I'll Find You First

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I don’t like holding things I don’t understand.
Money. Power. Women.
Those I can measure.

But this key? The weight of it had nothing to do with how heavy it was.

Under the lamp it told a different story.
Brass. Aged. Carved with marks that weren’t there for decoration.
A craftsman built this. Someone who understood permanence.

I ran my fingers over the crooked, jagged teeth.
Each one filed by hand.
The key made it known it wasn’t cut for convenience.

It was cut to keep something in.

Her words don’t leave easy.

"You're the only one I ever trusted. And the only one I ever betrayed."

I looked at the key.
Trust and betrayal forged into one object.
I poured another drink. Neat. Some nights you drink to think.
Tonight I was drinking to remember.

Names started coming to me.
Old contacts.
People who operated in the spaces between what's known and what's kept quiet.

A locksmith downtown.
Owed me more than a favour.
An archivist who dealt in what the world tried to bury.
If this key had a history they'd find it.

I slipped it back into my pocket.
Cold against my left thigh.
Like it had somewhere to be and I was the one moving slow.

That’s when I noticed.
The lipstick stained note was gone.
The table where I'd left it was too clean.

She'd been back.
And she was still close enough to move through my space without being seen.

I leaned back wondering how can a guy like 10 get outmanoeuvred?

She wanted me chasing.
I'd chase.
But not her way.

I lifted the glass.
City humming low outside.
Whispered to the key like it could hear me.

"Whatever you're hiding. I'll find you first."

To be continued…

Next chapter — The Craftsman’s Warning

Hood Author Note

For the ones who have read the last 6 chapters*

We are six chapters in and the Grey Suit man still has no face.
A late night call started everything.
A letter with no name.
A man who walks in without asking.
A woman who steps out of corners.
A blackout that knew its timing.
A key that doesn’t open doors… but locks things in.

That’s where we are.

Mr.10 is in the middle of something he didn’t choose but can’t put down. Two people. Both lying. One key between them. And a lock that shouldn’t exist anymore.

Chapter Seven tells us Mr.10 will not be a bystander to the flood.

If you are new, start from “The Call”. You’ll understand everything by the time you get here.

If you’ve been here from the beginning. You already know what’s coming.
But truth is.. nobody does.
That’s the point.

— Your Hood Author, Mr.10

#Stay10
#10Out
#Roadto100

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