---- Chapter 229 The maze was dimly lit, with eerie red lighting and haunting music creating a spine-chilling atmosphere. Thalia and Asher walked together. At first, Thalia was only slightly afraid, not as dramatically terrified as Sebastian. As they continued walking, suddenly, without warning, a "female ghost" dropped down from above. She wore a red wedding dress with disheveled hair, her pale face streaked with bloody tears.
The ghost hung suspended in the air, making direct eye contact with Thalia. "AHHH!" A scream erupted as Thalia instinctively spun around and threw herself into Asher''s arms. Asher swatted the ghost away with one hand while embracing Thalia, gently reassuring her: "It''s okay, Lia. It''s not real-just a prop." It wasn''t even a person in costume. ---- Thalia trembled in Asher''s embrace. He held her, patting her back softly,forting her as one would a child: "Don''t be scared, don''t be scared.
Everything''s fine." After a while, Thalia finally calmed down. She pulled away from Asher''s embrace, saying quietly, "Um... sorry about that. I got startled. It was just a reflex..." "It''s fine," Asher replied in a deep, concerned voice. "Are you okay? If you''re scared, we can leave." "Tm okay. It was just so sudden..." Thalia''s voice grew increasingly faint. Asher could see that Thalia was frightened. He didn''t say anything more, just made a sound of acknowledgment and silently took her hand.
''The warm sensation spread through her palm, and Thalia froze momentarily. Then she rxed. ---- She didn''t pull her hand away. She allowed Asher to hold her hand as they continued deeper into the haunted house. The earlier scare had rekindled Thalia''s fear. Now she walked cautiously, looking in all directions, afraid that another ghost might suddenly appear from somewhere. Asher, noticing her apprehension, stayed alert, observing their surroundings to prevent another surprise like before.
After a short distance, a hand suddenly reached out from the side, about to grab Thalia''s arm. Asher reacted quickly, pulling Thalia into his embrace. At the same time, a ghost with flowing hair in a white dress emerged nearby.