Adja mourned what was left of her previous life by spending an hour where she died. She walked around the bed, imagined herself looking peaceful in death, then left awkwardly through the locked-up door. On the other side, Sylvana had waited for her with a stern look.

'It's done,' Adja said.

Sylvana nodded silently and walked down the stairs to settle in the living room. For once, she's the one choosing where she wants to go. Since the day before, Sylvana was finally giving her some space and privacy.

'Do you want to pretend eating?' she offered when she joined her at the table.

'Uh... Yes, that would be nice.'

What more could she say? Now that everything was over, she didn't know how to talk to Sylvana. They had to create a daily life and discuss things in a natural way, as if nothing was wrong. And nothing is, technically. Okay, I'm giving myself a headache. Sylvana, the perfect incarnation of a housekeeper, brought a huge smoking dish that immediately disappeared when she heard a car in front of the house.

No, oh no... Adja could not control herself and ran to the door, her legs like cotton. A few seconds later, she found herself in front of her entire family followed by Léon.

'I hope you're not making fun of us,' said Adja's mother, her voice broken and her eyes empty.

'I didn't believe it myself before trying. This is what Adja was doing every night, and she obtained incredible results...'

'Is it going to kill us too?' her father asked. He was stumbling around, pale as a cloth.

'Nature killed Adja,' Léon whispered, so low that Adja wondered if her family heard him.

She saw her grandmother shake her head. I would have hated hearing that, personally... It's nice that she's not shocked. Sylvana stared at the floor, as if she wanted to burn it with her eyes. Léon grabbed the spirit box from his backpack and Adja crossed her arms to gather her strengths. This is it. Now.

'This device will emit sounds coming from the afterlife,' Léon explained.

'And Adja will be able to talk to us, right?'

'Absolutely.'

Her parents didn't seem to believe him, but they looked at the depths of despair. That's the only hope they have left. Adja focused not to miss her entrance on stage. If I can't speak through the spirit box, it will be an absolute disaster for Léon's mental health. The annoying noise of the machine filled the room.

'Adja, are you here? I think you're here and already listening to us,' Léon said, his gaze vague from exhaustion.

'Yes,' she exclaimed. 'I'm here, I'm here, can you hear me?'

She tried to speak more slowly, but the adrenaline was too strong.

'You screamed,' Sylvana intervened. 'Do it again, it was not the right frequency. Speak with a lower voice.'

'Oh. Can you hear me?' Adja repeated.

Her mother jumped and put her hands on her chest. No, don't die, don't die like me! Adja panicked and moved back, her legs wanting to leave the scene while her brains wanted to talk forever. Sylvana grabbed her wrist and made her look at her.

'Adja, you have to talk to them.'

'I'm going to traumatize them, it's a bad idea, I made a mistake...'

'Listen to me, now!' she yelled. 'It is the last time you will use this machine, alright? It is a difficult but beautiful moment to live. Everything will be better after that, especially for them.'

'It's more difficult than I thought!'

'It is easier than dying. You cannot make the situation any worse.'

Adja wanted to talk back, but she had to admit Sylvana was right. Currently, nothing was holding her back. She could only do something good or make a terrible mistake by turning her back to her family. The choice was simple.

'Mom, Dad, Grandma... I'm here.'

~

The conversation lasted hours. They were all sitting cross-legged around the spirit box and had comforted each other that life would go on, in any form. Adja's family had promised to pay her homage without sadness, because she was still here, safe and loved. Her father, however, insisted on renovating the house, so it would be more pleasant to inhabit. Sylvana hadn't protested: she had spent enough time in her resting place to enjoy it to its fullest.

They cried a lot, talking about life and death. Her grandmother spoke extensively, worried about death, but even more worried of being stuck in her home without finding inner peace.

'You will talk to my parents directly with the spirit box,' Adja said. 'You'll never be stuck anywhere, they will explain to you what happened...'

I really don't want to discuss this with Grandma! I'm okay with my death, but not hers! Her grandmother was an adorable old lady who did not deserve to worry that way. After a long time, Léon cleared his throat and they all seemed to remember that he was there.

'Am I allowed to explain Adja's story so her fans know what happened to her?'

'That would be a nice legacy,' her father sighed. 'It's easy for us to talk to her, but all those anonymous people who loved her...'

Surprised that her father was so accepting, Adja gave her approval without hesitating. She tried to hug her parents and her grandmother and they parted, light-hearted. Sylvana waited a few minutes before speaking.

'They took it well, eventually. As if you were still alive.'

'They can contact me... that's all that counts.'

An awkward silence fell, and remained until Sylvana made a weird proposition.

'If the police decide to come back, I will enter an agent's phone to watch Léon's video.'

'What? How?'

'I already told you I could do it, do you not remember?'

'Uh... Oh, yes, maybe. But I don't need you to spy on Léon, I trust him. The video will be nice.'

Adja shot a stern glance to Sylvana so she wouldn't have a tantrum. She shrugged, amused.

'I will prove that I am in a good mood!'

'Does that involve a bed and naughty undertones?'

'Maybe.'

'This afternoon was tedious, Sylvana. I don't think I can handle it.'

'If you are not in the mood, I am not either,' she concluded, putting a hand on her shoulder.

Sylvana hugged her from behind without a word. They stood in the hall until the moon replaced the sun and they were in the dark.

~

Two days later, while they were playing bataille with cards from Sylvana's mind – who surely cheated, giving herself all the aces –, two florists came to put a huge bouquet where Adja had lost her life. As Adja read the condolences message printed on a card along the flowers, her eyes shiny with tears, Sylvana went into one of the employees' phone.

'Adja!' she exclaimed when the little truck disappeared in the forest. 'Léon... His video...'

'What, did he say my death wasn't accidental?' Adja inquired, her eyes widening in horror. 'Anything but this!'

'No, but it is almost worse...'

They heard another vehicle park in the alley. Three teenagers entered the Maison Dormeaux.

'He said too much,' Sylvana whispered.

Downstairs, the newcomers were very agitated.

'Adja, we know you're here! This is a K-II, make the diode blink twice for 'yes', once for 'no'!'