Rags to Riches: The Story of a Self-Made Success

ne opened the door-onl

flickering lightbulb overhead cast long shadows across the worn carp

out, her voice echo

espo

. The only sound was the distant hum of traffic outside. She glanced down at the

r quickly, bolti

-

eaned against the d

knocking? And why did th

hed into its surface seemed to twist and shift under the dim light. Her t

r mind: "Every masterp

me, but nothing came up. No social media profi

ething wasn't right. Her instincts tol

ud thud came f

windowpane rattled, and she saw a shadow pass

shallow. Pulling back the curtain, she p

th

, her shoulders rel

e it was agai

n't outside. It w

ne.

round, her

he demanded, her

le

o glow again, casting strange, s

nt, but as soon as her fingers touched it, the wh

.. Elias

. The whisper wasn't coming from a pe

burning her, backing away u

s this

-

buzzing. She rubbed her eyes, disoriented, the event

shed with an u

, she answe

Stir

e other end was

who's

"We need to talk

straight. "W

t. What matters is t

pped a beat. "Wh

e says he is. He's dange

ne wen

the phone, he

And how do t

nterrupted by anoth

esitant or timid. It w

e f

cking c

pocket, and slowly approached the door. Peek

as E

ugh the door, calm yet comman

backed away from the do

cking s

the air, heavy

time, his voice was differ

understand. But you do, don't you? You feel it-

l, clutching the pendant in her pocke

" Elias continued. "Bu

ingered in the ai

tightened aro

he door

ubt and fear. Her instincts screamed at her to

er-something dark and

at if this is your cha

ered over th

know what they say about artists, don't you? The wo

eath h

hift and dance, the symbols from the pendant ap

cking s

le

s and reached for t

uld open it, the

ias... Beware

rn between fea

teps echoed down the h

s wasn't over. No

se of something on the floor-a note, folded neatly, wi

th trembling hands,

side was simpl

m destiny. I'll be

her heart pounding as

have I