A Life Is Loading

The sun was beginning to set as Clay, Emily, and Lily carefully helped Ben out of the hospital doors. He was still weak, his small hands clutching onto Clay's arm for support, but he was awake, and that was all that mattered. The relief of knowing their son was safe allowed Clay to breathe a little easier.

They walked slowly through the streets, their home not far now. The city was bustling as people carried on with their lives, unaware of the battles Clay and his family were fighting. He thought about how the mysterious letter had brought him hope, how the money had saved Ben's life, and how a stranger was silently guiding him toward something unknown.

As they approached their rented room, Clay's steps slowed. Something felt… off. The door to their small home was slightly open. A chill ran down his spine. He knew for certain that he had locked it before they left.

Emily noticed his hesitation. "What's wrong?" she asked, concern in her voice.

"The door…" Clay muttered, narrowing his eyes. He stepped forward cautiously, motioning for Emily to stay behind with the children.

Slowly, he pushed the door open. His eyes scanned the dimly lit room, searching for anything unusual. And then—his breath caught.

A figure stood inside.

It was a tall man, dressed in a long coat. His face was partially hidden by the shadows, but Clay could feel the stranger's gaze locked onto him. There was something eerily familiar about him.

Clay's pulse quickened. "Who are you?" he demanded, his voice firm but wary. "What are you doing in my house?"

The figure didn't answer. Instead, he took a slow step back, his movements deliberate. It was as if he had been waiting for Clay's return.

Emily, who had now stepped inside with the children, gasped. "Clay, who is that?"

Before Clay could respond, the man suddenly turned and, in an instant, disappeared.

Clay rushed forward, his eyes darting around the room, searching for any sign of him. He ran to the door, looking out into the street, but there was no trace of the stranger. It was as if he had vanished into thin air.

Emily held Ben and Lily close, fear evident in her eyes. "Did you see him? He was right there!"

Clay clenched his fists, frustration boiling within him. Who was that man? And what did he want?

His eyes then landed on the small wooden table in the corner of the room. A single envelope lay on top of it.

Clay's breath hitched. Another letter.

He stepped forward, his hands trembling slightly as he picked it up. The envelope was identical to the first one, plain and unmarked. Without hesitation, he tore it open and pulled out the note inside.

The message was brief but chilling:

"The past is knocking at your door. Are you ready to open it?"

Clay's fingers tightened around the paper. His heart pounded. This wasn't just about rebuilding his business anymore. Someone was watching him, guiding him—testing him.

And now, it was time to find out why.

Clay stood frozen, staring at the letter in his hands. The words on the paper echoed in his mind:

"The past is knocking at your door. Are you ready to open it?"

A chill ran down his spine. His mind raced with questions. Who was this unknown person? How did they know so much about his life—about his struggles, his failures, his hopes? It wasn't just the food, the money, or the information about Arjun Mehta. This stranger knew exactly what was happening in Clay's life as if they were watching him every second.

His eyes wandered back to the spot where the mysterious figure had been standing. How did he disappear from a closed room? The door was open, yes, but Clay had been standing at the entrance. If the man had run, he would have seen him escape. It was impossible for someone to vanish so quickly.

Emily's voice pulled him from his thoughts. "Clay… what's going on? Who keeps sending these letters?"

He turned to face her, his expression dark with confusion. "I don't know, Emily. But whoever they are, they know too much. It's like they're seeing everything that happens to us."

Lily clung to her mother's side, her wide eyes filled with fear. "Papa, was that a ghost?" she whispered.

Clay shook his head, forcing a small smile for his daughter's sake. "No, sweetheart. There's no such thing as ghosts. But…" His voice trailed off. He didn't have an explanation.

Emily frowned. "First the money, then the letter about Arjun Mehta, and now this? It's not normal, Clay. Someone is pulling the strings. But why?"

Clay took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing thoughts. "That's what I need to find out. This person… whoever they are… they aren't just trying to help me. They're leading me somewhere. They have a plan, and I don't know if I should trust them or be afraid."

His eyes scanned the room again, searching for any clue, any sign of how the man had disappeared. The windows were shut, the back door locked. There was no logical way for someone to leave without being seen.

A sudden thought struck him. What if this unknown person wasn't just watching? What if they knew his past?

He clenched his fists. If this person had information about his past, then maybe they knew about the mistakes he had made. The things he had tried to forget. The reason his business had failed.

A heavy silence filled the room as Emily sat down beside him. "Clay… what if this person isn't just someone trying to help? What if they're someone from your past?"

Clay's heart pounded at her words. Was this a warning? A second chance? Or was it a trap?

He didn't know the answer yet, but one thing was clear—he had to find out.

Clay's mind was drowning in endless thoughts about the unknown person. How did they know so much? How were they always one step ahead? Every event, every disaster, and every moment of hope—they knew it all. It was as if they were watching from the shadows, guiding him down an unseen path. But to what end?

His hands trembled as he held the letter. The words felt heavier now, more than just ink on paper. "The past is knocking at your door. Are you ready to open it?" What did it mean? Was this person from his past? Someone he had wronged? Or was it someone who had been silently protecting him all along?

A sudden thought jolted him back to reality. Ben.

In all the confusion and mystery, he had momentarily forgotten about his son. He turned to Emily, his voice firm. "Where is Ben?"

Emily, who had been lost in her own thoughts, blinked in surprise. "He's sleeping, Clay. He was exhausted after everything."

Clay nodded, but a strange unease settled in his chest. "Call him. I want to see him."

Emily gave him a tired smile, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Let him rest, Clay. He needs it."

But Clay wasn't convinced. The unsettling feeling in his gut grew stronger. "No, Emily. Something doesn't feel right. Call him."

Emily sighed but nodded, walking toward the small bedroom where Ben had been resting since they returned from the hospital. She pushed the door open, expecting to see their son curled up on the thin mattress.

But the bed was empty.

Her breath hitched. She stepped inside, her eyes scanning the room. "Ben?" she called softly, expecting him to be in a corner, playing with something. But there was no response.

She turned toward the small cupboard, pushing the door open. Nothing.

Panic gripped her chest. Her voice rose in urgency. "Ben? Where are you?"

No reply. Only silence.

Clay, hearing the distress in her voice, rushed to the room. His heart pounded violently against his ribs. "What's wrong?"

Emily turned to him, her face pale as a ghost. "He's not here, Clay."

Clay felt as if the ground beneath him had disappeared. He rushed to the bed, touching the sheets—they were still slightly warm. Ben had been here. Not long ago.

His mind raced. How could Ben just disappear? The door was shut. The windows were locked. There was no sign of struggle, no sound, nothing.

He turned to Emily, his voice shaking. "Check outside. Ask the neighbors."

Emily nodded frantically and ran out, calling Ben's name. Lily, frightened and confused, clung to her father's arm. "Papa, where did Ben go?"

Clay had no answer. He ran his hands through his hair, trying to think. This wasn't just a coincidence. First, the unknown man. Now, his son vanishing without a trace? It didn't make sense.

Then, his eyes fell on something small on the floor. A folded piece of paper.

His heart skipped a beat.

With shaking hands, he picked it up and unfolded it.

Inside, written in the same handwriting as the mysterious letters, was a single line:

"Some things must be lost before they can be found."

Clay's breath came in ragged gasps. His vision blurred with panic and rage.

Whoever was behind this had just crossed a line.

Ben was gone.

And now, Clay had no choice but to find him.

Because a life is still loading.

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DO COMMENT ABOUT THAT UNKNOWN PERSON !!