Night had fallen over Blackwood. The streets were wet from the evening rain, and the flashing red and blue lights of police cars surrounded the old railway station.
People stood behind the barricades, whispering and trying to see what had happened.
Among the crowd stood Ryan, his hood pulled slightly over his head. His sharp eyes quietly observed everything.
On the ground near the entrance of the abandoned station, police officers had surrounded a strange symbol drawn in dark paint.
It was the same symbol Ryan had seen before.
The same symbol that was connected to the red circles on his map.
Ryan's expression remained calm, but inside, his thoughts were racing.
"So it's happening again…"
Suddenly, one of the officers stepped away for a moment, leaving a small part of the area unguarded.
Ryan moved quickly.
Within seconds, he slipped past the crowd and entered the abandoned station.
Inside, the place was dark and silent. Broken windows let in faint moonlight, and dust covered the old floors.
Ryan walked slowly toward the symbol.
But something else caught his attention.
Right beside the symbol, a small piece of paper was taped to the wall.
Ryan carefully removed it.
Written on the paper were just a few words.
"The truth is buried where the past sleeps."
Below the message was a small drawing of a key.
Ryan stared at it, his mind trying to understand the meaning.
Then suddenly, something clicked.
There was only one place in Blackwood connected to both the past… and a key.
The old Verma Mansion.
The place where his family once lived.
The place no one had visited for years.
Outside, police sirens echoed through the streets.
Ryan folded the paper and slipped it into his pocket.
His eyes had become colder now.
Whoever left that message knew something about his past.
And they were clearly trying to lead him somewhere.
But the real question was—
Were they helping him…
Or setting a trap? 🌑📖