Chapter 6: The Hidden Room

The note lay silently on the table.

"Stop searching, or you're next."

Adaeze picked it up with trembling hands.

"This isn't a joke anymore."

Michael nodded.

"They've kidnapped Grandpa."

His voice was filled with guilt.

"If I hadn't brought you here..."

Adaeze interrupted him.

"No."

"We're in this together."

They immediately reported the incident to the nearest police station.

After listening to their story, the officer behind the desk leaned back in his chair.

"So you're saying an old professor disappeared without anyone seeing it happen?"

"Yes," Michael replied.

"And you found a threatening note?"

"Exactly."

The officer sighed.

"We'll look into it."

His tone lacked urgency.

As they walked out of the station, Adaeze frowned.

"I don't think they believe us."

Michael looked back at the building.

"Or maybe..."

"...someone doesn't want them to."

Determined not to give up, they returned to Professor Adebayo's house.

The front door had been left unlocked.

The house was still in disarray.

Books covered the floor.

Broken picture frames lay scattered across the sitting room.

"They searched everywhere," Adaeze said.

"But they were looking for something specific."

Michael began arranging the books on the shelf.

Suddenly—

Click.

He heard a strange sound.

"What was that?"

He pushed one of the books farther inward.

A section of the bookshelf slowly moved.

Adaeze gasped.

"A secret door?"

Behind the shelf was a small hidden compartment.

Inside lay a tiny brass key and a folded campus map.

Michael carefully unfolded the map.

A red circle had been drawn around an old building near the back of the university.

Written beside it were four words.

The Old Music Hall

Adaeze looked confused.

"I've been on this campus for four years."

"I've never heard of it."

Michael nodded.

"It was abandoned years ago."

The following afternoon, they made their way across campus.

Most students had no idea the forgotten building even existed.

Tall grass surrounded it.

Broken windows stared back like empty eyes.

The faded sign above the entrance still read:

UNIVERSITY MUSIC HALL

The wooden doors creaked as they pushed them open.

Dust filled the air.

Rows of broken chairs stretched across the hall.

"It feels like no one has been here for years," Adaeze whispered.

Michael switched on his phone torch.

"Let's search."

After nearly twenty minutes...

Adaeze noticed something unusual.

One section of the stage floor looked newer than the rest.

"Michael."

He walked over.

Together, they pulled at the wooden boards.

One plank lifted easily.

Underneath...

They found a small metal box.

Michael unlocked it with the brass key.

Inside were several old photographs...

A silver necklace...

And another letter.

This one wasn't addressed to Daniel.

It was addressed to—

Professor Adebayo.

Michael unfolded it carefully.

The handwriting matched Grace's.

"Sir, if you're reading this, then I've already disappeared. Please don't blame yourself. I made this choice because innocent lives are in danger. One day, someone will discover the truth. When that day comes... tell Daniel I never stopped loving him."

Adaeze's eyes filled with tears.

"She sacrificed herself..."

Before Michael could respond—

A loud noise echoed outside.

Footsteps.

Heavy footsteps.

More than one person.

Someone was entering the building.

Michael quickly switched off his phone torch.

The hall fell into darkness.

The footsteps grew louder.

Then...

A voice echoed through the abandoned hall.

"Search every room."

"They must not leave with that box."

Adaeze held her breath.

Michael gripped the metal box tightly.

They were trapped.