I reached the panel to my room, crawled out, closed it, and pushed the wardrobe against the wall….-HONGNGOC

He wasn’t carrying the cup.

He was carrying a key.

A black, old, long key with strange teeth—the kind used for very old houses… or for doors that were never meant to be opened.

He walked to the nightstand, opened the bottom drawer, and took out something wrapped in cloth. He unwrapped it slowly.

A small glass vial.

Inside were white pills.

My throat went dry.

“Just valerian.”

I watched him put the vial back, as if hiding a secret in his pocket. Then he approached the bed and leaned over, studying my face.

I held my breath.

Daniel took my wrist, checking for a pulse.

One.

Two.

Three seconds.

He smiled, satisfied, and stood up.

Then he did something that chilled my blood even more than the pills.