The Package

Carla was walking home from work when she saw a package lying on the sidewalk. It was a small brown cardboard box, and it looked like it had been there for a while. She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should pick it up, but curiosity got the better of her, and she bent down to take a closer look.

The package was addressed to someone named Richard, but there was no last name, no return address, and no postage stamp. It was as if someone had left it there intentionally for her to find. Carla felt a shiver run down her spine. What if it was a bomb or something dangerous?

She picked up the box carefully, holding it at arm's length as if it might explode at any moment. But nothing happened. It was light and didn't make any noise when she shook it. She debated whether to open it or take it to the police, but something about the mystery intrigued her. She decided to take it home and open it there.

Once inside her apartment, Carla sat on the edge of her bed and placed the box on the floor in front of her. She took a deep breath and opened it slowly, bracing herself for whatever might be inside. To her surprise, there was only a note.

The note read: "You've been chosen. Follow the instructions."

Carla's heart raced as she read the cryptic message. Chosen for what? What instructions? She felt like she was in the middle of a thriller novel. Her curiosity got the best of her, and she decided to follow the instructions, whatever they were.

The next day, she received a text message with a location and a time. It was an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town, and the time was midnight. Carla knew it was a bad idea, but she couldn't resist the mystery. She went to the warehouse and found a note waiting for her.

The note read: "There are three doors. Choose wisely."

Carla looked around and saw three doors. One was red, one was green, and one was blue. She had no idea what to do next. She stood there for a moment, trying to think. Suddenly, she heard a noise behind her. She turned around and saw a shadowy figure in the distance.

Carla's heart raced as she realized she was in danger. She didn't know who the figure was or what they wanted, but she knew she had to get out of there. She ran towards the doors and chose the blue one. She opened it and ran inside, closing the door behind her.

She found herself in a small room with a table and a chair. There was another note waiting for her. It read: "You've passed the first test. The next one will be more difficult. Be ready."

Carla's hands shook as she read the message. What was going on? Who was behind all this? She had no idea, but she knew she had to get out of there. She tried the door, but it was locked. She was trapped.

Suddenly, she heard a noise outside the door. She froze, listening intently. She could hear footsteps approaching. She looked around the room, searching for a weapon or a way out, but there was nothing. She was defenseless.

The door creaked open, and a figure stepped inside. It was a man in a black suit, his face obscured by a mask. He walked towards her slowly, and Carla backed away, trying to put as much distance between them as possible. The man didn't say anything, he just kept advancing towards her.

Carla's heart was pounding in her chest. She knew she had to do something, but she was frozen with fear. The man reached out and grabbed her by the arm, pulling her towards him. Carla struggled, trying to break free, but the man was too strong.

Just when she thought it was all over, there was a sudden flash of light, and the man stumbled backwards. Carla saw a figure standing in the doorway, holding a stun gun. It was a police officer.

"Are you okay?" the officer asked, helping Carla to her feet.

Carla was shaken but relieved. She had no idea who the man in the mask was or what he wanted, but she knew she was lucky to have escaped. The police took her statement and promised to investigate, but they never found out who was behind the mysterious package and the series of tests.

Carla never forgot about the experience, though. It stayed with her, haunting her dreams and making her question the safety of the world around her. She knew she had been lucky to survive, but she also knew that there were others out there who might not be so fortunate. She resolved to be more careful in the future and to always be on the lookout for danger.

The end.