Deathday Party

Make sure no one is around you.

Look behind you.

Look to your right and your left.

Check under the desk if you are at one.

Is there anyone around you? Yes? Then move to a more secluded spot! If you don't, the story will not have maximum effect.

Have you moved? Is anyone around you? Check around corners. Sure?

Then we can begin.

I have a story to tell, which is why this book exists in the first place. My name is...well, never mind. You will meet it later in the story. But books are not the only method I have employed in telling my story. There are videos and audio CDs as well. You can buy those when you are done with this one, if you can. But you might not find any if you are late. You see, they are selling very fast and my stock is going to finish soon.

Why are they selling fast?

Because everyone wants to know what happened to Vanessa, the daughter of the vice-president of our nation. Well, about anyone who knows about the price money. When Vanessa went missing three days ago, her father placed a price tag on her. Whoever finds her gets instantly rich. People being moneylovers, everywhere instantly went buzzing. The problem was, she seems to have disappeared without a trace. The only trace of her existing is her car, which was found at one end of Ahmad Street. But it only left searchers more clueless tyan they were. No one hasever heard of a car that has no occupant, yet was locked from the inside. Simply weird.

The find Vanessa craze gave me an idea. I am the only one who knows what really happened to Vanessa. I sent rumours abroad that books, videos and audio CDs, all concerning Vanessa's disappearance, could be bought at a certain store. In no distant time, my three products were selling like hot cakes. Everyone wanted to know what happened to Vanessa afterall. He most eager seemed to be two private investigators - they were in my store barely a minut after the rumour was out.

They entered my store very early in the morning. They looked around for the store, but saw none. They did see a sign on the counter indicating where they could find books, videos and audios CDs respectively. The sign told them to take what they want and leave the money on the counter. I was not worried that they might run away with my products without paying. Private investigators are usually respectable guys and would do no such thing. In any case, there are measures to make sure no one tries it.

They picked a video. As they walked out of the store,I glided after them .I followed them all the way to their office and went in after them. They slotted the video into the DVD and settled down on the sofa as the tv screen lighted up to show a girl Vanessa sobbing on her bed.

I settled myself behind them. They never noticed me, and not because they were so absorbed ithe movie. They simply could not see me. Humans are so blind.