Do Not Fall Asleep

hough she was trapped in a fog, her mind sluggish and heavy with the weight of unspoke

a!', she murmured to herself, wonderi

n into a privileged family and having the grace

gas industry; an industry that commanded the envy of everyone in the

ay checks were really mouthwatering, Walter had never really made his money from salaries. He had been

d been famous for dragging PTD, a drilling company for a 'supposed' accident t

shots and really enjoye

has long since grown accustomed to the monotony of their daily routine. She poured herself a cup of lukewarm coff

issing from her life. She had followed all the rules, checked off all the boxes, yet, sh

ide her. With a sigh, she picked it up, expecting to see yet another notification from her so

creen displayed a single message, simp

ind racing with questions. Who could have

ntify it. She tried to check and stopped when

w at the bustling city below. For the first time in what felt like an eter

she would not fall asleep. Not this time. And with that newfound resolve burning bright within her ch

he city streets below. The morning rush was in full swing, with throngs of people hurrying past, lost in their own wo

eryone was al

set out to unravel the mystery of the cryptic message that had landed in her inbox like a bolt

that she was being watched. Paranoia prickled at the back of her neck, sen

endless sea of anonymous faces, eac

ad a destination in mind, a place where she hoped to find the answers she so desperately sough

the city. This neighborhood was occupied by post office workers before the civil war. The buildi

t loomed overhead. But despite its unassuming exterior, Sarah couldn'

tifacts, the air thick with the weight of centuries past. The shop was dimly li

out from beneath a worn tweed cap. His eyes twinkled with a knowing

" he asked, his voice

, summoning her courage, she stepped forward and laid her phone

her voice trembling slightly with nerv

n. Then, with a nod of recognition, he reached beneath the counter and produced

ding the box to Sara

ing the patterns etched into its surface. There was something undeniably powerful about this art

sked, her voice bar

gmatically, his eyes t

ryptically. "A key that wil

away, leaving Sarah alone with the artifact in her

would change everything. And with the artifact in her possession, she was one step closer to

nt of her like a silent sentinel. She had spent the past few hours poring over the a

e patterns carved into the box's surface, her fingers lingering o

t a hidden latch concealed amidst the carvings. With a soft click, the b

a small, intricately crafted

ning it over in her hands with a mixture of awe and trepidation. There was something undeniably powerf

s the truth that lay hidden behind

find out. She knew that she was on the brink of a discovery that would change e

the city once more, the weight of the artifact pressing against

e key in the wooden box. It was a nondescript office building nestled amidst the towering s

ed marble and antiseptic cleaner. But despite the pristine surroundings, there was an undercurrent of tension that l

r voice steady despite the nerves that churn

ol indifference, her expression unreada

ingers poised over the k

er heart pounding in he

receptionist checked her system

said, gesturing towards the bank of e

evator and pressed the button for the top floor, her s

ined to find out. And with the key in her pocket and the artifact in her hand, Sarah was one step cl