John stood at the edge of the city and watched the lights below him like distant stars that belonged to someone else.
He was tired of being poor.
Tired of watching other people laugh while he counted the little money in his pocket.
Tired of hearing promises that never came true.
Tired of the slow life that seemed to swallow people before they ever became anything.
That night, the sky looked wrong.
The clouds hung too low, like they were waiting for something.
The wind moved strangely, warm and cold at the same time, brushing across John's face like a warning.
Still, he kept walking.
He had heard of a place where desperate people went when they wanted more than life was giving them. A hidden hall behind an abandoned market. A room with no windows. A place where answers could be bought… but never for free.
John did not believe in miracles.
He believed in money.
And tonight, he was ready to pay any price for it.
Inside the hall, the air felt heavy, like the walls were breathing.
A single lamp flickered above a long table.
At the far end sat a figure wrapped in shadow.
"John," the figure said softly.
John froze.
"How do you know my name?"
The shadow did not move.
"People who want power always leave their names behind before they arrive."
John swallowed hard, but he did not step back.
"I am here because I need wealth. Real wealth. Enough to change everything."
The figure tilted its head.
"And what are you willing to lose for it?"
John did not answer at first.
He thought of his empty room.
He thought of hunger.
He thought of shame.
He thought of all the years he had spent watching life pass him by.
Then he lifted his chin.
"Anything."
The lamp flickered once.
Outside, thunder rolled across the city.
And somewhere far beyond the walls… the earth seemed to sigh.
The figure reached forward and placed a dark envelope on the table.
"Then open it," it said.
"And decide whether you are ready to become rich… or to become cursed."
John stared at the envelope.
His hand trembled.
But he reached for it anyway.
And that was the moment the world began to fall.