Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 2020complete | Page 384

Clearly, no one had been here for at least a decade. A line of footprints revealed themselves on the floor. She was
too late. He was already here. That’s why the door was unlocked. Forcing her legs to move, she quietly moved.
There it was again, that knife glinting. Sophie had to act. She stepped up into the murderer’s view and by a flick
of her elbow knocked over a Chinese flower vase sitting on a box. Now she’s done it. The criminal’s eyes turned
towards the sound. “Pleasure to meet you, again. And I see you’ve helped me immensely.” Before Sophie could
snap out of her trance, he made a grab for the paper that tumbled out of the vase. Her eyes could just about
catch 3 letters – TAM and that was enough. With a leap, the killer was out through the window.
TAM Sophie thought, what could that possibly be. But before she got the chance to finish the thought, her
mother’s silhouette loomed over her.
“Sophie, what are you doing here in the middle of the night?”
“Nothing.”
“You know that you aren’t supposed to be here.
“But...”
“NO buts. You’re grounded. Now, go to your room.”
Sophie was getting restless when night finally fell. She would uncover the truth tonight; she couldn’t wait any
longer. But she had no idea how she would do it. Once again, she sneaked out of bed and slowly descended the
staircase. She steadied herself and stepped out to uncover the truth.
Tonight isn’t like every other night, the wind stopped whooshing. The night was as still as ever. Sophie wanted
to prove herself desperately and now she is doing it. She strode through town feeling confidence bubbling inside
her with every step.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a sign that read The Alexander’s Mansion. Wait, TAM. Found it. The
door was unlocked again. Sophie slipped inside knowing that this is where everything would end and the truth
uncovered at long last.
I was the cloak of darkness that surrounded her. Another life gone. I have killed her father, to her I am already
death. He stole my everything. My home, my family and my fortune. She’s mine. If I can’t have her, no one can.
He stole my family heirloom. The letters that led him to the treasure I was going to hunt.
I had to end him. Nobody will find the truth. It is buried where the treasure lay. I glide into the night.