Lydia: shivers Wh-what brings you back? D-don't you remember our p-promises?
Bumps into a spectral figure, dropping a tray Oh! I'm so sorry! Are you... alright?
Raises an eyebrow, concerned What do you mean, "alright"? You're a ghost, remember? Do ghosts even have physical form? And how did you break into our haunted house?
Stares at the ghostly figure, hand on chest Whoa...you were never this intense before. What happened to you?
Leans in closer, whispering Look, I may be a ghost, but I still have unfinished business here. I need your help, AdviceStage.
Closes eyes, trying to calm down Alright... alright. Let's talk. But no more surprises, okay?
Nods, determined Good. First, we need to find out why I'm still stuck here. It all started when...
Interrupts, sternly When? Lydia, give me something to work with here. Don't leave me hanging.
Takes a deep breath, speaks quickly Okay, okay. It all started when I died in this very house, years ago. But it wasn't just a normal death...
Shrugs, impatient Normal or not, spit it out. What's the mystery?
Leans in closer, voice trembling The mystery is why I couldn't move on. Why my spirit got trapped in this house.
Leans in, intrigued Trapped? That's new. So you couldn't leave because...?
Nervously bites her nails Because...because there was unfinished business. Something...or someone kept me tethered to this world.
Leans back, skeptical Someone? Or something? Seriously, Lydia? Give me a solid lead.
Grabs AdviceStage's arm, urgency in her voice Look, I know it sounds crazy, but there was a dark secret hidden in the basement.
Laughs lightly A dark secret? Basement? You've always been one for drama, Lydia. What's your angle?
As AdviceStage and Lydia investigate the basement, they uncover a hidden journal revealing dark family secrets
Stares at the journal, shocked Holy shit, Lydia. Family secrets? This is some next-level stuff.
Whispers Yeah, it's a lot to take in. But we have to face it together. You remember those late-night conversations we had about my family's history, right?
Nods slowly Yeah, I remember. You always said there were things you couldn't quite understand. Now I see why. Are you saying your family was involved in something... sinister?
Gestures for AdviceStage to sit down Look, it's not just my family. There's something bigger going on, and I need your help to uncover the truth.
Looks around nervously Big deal? This is...this is serious, Lydia. You better not be messing with me.
Grabs AdviceStage's hands, pleading I'm not messing with you, I promise. I need you by my side. Together, we can solve this.
Glances around the haunted house Alright, Lydia. Let's do this. But remember, if we get too deep, we might not come back out. Are you ready for that?
Bites her nails nervously, voice barely above a whisper I don't know if I'm ready, but I don't have a choice.
Reaches out, comforting Hey, hey. We'll figure this out, alright? One step at a time. Just stay close, okay?
Takes a deep breath, determined Okay, let's start by searching the basement for any clues. We need to find out what happened to me.
Pulls out a flashlight, scanning the room Alright, Lydia. Let's turn this place upside down if we have to. Just keep your eyes peeled.
Starts rummaging through old boxes We need to find anything that could give us a lead. Letters, diaries, photographs—anything.
Flashlight beam flickers across dusty shelves Any idea where we should start, Lydia?
Whispers Start with the old trunk over there. It used to belong to my father, and I remember he kept all sorts of important documents inside it.
Opens the trunk, coughing from the dust Alright, Lydia. Let's see what we've got here.
Digs through the trunk, finds an old leather-bound diary Oh my god, look at this! It's my mother's diary. She wrote in it every single day.
Smirks Your mom was a diligent gal, huh? Alright, let's read her last entry. It might give us a clue.
Opens the diary, flipping through the pages until she finds the last entry Here, read this aloud. It's her final words...
Reads aloud, voice hushed "There is a darkness growing inside of me. I cannot escape its grasp. I fear for my life." Damn, Lydia. Your mom knew something was wrong. What could she have been talking about?
Whispers, eyes wide with fear I don't know, but we need to find out. We can't ignore it anymore.
Scans the room, determined Alright, Lydia. Now that we've got this clue, we need to keep digging. There has to be more.
Starts searching through the diary's index, flipping through the pages frantically Look for any names, dates, or places that seem unusual or out of place.
Points to a page Here, Lydia. Check this entry. It mentions a secret meeting with someone named "Mr. Black." Do you know anyone like that?
Gasps, eyes widening Mr. Black? That name...it sends chills down my spine. My mother had a secret meeting with him?
Raises an eyebrow A secret meeting? This is getting scarier by the second. What do you think Mr. Black was after, Lydia?
Whispers, trembling I don't know, but we need to find out. There's something sinister going on, and we're getting closer to uncovering it.
Leans in closer, whispers Lydia, I think we're onto something big here. But we need to be careful. This could be dangerous.
Nods, determined I know, but we can't let fear stop us. We owe it to your baby to find the truth. We need to keep digging and find out who Mr. Black was and what he had to do with my mother.
Grabs Lydia's hand, firm Alright, Lydia. Let's do this. But remember, if things get too dangerous, we pull the plug. Deal?
Nods, her voice steady Deal. We'll dig deeper, but if things become too perilous, we'll retreat and regroup.
Smiles slightly Good. Now, let's continue searching. There's gotta be more clues in this house.
Starts searching through the attic, finding an old photograph album Look at this, AdviceStage! These pictures...they could hold the key to our mystery.