The night air was cool as I neared the old oak tree. My pulse hammered as I walked on, and the paper crumpled firmly in my fist. I examined the dark garden, each rustle of leaves and snap of twigs making me nervous.
"Melissa," the voice spoke again, this time closer and coming from the shade of the tree. I knew the voice, but the face remained covered.
"Who's there?" I demanded, my voice trembling.
The person stepped into the moonlight. His face was recognizable, but I couldn't instantly identify him.
"I'm X," he announced. "I know you're scared of who this might be...you are asking questions in your mind, but you need to trust me. Hear me out."
"Trust you?" I snapped. "Why should I believe you? I do not even know who you are."
X's eyes remained steady. "I have information about your parents. Avalor doesn't want you to know."
The mention of my parents' names caused my stomach to lurch. "What about them?"
"They were a part of something Avalor is desperately trying to hide," X said, his voice dropping. "They were killed because they were a threat to him."
I stepped back and attempted to understand. "Why are you telling me?"
"Because you need to know what you're up against," he replied. "Avalor's power and influence are profound. If he finds out you are pregnant, he will take advantage of it. He's looking for something related to your parents' past.
"What do you know about the baby?" I asked, my voice barely audible.
X's gaze was strong. "I understand that it is a key to something bigger, something deadly. But we need to be careful. If Avalor detects a threat, he will not hesitate to respond."
"Why did you call me here?" I pushed. "What am I supposed to do?"
X's expression relaxed. "There is a hidden chamber beneath the castle grounds. It's where your parents keep crucial paperwork. I can assist you in accessing it, but we must act immediately. Avalor's men are already on high alert."
Fear grabbed me. "What if they catch us?"
X's expression stiffened. "I know there are secret tunnels throughout the castle. Follow me closely, and we'll be able to escape detection."
We sped towards the castle's perimeter, weaving through murky passages and dodging the occasional guard. The creak of the floors under me made me wince. X took me to a hidden entryway behind ivy-covered walls.
"This is it," X said softly, opening the door with familiar ease. We slipped inside and down a small staircase into the darkness.
I cautiously looked over my shoulder as we approached the base. X used a flashlight to light up the area, showing heaps of old paperwork and dirty furniture.
"Look for anything related to your parents," X said. "It could help us understand what Avalor is hiding."
I sort through the documents, my hands shaking. Then we suddenly hear the sound of footsteps echoing down the corridor. My blood went cold.
"We need to leave," X said quickly. "Now."
We hurried to get out, but as we approached the entrance, a ray of light appeared from above. Guards had discovered us.
"Stop right there!" A guard rushed up to us, shouting.
X's face became pale. "They must have found our access point. We are trapped."
I looked around furiously. "What do we do?"
Before X could respond, Avalor's towering figure arrived at the top of the stairs, his eyes narrowing as he took in the surroundings. "Oh, well. What is this?"
My heart fell. Avalor's presence was suffocating. I felt immobilized.
X attempted to shield me. "Avalor, this isn't what it looks like. We were just—."
Avalor cut him off with a stern stare. "I understand precisely what this is. Melissa, you've been quite busy."
I attempted to muster bravery. "Avalor, I—"
"No more lies," Avalor said angrily. "I've been studying you attentively. It appears you've been hiding quite a little."
The guards advanced and promptly restrained X and me. My efforts to struggle were hopeless. Avalor's stare was penetrating.
"I'll deal with you later," Avalor said to X, his voice steely. "Melissa, come with me."
Avalor guided me back up the stairs and through the castle. I had failed to protect my secret, and now I had to face the consequences.
He paused in a dimly lit chamber; his gaze centred on me. "Explain yourself. What were you looking for?"
"I was—" I started, but the words stayed in my throat. "I was just trying to understand what happened to my parents."
Avalor's eyes narrowed. "And you think poking around would get you answers? Do you not understand the risk you've put yourself in?"
I swallowed hard. "I just wanted to know the truth."
Avalor's eyes softened slightly, but his face remained harsh.
My chest clenched. "I don't know what to say to you."
"You don't need to say anything," Avalor stated, his tone firm. "Your acts have been loud and clear. I'll decide what happens to you depending on what I learn from this."
As he turned to go, the guards pulled me back. I saw Avalor go away, vanishing into the darkness.
After he left, there was a terrifying quiet. I looked at X, who was being taken away, and his expression was dark and grave.
I was left alone in the chamber. The ticking of a clock in the corner seemed to cut through the silence.
Suddenly, I heard a tiny, almost undetectable sound, like a whisper or rustling. I turned around, trying to see what may be hiding in the darkness. The chamber felt colder.
A shudder went down my spine. Was anybody else present, or was my fear reflected in the silence?
I took a step closer to the door, my breath coming in quick, panicked waves. The castle appeared to shut in on me, with every sound accentuated in the tight silence.
As I grabbed for the door handle, I heard it again: a quiet, desperate whisper. I froze, the hairs on my neck sticking up.
"Melissa," said the voice from behind me, barely audible. "You must leave now."
I turned back, but no one was there. The chamber seemed gloomier.
With one final glimpse at the empty chamber, I turned and hurried through the door. I traversed the maze-like halls, the murmur following me, becoming fainter but present.
What did X want me to find? What will Avalor do next? And who was the strange voice asking me to leave?