"You...... Who is it? ”

“……”

Eve, to someone behind the door, asked softly, but the other party was always silent, didn't say a word, just ...... Silently standing in front of the door.

"......" Eve didn't know who the person behind the door was, why he came to her house, and what the other party wanted to do when she came to her room.

However, she didn't really care about these things.

What Eve cared more about was that someone finally came to her.

Even though it was through a door, Eve still felt that in her heart, the feeling of loneliness that made her very uncomfortable, perhaps called lonely, was more or less eased.

"Please......"

Therefore, no matter who the other party is, whether he wants to hurt himself or not, Eve still pleads with the other party:

"You...... Can you stay here and listen to me? It's fine for a while, and you don't have to respond to me, just listen to my own talk...... That's it. ”

"......" The other party was still silent, without a sound.

However, there was no sound of footsteps leaving.

The other party's reply is already obvious.

Realizing this, and realizing that the other person is willing to stay here and listen to her voice, makes Eve feel satisfied and reassured.

"Thank you......"

Taking a deep breath, Eve said slowly, softly:

"I ...... I've been in this room for I don't know how long, there are no windows, it's always dark, so I don't know how many times the sun has rested outside, and when I took time off to make the sky cloudy, or called the rain to take my place. In addition, my parents are very busy, and they can only come to me once when they have free time, so I don't know how long I have been here.

By the way, you are ...... Are mom and dad's acquaintances? That...... I hope you don't talk about what I'm doing here, because Mom and Dad don't want me to make a noise, and they don't want anyone else to know about me here.

Although I don't quite understand, they must have their own plans to do this, and they must have done it for my own good, after all...... It's impossible for parents to hurt their children, parents...... They all love their children for free.

If more people knew that I was here, Mom and Dad would hate me, and no one would like disobedient children, so please, don't talk about it...... All right? ”

“……”

In the face of Eve's pleading, the person on the other side of the door was still silent.

“…… I'm sorry. Eve felt bitter in her heart, "I shouldn't have asked you like this, talking to other people is my own problem, I'm sorry, I didn't say it." Also, you're tired of all the things I've said, aren't you? I won't speak, you can leave a little bit, if you let Mom and Dad know you're here, they'll be angry. It's just that...... Will you be able to come here again next time? ”

In the end, Eve couldn't hold back and spoke her inner thoughts.

She clearly knew that if she let her parents know about what she had spoken to other people, they would definitely be very angry, and I am afraid that not only herself, but even the stranger outside the door would be hated by them.

But, even so, she ...... I want to talk to people.

Moreover, Eve didn't expect much from this, the other party didn't have any need to respond to herself, she just ......

“…… Again! ”

However, at this moment, the person outside the door finally made a sound.

It's just that it's a quick, out-of-tune voice, as if it's the first time I've learned to speak.

"......" was silent for a moment before the other party continued: "I will, come again." ”

With that, the footsteps of departure sounded, and then faded away.

“…… Thank you. ”

Although the other party only left a sentence, it also relieved the loneliness in Eve's heart a lot, and she was extremely looking forward to the arrival of that person again.

Moreover, no matter whether the other party will tell her about it, she will not tell her parents about it.

It's definitely not right to hide something from your parents, right? However, Eve's heart didn't want to talk about it.

Just this time, just this once, it must be forgiven, right?

Eve comforted herself in her heart.

This is her ...... The first rebellion against his parents.

"Thank you......"

Unable to resist speaking again, Eve began to fumble in her diary in the dimly lit room, and she wanted to record this day in the diary, which was different from her usual days.

She kept a diary all the time, because, being alone in this quiet, dark environment, she sometimes felt that her existence had dissipated.

So, she had to keep a diary, at least, to prove that she ever existed.

Even if nothing happens every day, she still insists on writing it, and on this day, when something like this happens, how can she not record it.

This happy mood may be the mood that only belongs to her life.

"Hmm...... How is the word door written? It's okay to draw a door and go up. ”

The room was very dark, and Eve couldn't see what she had written, but there was a light in the room, but her parents had told her not to turn on the light.

Eve also knows that her family is very poor, so she must be considerate of her parents and save a little if she can.

Moreover, coupled with the fact that she herself does not recognize a few words, this is said to be a diary, more like the content of random scribbles.

It's just that hopefully someone in the future will see and know that there was once a girl who was locked up here, and write about it.

……

"Great, most people only talk, but today I was helped by a lot of people."

"Well, it's all thanks to our daughter."

By chance, Eve hears the voices of her parents.

What they were talking made Eve feel happy, and she was finally able to help her parents a little.

However, the content of their next conversation made Eve stunned again.

"However, it is not a way to continue like this."

"Hmm...... I know. ”

"And I always have to worry about her, I can't go farther, and it's boring to stay here all the time...... And you can't ask anyone else to do it for you. ”

"That's right, and every time I come to her, it's terrifying, and we have to worry all the time about what to do if someone sneaks in and finds her while we're away, knowing that if her existence is known, we'll never be able to recover."

