Chapter 6 — Father's Letter
544 Words
The envelope was old.
The edges had yellowed. The ink slightly faded. But the handwriting was clear.
Her father's handwriting.
She read it again.
"Aria,
If you're reading this — it means I'm no longer here.
There was so much I wanted to tell you. I never found the time.
From when you were small you always asked what I did for work. I always said government office.
That was a lie.
I worked for a group that controlled many things in this city. Money. Power. People.
For a long time I thought the work was right. Then I understood — I was wrong.
I wanted to get out. But no one leaves this group easily.
So I kept evidence. Evidence of everything. Who was involved. What happened. Where the money went.
That evidence is with you Aria.
You don't know it. But it's there.
The watch I gave you when you were little — open it.
You'll find everything inside.
Take care of yourself.
— Dad"
Aria put the letter down.
Her hands were trembling.
She got up and walked to the dresser. On the top shelf — an old wooden box.
She opened it.
Inside — the watch.
Her father had given it to her when she was ten. He'd said — "Always keep this."
She'd never opened it. Just kept it.
She picked it up.
Pressed the back of it slightly.
Click.
It opened.
Inside — a tiny memory card.
Just then a knock at the door.
"Aria. It's me."
Ethan's voice.
She opened the door.
Ethan stepped inside. Took one look at Aria's face. Then at the watch in her hand.
"You found it?"
"Yes." Aria's voice was steady. But her eyes were wet. "Dad knew. He knew everything."
Ethan said nothing.
Aria held the memory card out toward him.
"Do you know what's on this?"
Ethan took the card.
Paused for a moment.
"Everything happened because of this." His voice was quiet. "Because of this your father—"
He stopped.
Aria looked at him.
"Say it."
"Because of this — your father is gone."
Silence fell over the room.
Outside the wind was blowing.
Aria stood still.
One thought in her head —
Dad's death wasn't an accident.
Ethan put the card in his pocket.
"This needs to go somewhere safe."
"Where?"
"With me."
Aria looked at him.
"And me?"
Ethan turned toward her. Held her gaze directly.
"You can't stay here tonight."
"Why?"
"Because Max knows you've found something." He paused. "And whoever is giving him orders — they know by now too."
Aria looked around the room once.
The old box. Photos. Letters.
Her father's memories.
Then she picked up her bag.
"Let's go."
Walking down the stairs Aria said —
"Ethan."
"Yeah."
"Who killed my father?"
Ethan paused.
The stairwell light flickered.
"To know that — you need to know something else first."
"What?"
He started walking down again.
"Max and I — we used to be on the same side."
Aria stopped.
Ethan turned and looked back at her.
"Come on. I'll explain later."
He pushed open the door and walked out.
Aria stood still for one second.
Then followed.
Outside the night was waiting.
And the truth —
Had only just begun. 🖤
- Writer
