7 Last Night

I had been walking for over 17 minutes since I got out of the Uber. The train couldn't take me to where I needed to go, so I opted for an Uber.

And where was I, you ask?

I found myself in the slums, also known as the outskirts or trenches - a far cry from my usual surroundings.

It might seem like I've been wasting my time for the past 17 minutes, as I got confused and lost my way a few times. Okay, maybe more than a few times, but I've managed to get the hang of it.

Ehem,

Curiosity gnawed at me regarding why the address led to the outskirts.

Could my "Planned operation" theory be correct, or am I just overthinking it?

Perhaps he's a famous figure but struggling financially, a common situation among celebrities.In case things take a wrong turn, I've devised a plan to both save myself and gather information.

If all goes well, I might consider sharing the plan if you're interested. What do you think?

A fair deal, right?

Anyway, there's something weird about the address he gave to me.

He specifically mentioned that once I've gotten deep enough into the outskirts, I should ask anyone for the house named "Last Night".

I know there's been a whole lot of weird things going on today, but this is on a whole new level.

"Last Night"? 

How odd, especially for a "hero figure"

After asking around, I was directed to walk towards a small house made of wood, it looks old but is very sturdy.

On getting there I saw a woman instead of the old man.

"Is this last night?" I asked the bulky-looking woman with brown short hair and brown eyes. 

She looked to be around her early 50s, but her skin wasn't wrinkled at all.

"Let me see your pass" She demanded

A pass? 

I became confused at first but after thinking about it, I figured that maybe the address paper the man gave me could be considered a pass.

Showing her the paper, she took it and examined it properly before letting me in.

She led me to the backyard, lo and behold, it was another route.

The house that was positioned there was used to obstruct a road and as a victim, I know that many other people will not know that there's a road behind the house.

"Walk 5 meters ahead, you'll see a route to the right, turn left and you'll see the house you're looking for"

I'm really not good at maths, that shouldn't surprise you, rather you should be surprised that an old woman like her knows the distance in meters.

I'm just going to go forward and then turn...

Wait...did she just say that I'll see a route leading to the right and I should turn left?

"Ma'am I don't und..." Turning back to lay my complaints, I didn't see her there.

How can a woman so fat and old be that fast?

Deciding to keep moving I started thinking of what to do.

Well, she's either insane or right, but I doubt an old woman who knows the distance to a particular location in meters is insane.

If there's one thing I've learned in my past two years, it's to always follow instructions, regardless of who, what, or why you're given the instruction, except of course you know it's not beneficial to you in any way.

A celebrity living in the outskirts, not only that, in the deepest part of the outskirts?

It makes sense that he wants to hide, knowing that he is one of the people who invented a strong martial arts technique and he's probably the only one who can pass it down.

And to top it off, he's a really good craftsman. In this world of martial arts, having a good craftsman is as good as having a pot of gold.

So it should be pretty normal that he'd be a target of many people, but, is this necessary?

I mean, the whole address thingy, is he trying to confuse the people whom he invites?

I get that stalking fans and his enemies might try to tail him whenever they get the chance to, His going through all this might give them the mindset that he's perambulating.

Thereby making them give up, at least that's what I think, I'm not sure if I'm even making sense at all.

Reaching a part that led to the right I decided to look to the left but I saw only leaves and trees.

Right then and there I concluded that the old lady was insane.

I don't even know if her measurement is correct since I'm not that good at maths.

I was about to take the right turn but my instincts told me to check out what was behind the trees, since there was a house hiding a whole route, it might be possible.

And with that, I decided to check it out, making my way past some trees and leaves I saw a short-distance road, about 20 steps from where I was standing.

And at the end of the road was another wooden house, this one looked more wrecked than the last one and it was small.

I walked close to the house, and now here I am.

I wonder if two people can fit into this house.

It has a wood hanging at the entrance of the door, the wood looks like it's about to fall off and it has words written on it.

"Last Night"

The house as a whole looks like a perfect setting for a haunted house.

I'm sure the moment I'm stepping into this house, I'll be buried in a pile of rubble.