“…… Why don't we hide her here? ”

"What? You mean to hide her somewhere else? Wouldn't that be more dangerous? Are you crazy? ”

"No...... I mean, let her ...... Let's sleep forever. ”

“…… Indeed, in the eyes of others, she is missing, and it is unclear whether she is alive or dead, and ...... It can also dispel our worries forever. ”

"I think Eve ...... You don't want to live in that environment all the time, do you? It's so painful to live like that. ”

"yes, let her go. This is also the ...... of parenthood The last responsibility. ”

“…… Huh? Eve was stunned.

She couldn't understand what her parents were saying for a while, but she instinctively felt scared.

What does that mean? Could it be that I ...... Will it die?

Eve once heard people say that as long as you suffer a lot of pain, you will never wake up and sleep forever, which is death.

Never wake up...... It must be that I don't feel the feeling of my existence even more than in the dark environment I am in now.

For some reason, Eve was terrified of this.

Eve huddled in the corner of the dark room, hugging herself tightly, only then could she feel her presence.

Then, listening to the sound of the parents arguing over who should do it from the direction of the door, I couldn't stop trembling.

Until......

“……！”

That day, Eve heard footsteps outside the door again, and she instinctively felt scared.

However, when the footsteps stopped in front of the door, Eve immediately stumbled to the door!

"Yes...... Is that you? ”

“……”

There was still silence outside the door, but such a reply was the best reply for Eve.

"Thank you, you really ...... Here we go again. ”

Eve felt the corners of her eyes hot and moist, and she was finally able to communicate with people again.

Even if it's just a one-sided statement, it's better than talking to yourself alone.

How long has it been since that day? I don't know, just feel, it should be...... It's been a long time. ”

"By the way, Mom and Dad have come to me more often over the years, and they seem to be finally less busy. Moreover, they were more gentle than before, and often asked me if there was anything I wanted, if there was anything I wanted to eat. ”

On this day, Eve told the stranger outside the door many things, and the stranger listened to Eve's words silently all the time, without saying a word.

Until, Eve, when she talked about it.

"I'm sorry, but this time it's a person who talks a lot about himself. By the way, there's one last thing, just listen to me one last thing, and after that, you don't have to listen to me anymore about these boring things, okay? ”

“………………”

There was silence on the other side of the door, and there were no footsteps leaving, perhaps in acquiescence.

So, Eve continued, "...... In a little while, I'm going to die...... I'm going to be killed by my mom and dad. ”

“…… Eve. ”

Then, the stranger outside the door spoke again and called out Eve's name.

The other party's voice, unlike the last time, was already quite clear and fluent, and Eve finally heard it, it was a very good, young voice.

“…… Huh? Eve couldn't help but be stunned, "You...... Know my name? ”

And the one outside the door asked slowly:

"You...... Do you know what it means to die? ”

"Dead?" Faced with this question, Eve was no longer surprised, but thought seriously, "Hmm...... It must be, something that hurts, something that is very scary, right? However, since my parents asked me to do it, I will try to overcome the pain and fear. Because they love me, I must love them. ”

“…… Is it? He sighed slightly, "You still don't understand what it means to die, it's a much more painful thing than you think." It's painful to be alive, but to be dead doesn't mean liberation, to be able to escape from these sufferings. It was not an escape, but a complete abandonment, and, no matter how thin, as long as you lived, there would be hope. However, once he dies, the possibility of happiness is completely cut off. ”

"Even so, I don't care." Eve still said firmly, "I ...... Not afraid of death. Moreover, children must never leave their parents' side, that is unfortunate, isn't it? ”

"Really?" On the other side of the door, he asked slowly, "This is the ...... Your choice? ”

"That's right." Eve nodded vigorously.

"You made a choice." He let out a long breath, "You...... Make a choice, and then, are you willing to take responsibility for your choice? ”

"Responsible?" Eve replied as if she didn't understand: "I don't know what responsibility I have to bear, but since I made my own choice, then I will be responsible." ”

"It's a pity." Suddenly, he said, "You have made up your mind to make a choice, but unfortunately I have no intention of letting you do it. ”

“…… Huh? What are you...... Say what? Eve was stunned.

"From the very beginning, children do not have the right to make choices, to make choices and to take responsibility for their choices, and this kind of thing is the prerogative of mature adults."

As his voice echoed in Eve's ears, Eve also heard the sound of the locked door, the lock being opened.

"So, it's my own choice, and it's up to me to take responsibility for it, and you're ...... I don't have a choice, I can only do what I want, as I want...... Get out of here. ”

“…… Leave, here? Eve finally realized the intentions of the person on the other side of the door, "You...... Are you going to take me away from my house, from my mom and dad? ”

"That's right, I didn't intend to help you from the beginning, so I won't let you die here as you wish."

The doorknob turns, and the door ...... It opens with a gentle amplitude.

Radiance...... The light that Eve hadn't seen in a long time was shining through the door, and even if it wasn't strong, it still made her feel a little dazzling.

When Eve finally got used to opening her eyes, she finally saw the ...... who had been talking to her outside the door Youth.

“……”

Then the young man looked at her and whispered to her:

"Eve, next...... I'm going to kidnap you. ”

(End of chapter)