We’d gathered everything we wanted to bring and laid them neatly across the cabin’s worn-out wooden table: Tibbo the teddy bear, Raquel’s mother’s book, the shiny stone, a small knife, and a modest pile of folded clothes.

But there was one problem—no bag.

How are we supposed to carry all of this? We couldn’t just juggle each item in our arms, especially not Raquel. His hands were tiny, and we needed to move light and fast.

I scanned the items again, trying to brainstorm.

‘Should I... cut open Tibbo and stuff everything inside?’

The thought made me wince. ‘No… Raquel might cry if I even suggest it. It’s his only toy.’

Still, there weren’t many options.

While I stood there racking my brain for alternatives, Raquel picked up the shiny rock and glanced at Tibbo. His eyes slowly drifted over the other items on the table. Then, without a word, he walked toward me and gently tugged at my sleeve.

“Is something the matter, Raquel?” I asked softly.

He looked up at me and said, “How about… we put all of this inside Tibbo?”

I blinked in surprise. That’s exactly what I was thinking...

“You sure?” I asked gently. “We’ll have to cut him open. He might get hurt.”

Raquel nodded, his expression calm. “It’s okay. I think Tibbo would want to help carry our things too.”

His innocence never failed to melt my heart. I ruffled his hair with a smile. “That’s true.”

But another challenge remained: How do we sew Tibbo back together? I hadn’t brought the sewing kit from the mansion, and we didn’t even have anything that could pass as a makeshift needle or thread.

‘Looks like I’ll have to go back there…’

A mischievous grin crept onto my lips.

‘Since I’m already going, I guess I can get a few more things while I’m at it.’ I smiled mischievously.

In a mansion as big as that, they won’t notice a thing or two going missing.

I faced Raquel, “but before we do that, I’ll go get something to fix him up.” I simply said and Raquel smiled brightly, agreeing to what I’ve said.

“Then for now, let’s think up of other things we want to bring.” Honestly, the teddy bear isn’t big enough to carry any more, but since I’m going to the mansion anyways, I’ll get some bags too.

I’ll get as much as they owe Raquel for the 2 years he’s been neglected and more!

.

.

.

Raquel had already changed into his pajamas and was cuddling Tibbo tightly as he prepared for sleep.

“Raquel,” I said, kneeling by his bedside, “I’ll go get the things we need now. I’ll be back soon.”

He clutched Tibbo closer and reached for my sleeve. “Okay… but can you stay until I fall asleep?”

I smiled softly. “Of course.”

I stayed beside him, stroking his hair as his eyes slowly fluttered closed. When his breathing became soft and steady, I gently stood and gave him one last look before phasing through the wall.

I flew quickly across the forest toward the mansion, its looming silhouette familiar by now. Just like before, one window glowed with light. I peered inside and saw the man—Raquel’s father—sitting at his desk, nursing a glass of wine as he stared blankly at a portrait of his wife, Nyssira.

I frowned.

I pitied the man, but no matter what he feels and what he has went through, nothing can ever justify the abuse and neglect he did to that innocent child. They even went as far blaming Raquel for something he couldn’t have possibly done, and now even has plans to kill him.

It didn’t matter how broken he looked—he had no right.

I turned away from him and phased into the mansion, quietly drifting through hallways and rooms.

The hardest part of stealing as a ghost was not being able to make physical object become intangible with me. Every time I found something useful, I had to pass through doors or windows to physically retrieve it. A bit inconvenient, but manageable.

Little did I know, my ghostly “heists” would soon become whispered rumors among the staff. Still, I pressed on, determined.

Eventually, I arrived at the same quiet, untouched room—the one where I found Tibbo. The atmosphere hadn’t changed. It was frozen in time, like a memory sealed in glass.

I picked up the sewing kit and glanced at the drawer where I’d hidden Raquel’s baby picture. Curiosity tugged at me. I opened the drawer again, and sure enough, the photo was still there.

I stared at it for a moment—Raquel as an infant, peacefully sleeping.

‘I kind of want to bring this…’ I wondered. I grabbed the photo and stared at it, then looked at the beautiful picture of a woman in the drawer desk.

I thought about it for a while but decided that instead of only taking Raquel’s picture, I should just bring both.

Judging from how Raquel recalled his mother, she was clearly a warm and loving mother. That book would not be enough to remember her by. I removed both pictures from their frames and carefully tucked them into the sewing kit, nestled among the spools of thread and needles.

And then went around the mansion to grab all the valuables I found and dropped through the window, and among them was a sling bag.

Soon, I returned to the cabin, landing softly beside Raquel’s sleeping figure.

I slid Nyssira’s photograph gently into the cover of her book and sat down, watching Raquel peacefully holding Tibbo in his arms.

I should start packing, but... Raquel clutched the teddy bear so tightly in his sleep that I couldn’t bring myself to pull it away.

I sighed softly and sat next to him, brushing his bangs aside.

I’ll do the rest tomorrow…

Just as I was about to return to the chair, Raquel suddenly reached out and grabbed onto me.

And in that moment—when our skin made contact—I felt it.

That strange, electric sensation pulsing through me again.

I looked down and saw that Raquel was holding his shiny rock.

And just as when I realized that weird sensation was from, my vision suddenly turned to black.

‘Eh? What is this now? Did I die again…?’ I thought to myself confused.