Chapter 4
The whole day, Ran and Mariya could not stop thinking about the message.
"If you want the truth… come to the old clock tower tonight."
Classes finished in the evening, but neither of them went back to their dorms.
Instead, they met near the college gate.
The sky was slowly turning dark. The city lights began to glow like small stars on the streets.
Mariya looked a little nervous.
"Ran… do you think this is a good idea?"
Ran took a deep breath.
"I don't know. But if we want answers, we have to go."
They started walking toward the old clock tower.
The tower was one of the oldest buildings in the city. It stood tall and silent, like it was watching everything.
As they walked closer, the streets became quieter.
The wind moved softly through the empty road.
Mariya held Ran's hand.
"Something feels strange," she whispered.
Ran nodded.
"I feel it too."
Finally, they reached the clock tower.
The big clock on the tower showed 10:00 PM.
The place looked abandoned.
Suddenly…
They heard footsteps.
Both of them turned around quickly.
But no one was there.
Only darkness and the sound of wind.
Then they saw something on the ground near the tower door.
It was another envelope.
Ran slowly picked it up.
Inside, there was another message.
"The game has begun."
Ran looked at Mariya.
"This is getting more serious."
Before they could say anything else…
The clock tower bell suddenly rang loudly.
DONG… DONG… DONG…
The sound echoed through the empty streets.
Mariya felt a chill run down her spine.
And at that moment…
A shadow moved behind the tower wall.
Someone was definitely there.
Ran quickly moved toward the wall.
"Who's there?" he shouted.
But no answer came.
The shadow disappeared.
Mariya looked worried.
"Ran… maybe we should leave."
Ran looked around carefully.
"No. Someone wants us to come here. There must be something more."
Just then, the tower door slowly opened with a creaking sound.
Creeeeek…
Both of them froze.
The inside of the tower was dark.
A cold wind came from inside.
Ran took a step forward.
"Stay behind me," he told Mariya.
They slowly entered the tower.
Inside, there was an old staircase going upward.
On the wall, there were strange symbols drawn with red paint.
Mariya gasped.
"They are the same symbols!"
Ran nodded.
Suddenly…
A voice echoed from above.
"Welcome… Ran and Mariya."
Both of them looked up in shock.
Someone knew their names.
And that meant only one thing…
The mystery had already begun.