Rahat froze, clutching the envelope in his hand.
The surroundings were silent, and the shadowy figure had vanished—just as quietly as it had appeared. Rahat shut the door and slowly sat on his bed. His hands were trembling. A strange mix of curiosity and fear rippled through his body.
He opened the envelope.
Inside was a piece of paper—dark as if it was made from the shadow itself. It wasn't normal paper. It felt... alive. On it, words were written:
> "You are now the only 'Seer' in this city.
This city has hidden its truths for many years.
The shadows will come for you—do not be afraid.
The first key is hidden where no one sleeps,
Yet all pretend to.
Find it—there will be no turning back."
Rahat stared blankly at the letter.
"The key?"
"A place where no one sleeps but pretends to?"
His mind raced, and suddenly, one place came to mind—Arkham Morgue, the oldest building in the city.
---
The night slipped into dawn.
Rahat quietly left the house. He knew if his parents found out, they would never let him go. And he also knew… they wouldn't understand.
He walked down Station Road. The streets were empty, the silence heavy.
A cold breeze brushed the back of his neck—so icy, it felt like a dead soul had exhaled.
The morgue's door was locked. But beside it was a broken window.
He climbed in through the crack, cautiously.
The inside was grey and dusty.
Old stretchers, medical fridges, and faded files stood silently—as if they were screaming with no sound.
Suddenly, his eyes caught a small wooden box on a desk, buried under layers of dust. On the lid was a circular symbol, and beneath it read:
"Only the one who welcomes the shadows may open this."
Rahat hesitated. He reached forward—but just then,
a cold hand touched his shoulder.
He turned sharply—and saw…
A small shadow-like girl, with no eyelids—only two empty sockets for eyes.
She whispered:
"We've all been waiting… Rahat."
("Chapter ends. You'll find out the rest in later chapters"!)