The Weight of a Whisper

In a sprawling, rain-slicked metropolis, there exists a clandestine profession known as "Echo-Retrievers." These are people born with a rare genetic mutation that allows them to hear the final ten seconds of a deceased person's consciousness if they touch the corpse within an hour of death. They are hired by police and grieving families to uncover murder weapons, hidden wills, or final apologies.

The cost, however, is physical. Every time an Echo-Retriever "listens," they absorb a fraction of the deceased's lingering emotional trauma-a crushing grief, a sudden terror, or a lingering rage. This "residue" manifests as physical weight; the more they listen, the heavier their own bodies feel, eventually leading to a condition where their bones become too dense to support them.