Episode 53&54
1171 Words
Episode 53
The First Threat
The days following Richard Coleman's revelation were unlike anything Didi had experienced before.
For years, her enemies had hidden in the shadows.
Now she knew their leader.
Victor Blackwood.
The name alone seemed to carry weight.
Power.
Influence.
Danger.
And the more information Adrian gathered about him, the more worried he became.
---
One evening, Didi sat inside the university library reviewing lecture notes.
Examinations were approaching.
The scholarship she had won came with expectations.
High expectations.
She could not afford to fail.
Not after everything she had sacrificed to get there.
Not after all the people who believed in her.
---
Her phone vibrated.
A message.
Unknown number.
Immediately, her heart skipped.
Unknown numbers never brought good news.
Slowly, she opened it.
The message contained only one sentence.
"Stop digging into Victor Blackwood, or you will regret it."
Didi stared at the screen.
Her blood ran cold.
---
Several seconds later, another message arrived.
This one included a photograph.
A photograph of her apartment building.
Taken recently.
Very recently.
Someone was watching her.
Someone knew where she lived.
---
For the first time in months, genuine fear returned.
Not fear for herself.
Fear for her mother.
---
She immediately called Adrian.
The moment he answered, she knew from his voice that he was worried.
"Didi?"
"I got another threat."
Silence.
"What did it say?"
She explained everything.
The message.
The photograph.
Every detail.
By the time she finished, Adrian's voice had become serious.
Very serious.
"Stay where you are."
"What?"
"I'm coming."
---
Less than twenty minutes later, Adrian arrived at the university.
The moment he saw the messages, his expression darkened.
"They know we're investigating."
Didi nodded.
"It seems that way."
The realization unsettled both of them.
Because Victor Blackwood wasn't responding emotionally.
He was responding strategically.
Like a man protecting something valuable.
---
That same evening, Adrian shared the information with his father.
The hospital director listened carefully.
When Adrian finished, the older man's face became grim.
"Victor Blackwood is dangerous."
The statement immediately caught Adrian's attention.
"You know him?"
His father hesitated.
Then nodded.
"Years ago."
Silence.
"I met him several times."
Adrian leaned forward.
"What was he like?"
The older man sighed heavily.
"A man who never loses."
---
The answer was not comforting.
Not at all.
---
Episode 54
A Dangerous Discovery
The following week brought a shocking development.
Richard Coleman contacted Didi unexpectedly.
His voice sounded urgent.
"We need to meet."
The seriousness in his tone immediately alarmed her.
"What happened?"
"Not on the phone."
---
Several hours later, Didi and Adrian arrived at Richard's home.
The elderly man looked troubled.
Far more troubled than usual.
Without speaking, he handed them a file.
Inside were documents.
Old documents.
Very old documents.
---
As Didi reviewed the papers, confusion crossed her face.
"What am I looking at?"
Richard took a deep breath.
Then answered.
"Property records."
Silence.
"And?"
Richard pointed toward a name.
A familiar name.
Victor Blackwood.
---
The records revealed something shocking.
Years ago, Victor had secretly acquired several companies connected to the original corruption scandal.
Companies that should have collapsed.
Companies that somehow survived.
Companies linked to the false accusations against Didi's father.
---
The pieces were finally beginning to connect.
Victor wasn't simply involved.
He benefited.
Directly.
Massively.
---
Adrian slowly reviewed the documents.
The evidence was convincing.
Too convincing.
For years, everyone believed the scandal was about money.
But now another possibility emerged.
What if it was also about control?
What if innocent people had been removed simply because they stood in Victor's way?
---
The implications were terrifying.
Because if that theory was correct, Didi's father wasn't a random victim.
He was a target.
---
That night, Didi could barely sleep.
The thought haunted her.
Why her father?
Why their family?
Why had Victor chosen him?
The questions repeated endlessly.
---
Meanwhile, several kilometers away, Victor Blackwood sat inside his private office.
Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city.
The office reflected everything about him.
Power.
Wealth.
Control.
---
A man entered the room nervously.
Victor didn't look up immediately.
Instead, he continued reading a report.
Only after several moments did he speak.
"Well?"
The assistant swallowed.
"Didi is still investigating."
Victor sighed.
A disappointed sigh.
Not angry.
Disappointed.
As though discussing a minor inconvenience.
---
"I warned her."
The assistant nodded.
"Yes, sir."
Victor finally looked up.
His eyes were calm.
Dangerously calm.
"Then perhaps she needs a stronger warning."
The room became silent.
Because everyone understood what that meant.
---
The next morning, Didi left home early for class.
The weather was pleasant.
The streets were busy.
Everything seemed normal.
Too normal.
---
As she approached a pedestrian crossing, a black car suddenly accelerated toward her.
Fast.
Very fast.
The engine roared.
People screamed.
Someone shouted.
Didi turned.
Her eyes widened.
The vehicle was heading directly toward her.
---
For one terrifying second, she froze.
Fear locked her body in place.
Then strong hands grabbed her.
Pulling her backward.
Hard.
Very hard.
Both she and the stranger crashed onto the sidewalk.
The black car sped past.
Without stopping.
Without slowing.
Without hesitation.
---
The crowd erupted.
People rushed forward.
Others shouted.
Several witnesses immediately understood what had happened.
That wasn't an accident.
It couldn't have been.
---
Breathing heavily, Didi looked toward the man who had saved her.
Then froze.
Because she recognized him.
Immediately.
---
"Michael?"
The man nodded.
His expression looked serious.
Extremely serious.
"I've been trying to find you."
Didi stared at him in disbelief.
He looked exhausted.
Thinner.
Older.
But definitely alive.
---
"What are you doing here?"
Michael glanced around nervously.
Then lowered his voice.
"We don't have much time."
Fear returned instantly.
"What happened?"
Michael swallowed.
Then delivered the worst news possible.
"Victor knows everything."
Silence.
The world seemed to stop.
---
"What?"
Michael's face turned pale.
"The investigation."
Another silence.
"The documents."
And another.
"The people helping you."
Didi felt her heartbeat quicken.
Then Michael spoke the words she feared most.
"He's preparing something."
---
Several seconds passed.
Then Didi asked the obvious question.
"What?"
Michael looked directly into her eyes.
His answer chilled her to the bone.
"I don't know."
Silence.
"But whatever it is..."
He paused.
Fear clearly visible on his face.
"...it's going to destroy lives."
---
Across the city, inside his luxurious office, Victor Blackwood stood by the window.
The morning sun illuminated the skyline.
Below him, thousands of people lived their ordinary lives.
Unaware.
Completely unaware.
---
Victor slowly smiled.
The kind of smile that made people uncomfortable.
The kind of smile that never reached the eyes.
Then he picked up his phone.
And made a call.
"It's time."
The voice on the other side replied immediately.
"Are you sure?"
Victor's smile widened.
"Absolutely."
He ended the call.
Still smiling.
Because the next phase of his plan had officially begun.
And neither Didi nor Adrian had any idea how dangerous it would be.
End of Episodes 53 & 54.
To Be Continued...
- Writer
