Patrick stumbled through the unfamiliar streets, disoriented and desperate. He couldn’t remember where he’d been or how he’d gotten here. One moment, he’d been asking questions downtown about the strange bag, and the next, he was lost in a part of the city he’d never seen before, surrounded by dim, empty buildings and the heavy silence of the night.
“Pete? Andy? Joe?” he called out, his voice thin and uncertain. But his calls faded into the cold air, unanswered. The city seemed deserted, as if it were holding its breath, watching him. He tried to retrace his steps, but everything looked the same in the dark—a labyrinth of shadowy alleys and abandoned storefronts.
With no other options, Patrick continued forward, trying to shake off the eerie feeling that clung to him. His phone was dead, and he had no way to contact the others. He couldn’t shake the sense that he’d lost more than just a few hours—that he’d been gone far longer than he realized.
As he rounded a corner, he spotted a faint light at the end of an alley, where a small café stood, its door open just a crack. Though it seemed out of place in this quiet, empty part of town, the warmth of the light felt inviting. With no other options, he approached the door and peeked inside.
Seated at a small table were a couple dressed in strange, vintage clothing. The man wore a crisp black suit, his hair slicked back, and a faint, enigmatic smile played on his lips. The woman, dressed in an elegant, old-fashioned gown, had sharp, curious eyes that seemed to see right through him.
“Ah, there he is,” the man said as Patrick stepped hesitantly into the café. “We were beginning to wonder if you’d make it.”
Patrick blinked, unsure if he’d heard correctly. “Do… do I know you?”
The woman smiled, tilting her head. “Not yet, but we’ve been waiting for you, Patrick.”
Something about the way she said his name made Patrick shiver. He felt like he should turn and leave, but his curiosity—and the need for answers—kept him rooted in place.
“Waiting for me? Why?” he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
The man gestured to the empty chair across from them. “Why don’t you sit down, and we’ll explain everything? You’ve had a long night, and you look like you could use a bit of rest.”
Reluctantly, Patrick took a seat, watching the strange couple closely. There was something both comforting and unsettling about them, as if they existed on the edge of reality, a strange dream he couldn’t wake up from.
“We know you’ve been looking for something,” the woman began, her voice smooth and melodic. “That bag in your studio—it’s no ordinary bag.”
The man nodded. “It holds secrets, Patrick. Secrets that go beyond anything you and your friends could imagine. The question is, are you ready to discover what’s inside?”
Patrick felt his pulse quicken. “I don’t understand. What does this have to do with me? And where are my friends?”
“They’re closer than you think,” the man replied cryptically. “But finding them—and finding your way back—will require something from you. A choice.”
Patrick swallowed, glancing at the door, wondering if he should just run. But the woman’s eyes held him in place, calm and unwavering.
“Don’t be afraid,” she said, her voice almost soothing. “Sometimes, to find the truth, we have to let go of everything else.”
A heavy silence fell between them as Patrick realized he was at a crossroads. Whatever this couple was offering, he sensed it would change everything—and he had no idea what it would cost him.
YOU ARE READING
Fallout Boy: Heartbreaking Falls Out
TerrorFallout boy were in the middle of recording their new studio album, From Under The Cork Tree, when they were about to open up their studio and clean it, they find a strange bag. None of them knew who owns it, or what was in it, or how it got in the...