~sigh~

looking around I did not see any sign of a human being, I guess it's time to head back.

"It's rude not to even get into the house of the person who invited you before turning to leave" Turning to leave, a familiar voice calls back my attention

"Hey old man, I had no idea you live on a stage for horror movies," I said as I turned to him.

"I did not expect you to make it," He said ignoring my comment.

"Well, here I am," I said.

"You followed the old woman's instructions, I guess you're not as dumb as you look," The old man said. 

"Your compliment really doesn't sound like a compliment, but that aside don't go thinking I'm special, it was all just a hunch," I said in a flat tone

I knew something was up, who could have guessed? 

I'm even surprised at my smartness and instincts, nice going me.

"Hahaha, I believe you, you're not smart enough anyways, it's all by sheer luck" The old man laughed.

"Come in," He said entering the house

"Are you sure? I may not look it, but I do have to wait, and this house seems like it'll collapse any minute from now" I said trying to confirm if it was safe to enter honestly, I don't want to be that "guy" who gets buried under a pile of debris.

"Don't worry, this house is strong enough to hold at least 3 elephants" The man said

"If that's your way of reassuring me, then you're doing a very bad job sir," I said before following him in. 

Carefully, I tiptoed into the building. You don't expect me to walk majestically right? 

I don't want to die pathetically as being buried under an old house that I'm sure has stayed for as old as the man if not older.

We are both barely contained in the house, and I am beginning to get uncomfortable, I don't like it

"Follow me" He orders

"And what do you think I'm doing?" I said annoyed by the uncomfortable environment and his commanding voice.

"You're so popular, why aren't you filthy rich?"

I decided to ask what had been in my mind.

"Normally, I would ignore you, but seeing as you're already stupid, adding a little knowledge to you wouldn't hurt right? 

Now, listen up, it's not everyone popular that's rich" He explains after serving me a nice insult.

"You're even more foul-mouthed than a lot of kids my age," I said half annoyed

"Thanks for the compliment, what can I say, the younger I grow the better," He said

He does have no shame.

~Scoff~

"Yeah, right"

As I said that, the old man stopped in front of a mirror.

"Do you still check yourself out at this age...?!!"

I didn't finish my sentence and wow, is this what I think it is?

I thought he was checking himself out, but that mirror...It's a "Facial scan code lock"( FSCL ).

I know you don't understand.

Now shhhh, let me explain.

You have probably watched a spy movie, where the cool characters who usually wear black suits have hideouts and you've seen how the doors open right?

Some use fingerprint sensors, while some use eye detection but recently, that technology has developed more, they now have a facial scan code lock.

It comes in many forms, some can be installed in the door while some in a camera, but the one that's in the mirror is the costliest of all security gadgets and it's only 20 of them around the world.

Why? 

Because it has no flaws.

It's a mirror and hardly anyone would know that it's even something used as security to hide a secret base.

This is how it works, for example

If my face is not recognized it won't scan my face, thereby making me think it's a normal reflective mirror, meanwhile, it has sent a distress signal to the old man, informing him of an intruder.

Wow right?

This man may be old but he's smart, his whole setting is fool-proof.

No one would think that such a mirror would be in a crumbling house.

The mirror did not show any sign of scanning, the only way I knew it scanned his face was when the mirror started sinking into the wall it hung on.

After sinking halfway, it slid up exposing an elevator interior, and once again I became speechless, I stared with my mouth agape.

The man entered the elevator and looked at me before uttering.

"Are you coming or not? Remember to close that mouth of yours before it becomes a home for flies"

Snapping back into reality, I joined him in the elevator.

The mirror slid down back, and from my new point of view, it settled back and became the Same level as the wall.

I'm expecting the elevator to go down but it isn't.

"Hold tight" The old man warned

"Huh? What do you mean..."

I didn't finish my word yet again and pressure pushed me against the side of the elevator.

"Urgh...?!"

*What the hell? I didn't see this coming!*

I thought while bearing the intense pressure.

 *I...Am I going to survive?*

"Hey kid, don't die on me ok?" The old man said with a smirk