The narrow staircase seemed endless.
Each step echoed softly as Ryan walked deeper beneath the Verma Mansion. The air grew colder, heavier… as if the place itself had been sealed away for years.
At the bottom, he reached a long, dim corridor.
A single weak light flickered at the end.
Ryan moved forward slowly.
The walls were covered in dust, but something strange caught his attention—the same symbol he had seen at the railway station was carved into the walls.
Not once.
But again… and again.
As if someone had marked this place long before him.
At the end of the corridor stood a heavy metal door.
Locked.
Ryan pulled the folded paper from his pocket—the one he found at the station.
The drawing of the key.
For a moment, he stared at it… then looked at the door.
His eyes shifted slightly to the side.
Near the door handle, hidden under layers of dust, was a small keyhole.
Ryan reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a thin, old key.
A key he had kept for years… without ever knowing why.
He inserted it into the lock.
Click.
The door slowly opened.
Inside, the room was dark except for a faint light coming from a table in the center.
Ryan stepped in.
On the table lay several old files, photographs, and a recording device.
His eyes moved quickly across the room.
The photographs showed unfamiliar faces… but behind them, in every picture, that same symbol appeared somewhere.
On walls.
On doors.
On shadows.
Ryan picked up one file and opened it.
Inside were documents about missing people in Blackwood… cases that had never been solved.
His expression darkened.
This wasn't random.
This had been happening for years.
Then his gaze fell on the recording device.
After a brief pause, he pressed play.
A distorted voice filled the room.
"If you're hearing this… then you finally found the truth."
Ryan froze.
The voice sounded familiar.
"This city was never safe… and neither are you."
A short silence followed.
Then the voice spoke again—
"They are watching you, Ryan."
The recording suddenly stopped.
The room fell completely silent.
For the first time, Ryan's calm expression broke slightly.
Someone knew him.
Someone had been expecting him.
And worse—
Someone had been waiting for him to find this place.
Behind him…
the door slowly creaked.
As if someone else had just entered. 🌑📖