Silat's death was extremely gruesome. He was found hanging from the ceiling by a whip wrapped around his neck, his arms twisted painfully behind him, eyes wide open with a face as pale as a traditional opera actor covered in white makeup, completely naked. The guards had to struggle greatly to get the body down, but there was no way to make the corpse's arms return to their original position. The scene was spotless, with not a single drop of blood remaining, so it was initially deemed a suicide. 
However, experienced police investigators were highly suspicious. The body was a meter off the floor, and there was no chair or object at the scene that could have been used for the victim to climb up. The ceiling was quite high, making it impossible for the victim to hang the whip in such a manner to create a noose. All hypotheses and conclusions were inadequate, not to mention unscientific, and some even suggested it could be the work of the Grim Reaper.
At this time, the prison guards and investigating police were particularly focused on Zoe, as he was the last person to enter the communal bathroom, and recent deaths of inmates somehow involved Zoe. Alger Brush, Finn Jones, and now Silas Walker. However, being a suspect did not necessarily mean he was guilty. Modern law required concrete evidence to make an arrest, so the prison decided to put Zoe in solitary confinement without any justified reason. Being an orphan, Zoe had no family outside to demand justice for him.
This method proved effective, as since Zoe's isolation, no more bizarre fatal accidents had occurred in the prison. But it could also be that the Grim Reaper simply no longer wished to return to the prison.
This was a secret between Zoe and Jill. Since that day, Zoe had not spoken a word to Jill and had avoided looking directly into its eyes. It was very likely that Jill had known about the other person in the bathroom but did not want to tell him. Reflecting further, going back a year to the day he was bullied by Olwen's group in the restroom, Zoe suddenly realized that he had also assisted Jill in killing Olwen.
 He vaguely remembered that day; though not very clear, it was certainly the case, and his state of mind was desperate at the time, fixated on the thought of killing Olwen, similar to his thoughts about Silats in the communal bathroom. He was no different from a perpetrator manipulating others to kill.
Zoe lay alone in solitary confinement, lost in thought about everything that had happened. He did not want to get angry, did not want to hurt anyone, let alone kill. Was this ability a power? It could affect spirits through mental control, concentration, and even manipulate vengeful spirits for a short period. If he did not intend to kill, Jill would not have been able to do so. 
Thus, the one controlling the issue was not Jill but himself. His failure to realize this early on led to Jill's exploitation. But what benefit did Jill gain from absorbing souls? Or was it just a desperate measure to save him?
Realizing this made Zoe more frightened of himself. When the solitary confinement period ended and he returned to the communal dormitory, although he did not know if he was responsible for Silats' death, all the inmates avoided looking directly at him, shrinking away and lowering their heads, as if afraid of a killer with supernatural abilities who could kill with a snap of his fingers. Gradually, he became an isolated inmate whom no one dared to provoke or challenge. Of course, Zoe preferred it that way; a peaceful life while waiting to be released was a current dream of his.
Eventually, his dream came true as the day of Zoe's release arrived. The juvenile detention center in Wales was releasing a group of youths who had completed their sentence, including Zoe. The prison, usually quiet, was bustling today, with many families arriving early to witness their children being released. Zoe was the last to leave among the youths. After a while, the joyful atmosphere faded, and all the inmates and their families quickly departed, leaving the prison gate silent with only Zoe standing there. Knowing he had no family, he had expected no one to wait for him.
With no rush in his step, the early morning sunlight dispelled the darkness of the night, gently illuminating a youthful figure standing before the prison gate. If the prison gate were replaced by a school, it would have been a scene of warm harmony. Even though he knew no one would come to pick him up, the comfortable feeling of freedom made him smile happily. Zoe shielded his eyes from the sunlight and looked back at the green prison gate of Wales, symbolizing hope, leaving the past behind to seek a bright future.
"Feeling nostalgic? You shouldn’t look back once you’re out; don’t you know that’s bad luck? If you turn back, you’ll eventually end up back here."
As soon as the words were spoken, Jill shook its head and smiled foolishly at Zoe. "No, no, I didn’t mean anything by that. Really, I’m just talking nonsense. How could you come back here, right?"
Zoe glanced at it. "Of course, I will never return here, and this has nothing to do with you." Zoe wanted to thank Jill for being a companion in the cell, but he remembered why he was imprisoned and chose not to say more to Jill.
Jill, puzzled, floated to stand in front of Zoe, speaking in a small, whining voice. “Why does it have nothing to do with me? Zoe, we’re friends, and friends should stick together.”
“It’s over, Jill.” Zoe wasn’t afraid of being seen as talking to himself or being crazy; after all, he was an ex-prisoner now. He no longer cared about how others saw him. He turned and walked away, continuing, “There’s no such thing as friends between humans and ghosts. You should live in your world, and I’ll live in mine. We owe each other nothing. I don’t want you trailing after me all the time.”
Suddenly stopping, Zoe turned around, his body passing through Jill’s white, ghostly figure that had followed him, making them seem like one entity. The strange chill made Zoe step back two paces, looking at Jill. Because Jill had absorbed many souls, its presence now exerted a sense of oppression and danger.
After a moment, Zoe calmly asked, “Why haven’t you moved on, Jill? Do you have any remaining wishes or a terrible curse?”
Jill looked down at where its feet had long ceased to exist. The reason it could not move on was that it had not yet found the ones who killed it. It held a grudge and wanted revenge, wishing to dunk each one’s head in the toilet, or perhaps choose a more painful death for those who killed it. Then it could absorb their souls as compensation for its unwanted death. During its time with Zoe in the prison, it had heard other spirits say that a ghost that could absorb more souls would become immortal. Moreover, such a ghost could become a “Grim Reaper,” a true death god, who could easily take others' souls. 
Following Zoe was the only option to both seek revenge and achieve its desire to become an immortal soul or a Grim Reaper. But how could it tell Zoe what it was thinking? Zoe would certainly not want to talk to it and would even drive it away if he knew the truth. Jill knew that no matter how much Zoe suffered or was humiliated, he would never consider using his powers to kill, let alone kill for Jill.
Jill looked up at Zoe, its eyeless gaze soulful and melancholic, like a child about to be abandoned by loved ones. “I don’t know, Zoe... I don’t know why I’m still in this world. I was very lonely and lost before, but since I met you, I’ve felt much happier.”
But all my misfortunes and suffering began the day I met you. (Though Jill only thought this in its mind and did not speak it aloud.)
Jill spoke earnestly to Zoe, “Just let me follow you, don’t pay attention to me or talk to me... I’ll quietly be by your side, that’s all. Is that okay, Zoe?”
Zoe looked at Jill in silence. When did I ever care about you? If you keep clinging and whining, how could I ignore it?
Though he thought this, he did not say it aloud. Even though Jill was just a ghost, he did not want to hurt its feelings. Since the death of his parents, Zoe had understood how terrifying loneliness could be. He turned and walked away, with Jill floating behind him, then parallel to him, whispering sweetly.
“Zoe, please...”
“Zoe... Silence means you agree, right?”
“Zoe... You’re the best friend I’ve ever had.”
“My dear Zoe.”
Zoe continued walking, ignoring Jill’s whispers in his ear, and sighed inwardly. Unless Jill moved on, there was no way to escape this persistent and troublesome ghost.
People will grow up and, after experiencing fear and life crises, even innocent and gentle children will be darkened and become resilient beyond measure.