Episode 4: Find Leon
1138 Words
Ariana read the message again.
FIND LEON.
She stared at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
HE HAS BEEN WAITING FOR YOU.
“Waiting for me?” she whispered.
Her apartment was suddenly too quiet.
Ariana looked toward the bedroom. The black box and silver key were still hidden beneath her bed.
Who was Leon?
Why had her mother been terrified when the unknown man called?
And why did someone want her to find a man she had never heard of?
Her phone vibrated again.
Tomorrow. 10:00 a.m.
Riverside Café.
Go alone.
Ariana immediately typed back.
Who is Leon?
The message was seen.
No reply came.
She tried again.
How does he know my father?
Nothing.
Ariana waited for several minutes.
Then she switched off her phone.
She couldn't take it anymore.
Tomorrow, she would go to the old house.
And apparently, she would meet a stranger named Leon.
Ariana didn't sleep that night.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw her father's handwriting.
Do not trust anyone in our family.
Then she remembered her mother's face.
Someone who was supposed to die with your father.
At 8:17 a.m., Ariana finally gave up trying to sleep.
She took the silver key from the black box and placed it inside her bag.
Then she changed into a dark jacket and left the apartment.
The Riverside Café was only fifteen minutes away.
When she arrived, the place was almost empty.
Ariana looked around.
No one seemed suspicious.
An elderly couple sat near the window.
A woman worked on her laptop.
Two men stood near the counter.
And in the corner—
A man sat alone.
He was wearing a black shirt and had his back turned toward her.
Ariana suddenly remembered the message.
Find Leon.
As if sensing her presence, the man turned.
Their eyes met.
Ariana froze.
He looked around twenty-five.
Dark hair.
Sharp features.
Calm eyes.
He didn't look surprised to see her.
That was what frightened her.
Ariana slowly walked toward his table.
“Leon?”
The man looked at her.
“Yes.”
Her heart began racing.
“How do you know me?”
He leaned back in his chair.
“I've been waiting for you.”
Ariana's stomach tightened.
“Who are you?”
“Leon.”
“I know your name.”
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“That makes one of us.”
Ariana frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Leon looked around the café.
“Sit.”
“No.”
“Ariana.”
Her body went still.
He knew her name.
“Sit,” he repeated quietly.
Ariana sat down.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then Ariana placed both hands on the table.
“Did you send the letters?”
“No.”
“The messages?”
“No.”
“Then why am I here?”
Leon looked at her bag.
Ariana immediately understood.
“The key.”
“You have it?”
She pulled the key out and placed it on the table.
Leon stared at it.
For the first time, his calm expression changed.
Fear crossed his face.
Ariana noticed.
“You know what it opens.”
Leon looked up.
“Yes.”
“Then tell me.”
“No.”
Ariana stood up.
“I knew this was a waste of time.”
“Wait.”
She stopped.
Leon reached inside his jacket and removed something.
A photograph.
He placed it on the table.
Ariana slowly looked down.
Her heart stopped.
It was an old photograph of her father.
But he wasn't alone.
A much younger Leon stood beside him.
Ariana looked at Leon.
“How is this possible?”
“He knew me.”
“My father?”
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“Long enough.”
Ariana grabbed the photograph.
“Why didn't I know about you?”
“Because your father didn't want you to.”
Ariana's anger rose.
“Then why should I trust you?”
“You shouldn't.”
The answer surprised her.
Leon leaned closer.
“But you also shouldn't trust the person sending you messages.”
Ariana stared at him.
“What?”
“They're using you.”
“No. They're helping me.”
“Are they?”
“They told me my father was murdered.”
Leon became silent.
Ariana noticed.
“You know something.”
“No.”
“You do.”
Leon looked away.
“My father died in a car accident,” Ariana said.
“No.”
The word came quietly.
But it changed everything.
Ariana felt cold.
Leon looked directly into her eyes.
“Your father was murdered.”
The café seemed to disappear around her.
For three years, Ariana had accepted the lie.
Now, someone was finally confirming her worst fear.
“Who killed him?” she whispered.
Leon didn't answer.
“Who?”
Before he could speak, a loud crash came from outside.
Ariana turned toward the window.
A motorcycle had stopped across the road.
The rider was wearing a black helmet.
And was staring directly at them.
Leon immediately stood up.
Ariana noticed the change in his face.
“What is it?”
“Get down.”
“What?”
“NOW!”
Leon grabbed her hand.
Ariana was pulled beneath the table just as—
BANG!
The café window shattered.
People screamed.
Ariana covered her head.
Leon held her down.
Another sound came from outside.
Then silence.
Ariana slowly looked up.
The motorcycle was gone.
Her heart was pounding.
“What just happened?”
Leon looked toward the broken window.
“They found you.”
“Who found me?”
He looked at her.
“The people who killed your father.”
Ariana felt her blood turn cold.
She pulled her hand away.
“Why were they looking at me?”
Leon remained silent.
“Why?”
He finally answered.
“Because you received the first letter.”
Ariana stared at him.
Then she remembered the unknown messages.
Someone is watching you.
Her phone vibrated.
Ariana looked at the screen.
A new message.
DON'T TRUST LEON.
She slowly raised her eyes toward him.
Leon was already looking at her.
Then her phone vibrated again.
HE LIED ABOUT HOW HE KNOWS YOUR FATHER.
Ariana stood up.
Leon reached for her arm.
“Ariana, don't—”
She pulled away.
“You knew?”
“I can explain.”
“Then explain!”
Before Leon could answer, a final message appeared.
ASK HIM WHAT HAPPENED THE NIGHT YOUR FATHER DIED.
Ariana looked at Leon.
Her voice shook.
“Where were you the night my father died?”
Leon went completely silent.
Ariana felt her heart sink.
“Leon?”
His face had turned pale.
And suddenly, she knew.
He had been there.
To be continued...
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