by Nelly Asher
***
Dark green Pinton stopped before the gloomy office building. It was constructed a while ago, when they used to decorate buildings like that with moulding and other architectural embellishments. In its original state it would've looked way better than the modern concrete boxes. But the building was in need of repairment for a while already.
After passing through the columned hall with marbled floor, they got into an elevator. It had an old mechanism – to set it in motion, one had to press not only the button of the floor, but also “GO”.
“Like in the university,” Selena remarked. Evanford nodded. The girl gave him a curious look: “And where are you studying?”
“State University of Texven,” he replied, sending the elevator to the fifth floor.
“Me too! Which department?” she was forgiving the small offences as easily as she was making them up. She was holding no more grudge against the guy, and was genuinely happy that they've found at least something at common.
“Mathematics. Graduated from the third year,” he said, anticipating her next question. Kevin wasn't going to ask anything back, but he couldn't forbid her to talk.
“And me...” Silver started, but suddenly realized that she can't even quite recall the name of her companion. “By the way... Your name is Kevin, right?” she asked with some hesitation.
“Spot-on,” he replied dryly. “And it's written in the document that you're one Selena Silver. Silver moon....” he glanced at her white hair. “Is this what your official ID says?”
“That's my real name! And this is my actual color hair!” the girl bursted. Evanford has hit her sore spot.
“Ok, it's not like I'm arguing,” Kevin shrugged. The slow elevator has finally got to the fifth floor, and the doors opened. “We have to find the room 523...”
Silver and Evanford took a stride along the narrow empty corridor. Most of the doorplates indicated that offices belonged to people with private practices, various consultants. In about thirty feet the two have turned around the corner and saw the door with Kinsley's name on it.
“Good afternoon. We've brought the picture,” Kevin said when they entered.
“Great...” lawyer took the picture, pulled the envelope out of the drawer and gave it to the visitors. “My client told me to give this in exchange for the photo.”
Selena grabbed the envelope, pressed it with her fingers but couldn't tell what is inside. She torn it and shook a red, four-leaf clover-shaped keychain onto her palm.
“Is that it?” Kevin inquired. Orlando nodded. “In this case, goodbye,” he headed to the door, saying: “You can keep it.” He was getting the house anyway, so she might as well take the useless trinket.
“...I wonder why professor gave it?” Selena was walking the hall, examining the keychain. It seemed like she saw it before, was even holding it, but just couldn't recall where and when. Maybe Mr.Evanford brought it to the university once?..
“He spoke about the door, and now he gives a keychain. There's only a key missing in this chain of logic,” Kevin replied.
“So, he wanted us to find the key?” she said pensively.
“You can look for it,” young man shrugged indifferently. “I've got enough things to do.”
“Do you think all of this is nonsense?” Selena scrunched up her eyes. “And this book will bring no harm?”
Evanford just waved his hand away, entering the elevator. Silver squeezed the trinket – the four-leaf clover was almost burning her palm. Darn it, so many weird things have happened, and nothing gets clear! Selena wanted to take a look at the page she torn out of the book, and now she had an excuse. If this Mr.Know-it-all thinks that it won't get worse... With a grin, she pulled the paper out of the purse and started to read. Noticing the look on his companion's face, Kevin peered over her shoulder and saw the lines:
LHC's ex-employee was looking at young people with some pity. His ill-starred successors don't have a slightest idea of what's in store... Now, with his current self, he didn't want to condemn them to this, but he saw no other way. He realised that resisting will be nothing but a waste of time for him. Nothing's left but hoping that they will have more luck...
It's always possible to find a hint in the book. It's even possible to read the walkthrough from start to finish. But then it will be no fun playing it, won't it? Which is why every time
Suddenly the lights went off, and the elevator stopped. Doors slided open, but there was the same pitch black darkness outside. And not a single sound.
