Chapter 3: The Mysterious Stranger
Gerald Blackwood came from a wealthy and influential family. His parents, Clinton and Elizabeth Blackwood, were high-society types who threw lavish parties and charity events. They were well-respected and the top most distinguished family out of five(The Blackwood, Smiths,Ethan's,Harrington and Carlton) in the city.
Gerald's parents, Clinton and Elizabeth Blackwood, had always been keen on securing their family's legacy. They had arranged for Gerald to marry a girl named Noah , whose parents, the Smiths, were also distinguished members of society.
The Smiths were known for their lavish parties and charity events, and it was at one of these parties that Elijah had been forced to attend, in order to further his family's interest but Gerald had never been interested in Noah. He found her to be shallow and pretentious, and he had always felt suffocated by the idea of marrying her.
Despite his reservations, Gerald's parents had been insistent that he attend the party and make a good impression. Gerald had reluctantly agreed, but he had made it clear that he would not be staying for long. It was a relief when he had finally been able to slip away, unnoticed by the other guests.
As he was leaving the party, Gerald had decided to take a walk to clear his head. He had walked for blocks, lost in thought.
The echo of distant laughter and muffled music followed Jane as she stepped out of the party into the chilly night air. It had been a long evening, and her mind was clouded with half-formed thoughts and vague unease. She had attended out of obligation, but something about the night had felt... off. The party had been lively, yet she couldn't shake the sense that someone had been watching her.
As she walked along the dimly lit street, a figure emerged from the fog ahead. Tall, cloaked in shadows, and moving with a purpose that sent a chill down her spine. Jane's heart quickened, but she forced herself to remain calm, clutching her jacket tighter around her.
The figure slowed as it drew nearer, and the streetlight overhead flickered, casting a pale glow over his face. He was striking, with sharp features and piercing eyes that seemed to look right through her. There was something familiar about him, though Jane couldn't place it.
"You're out late," he said, his voice low and smooth, with an edge that hinted at danger.
He stopped a few steps away, her instincts on high alert. "So are you," she replied, matching his tone with a steadiness she didn't quite feel.
For a moment, they stood there, the silence between them taut and electric. Finally, the man tilted his head slightly, as if considering her. "You shouldn't be walking alone," he said. "Not tonight."
"Why not?" Jane asked, her eyes narrowing.
He hesitated, then gestured to the street behind her. "Strange things have been happening around here. People disappearing, rumors of... things lurking where they shouldn't be. You're better off getting home."
Jane frowned. "And what about you? You don't exactly look like someone heading home either."
The man smirked, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Let's just say I have my own reasons for being out. But you... you shouldn't be here."
Before she could respond, another sound broke through the stillness – hurried footsteps approaching from behind. Jane turned sharply, her heart racing, but the street behind her was empty.
When she turned back, the man was gone.
She spun around, scanning the foggy street, but there was no trace of him. It was as if he had vanished into thin air just as usual and also forgot to ask for his name.
As she resumed her walk home, Jane couldn't shake the feeling that their encounter wasn't a coincidence. And when she finally reached her house and unlocked the door, she found an envelope waiting for her on the floor, addressed in elegant, unfamiliar handwriting.
Inside was a single note that read:
"Trust no one. The answers you seek are closer than you think".
Jane's pulse quickened as she stared at the message. The party, the stranger, the warning – it all felt connected, but how? And who had left this note?
She glanced out the window, half-expecting to see someone watching her from the shadows, but the street was eerily quiet.
Somewhere in the distance, a clock struck midnight, its chime echoing like a warning. Jane clutched the note tightly, knowing that whatever was happening, it was only the beginning.