Elena, Mila, and Henk race up the staircase to escape the mysterious sounds echoing through the dark chamber. But when they finally emerge, they find that their troubles are far from over.
A Rotterdam Story | Spoilers Podcast | S1E4
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Racing up the staircase
The narrow, winding staircase seemed even longer on the way up. Elena's legs burned as she pulled Mila along, Henk's flashlight flickering just ahead of them. The rhythmic tapping echoed behind them, growing louder, almost purposeful. It felt like something—or someone—was pursuing them, ascending from the shadows below.
Elena dared not look back, her breath shallow as she focused on her footing. Each step seemed like a small victory, and she clung to Mila's hand, using the connection to ground herself against the creeping panic that threatened to overwhelm her. The air grew warmer the higher they climbed, a reminder of the world they were struggling to return to.
Henk reached the top first, and with a grunt of effort, he pushed the metal plate back. The night air rushed in, cool and crisp, offering a moment of hope. He gestured for Mila and Elena to hurry, his expression set in grim determination.
Elena felt a rush of relief as she hauled herself out of the dark stairwell, helping Mila up after her. Henk quickly pulled the metal plate back into place, the heavy clang resonating in the stillness of the park. The tapping stopped abruptly, leaving only the sound of their ragged breathing.
For a moment, they stood there, catching their breath, the world aboveground feeling almost surreal after the darkness below.
“Is everyone okay?” Henk asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Mila nodded, her eyes wide with fear. Elena looked back at the metal plate, her heart still pounding. “What was that?” she asked, her voice trembling.
“I don’t know,” Henk admitted, his face pale in the moonlight. “But I have a feeling it wasn’t friendly.”
The stranger in the shadows
Just as they began to collect themselves, Elena noticed movement out of the corner of her eye. Someone was watching them from the treeline—a shadowed figure, barely visible in the dim light of the park. Her breath caught, and she quickly grabbed Henk's arm, nodding in the direction of the figure.
Henk turned, his eyes narrowing. The figure didn’t move, as if waiting. A chill ran down Elena’s spine as she felt the weight of the stranger's gaze, even from this distance.
Mila took a step back, her hand trembling as she reached for her phone. “Should we call someone?” she whispered, her voice tight.
Henk shook his head, his eyes still locked on the figure. “No. Not yet. Let’s see what they want.”
He took a cautious step forward, his flashlight now aimed directly at the stranger. “Who are you?” he called out, his voice echoing across the park. For a moment, there was no response, just the rustle of leaves in the cold breeze.
Then, slowly, the figure stepped into the light. It was a man, dressed in dark clothing, his face partially obscured by a scarf. He raised his hands slightly, a gesture of peace.
“You shouldn’t be here,” the man said, his voice calm but carrying an unmistakable edge. “This is no place for you. You need to leave—now.”
An unexpected ally?
Elena exchanged a wary glance with Mila, her pulse quickening again. Henk took another step closer, his brow furrowed. “Why? Who are you?” he demanded.
The man shook his head. “That’s not important. What’s important is that you leave before it’s too late. You don’t understand what you’re dealing with.”
Elena felt a surge of frustration. “Then help us understand,” she said, her voice firmer now. “We found something down there—something that might be part of Rotterdam's history. We deserve to know what it is.”
The man hesitated, his eyes flickering between Elena, Henk, and Mila. For a moment, Elena thought he might actually explain, but then he shook his head again. “If you want answers, you’ll need to be careful. The Verborgenen aren’t just a story—they’re still watching, still protecting what’s theirs.”
Henk’s eyes widened slightly, the name clearly striking a chord. “You know about De Verborgenen?”
The man gave a slight nod. “I know enough to tell you that you’re in over your heads. They don’t take kindly to outsiders poking around in their secrets.” He paused, glancing back towards the treeline. “Leave now, and don’t come back. This is your only warning.”
With that, the man turned, disappearing back into the shadows as quickly as he had appeared. For a moment, they stood in stunned silence, the weight of his words settling over them.
Decisions under moonlight
Mila exhaled shakily, lowering her phone. “What do we do now?” she asked, her voice barely audible.
Henk looked at Elena, his expression conflicted. “We can’t just walk away from this. We’ve come too far—we’ve found too much,” he said, his voice filled with determination. “But we also can’t ignore what he said. If De Verborgenen are still out there…”
Elena nodded slowly. The fear still clung to her, but beneath it was a burning curiosity—a need to understand the truth, no matter the cost. “We need to be careful,” she said. “But I think we need to keep going. If they’re still protecting something, then it must be important.”
Mila swallowed, her gaze shifting between the two of them. Finally, she nodded. “Okay. But we need a plan. We can’t just stumble into this blind.”
Henk smiled, a hint of admiration in his eyes. “Agreed. We’ll regroup, gather what we need, and then we’ll figure out our next move. Together.”
Elena felt a flicker of hope amidst the fear. Whatever lay ahead, they weren’t alone—and they weren’t going to stop until they uncovered the truth.
Under the moonlight, they turned away from the hidden entrance, the city of Rotterdam stretching out before them—a city filled with secrets yet to be revealed.
