Chapter 5 : The Start

 


Chapter 5 : The Start


Fear gripped me like a vise, constricting my every breath as I lay there, contemplating the dark path I had chosen. The mission I had accepted, driven by greed and desperation, now held me captive in a nightmarish web of uncertainty. The weight of impending doom pressed upon my chest, suffocating any hope of escape.


With a surge of determination, I rose from my bed, the lingering traces of fear washed away by a sense of purpose. I had to forge ahead, to confront the sinister forces that had ensnared me. The address I had memorized from the last page of the diary beckoned me, a riddle waiting to be unraveled.


The sun's warm embrace outside offered a stark contrast to the chilling dread that gripped my soul. I stepped into the brightness of the day, my mind clouded with doubt and confusion. Nature's tranquility mocked my turmoil, for even amidst chaos, the world remained serene.


In the confines of my car, I drove towards my destination, each mile amplifying the uncertainty that loomed before me. Second thoughts gnawed at my conscience, warning me of the danger that lay ahead. But I had ventured too far to turn back now.


Arriving at the unfamiliar address, my heart quickened with trepidation. The apartment building stood tall, its facade hiding secrets within. My hand trembled as I pressed the button for the 9th floor, the elevator's ding sounding ominous.


The lift ascended, and with each floor it climbed, my heart sank deeper into the abyss of uncertainty. As the doors parted, I stepped into the 9th floor hallway, my footsteps echoing like the ticking of a clock, counting down the minutes to a fate unknown.


A door stood before me, a threshold to the answers I sought. With trembling hands, I knocked, the sound reverberating like a drumbeat in the silence. My heart pounded in my ears as I awaited a response.


The door creaked open, revealing a young man, his eyes locking onto mine. His demeanor was calm, almost disarming, but I knew better than to let my guard down.


"Hi, how can I help?" he greeted, his voice masking something beneath the surface.


"I was sent here to meet you," I replied cautiously, my eyes never leaving his.


"Why did someone send you?" he inquired, a flicker of curiosity in his gaze.

I instinctively reach for my pocket, intending to hand him the page from the diary, but a sudden realization freezes my movements. "I'm so sorry, I forgot something important on the way here," I hastily explain, backtracking towards the elevator. Concealing the diary within my suit, I couldn't risk exposing its contents in public. The elevator doors close, and I quickly tear the page from the diary, my heart pounding with anticipation.

Back at his door, I knock softly, my nerves now more composed. This time, he answers immediately, surprise etched on his face. "You again? And this soon? Thought you forgot something," he remarks with a peculiar expression.

"Yes, I'm sorry, but I have what I need now," I respond, my voice laced with newfound confidence as I hand him the torn page from the diary. As he reads its contents for a few seconds, his initial fury subsides, replaced by amusement.

"What is this? Some kind of prank or something?" he questions, his tone lightened.

Perplexed by his change in demeanor, I reply, "Don't you know about this?"

"Haha, got you," he chuckles, revealing that he was well-aware of the diary's significance all along. "Wait here, I'll bring the thing," he adds before disappearing into his room, leaving me standing at the door, pondering his cryptic words.

I find myself lost in speculation, trying to decipher whether he said "bring the thing" or "bring the ring." But soon, a more pressing concern takes over. How could he be so inconsiderate, not inviting me, the guest of honor, into his room?

Moments later, he returns, holding an ancient box, within which lies the mysterious ring. Lending me the box, he offers a peculiar directive, "Here you go, listen—I never saw you, and you never saw me." Before I can inquire further, the door slams shut, leaving me baffled, shocked, and somewhat betrayed by his abrupt behavior.

Though disappointed and angry, I realize that arguing with him is futile. Instead, I head back to my car, the ring's weight now in my possession. The drive home is filled with conflicting emotions, and as I enter my residence, the artifact remains an enigma waiting to be unraveled.

The day had been an unpredictable rollercoaster ride, and I find myself seeking solace in the familiarity of my surroundings. I place the box with the ring on a nearby table, knowing that its secrets hold the key to unraveling the truth.