Wolf under an oak tree.
Chapter 40

After I found a shovel and an abandoned bucket, that was near the pile of logs, I removed my saddles and placed my right foot into the water, and a cold chill immediately engulfed my foot which traveled to the top of my body, and I was forced to take my foot out.

Hmm, from my calculations from here, I hope that the water isn't that deep because one; I am not a great swimmer, and two I don't think I want to freeze to death here.

So against my better judgment, I wadded my way into the water, and when I reached the spot where I saw the shiny thing, I was submerged almost to my hip in the icy cold water, and I made up my mind that I should dig quickly and get out of here before I catch a cold. So holding the bucket in one hand, I used the shovel, I started digging the soil below the water, and the more I disturbed the serene atmosphere of the water, the murkier the water became, but I kept going, and once in a while when I believed that I might have found it, I shovel a handful of sand into my bucket. I did this a few times until I could no longer feel my feet and my teeth started to clatter.

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Once satisfied that I might have got it, I quickly went out of the water and took a seat on the dry ground, and spilled all the sand that I collected onto the ground. And throwing the bucket and the shovel away, I started to feel the soil in my hand till I felt something cold and hard against my fingers, so when I pulled it out, it was this small metal box approximately smaller than a ring box. I quickly got up from the ground and went to the water again and washed the box till it was clean and then I opened the box.

Inside the box, there was a plastic ziplock bag that had a piece of paper in it, so I dried my hand on my dress and took the paper out carefully from its plastic covering, and unfolded it.

423162

What the hell is that?

I turned the paper around to find anything else that may have been written, but to my luck, I found nothing. It was just the six digits number on the paper, there was not even a name to whom this belonged, and my spirits dampened, and I let out an exhausted sigh.

Why would someone hide a piece of paper with a number on it?

But then something struck my mind. If that person wanted to hide this, then I guess he or she could have found a better place, but this looks like a forgotten piece of paper that must have been thrown into the river, and I wasted all my time finding this.

How jobless are you, Iris?

I shook my head and looked at the paper one last time, punishing myself for wasting my time here before I tore the paper into tiny pieces and threw it in the river. After washing my feet, I wore my sandals again, and I took my bag and headed back to the construction site hoping to get back home and take some rest since I can feel my head throbbing and my back was hurting.

“Maam, aren't you coming in to see the house?” the lead contractor asked me when he saw me heading back to my car.

“I am sorry, but I am not feeling very well, I guess, I will come and see the inside some other day,” I told him with a forced smile on my face, and now I can feel my head pounding so much that it hurts to even have my eyes open.

“Alright, ma'am, have a safe journey,” he said, and I nodded at him before I made my way into my car. While driving back home, my phone continuously kept ringing, which didn't help the pounding in my head in the least.

“Hello?” my voice came out a bit too annoyed.

“Woah! What got into your pants and died?” it was Walter.

“I am having this severe head right now. So whatever you want to say, please say it quick.”

“Okay, so I called to inform you that the ring is done, and Mike is completely healed.”

“Oh, that's great news, so I will come by tomorrow to collect my ring.”

“Okay, take care, Iris,” Walter said before the line went dead, and I concentrated back on my driving. When I reached home, I quickly straighten my dress which was still damp from my little excursion and I went inside.

“Mom, I am home,” I yelled, but I didn't hear anyone reply, moreover the ground floor was pitch dark, and not a single light was turned on. A cold shiver ran down my spine and my heart started to palpitate, the pounding in my head was now caused due to the adrenaline rush that I was experiencing. “Mom? Ada? Dad?” I called everyone, but there was no answer so I quickly went upstairs and, the lights on this floor were all turned on, and the door to my parent's room was left slightly open, so I quickly went there and opened the door wide open to see that everyone was inside the room. My dad was lying on the bed with my mom beside him and Ada was holding a glass of orange juice while she looked at my dad with a worried look.

“Mom, what happened?” my question made mom and Ada turn their head.

“Your father came home and kept vomiting non-stop, Iris. I was so scared, but Ada took him to the hospital, and they said that it was just food poisoning gone worst. And now he is frail, and he doesn't want to eat or drink anything.”

“Where is Beatrice?”

“She is also having the same condition. We just gave her the medicines, and now she is sleeping in her room.” Ada said, and I can see the worry lines on her forehead.

“What did they eat for this to happen?”

“Your dad said that they just had a milkshake at the local bakery, but I don't get it, how did that react this violently?” Mom answered, and when I was about to ask her something else, my phone started ringing, and I took it out of my bag to check the caller id.

Unknown number

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