Chapter 5
Ran and Mariya looked up toward the dark staircase.
The mysterious voice had called their names.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Mariya held Ran's arm tightly.
"Ran… someone knows us," she whispered.
Ran tried to stay calm.
"Yes… and that means this is not a coincidence."
The tower was silent again.
Only the sound of the wind could be heard through the broken windows.
Ran took a deep breath.
"We have come this far. We should see what is up there."
Mariya nodded, though she looked nervous.
Slowly, they started climbing the old wooden stairs.
Each step made a creaking sound.
Creak… creak…
The air inside the tower was cold and dusty.
When they reached the first floor, they saw something strange.
The walls were covered with the same symbol they had seen on the envelope — a circle with a triangle inside.
Mariya looked shocked.
"These symbols are everywhere!"
Ran touched one of them carefully.
"It means this place is connected to that secret group."
Suddenly they heard footsteps above them.
Someone was walking on the upper floor.
Ran whispered, "Stay quiet."
Both of them slowly climbed the next stairs.
When they reached the top floor…
They saw a person standing near the window.
But the room was dark, so they could not see the face clearly.
The person spoke again.
"I was wondering when you two would arrive."
Ran stood in front of Mariya protectively.
"What do you want from us?" he asked.
Victor laughed softly.
"You already found the symbol… the message… and the clock tower."
"That means you are now part of the mystery."
Mariya said nervously,
"We are not part of anything!"
Victor smiled again.
"Oh… but you are."
He walked slowly around them.
"For many years, people have searched for the secret hidden in this city."
He looked directly at Ran.
"And now… you are getting closer to it."
Ran felt anger rising.
"Tell us the truth!"
Victor's smile disappeared.
"The truth is dangerous."
He turned toward the staircase.
"But don't worry… we will meet again."
Before leaving, he looked back at them.
"And next time…"
"Things will not be so friendly."
Victor disappeared into the darkness.
The tower became silent again.
Mariya looked at Ran with fear.
"Ran… this is bigger than we thought."
Ran looked toward the dark stairs where Victor had gone.
"Yes," he said slowly.
"And now… we are part of it."
The clock tower became silent after Victor disappeared into the darkness.
Ran and Mariya stood there for a few moments, trying to understand what had just happened.
Mariya looked worried.
"Ran… who was that man?"
Ran shook his head slowly.
"I don't know… but he clearly knows more about this mystery than we do."
The mysterious man who had been standing near the window finally stepped forward.
"His name is Victor," he said quietly.
Ran turned toward him.
"You know him?"
The man nodded.
"Yes… and that is why you two are in danger now."
Mariya felt nervous.
"What do you mean?"
The man pointed toward the walls of the tower.
"Look carefully."
Ran and Mariya looked around.
The walls were covered with the strange symbol — a circle with a triangle inside.
The man spoke again.
"This tower is not just an old building."
"It is a hidden place used by an ancient secret society."
Ran looked surprised.
"A secret society?"
The man nodded.
"Yes. Hundreds of years ago, this tower was used to protect something very powerful."
The man walked toward the center of the tower floor.
There was an old stone circle on the ground.
He pressed one of the symbols on the floor.
Suddenly…
GRRRRRR…
A hidden door slowly opened in the floor.
Ran and Mariya looked shocked.
A secret staircase appeared, going deep underground.
Mariya whispered,
"This place has a secret passage…"
The man nodded.
"Yes."
"This is the real secret of the tower."
Ran looked down the dark stairs.
"Where does it go?"
The man replied,
"To the place where the truth of this city is hidden."
Mariya felt both fear and curiosity.
"Should we go down?"
Ran took a deep breath.
"If we want answers… we must."
But at that moment…
They heard footsteps outside the tower again.
The mysterious man looked serious.
"They are coming back."
Ran asked quickly,
"Who?"
The man replied quietly.
"Victor's hunters."
The sound of footsteps outside the clock tower was getting louder.
Ran looked toward the door nervously.
"They are coming," he whispered.
Mariya held his arm tightly.
"Ran… what should we do?"
The mysterious man quickly spoke.
"There is no time. Victor's hunters are dangerous."
He pointed toward the secret staircase under the floor.
"You must go down now."
Ran looked at the dark staircase.
"But what about you?"
The man shook his head.
"I will slow them down."
Suddenly…
BANG!
The tower door opened loudly.
Several men wearing black clothes rushed inside.
Their leader shouted,
"Don't let them escape!"
Ran realized they had no choice.
"Come on, Mariya!"
Both of them quickly ran toward the secret stairs.
They started going down into the dark underground passage.
Behind them, the hunters were already chasing them.
The sound of running footsteps filled the tower.
The danger had finally begun.
The underground passage was dark and narrow.
Ran used his phone flashlight to see the path.
The stone walls looked very old.
Mariya was breathing fast.
"Ran… they are still coming!"
Behind them, the hunters' voices echoed through the tunnel.
"Find them!"
"Don't let them escape!"
Ran and Mariya started running faster.
Suddenly, the path split into two directions.
Ran stopped.
"Which way should we go?"
Before they could decide…
A loud gunshot echoed from behind.
BANG!
Mariya screamed.
"Ran!"
Ran quickly pulled her toward the left tunnel.
"Run!"
They ran deeper into the underground tunnel.
But neither of them knew where the path was leading.
One thing was clear.
They were now trapped inside the mystery of the tower.
And Victor's hunters were getting closer.