Arthur is a man in his thirties. He lives in a small flat in London. It is Saturday morning. The sun shines through the window. Arthur sits at his table. He drinks hot tea from a blue cup. He reads a book about history. The room is warm and calm.

Suddenly, he hears a sound at the door. Slap. Something hits the floor. It is not the postman. The postman comes on Monday. Arthur puts down his book. He walks to the front door. He looks through the glass panel. No one is there. The street is empty.

Arthur opens the door. He looks left and right. There are no cars. There are no people. On the floor, there is a white envelope. It is thick. Arthur picks it up. There is no name on the front. There is no stamp. A person put it through the letterbox by hand. This is strange.

Arthur closes the door. He locks it. He takes the envelope to the kitchen table. His hands shake a little. He opens the envelope carefully. Inside, there is one piece of paper and a photograph.

Arthur looks at the photograph first. His breath stops. The picture shows the front door of his flat. But it is not an old photo. In the corner of the picture, there is a newspaper on the step. It is today’s newspaper. The photo was taken this morning. Someone watched him.

Arthur feels cold. He looks at the piece of paper. It has only three words written in black ink: “Look behind you.”

Arthur freezes. He is alone in his flat. Or he thinks he is alone. The air feels heavy. He slowly turns his head. He sees a dark shadow near the kitchen door. A tall man stands there. The man wears a dark coat and a hat. He holds a heavy bag in his hand.

“Who are you?” Arthur asks. His voice is quiet. He is very afraid.

The man steps into the light. Arthur looks at his face. He knows this man. It is David. David worked with Arthur five years ago. They were friends. Then, they had a big argument about money from their business. David took money that was not his. Arthur told the police. David went to prison for three years.

“You ruined my life, Arthur,” David says. His eyes are angry. “I lost my job. I lost my home. I am here for revenge.”

Arthur needs to think fast. He cannot fight David. David is strong. Arthur has his mobile phone in his pocket. He remembers a safety tip. If you press the power button three times quickly, it sends your location to the emergency services. Arthur keeps his hand in his pocket. He presses the button. One. Two. Three.

“The police know where I am,” Arthur says. He tries to sound brave. “Give up, David.”

David laughs. It is a cold laugh. “The police are far away. I have time.”

David walks closer. Arthur steps back. He hits the kitchen counter. There is nowhere to go. David raises the heavy bag. Arthur closes his eyes for a second. He prays for help.

Suddenly, loud sirens wail outside. Red and blue lights flash through the window. The sound is very loud. David stops. He looks at the window. He looks confused.

“How?” David asks.

“I told you,” Arthur says. “They are here.”

Heavy feet run up the stairs. Bang! The front door opens. Police officers shout, “Police! Do not move!”

David drops his bag. He tries to run to the back window, but two officers block his path. They grab his arms. They put him in handcuffs. David shouts, but it is too late.

A female police officer walks to Arthur. “Are you okay, sir?” she asks.

Arthur nods. He is still shaking, but he is safe. “Yes, I am okay. Thank you.”

The officers take David away. The flat is quiet again. Arthur sits on his sofa. He looks at the white envelope on the table. He picks it up and throws it in the bin. He makes a fresh cup of tea. The sun still shines. The mystery is over. Arthur is safe in his home.

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Vocabulary Notes

Envelope
Definition: A flat paper container with a sealable flap, used to enclose a letter or document.
Example: “On the floor, there is a white envelope. It is thick.”
Similar words: Packet, wrapper, cover.
Note: In British English, we say “post” for mail. In American English, people often say “mail”. An envelope is what you put a letter inside before you post it.

Revenge
Definition: The action of hurting or punishing someone because they have hurt or punished you or someone else. It is doing something bad back to someone.
Example: “David says. ‘I am here for revenge.’”
Similar words: Retaliation, payback, vengeance.
Note: This is a strong emotion. In the story, David feels angry because Arthur sent him to prison. David wants to make Arthur suffer too.

Sirens
Definition: A loud, wailing sound made by emergency vehicles like police cars, ambulances, or fire engines to warn people to move out of the way.
Example: “Suddenly, loud sirens wail outside. Red and blue lights flash through the window.”
Similar words: Alarm, warning signal, hooter.
Note: You usually hear sirens before you see the police car. The sound is very distinct and loud. It creates tension in the story.

Handcuffs
Definition: A pair of locked metal rings connected by a short chain, used by police to hold a prisoner’s wrists together so they cannot escape or use their hands freely.
Example: “They grab his arms. They put him in handcuffs.”
Similar words: Restraints, shackles, manacles.
Note: Police officers carry handcuffs. When someone is arrested for a crime, the officer puts handcuffs on their wrists. This makes it difficult for the person to run away or fight.

Freeze
Definition: To stop moving suddenly, often because you are surprised, afraid, or shocked. It does not mean to become cold ice in this context.
Example: “Arthur freezes. He is alone in his flat.”
Similar words: Stop still, stand rigid, petrify.
Note: When Arthur reads the note “Look behind you,” he is scared. His body stops moving completely. This is a natural reaction to fear. We also use “freeze” for food (like frozen peas), but here it is about movement.

Story generated by Qwen.

Image generated by Qwen.

Animation generated by ClipBee

CC Music: Drifting at 432 Hz – Unicorn Heads.

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