Peter listened intently and quietly as Finn told stories about Felix and his "family."
Finn's expression was full of excitement, as if he had suddenly opened a floodgate of words; those memories he thought he had long forgotten seemed to resurface once again.
Because of the [System Rules], Finn had no way to tell the Host the story of how he was once a [Human]. As Finn had been a [System] for longer and longer, he came to identify more with his identity and value as a System; that distant past of [Eight-year-old Felix] seemed to have become someone else's story, a story that no one would care about at all. It was as if he had placed that memory in a box and buried it in the deepest part of himself.
Only now, as an adult, did he carefully hold it out, showing it generously to his lover.
—Look, quick!
—This is me, my most precious treasure from childhood.
Peter stared quietly at how Finn shone in his eyes, at this moment, he suddenly understood.. many things.
Finn's thoughts were always erratic, he would suddenly come up with many unrelated things to do.
For example, suddenly deciding to learn the piano, suddenly investing in short dramas and even acting in them himself, suddenly buying a racing car and saying he wanted to become a racer, suddenly stepping onto a stage to become a dance partner for Karl Voss during his concert tour.. It turned out that everything he had done was not actually just a sudden whim.
He was just—
In his own way, completing the wishes his family members never had the chance to fulfill.
Finn didn't feel like he was a child who had also "died on that day."
He felt—
He is a survivor living in this world.
It's as if he is "growing up" in their stead, in his own way.
He wants to achieve their dreams.
To catch a glimpse of the scenery in those ideal, distant lands that they have not yet reached on their behalf.
Everything connected.
Peter's tears fell uncontrollably.
He recalled the night when Karl Voss's concert tour came to a grand conclusion; in his eyes, Finn Osborn had been so dazzling.
It was as if all the light in this world had converged upon that young man alone; his eyes were filled with the most fervent and vibrant vitality.
But in that dazzling moment, surrounded by the crowd and incredibly lively, Finn said softly with a smile:
If only time could stay at this moment forever.
Why would he say such words?
It was because, at that moment, Finn felt that he had fulfilled everyone's wishes, that moment was what he considered to be the most perfect moment.
That's why he hoped time could freeze at its most perfect moment.
And from that day on, Finn's condition fell uncontrollably into a state of depression.
It was because he had fallen into a state of confusion. It was as if some sense of belief that had always sustained him had collapsed, leaving him lost regarding the direction of his future.
I was clearly talking about something happy." Finn watched Peter strangely, reaching out to wipe away the tears sliding down Peter's cheeks, his voice tinged with confusion. "Why are you crying again? Have you always been this sentimental?
If Misery Value could still be accumulated, Finn felt that Peter alone could provide him with 100% progress.
I have no more missions, Peter. Everything I do now is following my own heart." Finn cupped Peter's face in both hands, those clear green eyes gazing deeply into the young man, as if wanting to peer into the depths of his soul. "Standing before you so honestly now, I want to tell you that I was once Felix, but now, I am even more—Finn Osborn.
The story that happened to me is a long one. I will tell it to you slowly in the future.
Finn slowly leaned in, his forehead gently touching Peter's forehead.
Their breaths were so close, as if they were the two souls closest to each other in the world.
I want you to know that such a possibility truly exists in this world.
Those pure, kind souls, after being treated unfairly by fate, can be given a chance at rebirth.
Become the chosen System.
Although they cannot save themselves, they can save a hundred souls trapped in darkness and confusion, in return, receive one chance to have their wish granted.
“I can, so can my family.”
"You can do it too, System PP." Finn said silently in his heart.
“They didn't come back here because they must still be on that long journey," Finn said with a smile and a tone of absolute conviction. "Or perhaps they have already cleared this level before me. They just found a world they like better, where they can live a peaceful and happy new life of their own."
I'll be very happy for them, I know they'll be happy for me too.
Finn lightly pushed open the next door, turning back to look at Peter, whose eyes were red, but the young man's eyes were filled with a bright, brilliant smile.
“This is Felix's room.”
The room is filled with many Spider-Man elements.
Massive Spider-Man wallpapers caught the eye, along with all kinds of Spider-Man dolls, figurines, merchandise.
The Wilsons also packed the room full of various items from the [Summerverse] series created by Finn.
Everything looked so full.
