“The package on my doorstep had my name, but I definitely didn’t order it.”
My mind was racing to figure out what was going on as I stared at the box for what seemed like an eternity. My name and address were written in strong, block characters across the front of a basic, unmarked cardboard box that had no delivery company badge or insignia. Early in the morning, the street was bathed in a gentle orange glow as the sun started to rise. The world remained silent, but my heart was thumping fiercely inside my chest.
What could this be? I didn't place any orders. For days, I hadn't even checked my grocery list. Was it an error? A package for someone else? But then, the address was obviously mine.
I stepped forward warily, my feet trembling on my front lawn's wet grass. I looked in all directions. There was nobody around. Not even a vehicle for delivery. The situation was starting to seem a little... weird, I had to confess. Uncomfortable.
Slowly, my fingers grazed the cardboard as I crouched down. The morning dew had made everything a little moist and cool. No return labels or other indications identifying the sender were present. Was it a present? An error? Or worse, a practical joke?
A part of me wanted to leave it, pretend I hadn't seen it and go back inside, but the curiosity gnawing at me was too strong. I had to know what was inside. I picked it up and went inside. Surprisingly, it was light-weighted
I opened the flaps and peeled back the tape. There was a sleek black device inside, tucked away in the middle of the box. It was tiny, roughly the size of a hardcover book, but it had odd markings that I didn't recognize and a smooth, nearly glass-like surface. It was a sleek, futuristic object that didn't belong in my everyday world; it looked like something from a science fiction film. It had a polished surface with faint, glowing lines that gave the impression that it was alive, but no buttons or switches.
I was unable to understand it. What was this? I flipped the gadget in my hands, hoping to see a label or brand name, but I couldn't find one. Just that same strange pattern etched into the surface.
Then I saw that there was a note hidden underneath it. Almost like parchment, the paper was thick, and the handwriting was elegant, with crisp, clean strokes that gave the impression that it had been printed rather than handwritten. The message was sent to me:
''Don't ask why. You'll need it soon. Trust the device."
The note was short and mysterious.
It sent a shiver down my spine. In an attempt to understand it, I read it over and over again, but to no avail. I couldn't figure out who sent this or why. My mind was full of questions. Is it a present? or A mistake? However, there were too many unknowns, and I kept thinking that something bigger was at play.
I sat down on my bed, the gadget in my hands weighing more and more each second. I was thinking when I heard a faint buzzing noise. The gadget vibrated in my hands, and the dim light on its surface intensified. One line of text appeared on the screen as it flickered to life, causing my breath to catch in my throat.
"You have 72 hours."
My eyes blinked. And what? I clutched the device closer, my hands shaking, not knowing what was going on. Could this have been a countdown? A heads-up? I felt a knot tighten in my stomach, the fear creeping in.
Before I could process the meaning of the message, the screen changed once more. This time it displayed a map, which I recognized right away. It showed my hometown from above, with a red dot indicating a place I was all too familiar with. My childhood home.
For years, I had not lived there. I moved into my apartment after selling the house when my parents moved into a retirement home. Since then, the place has sat vacant. It was no longer worth anyone's attention, least of all the stranger who had sent me this unusual gadget.
The message changed again as the map panned in and identified the backyard:
"Under the oak tree, the key is hidden. Don't tell anyone.''
My thoughts were racing as I gazed at the screen. Which key is that? What would make someone want me to visit that place? Why at this particular time? I hadn't visited that house in months, and now I was being instructed to dig up something from the past?
My heart thumped in my chest. The feeling of being watched, of being part of something I couldn’t understand, was overwhelming. I had to obey the mysterious instructions even though I had no idea who may be responsible or what they wanted.
I inhaled deeply, attempting to regain my balance, but my thoughts were interrupted by a tap on my door. With the gadget still gripped in my palm, I turned, my heart pounding. Carefully, I opened the door, but nobody was there. Only one additional envelope, sealed with red wax, was left on the porch.
As I lifted it up, my fingers were trembling and my thoughts were immediately racing. With a feeling of dread, I opened the envelope and took out one sheet of paper. Even though the message was straightforward, but it made my blood run cold:
"It will take place tonight. Be prepared.''
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. What was happening? What did any of this mean?
With two strange items in my hands, I stood motionless on the doorstep as the situation's weight settled over me. Whoever was responsible for this knew something about my past. Why, though? Moreover, why now?
I could hear the trees rustled in the gentle wind blowing across the street, and the birds chirping, yet the silence was uncanny. I took another look at the gadget. I felt as though the luminous lines were pulsing, calling me to take action and complete whatever it was.
I looked back at the screen's map. The oak tree. It was bringing me back to my childhood home and a history I had left behind, even if it felt like a faraway memory and a place I hadn't given any thought to in years. I kept getting the impression that all of this was related to something far more important than I understood.
I had 72 hours. That much was obvious. There was no going back now that the countdown had started. It felt like the time had come to reveal whatever secrets were concealed in the past and what was buried beneath that oak tree.
The moment weighed heavily on my chest as I took one final look around the deserted street. Something or someone was observing. Although I had no idea who or what they were, I had a hunch that I would soon find out.
The game was on. And playing was my only option.
