Sarah had last appeared at Greystone Manor. And her death was tied to the secret in that journal.
"Ethan," she murmured, her voice filled with complex emotions. "How much do you really know?"
She quickly put the journal and the piece of paper away and stood up, her heart filled with determination. She knew she had to find Ethan and find out.
She walked out of the house and headed towards Ethan's place. The streets of Greystone were still quiet, with only a few birds chirping low in the treetops. The sound of her footsteps echoed on the stone pavement like some kind of silent urging.
Arriving at Ethan's door, she knocked gently. The door opened quickly, and Ethan stood in the doorway with a look of surprise on his face. "Alison? What are you doing here?"
Allison didn't answer, but walked straight into the room, spreading her diary and papers on the table and giving him an icy stare. "Ethan, you have to tell me what Sarah found out."
Ethan's expression stiffened and a flicker of panic crossed his gaze. "Alison, what are you talking about?"
Allison sneered, a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "Don't pretend, Ethan. Sarah's diary was very clear. She knows the Jacksons' secret, and you, you're supposed to help her."
Ethan was silent for a few moments and finally sighed, his voice filled with helplessness. "Okay, Allison. I admit, I know some things. But those things could put you in danger."
Allison gazed into his eyes, a hint of icy determination in her voice. "I don't care about danger, Ethan. I just want to know the truth."
Ethan looked at her, his eyes filled with struggle and pain. "Sarah has discovered the secrets of the Jacksons. They've been running an illegal trade in this town, even involving human lives. Sarah tried to expose them, but she ... was naive."
Allison's heart sank so hard that there was a tremor in her voice. "So her death ... wasn't an accident?"
Ethan nodded, pain filling his gaze. "Yes, Allison. Her death was arranged by the Jacksons."
Allison clenched her fists, her knuckles slightly white. "And you, Ethan, why didn't you stop them? Why didn't you save her?"
Ethan lowered his head, his voice filled with remorse. "I tried, Allison. But I ... was too weak. I was afraid of the Jacksons' revenge, and I was afraid of losing everything."
Allison sneered, a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "Cowardly? Ethan, do you think that explains everything? Sarah trusted you, and you, you betrayed her."
Ethan didn't respond, just looked at her silently, his gaze filled with pain and helplessness. He knew that he couldn't change her opinion or make up for past mistakes.
"Allison," he whispered, a hint of pleading in his voice. "Believe me, I will help you discover the truth. It's my penance."
Allison was silent for a few moments, but finally nodded, a note of icy determination in her voice. "All right, Ethan. We'll uncover the truth together. But remember, it's not for you, it's for Sarah."
Ethan nodded, determination in his eyes. "I understand, Alison. I'll do everything I can."
The two of them stood in the room, silence spreading through the air. Allison knew that this game of revenge had entered a new phase, and she would have to face the next storm.