Ves sat there for a long time, staring at the strange box in his hands. His fingers traced the engravings along its metal surface, feeling the intricate patterns beneath the dust-covered cloth.
The air in the room felt heavier. As if the moment he had uncovered this thing, something had shifted.
His thoughts were racing.
What the hell is this?
His parents had never mentioned anything about a hidden box in their home. Had it been there this whole time? Buried beneath the floor, waiting to be discovered?
A sudden vibration in his pocket jolted him back to reality.
Bzzz... Bzzz...
He sighed, shaking off the strange unease creeping over him, and pulled out his phone.
Felix: Yoo bro, are you free?
Ves glanced at the box again before typing out a reply.
Ves: Yeah bro.
He hesitated for a moment. Should he tell Felix about what he found?
Nah. Not yet.
Felix was the type to overreact, and Ves himself didn't even know what this was. Better to figure it out first.
Felix replied almost instantly.
Felix: Aren't you off today?
Ves: Yeah.
Felix: Then let's hang out. Arcade? Maybe grab some food?
Ves exhaled, leaning back against the bed. He could use the distraction.
But at the same time…
His gaze drifted back to the box.
Something about it wouldn't let him relax.
Ves: Busy today bro. Next time.
Felix sent a thumbs-up emoji. "Alright, alright. Don't disappear, though. You've been acting weird lately."
Ves chuckled, shaking his head. If only you knew, man.
He set his phone aside and turned his attention back to the box.
Still wrapped in the ancient fabric, it felt almost… alive in his hands.
He ran his thumb over the cloth, and for a split second, he could have sworn he felt something.
A pulse.
His breath hitched.
The hell?
Shaking off the weird sensation, he stood up. Maybe he was just imagining things.
He placed the box inside his bedside table, locking the drawer.
Out of sight, out of mind.
For now.
_ _ _ _ _
The rest of the day passed in a blur.
Ves forced himself to act normal.
He cooked. Ate. Watched a few movies to keep his mind occupied.
But no matter what he did, the box lingered in his thoughts.
By the time night fell, he was exhausted.
He slipped into his room, shutting the door behind him, and collapsed onto his bed.
The glow of his phone screen illuminated the dim space.
Scrolling through manga, manhwa, and web novels, he tried to lose himself in the stories.
But every now and then, his eyes flickered to the bedside table.
It was still there.
Waiting.
His fingers twitched.
Just open it.
The thought whispered in the back of his mind.
But another part of him hesitated.
Something about it wasn't right.
He sighed, rubbing his face. "Damn it…"
Finally, unable to resist any longer, he reached out.
His hand closed around the drawer handle.
He pulled it open.
The box sat there, motionless.
But he could feel it.
A presence.
Like it was waiting for him.
Swallowing hard, Ves placed it on his lap.
He traced the engravings once more.
His heart pounded.
His mind screamed at him to stop.
And yet…
His fingers slowly pulled at the fabric.
Unwrapping it.
Piece by piece.
Until the box was fully exposed.
A strange, crimson glow flickered across the engravings.
Ves froze.
The air in the room felt suffocating.
His breath came out shaky.
He had a feeling no, he knew that once he opened this box, there was no going back.
His fingers hovered over the lid.
His pulse thundered in his ears.
His mind screamed one last warning.
And then…
He opened it.