Wordsmiths Fiction Week 2: Season 24 – The Envelope
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| THE THEME |
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When we write letters, we fold it up neatly, and then put it inside another piece of paper, sealing it shut. That outer piece of paper is called ENVELOPE. It holds and protects the letter, and it's also what carries the to whomever you've addressed it to.
In a similar manner, an envelope is a way to describe a story or a character that is contained within another, bigger story, just like our letter within a letter, or a story within a story. Just like the Russian nesting doll, where each doll is a story within the larger one. Hence, it can be used to symbolize the way that our lives are contained within larger contexts, like history or society. Which also comes with mystery to solve as no one can tell what's inside an envelope without opening it.
| CHAPTER 1: THE PROMPT |
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Diego’s night shifts at the 24-hour gas station were usually chill. A few truckers passing through, some tired college kids grabbing energy drinks, and the occasional confused tourist asking for directions. Nothing out of the ordinary. But on the seventh night of his new schedule, things got weird.
At exactly 2:17 in the morning, a rusted blue sedan pulled into the lot. The driver didn’t get out. He just sat there, staring straight at Diego through the glass for a few seconds, then drove off. It was odd, but not scary. At first.
When it happened again the next night, and the one after that, Diego started feeling uneasy. The guy never did anything. Just watched. Like he was waiting for something. Or someone.
Diego told his supervisor, who barely looked up from his old computer. “People are weird,” he mumbled, typing one-handed while sipping gas station coffee.
Still, Diego couldn’t shake it. The man’s face looked kind of familiar, though he couldn’t place it. On the fourth night, Diego finally stepped outside to ask what was going on. But the sedan had already disappeared.
Later that shift, while taking out the trash, Diego spotted something behind the ice machine. A plain white envelope. His name was written on the front in neat, block letters.
| CHAPTER 2: CONFRONTING THE FEARS |
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Diego's heart pounded, like his chest was about to burst as he picked up the envelope, but then it felt strangely warm to the touch, and he could feel a faint, almost imperceptible vibration coming from it and suddenly his curiosity was battled with fear as he slowly opened the envelope. Inside the envelope, he found a single photograph, a black-and-white picture of a man whose face was obscured standing in front of a dilapidated building, with the only detail standing out being a small, faded inscription beneath the image: "The Watchful One",
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Diego's mind raced, and was filled with so many unanswered questions like who was this man? What is the significance of this photo? And why was he being watched? The questions kept piling up with each one adding to the growing sense of unease that had settled over him. It was then, he knew he couldn't ignore it anymore but had to find out who was behind this, and what they wanted.
Still, his heart kept racing as he stared at the photograph in disbelief. Suddenly, he felt a strange connection to the man in the picture, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on why, as the eerie inscription, “The Watchful One" was still sending chills down his spine.
He glanced around the gas station lot, half-expecting the rusted blue sedan to reappear, with the man who had been watching him all these nights, and now he was being drawn into something much larger than he could have ever imagined.
Determined to know the truth, he took matters into his hands. He tucked the photo back into the envelope and went inside, with so many unanswered questions bugging his mind to which he sought answers. He grabbed his phone and began searching for clues about the building he has seen in the photo. After scrolling through images for few minutes, he found a match, an old abandoned factory on the outskirts of the town, that had been closed down for ages, with rumors of it being haunted and filled with secrets.
That very night, as the clock ticked closer to 2:17 AM, Diego’s anxiety grew, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he needed to confront the man in the sedan. He wants his questions answered and so had to know why he was being watched. As the minutes passed, he prepared himself mentally for what was about to happen. When the familiar rusted blue sedan pulled into the lot, Diego found himself in a land of fear and determination.
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The man sat there, just as he always did, staring at Diego, but this time, Diego took matters into his own hands as he took a deep breath and stepped outside. Walking towards the car, with his heart pounding in his chest. “Hey!” he shouted, trying to sound braver than he felt. “Why do you keep coming here? What do you want?” he asked.
The man didn’t respond but simply continued to stare, his expression unreadable, dragging Diego into a surge of frustration. “I don't want to harm you, I just want to know what’s going on” he cried.
The man reached into his pocket and brought out a small object and held it up for Diego to see. It was a key, an old, rusty key that looked like it belonged to a forgotten door, then the man gestured toward the factory in the distance, and Diego’s heart skipped for a beat. Is this key connected to the photograph? He asked himself.
Without thinking, Diego took a step back and nodded. “Okay, I’ll follow you". The man turned off the engine and stepped out of the car, revealing a tall figure with a weathered face. He looked like he had seen a lot in his life, and Diego felt a strange mix of fear and sympathy.
They drove in silence with tension thick in the air and as they approached the factory, Diego’s mind raced with more questions of what secrets lay behind those walls? What is the connection factor of all these to him? Suddenly, the rusted gates creaked open, and they parked in front of the crumbling entrance.
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The man led, and Diego followed as the walk inside. The air was heavy with dust and memories with shadows dancing along the walls as they explored the dimly lit corridors. Diego felt uneasy with chills running down his spine, but he pressed on driven by curiosity and willpower to find answers to his questions. Finally, reaching a large room filled with old machinery and broken windows, the man stopped and turned to Diego with serious eyes.
He said to Diego, with a low voice “I’ve been watching you for a reason, you’re connected to something bigger than you know, and this place holds the truth about your past".
With his heart racing and a shaky voice, Diego asked, “What do you mean by my past?”.
The man pointed to a dusty table by the corner. On it was a collection of old photographs and documents. Diego approached, his hands trembling as he picked up a faded picture of a family. As he stared, he recognized the faces being his family, but they looked different, they looked younger. “How do you have this?” he asked, bewildered.
The man sighed and his expression softened. “I knew your parents, they were involved in something dangerous. Something which put them in harm’s way, to which they thought they could escape it, but it followed them and I’ve been trying to protect you from it ever since".
Diego’s mind reeled. “Protect me from what?”
“From the people who are still looking for you, they believe you hold the key to their power", the man explained. “That’s why I’ve been watching you, because I needed to make sure you were safe".
As the pieces began falling into place, Diego realized the gravity of the situation he has found himself. He found himself living a life unaware of the dangers lurking in the shadows. At that moment he asked, “What do I do now?”, feeling overwhelmed.
The man replied, “You need to confront your past, and together, we can uncover the whole truth and put an end to this once and for all”.
With a renewed sense of purpose, Diego nodded as he couldn't afford to live in fear any longer. They spent the next few hours uncovering the secrets hidden within the factory, piecing together the story of his family’s past. As dawn broke, they found evidence of a hidden operation.
What evidence did they find? What was this operation all about? Who is after Diego? Well, I. will leave that to you for next chapter.
I want to take this opportunity to invite @ikwal, @bossj23 and @ninapenda.
Thank You for your Time
NOTE: Always have a smile on your face, as you are never fully dressed without one.
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Owk! you got me glued to this story already, I struggled to believe it's mere fiction because it seems so real to me. Weldone brotherly, more ink to your pen.
Greetings friend, well that's exactly what I was hoping for, it being an envelope. I'm so glad you're feeling so immersed in the story. It means the world to me to hear that it feels real. Thank you for the kind words, brother. I appreciate the support.