I clenched my fists tightly.
"So they came to retrieve the key… wow. Nice."
"Calm down, Agnes. You need to calm down," he said to me , pacing slowly.
"I'll book you a ride. Just go home and rest. You've had enough today."
He booked the ride for me, and I left.
When I got home, sleep refused to come.
My mind was restless ,completely unsettled.
I lay on my bed, staring up at the ceiling, trying to figure things out. My next move, My next step. But nothing made sense. Every thought led to another dead end.
I closed my eyes several times, hoping sleep would take over, but it didn't.
Nothing worked.
"How could the world be this cruel…" I whispered.
"After killing my parents…"
Silence filled the room again.
Then my thoughts shifted.
The key.
Where could it be?
Was it hidden in our old house? Or buried somewhere no one would ever think to look?
My thoughts kept spinning until, without realizing it, I drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, the reflection of sunlight woke me up.
I sat up slowly, rubbing my eyes, trying to shake off the heaviness in my chest. After freshening up, I made breakfast, but even as I ate, my mind was elsewhere.
"I should go to my old house today," I thought.
"But… I don't even know the address. I don't even know what it looks like."
Frustrated, I picked up my phone and called Thompson.
He answered almost immediately, like he had been expecting my call.
"Hello, beautiful. Good morning," he said warmly.
"Good morning, Thompson."
I didn't waste time.
"Do you know where my parents' old house is? I want to go there… to search for the key."
His response came quickly too quickly.
"Of course I know. I can take you there."
"Okay," I replied.
"I'll be there in five minutes," he added.
Exactly five minutes later, he was at my doorstep.
I opened the door, and we left together.
When we arrived, I froze.
The house stood quietly before me.
Old… but beautiful.
There was something about it ,something familiar, yet distant. It was covered in dust, surrounded by silence, and filled with cobwebs, like it had been abandoned for years.
The door was locked.
We had no choice but to break the padlock.
Once inside, we began searching.
I went through boxes, shelves, drawers everything I could find.
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
Then I paused.
Something felt off.
I turned and looked at Thompson.
Everywhere was scattered but not by me.
He had turned the entire place upside down. His movements were rushed… almost desperate.
For a brief moment, something about him felt… suspicious.
But I shook the thought away.
Maybe he just cared too much.
After all, he had promised to protect me.
Suddenly
BANG!
He punched the table in frustration.
I flinched.
"Are you okay?" I asked, startled.
"No, I'm not!" he snapped. "I can't find the key it's not here!"
I stared at him, shocked.
Then he noticed my expression and immediately calmed down.
"I'm sorry," he said softly. "I didn't mean to scare you. I'm just… frustrated. We have to find that key before they do."
He paused, then added, "Maybe we should check the backyard. There might be something there."
"Okay… let's go," I replied.
When we got to the backyard, his eyes locked onto a spot almost immediately.
Without hesitation, he rushed over and started digging.
His movements were fast, eager.
Moments later, he uncovered a small box.
"I found it, Agnes!" he called excitedly.
My heart raced as I ran to him.
We opened the box together
But it wasn't the key.
Inside were old photographs.
Pictures of my parents… and me.
Memories I couldn't even remember.
My chest tightened.
I gently took the box from him, holding it close.
"We should keep searching," I said quietly.
Then suddenly
A voice.
From inside the house.
"Did you hear that?" I whispered.
Thompson's expression changed instantly.
"We have to hide," he said urgently. "Those people… they're here. They might be looking for the key too."
My heart dropped.
We quickly ran and hid behind a large tree, covered by thick plants.
I held my breath.
Footsteps.
Voices.
They entered the backyard.
One of them spoke, his voice cold and commanding.
"Someone was here. And judging by this…" he gestured toward the dug-up ground, "they found something."
My grip tightened around the box.
"They can't be far. Search everywhere. Drag them out."
Fear gripped me.
I moved closer to Thompson, clutching him tightly.
He pulled me closer, and I buried my face against his chest.
"It's okay," he whispered. "They won't find us."
But then….
Footsteps.
Getting closer.
Closer…
I covered my mouth with my hand, trying not to breathe too loudly.
The man was right there.
So close I could feel his presence.
He stepped toward the bush we were hiding in….
And just as he was about to look….
"I found something!" another voice shouted.
They all ran in that direction.
I exhaled deeply, my body shaking with relief.
As I lowered my hand from my mouth, my fingers brushed against my necklace.
The only thing my parents had left me.
I frowned slightly.
I had never questioned it before.
I was about to ask Thompson about it..
But he cut in.
"I think they're gone. Let's leave. We can come back another time. Right now, we need to get out of here."
Something in his tone made me hesitate.
Still, I nodded.
Could it be that they have found the key ?
"I don't know but what is more important is that we are safe now and we need to get out of this house " he replied
I held my necklace tightly… and carried the box as we left.
He booked another ride, and we left.
During the ride home, I opened the box again.
I stared at the pictures.
One by one.
I flipped them over.
Each one had a note written behind it.
"We love you, Agnes."
"Happy birthday, Agnes."
Tears filled my eyes.
They rolled down slowly.
Thompson held my hand, and I leaned my head on his shoulder.
When we got home, I stepped out.
"Thank you… for today," I said softly.
"It's nothing," he replied. "Just call me whenever you need me. We'll keep searching until we find that key."
He paused.
"And make sure you rest. Don't stress yourself. Eat well."
Then he left.
I went inside and sat down.
The house felt quiet.
Too quiet.
I continued looking through the pictures.
Then…
The last one.
It was a picture of Thompson… and my father.
With some elite men.
He looked younger around thirteen.
I frowned.
"Who exactly are you…?" I whispered.
I turned the picture over.
And froze.
"Do not trust anyone. Be careful."
My heart skipped.
Was this… a warning?
From my parents?
Then suddenly
The key.
I remembered.
Slowly, I reached for my necklace
My hands trembled as I removed it I stared at my mommy's picture she looked so beautiful and happy .
I opened it but it looked like something else was there I flipped it.
And my eyes widened.
A key.
Inside.
"What?!" I gasped.
"This… this is the key?"
Shock washed over me.
"I've been carrying it all along…?"
I quickly picked up my phone and called Thompson.
But my eyes fell back on the note.
"Do not trust anyone."
I hesitated.
Then
"Hello?"
His voice snapped me back.
"Hello, Agnes?"
"Oh… I just wanted to know if you got home safely," I said quickly.
"Yes, I'm home"
Then I heard something.
A voice in the background.
"Boss, we couldn't find anything in the house"
My heart stopped.
The voice sounded familiar.
Very familiar.
Before I could process it, Thompson cut him off.
"I'll call you back," he said quickly and ended the call.
Silence.
I stared at the key in my hand.
Then at the note.
"Do not trust anyone."
My chest tightened.
"Does that mean… I can't even trust Thompson?"
Fear crept in slowly.
Now what?
The safe.
The treasure inside it.
How was I supposed to get it now…?
And more importantly
Who was I really running from?