Chapter 41: The Invitation
1 week ago · 3 min read
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The envelope arrived without a stamp.
No address.
No return label.
It simply rested on Rasheed’s workbench when he entered the workshop.
His mother hadn’t seen anyone.
The doors had been locked.
The windows untouched.
Yet…
There it was.
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He picked it up carefully.
The paper was thick.
Expensive.
Across the front, written in elegant handwriting:
To the Guardian of the Pulse Core.
Rasheed’s heartbeat quickened.
Only a handful of people even knew the Pulse Core existed.
He slowly opened it.
Inside…
One card.
Black.
Simple.
On the front:
You’ve been asking the wrong questions.
He turned it over.
Tomorrow.
8:00 PM.
St. Gabriel Clock Tower.
Come alone.
No signature.
None was needed.
He already knew.
Mr. Vale.
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The next day dragged endlessly.
Teachers spoke.
Students laughed.
Assignments were collected.
Rasheed heard almost none of it.
His mind stayed fixed on the invitation.
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During lunch…
Omar sat across the cafeteria alone.
The hero of the city.
Surrounded by empty seats.
People admired him.
Very few spoke to him.
Rasheed noticed.
For all the applause…
Omar looked lonely.
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Across the room…
Adesewa’s pencil moved without permission again.
She tried to stop.
It continued anyway.
When it finally stopped…
She looked down.
The drawing showed a tall clock tower.
Two figures stood at the top.
One surrounded by red lightning.
The other…
A man holding a silver cane.
Across the page, in handwriting that wasn’t hers:
Don’t mistake a warning for a threat.
She tore the page free immediately.
Something inside her whispered…
Find Rasheed.
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Night fell.
Rain coated the old streets.
The clock tower stood abandoned, its hands frozen forever at 8:17.
Rasheed arrived exactly on time.
The rooftop was empty.
Or so it seemed.
“You came.”
The voice echoed from behind.
Mr. Vale stepped from the darkness, umbrella in hand.
Not a weapon drawn.
Not a guard in sight.
Just him.
“You wanted to see me.”
“I wanted to meet you.”
Vale looked at the city below.
“It’s beautiful.”
“It won’t stay that way.”
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Rasheed remained silent.
Vale smiled.
“You’ve probably decided I’m your enemy.”
“Aren’t you?”
“That depends.”
“On what?”
“Whether protecting the future requires destroying the present.”
The words hung between them.
Rasheed frowned.
“I don’t play riddles.”
“No.”
“You solve them.”
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Vale reached into his coat.
Rasheed tensed.
Instead of a weapon…
Vale produced an old photograph.
He tossed it gently across the rooftop.
Rasheed caught it.
His eyes widened.
It showed his father.
Alive.
Standing beside a shimmering doorway of crimson light.
Written on the back…
In David’s handwriting…
If this reaches Rasheed… don’t let them repeat my mistake.
Rasheed looked up instantly.
“Where did you get this?”
Vale didn’t answer.
Instead…
He asked his own question.
“Has the Librarian told you why your father entered the Chronal Zone…”
“…or has he only told you that he never came back?”
Silence.
Vale nodded slowly.
“I thought so.”
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For the first time since they met…
Rasheed felt uncertainty.
Not fear.
Doubt.
Had Elias hidden something?
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Vale turned toward the edge of the tower.
“The truth is dangerous.”
“So are lies.”
Then he stepped onto the ledge.
Without looking back, he said one final sentence.
“When you’re ready to hear why David really crossed the gate…”
“…come find me.”
He leaned backward.
And fell.
Rasheed sprinted.
Red lightning exploded across the rooftop.
He reached the ledge—
Nothing.
No body.
No impact.
Only the rain.
Mr. Vale had vanished.
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Miles away…
Inside the bookstore…
The bell rang.
The Librarian looked up.
No customer entered.
Instead…
An envelope slid beneath the front door.
He picked it up.
His expression changed immediately.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
Mr. Vale.
Inside…
Only one sentence.
He deserves the whole truth now.
The Librarian closed his eyes.
Outside…
Thunder rolled across the city.
He whispered to himself…
“I was hoping for a little more time.”
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