The Gift box
1102 Words
Erika was busy checking through the files on her table, completely absorbed in her work. She didn’t notice when the security guard walked in until he was standing at her desk
“Mrs. Sinclair, someone left this for you,” the guard said, setting a small box on her desk.
Erika looked up from the spreadsheets, blurring her vision, confused. She couldn’t remember ordering any package.
I didn’t order anything. She said
The guard shrugged. “Just delivering it, ma’am.”
“Thank you,” she replied politely.
The guard nodded and walked away. Erika returned to her work, but something felt… off.
Her eyes kept drifting back to the box. Matte black. No return address. No label.
Her heartbeat slowly began to quicken. What could this be? She wondered.
A thought crossed her mind—maybe it's from Rohan
But she quickly dismissed it. He rarely surprised her. And when he did, he always called first.
Her fingers slowly moved toward the box. Her pulse quickened. “What if it’s something dangerous?” she whispered. “What if someone gets hurt because of me?”
”No… I can’t open this. I didn’t order anything,” She pulled her hands back immediately. For a moment, she considered taking it back to the security guard.
Maybe there had been a mistake, but then she noticed a small folded note tucked beside the box. Her hand hesitated before reaching for it.
She froze_Her eyes scanning the words. I hope you like my gift, Erika. No signature. No explanation. Just that.
Her breath caught.
Her name written clearly, but the handwriting was unknown. She couldn’t recognise it
Her heart began pounding violently in her chest. A cold wave of fear washed over her.
Slowly, trembling, she opened the inner box.
Inside was another note—and photograph. Sweat formed on her forehead, Her mother Elena, who’s been missing for two weeks
Her hands began to shake uncontrollably.
Erika glanced around the office. No one was watching her. Or at least, no one seemed to be.
Her eyes dropped back to the note. The words blurred as fear took over.
Warning.
Pay $1000,000, or she dies. You have 72 hours to bring the money.
Do not inform the police or anyone. Come alone to 7th Street.
If you dare tell anyone, she will be returned to you in tiny pieces.
Erika’s breath stopped.
Her hands went cold.
Erika panicked, wondering what to do next. she didn’t know whether to scream… or collapse.
For a moment, she thought of calling Rohan—At least he awlays’d a way out, but the warning flashed in her mind.
Do not inform anyone.
Frustration hit her hard, She had only 72 hours to raise $1000,000.
Where was she supposed to get that kind of money?
She had just started working at Blackwood Holdings two weeks ago. No savings. Nothing valuable she could sell.
Still desperate, she decided to make a few calls.
“She dialled a number”, her best friend, Laurent.
“Hey… would you lend me $1000,000? I’ll pay you back,” she said quickly.
There was a pause on the other end.
Laurent gasped
“Sorry, Erika. I don’t have that kind of money,” Laurent replied. “You know I haven’t done shows for months.”
Erika went silent. Her grip tightened around the phone.
She’d never felt this trapped before.
“Erika? Are you okay? Is everything alright?” Laurent asked, concern rising in her voice.
“I’m fine,” she said quickly.
Erika ended the call before Laurent could ask anything else.
Laurent always saw through her lies. That was the problem.
Erika ran a hand through her hair, her breathing uneven. Fortunately, it was already closing time at work.
She grabbed her bag and rushed out of the office.
A taxi came to a halt in front of a building, Erika stepped out and walked towards the entrance.
Her hands felt cold as she pressed the elevator button.
Each second felt heavier than the last.
Something was terribly wrong—and she could feel it in her bones. Erika paused in front of the door on the 6th floor
Then slowly opened it, and the apartment was quiet.
Too quiet.
Her eyes scanned the room as if searching for danger, She dropped her bag on the couch and walked upstairs.
As soon as she reached the bedroom door, she heard strange sounds, her pulse raced
The bedroom door was slightly open.
Erika froze.
Her throat went dry.
She pushed the door open—
And stopped.
Two bodies lay entangled in bed.
Naked.
Rohan and her cousin Lysandra. Neither of them moved. Neither of them spoke.
For a moment, the world seemed to stop.
Erika’s heart hammered against her ribs, slowly she backed away.
Without a word, she closed the door and walked downstairs.
She regretted coming.
She regretted seeing everything.
Her chest tightened painfully.
Suddenly—
Her phone buzzed.
She flinched.
Unknown caller.
Her finger trembled as she answered.
She pressed the phone to her ear.
“You’re running out of time,” a cold voice said. “Bring the money… or receive a corpse.”
Her blood ran cold.
“I will raise the money,” she whispered weakly.
“You have two days left.”
Click.
The line went dead.
Erika collapsed onto the couch. Her life felt like it was breaking apart in real time.
The image she had just seen upstairs replayed in her mind.
The threat. The box. The blood-written note.
A tear slipped down her cheek.
She wanted to scream.
But no sound came out.
Erika Sinclair felt completely helpless, Earlier she’d decided to seek for help and didn’t expect to be met by betrayal
Her feet dragged her towards the door and cracked it open as though she was being controlled.
Under the heavy rain Erika walked completely like a mad woman, bear footed, ignoring the horns of the cars .
Back to the Apartment
Rohan’s jaw tightened, his eyes cold. You shouldn’t have stopped me
“She saw it all, it’s best if you tell her the truth.” Lysandra said.
“I told you I needed time.”
“You had enough time, Rohan.” Lysandra snapped. “Unless you’re in love with her.”
Rohan’s eyes darkened. “How could that be possible. I can’t stand a Woman’s infidelity. “
“Hope you keep your word, Rohan.”
He placed a soft kiss onto her forehead. A smile flashed on her face.
“ Just wait and see Erika.” Lysandra mattered
- Writer