It was so vibrant in color once again.
His nickname is Summer; his family and friends all call him that, he loves summer the most.
He is also a boy who loves Spider-Man very much.
He loves to strike Spider-Man poses with his hands, shooting webs everywhere.
He would fantasize about having superpowers one day, then one day, transforming into a hero to protect the city alongside Spider-Man.
“Felix is full of curiosity about everything in the world; he loves causing trouble, loves drawing, also loves dancing.”..
Finn's lips curled into a brilliant arc as he stood in the center of the room.
It was as if he were generously, warmly, sincerely opening his secret castle to Peter—
[Welcome to Felix's world.]
You know, in the short life of Felix, misfortunes do happen, but at the same time, many very lucky things happen as well.
Although he doesn't have any real blood relatives, he certainly has many family members.
His every day is never lonely; every day is lively and fulfilling, filled with shouting and commotion.
Moreover, he actually got to meet his idol in person, even received personal praise, encouragement, support from Spider-Man.
Sunlight filtered softly through the curtains and scattered across Finn Osborn, making everything seem so bright.
Finn's voice was so warm, so warm that Peter almost forgot the panic in his heart as he stepped into this house, so warm that this nightmare-like haunted house took on an entirely different meaning, so warm that it felt as if that tragedy, which had caused everyone such heartache and regret, had been granted a touching conclusion.
Many beautiful memories are sealed within this house.
I hope to let this beautiful story continue, just like the ending of a fairy tale.
All the souls of the children live here together, they will never be separated again.
“This is their very own [Summer Neverland].”
Chapter 108: The Coldest Place
Let's go, there's one more door.
Finn reached out and took Peter's hand, leading him to the tightly closed door.
Peter, who had originally relaxed, instinctively stiffened all over.
After learning about all the beautiful memories this house held, it ultimately returned to.. that most cruel and painful end.
Finn said no more, merely pushing the door open with a calm expression.
Compared to all the previous exquisitely decorated bedrooms, this room looked so old and simple, appearing completely out of place. Thinking of that unknown secret door hidden under the bed, Peter felt a chill run through his entire body, a sense of hair-raising dread welled up within him.
Lily is pregnant.
She and my father, who is also Palman, had a very heated argument.
The smile on Finn's lips also faded.
The warmth in the young man's eyes faded bit by bit, as if all emotional fluctuations had been drained away, leaving nothing but a deathly, silent calm.
With an indifferent and calm expression, he began to tell the story behind that tragedy that he had seen in Felix's eyes.
I was the only one home that day when I heard it. I wanted to go and stop it, but my mother desperately held me back. Her face was filled with terror, she repeatedly warned me to pretend I hadn't heard anything, to never meddle, saying that my father would beat me to death. I didn't believe her at the time, because, how could any father beat his own child to death?
But the cruel reality ultimately provided the coldest answer—
Their father was such a demon.
Returning to this room after such a long time, Finn's gaze involuntarily fell toward the corner of the bed on the floor. That faded and mottled Spider-Man sticker, which looked as if it were deeply branded onto the ground, could still be clearly recognized despite its outlines having been blurred by time.
In an instant, a sudden wave of intense disorientation swept over him.
Finn told the Wilsons not to touch this room because he didn't want the secrets of this room to be discovered, he didn't want anyone to find Felix.
But, Spider-Man still found out.
At this moment, Finn seemed to also catch a glimpse of a frail boy, just before he was dragged into a hopeless and desperate abyss by an irresistible force—
This sticker, dropped during the struggle.
That eight-year-old boy hoped so much.. that someone would discover him, even more so that the Spider-Man who was his idol would discover him.
Fate has come full circle.
It was as if an echo had been received unintentionally once again.
"Spider-Man still found you, Felix," Finn thought to himself.
Hearing Finn's inner thoughts, Peter's body stiffened and he was unable to speak, as an uncontrollable surge of self-reproach and regret filled his heavy, aching heart.
Because he, knowing nothing, only discovered this clue two years later, at a moment when everything had become irreversible.
A long time has passed, PP.
Finn, having lived through so much time, felt even more like a fractured part of himself, standing here and watching the end of a boy's pitiful life.
[Yes, even though Felix clearly longs so much to be discovered.]
I shouldn't keep this secret buried in the darkness forever.