The Message At The Gate.
768 Words
Ada's POV
"They found us."
James' words echoed through the room like a death sentence.
For a heartbeat...
No one moved.
Then the mansion erupted into chaos.
"Lock every entrance!" James barked.
"Double the guards at the east and west wings!"
"Nobody goes outside without authorization!"
Boots thundered across the marble floors as security guards rushed in every direction. Some spoke rapidly into their earpieces while others hurried toward the front gate, their hands resting on the weapons strapped to their waists.
My heart pounded so hard it hurt.
I couldn't tear my eyes away from the window.
Outside, the black SUV remained parked a few meters beyond the estate gates, its engine humming softly.
The man stood beside it, tall and motionless.
His black cap shadowed most of his face, but there was something unsettling about the way he carried himself.
He wasn't nervous.
He wasn't in a hurry.
He looked...
Confident.
Almost as though he owned the road.
Mrs. Rose gently grabbed my wrist.
"Miss Ada."
I barely heard her.
The stranger slowly lowered the binoculars from his eyes.
Even from this distance...
I felt as if he were staring directly at me.
A chill crawled down my spine.
"Liam..." I whispered.
Where was he?
Why hadn't he come back inside?
James noticed I was still standing by the window.
"Step away from there."
I didn't move.
His voice became firmer.
"Ada."
Reluctantly, I took one step back.
Just one.
Outside, the heavy iron gates began sliding shut with a loud metallic groan.
Several guards took positions behind them.
Rifles raised.
Waiting.
The stranger glanced at the armed men.
Then...
To everyone's surprise...
He smiled.
Not a warm smile.
Not even a mocking one.
It was calm.
As though he already knew something we didn't.
My stomach twisted.
"What is he doing?" I whispered.
James folded his arms across his chest.
"Making sure we're paying attention."
The man slipped one hand inside his jacket.
Every guard outside immediately aimed their rifles.
One wrong move...
And they would fire.
I held my breath.
Instead of pulling out a weapon...
He removed a plain white envelope.
Without the slightest hesitation, he walked toward the closed gates.
One guard shouted.
"Stop right there!"
The man ignored him.
He crouched.
Carefully placed the envelope on the ground just outside the gate.
Then stood.
For one brief moment...
He looked toward the mansion again.
Toward my window.
Toward me.
My heartbeat quickened.
Did he know I was watching?
Slowly...
He lifted two fingers.
Not a wave.
Not a salute.
More like...
A promise.
Then he turned around, climbed back into the SUV and drove away without looking back.
The sound of the engine faded into the distance.
No one spoke.
The silence that followed felt heavier than the alarm itself.
A guard cautiously approached the gate.
He looked back at James.
"What now, sir?"
James didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he glanced toward the front entrance.
As if waiting for someone else to make the decision.
Seconds later...
The doors opened.
Liam walked inside.
His shirt sleeves were rolled up, and a faint streak of dirt marked one cuff, as though he'd been outside longer than anyone realized.
Despite everything...
He looked completely composed.
His grey eyes swept across the room, taking in every face.
"What happened?" he asked.
"The vehicle left," James replied.
"But they dropped this."
The guard carefully held up the envelope.
Liam's expression didn't change.
"Did anyone touch it?"
"No, sir."
"Good."
He walked over and took the envelope himself.
Turning it over once in his hands.
No address.
No name.
No seal.
Just plain white paper.
Almost ordinary.
Which somehow made it even more terrifying.
James frowned.
"It could be a trap."
"It probably is," Liam replied calmly.
"But that doesn't mean we ignore it."
He looked at one of the guards.
"Gloves."
Within seconds, a pair of black gloves was handed to him.
He slipped them on.
Every eye in the room followed his movements.
Even mine.
The mansion had become so quiet...
I could hear my own breathing.
Liam carefully opened the envelope.
He reached inside.
Then paused.
For the first time...
Something in his eyes shifted.
Not fear.
Not surprise.
Recognition.
James immediately noticed.
"What is it?"
Liam slowly pulled out a single photograph.
James stepped closer.
The color drained from his face.
"No..."
My stomach dropped.
"What is it?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Neither man answered.
Instead...
They stared silently at the photograph.
As though the image in Liam's hand had just changed everything.
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