THE LIBERATION

The silvery moonlight spilled across the room like a soft veil, casting a surreal glow on every corner of Tracy's space. The night's aroma intertwined with the tranquil light, creating an enchanting atmosphere. The world outside seemed far away, and everything within the room shimmered under the soft, dreamlike net of moonlight. The furniture, the walls, and even the smallest trinkets seemed to hold secrets of their own, their details blurred and softened by the ethereal glow. Tracy's heart felt both comforted and curious, as if the night was whispering mysteries waiting to be unraveled.

Drawn by the moment's magic, Tracy moved toward the wardrobe. Her mother's picture hung above a shelf beside it, a silent guardian of memories. The moonlight illuminated her mother's serene face, giving it an almost lifelike quality. Tracy reached out and touched the frame lightly, her heart swelling with nostalgia. She remembered seeing Alexander once place a key under this very frame. Her fingers searched the shelf's edge, and as expected, the key rested there. Holding it tightly, she approached the wardrobe, a sense of anticipation growing within her.

The wardrobe creaked open, revealing rows of her mother's elegant dresses and her father's neatly hung coats and shirts. Each piece seemed to carry fragments of their lives—the laughter, the love, and even the trials they faced. Tracy ran her fingers over the soft fabric, imagining her mother's radiant beauty in the dresses and her father's confident presence in his tailored suits.

Among the clothing, Tracy's gaze fell on a jewelry box. It held her mother's exquisite collection—delicate pieces adorned with rare diamonds, gold, and rubies. Each item sparkled like a fragment of a story waiting to be told. As she touched the jewelry, an overwhelming sense of her parents' presence enveloped her. But amidst the jewels, her fingers brushed against something hard. Puzzled, she dug deeper and uncovered a small bureau hidden under one of her mother's dresses.

The bureau had a keyhole with a cross symbol carved into it, and alongside it were engraved English alphabets from A to Z. Intrigued, Tracy retrieved the cross key from the wardrobe and fit it into the lock. With a satisfying click, the bureau opened to reveal a small wooden box. Carved into its surface were intricate designs, and inside, wooden letters arranged in a puzzle awaited her.

Tracy's mind raced. She remembered her mother's name, Catherine. Carefully, she aligned the letters to spell it out. A soft whirring sound followed as tiny levers within the box shifted. The lid opened to reveal a breathtakingly unique set of jewelry—a necklace and bracelet crafted from black diamonds. Their design was unlike anything Tracy had seen before. Beneath the set lay a piece of aged palm-leaf parchment covered in ancient Greek symbols.

The sight of the parchment stirred something deep within her. Though she had studied ancient scripts, these symbols were unfamiliar, their meanings elusive. She placed the parchment carefully inside her father's coat, closed the wardrobe, and settled into bed. Exhaustion soon claimed her, and she drifted into dreams filled with images of her parents and the mysterious jewelry.

The next morning, sunlight replaced the moonlight's glow, and Tracy woke with a heavy heart. She clutched her father's coat, the parchment still tucked safely inside, and decided to visit the police station to report his disappearance. At the station, the officers listened sympathetically but explained they were already overwhelmed with numerous missing person cases. They promised to investigate and advised her to wait a week for updates. Disheartened but determined, Tracy stepped out, clutching her father's coat as if it were a shield against the uncertainties of her world.

With her thoughts in turmoil, she decided to head to college. Despite the chaos in her life, she knew she couldn't afford to let her studies falter. Her jewelry design courses were her only hope for a stable future. Her sister, Stella, was also struggling, having completed her modeling graduation but finding it hard to secure a job in the competitive entertainment industry. Stella had done a few advertisements for cosmetics and clothing, but the pay barely covered her expenses.

At the college library, Tracy tried to focus, but her mind kept returning to the ancient script. A tap on her shoulder startled her. She turned to see Professor Langdon standing behind her, accompanied by a young man.

"Good morning, Professor. It's been a while," Tracy said with a faint smile.

"Good morning, Tracy. Yes, I've been away, working on some research back in my homeland. I've been delving into ancient American and London scripts, as well as some fascinating scientific discoveries linked to the Bible," Langdon replied enthusiastically.

He gestured to the young man beside him. "This is Robert, one of my brightest students from last year. He shares your interest in ancient texts and has a remarkable understanding of Greek and German scripts."

Tracy shook hands with Robert, exchanging polite greetings. The trio gathered some books and moved to the cafeteria for coffee. Over steaming cups, Langdon's keen eyes observed Tracy's pale face.

"What's troubling you, my dear? You look burdened," he asked gently.

Tracy hesitated but eventually confided in them about her missing father, the debts he had left behind, and the mysterious parchment she had discovered. She retrieved the ancient text from her bag and handed it to Langdon.

Langdon examined the parchment closely, his brows furrowed in concentration. "The script is indeed ancient Greek, but some symbols are unfamiliar. It appears to reference a hidden treasure, possibly in India, but the exact details are unclear."

He passed the parchment to Robert, who studied it intently but could not decipher much either. Suddenly, Robert's face lit up. "I might have something that could help," he said, rummaging through his backpack. He pulled out a USB device resembling a charger pin.

"This," he explained, "is a translation tool my batchmate developed. It scans ancient texts and translates them into any modern language. You just need to download the associated application."

Tracy and Langdon exchanged astonished glances. Tracy took the device with gratitude. "Thank you, Robert. This could be exactly what I need."

They continued chatting, and the conversation shifted to Tracy's financial struggles. Robert mentioned a textile shop nearby that was hiring both salesgirls and models.

"The pay is good," Robert said. "A salesgirl earns $1000, and a model earns $2000. I can give you the contact details if you're interested."

Tracy's eyes lit up. "That sounds perfect! My sister Stella is also looking for work. Could you share the details?"

Robert handed her a business card. "Tell them I referred you. Best of luck, Tracy."

That evening, as Tracy watched the sunset from her room, she felt a flicker of hope. The sky was ablaze with fiery oranges and purples, as if promising a brighter tomorrow. The mysteries surrounding her father and the ancient script weighed heavily on her, but she now had tools and allies to face them. Determined, she resolved to uncover the truth, clear her family's debts, and secure a future for herself and Stella. With the moon rising once again, casting its silvery glow, Tracy knew the journey ahead would be challenging but worth every step.