Lina found it on her doorstep just after sunset—a black envelope, smooth and thick, sealed with red wax. There was no name, no stamp, no return address. Only one word written in silver ink across the front:
"Player."
She looked around. The street was empty. The evening breeze stirred fallen leaves, but no one was there. Just silence and that strange envelope.
Curious but cautious, Lina opened it. Inside was a card made of dark velvet paper, and a single photo—of her younger brother, Amir, smiling, clearly taken without her knowing.
Her hands trembled.
> "You have been selected.
Join us at the Hall of Mirrors, 11:00 PM.
Refusal means loss.
Bring nothing but your courage."
Lina's breath caught.
Who would do this? And how did they get a photo of Amir?
She wanted to burn the letter. Forget it. Call someone.
But the card had one final message, scribbled in messy handwriting beneath the printed lines:
"We're watching. Every second counts."
As she stared at the photo again, the ink beneath it shimmered with one last chilling message:
"A wonderful delight awaits… for those who play well."