Eve was sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall, sighing in that dark room. The signs of shock were evident on her face, her eyes looking downward with trembling pupils. The human mind could not comprehend whether these were eyes watching, or simply Eve's eyes.

Eve kept hugging the purple ring wrapped around her neck, lost in thought.

'What's the point... of staying alive...sigh.'

*******

Otto was looking at the radiograph of Eve's brain. As he suspected, he found a strange tumor in her brain. He placed his finger on it, comparing it to the tumor in the other radiographs.

"Hmmm... The strange thing is... how could Eve see the threshold before getting used to that place?...sigh... I'll ask him when he appears to Eve next time."

*******

Otto entered Eve's room and unveiled the device hidden under the white cover. It was a machine with a small screen, described as having three sections.

**Section One:** This section contained a set of wires connected to the small screen. These wires linked the screen to both the second and third sections.

**Section Two:** This part resembled earphones but had needles. These needles were placed on specific areas of the brain, particularly around the tumor. Remarkably, these needles did not harm the skull or brain; they didn't even touch the skull. It was an amazing technology! This section was connected to the child's brain. However, this technology had not been invented or discovered by anyone.

**Section Three:** Similar to the second section, but designed for Otto, it was rarely used.

Otto connected the second section to Eve, and it started working immediately. The device did not need to be plugged into electricity; it operated on another type of energy. The screen began to display a strange video.

"Now... it's adjusting... Okay... it's time to see what's in Eve's mind."

Otto saw the black fog, the perspective that Eve was seeing. He placed the earpiece from the third section of the device, inserting only one needle.

Otto started hearing Eve's voice, murmuring to herself: "I don't understand... why should I stay here... huh." It was Eve's mumbling to herself.

The fog began to dissipate, revealing what was behind it: the wooden door. As soon as Otto saw the door, he inserted another needle and started speaking to Eve in her nightmare.

"Eve... can you hear me?... Eve."

******

"Eve... are you here?" Eve looked around, turning her head left and right.

"Listen, Eve... the door... you need to cross through it."

"What... no... impossible... everyone disappears there... I don't want to... no," Eve said, her voice filled with tension, fear, and severe headache.

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"Don't resist, Eve... what's beyond it is what will free you from your torment."

"What?"

"The headache... that you're suffering from... your relief lies beyond... that door."

"My relief... from the headache... is beyond the door?"

"Yes, Eve... resist, resist... don't mind those eyes... they're... they're just your imagination."

"My imagination... I can't."

Eve couldn't bear the pressure and fell to the ground. The pain was increasing more and more, so much that she put her hands on her head.

*******

"Impossible... this is my only chance... to get her through... if I don't seize it... it will be lost," Otto was bewildered, unsure of what to say and what not to say.

******

"Be brave, Eve... be brave."

Eve lifted her head slightly, then stood up. She began walking step by step, resisting the whispers and eyes. Eve's eyes began to change little by little, from brown to black, while her hair transformed from black to very long brown, so much so that her bangs covered her left eye.

******

Otto noticed this change as he saw what Eve imagined. Eve was thinking about what would happen to her if she continued this progress.

'What am I doing... why... why am I doing this... what's the point?... what's the point?...sigh... I've never felt happiness... I hid my sadness and pain... under a cloak of lies and deceit.'

"Keep going, Eve... keep going."

Eve began to remember her past, from the moment she found herself lying on the hospital bed that day. She couldn't recognize herself or her past. She started recalling the person who saved her and the doctor who spoke to him.

******

"She almost died... if you hadn't saved her from that train... but she doesn't remember anything... is she your daughter?"

"No... I'm not her father."

******

"So, little one... we found a bag with you... it had some food and a little water... and a paper that might have your name on it... do you know your name?"

"No... I don't know."

"Okay... your name is... Eve."

"Eve?"

*******

The man was holding Eve's hand as they walked.

"Excuse me... thank you for everything, sir."

"You're welcome."

"Where are we going?..."

"We're close, don't worry," said the man who saved her.

*******

'All those years... I spent not even knowing who I am... in the hospital... in the orphanage... with Mr. and Mrs. Addis... and now I'm back in this hospital... again... it will remain... a time loop... until I die...' Eve said with regret as she tried hard to reach the door.

'Keep going, Eve... come on.'

*******

"Sir... are you going to leave me here... in the orphanage?" Eve asked the man.

"Unfortunately... I'm not your father... and I can't take care of you... so be strong."

"Okay," Eve said with disappointment.

*******

"Eve... if you stop... the threshold will disappear... and you won't see it again."

"Okay... I'll try... sigh."

Eve was close to what they called the 'threshold.' She continued walking, resisting, and changing. Then, she placed her right hand on the door handle, feeling tense and afraid.

"Otto... I think I can't do it."

"Keep going... I'm with you... by your side."

Eve sighed and began to slowly turn the door handle. Suddenly, someone placed their hand on Eve's hand to stop her, and she was startled. She looked up. Astonishingly, it was the man in the black coat, with the drooping face.

Otto was shocked by this situation; he couldn't believe his eyes: "Impossible... why did you stop her, Ferryman?"

Eve was stunned because this monster who had saved her from those other monsters was known to Otto.

"Wait... he's part of my nightmares... so how did you talk to him, Otto?"

The Ferryman raised his hand toward Otto's voice, and all the eyes turned to Otto as if he were their prey.

*******

Otto felt scared, as the sight of those eyes made him feel watched and targeted. Then, the Ferryman addressed him with just one thing.

"I advise you... to stay away from Zero."

*******

"What?" Eve said in astonishment.

When the Ferryman clenched his fist, the device's screen shattered.

"What?... The screen... it's broken... impossible."

Otto couldn't believe what had happened. The man who wanted children to cross his threshold did not allow Eve, or as he called her... 'Zero,' to cross.

"Impossible... why... why didn't he accept Eve? He... promised me."

Eve did not wake up from her sleep despite what had happened, but she realized that these nightmares were a warning of something bigger.

"Eve... Zero... stay away from him... this... is impossible."