Tales Of The Squeaker ~ Fifty thriller stories in one book

Tale Four: The Riddle

A youngster named Elvis lived in the heart of the ancient city, where shadows clung to cobblestone streets and secrets were whispered down small alleys. An orphan, he travelled the city's convoluted corridors, subsisting on stolen bread and the occasional compassion of strangers.

Elvis had an extraordinary ability: he could solve riddles. Not just any puzzles, but ones with life-or-death repercussions. The city's elite, searching for solutions, sought him out during their darkest moments. They murmured their secrets into his ear, their eyes wide with terror.

One moonless night, a cloaked person approached Elvis. The man's face remained veiled, but his voice was desperate. "Elvis," he replied, "I have a riddle for you-one that could change the course of our world."

Elvis leaned against the chilly stone wall, curious. "Speak."

The shrouded man's comments created a web of intrigue.

"In the city's heart, there is an unseen door guarded by a silent sentinel." It is only open to those who know its hidden name. The name is a puzzle, Elwis. It is this:

"In the city's heart, there is an unseen door guarded by a silent sentinel." It is only open to those who know its hidden name. Elvis's name is a riddle that translates to "I am born in whispers, live in shadows, and die in echoes." "What am I?"

Elvis considered the riddle, his thoughts whirling. The answer slipped through his mind like vapour. He explored the city, looking for clues and piecing together shards of lost legends. The whispers led him to the abandoned library, where dust-covered books contained strange poems.

"Whispers weave the tapestry of fate," stated one old tablet. "Shadows birth secrets and echoes carry them to eternity."

Elvis's eyes grew empty as the weeks went by. The city waited for the orphaned child to solve the puzzle. Rumours spread quickly: the door contained immense power-a portal to places beyond.

Elvis's sleep-deprived mind raced. He interrogated beggars, professors, and madmen alike. But the explanation remained elusive. Desperation clawed at him, begging him to open the door before darkness overtook the city.

Finally, on the eve of the red moon, Elvis stood before the secret entrance. Its wood was ancient and engraved with symbols that moved like fireflies. He recited the riddle aloud, each syllable reverberating throughout the deserted streets.

"I was born in whispers, lived in shadows, and died in echoes." "What am I?"

The door trembled, and the hinges groaned. Elvis hesitated before whispering the answer: "A secret."

The door flung wide to reveal a bright light. Elvis walked through, leaving the city behind. The shrouded figure awaited him, his face still hidden.

"You've solved the riddle," the man replied. "But there's one more."

Elvis's heart raced. "Tell me!"

The man leaned in, his breath cool. "What is the cost of knowing secrets that shape destinies?"

Elvis paused. The weight of every mystery he'd solved, every life he'd changed, held the answer for him. The city's fate was in the balance.

As daylight neared, Elvis made his decision. He murmured the final riddle, "The cost is loneliness."

And with that, the cloaked figure vanished, leaving Elvis on the verge of a new world where secrets swirled like shadows and echoed murmured lost truths.

Did Elvis make a wise choice, or did he unleash powers beyond his comprehension? The city held its breath, expecting echoes to divulge their secrets.

~The End ~

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