The Cold Night

Rain fell heavily on Edward’s small room as a dull morning light slipped through the cracked window, resting on his tired face. He groaned, turning away from the brightness. “Damn morning…” he muttered. His life felt heavier than the rain outside. Slowly, he sat up, exhausted by more than just sleep. Bills. Survival. Loneliness. Suddenly— BANG! BANG! BANG! The door shook violently. Edward froze. “Who the hell is that?” he snapped. The knocking continued without mercy. Angry now, he stormed out and opened the door. His landlord stood there, face twisted in rage. “Six months, Edward!” he barked. “Six months of rent!” Edward tried to stay calm. “Good morning sir… I’ll sort it out—” “Enough!” the man interrupted. “You have until noon. Pay or leave!” Without waiting for response, he walked away. Silence returned. Edward stood still. No money. No family. No direction. He slowly shut the door and sat down, staring at nothing. For a moment, he thought about his parents. The accident. The emptiness after. Then— A soft knock came again. But this time, it wasn’t the landlord. It was someone else. Ken had arrived. 📖 THE COLD NIGHT – Episode 2 (≈200 words) Edward opened the door to find Ken standing there, shaking off the rain from his jacket. His eyes quickly scanned the small, messy room. “Guy… what is this?” Ken said. “Your life don turn upside down like this?” Edward gave a tired smile. “Na decoration.” Ken didn’t laugh. Instead, he stepped inside and sighed. “You’ve been like this for too long.” Edward looked away. “I’m managing.” “Managing what exactly?” Ken replied sharply. “Hunger?” A silence settled between them. Edward finally exhaled. “Let’s just go. I don’t want to be late for class.” At the university, life felt different. Students laughed, walked in groups, and acted like tomorrow was guaranteed. But for Edward, every day was survival wrapped in disguise. Yet whenever he stepped in, people noticed him. He was tall, confident, naturally attractive. Girls smiled as he passed. Some whispered his name. Others tried to get his attention. Ken shook his head. “This your life na madness. You’re broke, but still celebrity.” Edward smirked. “At least I have balance.” Ken laughed. “Balance of poverty and popularity.” Edward didn’t reply, but his eyes moved across the crowd—unbothered, yet observant. Somewhere in the distance, a phone rang. And unknowingly, that moment was the beginning of everything that was about to change Edward’s life forever. CHAPTER THREE Edward walked out of campus later that evening with Ken beside him, the sky already dimming into a soft grey. Students still lingered around, laughing and taking photos, as if life had no pressure waiting for them. Edward stopped suddenly. His heart sank. At the front of his building—his belongings were scattered again. Clothes. Books. Everything. Thrown outside like trash. Ken frowned. “Not again…” Edward didn’t speak. He just stood there, staring at everything he had worked for being destroyed in silence. From inside, his landlord stepped out, arms folded. “I warned you,” the man said coldly. “You don’t respect time. Now leave.” Edward clenched his jaw. No shouting. No begging. Just silence. Ken stepped forward. “Sir, give him more time—” “Shut up,” the landlord snapped. Ken paused. Edward slowly bent down, picked up a wet book, then stopped. Something inside him shifted. Not anger. Not fear. Just realization. He couldn’t stay like this anymore. That night, Edward sat alone, phone in hand, scrolling through contacts. One name appeared. He hesitated. Then called. It rang once. Twice. Then a calm female voice answered: “I was wondering when you’d finally remember me.” Edward’s expression changed. “…Amira.” 📖 THE COLD NIGHT – Episode 4 (≈200 words) Edward stood still as the voice on the phone lingered in his ear. “I was wondering when you’d finally remember me.” It was calm. Controlled. Almost amused. “…Amira,” Edward said quietly. A pause. Then she replied, “You don’t sound happy to hear from me.” Edward looked down at the wet ground. “I don’t have time for games.” Her soft laugh came through the line. “You never did.” Silence followed. Edward exhaled. He hated how easily she made him feel like she knew him. “I need somewhere to stay,” he said finally. There was another pause—longer this time. Then Amira spoke again. “Come.” A black car arrived twenty minutes later. Silent. Clean. Expensive. Ken stared as it stopped. “This your ‘problem’?” Edward didn’t answer. The door opened. Amira stepped out. She looked different from anyone Edward had ever known—elegant, calm, dangerously composed. Her eyes locked onto him instantly. “You look worse than I imagined,” she said. Edward forced a faint smile. “Good to see you too.” Ken whispered, “Guy… who be this one?” Edward ignored him. Amira tilted her head slightly. “Are you coming or not?” Edward hesitated. Behind him—his broken life. In front of him—something unknown. Then slowly, he stepped forward. And got into the car. Amira smiled faintly. Like she had been waiting for this all along. 📖 THE COLD NIGHT – Episode 5 (≈200 words) The car moved smoothly through the city, cutting through traffic like it owned the road. Edward sat beside Amira in silence. Everything about her presence felt controlled—her posture, her breathing, even the way she looked straight ahead without distraction. “You avoided me,” she said suddenly. Edward didn’t look at her. “I had no reason to stay in touch.” A faint smile formed on her lips. “But you still called me.” Silence returned. Edward shifted slightly. “I had no choice.” Amira turned her head now, finally looking at him. “That’s not true,” she said softly. “You always have a choice. You just wait until it’s too late to admit it.” Edward frowned. “What do you want from me, Amira?” She paused. For a moment, the car felt quieter than the outside world. Then she replied, “Nothing you don’t already give away willingly.” Edward’s eyes narrowed slightly. “You talk like you know me.” Amira looked forward again. “I do.” That answer unsettled him more than he expected. Minutes passed before the car slowed down. A massive gate opened ahead. Edward leaned forward slightly. “What is this place?” Amira didn’t answer immediately. Then softly she said, “Home.” The gate closed behind them. And Edward realized—he had just entered a life he did not understand. 📖 THE COLD NIGHT – Episode 6 (≈200 words) The gates closed behind the car with a heavy metallic sound that echoed through the quiet air. Edward stepped out slowly. Before him stood a house that didn’t feel like a home. It was large, structured like something from an older era—tall pillars, wide walls, and dark windows that reflected nothing clearly. “It’s… big,” Edward muttered. Amira walked beside him without looking back. “It’s quiet. That’s what matters.” They entered. Inside, everything was too perfect—too clean, too arranged, almost lifeless. The silence wasn’t peaceful. It was heavy. Edward glanced around. “Nobody lives here?” Amira’s lips curved slightly. “I do.” He followed her upstairs, each step echoing softly. “You’ll stay in the guest room,” she said calmly. “For now.” Edward stopped. “For now?” She turned slightly. “Unless you plan to leave.” Edward didn’t answer. That night, in the room assigned to him, Edward sat on the edge of the bed. The air felt different—still, almost watching. He pulled out his phone, but there was no signal. He frowned. From the hallway, faint footsteps passed. Slow. Deliberate. Edward stood up immediately and opened the door slightly. Nothing. Only darkness. But deep inside, he felt it again—that same unsettling feeling from before. Like something in this house was aware of him. And waiting.