5

Present Day
“It's crazy, but somehow I believe you. You will never guess how I found the key.” Nadia was crouching next to Darius' torn armchair, scrutinizing it with a scientist’s eye.
Darius came in with a pot of black coffee and one mug for himself. “I don't even want to know! Get rid of it! It's creepy enough, don't tell me anything more. You didn't want any, did you?” he added, gesturing to the coffee pot.
“No, thank you. I think we should go find whatever this key leads to! Investigate!”
“What did I just say?! I don't want to know about the evils of my house!”
“But what if it's not an evil, but a sign, or something science can't explain? Think about the possibilities to this unexplained phenomenon! Think about the adventure!”
“I don't much care for adventures.” Darius said gruffly.
Nadia knew she couldn't argue with him. So she tried a different tactic. “Well, if you aren't going to figure it out, I will!” She studied the key awhile longer, then proceeded into the kitchen.
Darius followed after. “You will do no such thing! If you don't want to be reasonable, leave the house! I am officially frightened out of my wits. Go, go, GO!” Darius began to steer Nadia out of the kitchen towards the front door.
“Oh, come ON, Darius!”
“OUT!”
Nadia walked out the door, and Darius closed it behind her. He plopped on his couch with a sigh of overwhelming and relief. Outside, a thick fog had settled. Nadia walked home, her hand gripping the key in her pocket. She was about a block away from her house when she saw a figure standing in the distance. Stone still and just a silhouette because of the fog, the figure had a kind of ominous air to it. Nadia was curious, but cautious. She slowly approached the unmoving shape and called into the fog, “Hello, who is that?” There was no response. As she moved closer, she could make out a bluish glow at eye level. “Hello?” Nadia said again. Still no reply came. She was about ten feet from the shape now; she could see it in more detail. She noticed the two blue glowing eyes and the black jacket and let out a shrill gasp. She saw the buttons lining the arms down to the metal hands dangling at the sides. 'It can't be. It's not possible..' Nadia turned and bolted out onto the street in the opposite direction.
“Wait.” a voice called. The familiar voice of a friend, not an enemy. Not the voice she'd expect to come from such a figure.
Nadia stopped running and turned around, but did not walk forward. She was barely able to let out a whisper. “How did you get here?”
“I can explain. Take this.” The robot was moving forward, closer to Nadia. He held out his hand and offered an envelope. She took it. No words were needed. Nadia knew he would be back. She arrived home just as the fog had cleared.

Author's Note

Please leave constructive criticism!