text: [Themes: mystery / thriller, puzzle]
  
  The minute Mike decided to make a investigation, it needed serious help. He was going to different levels, desperately looking for answers. The hardest part of the investigation was, he had no back up.
  
  Mike headed off to the side streets, desperately finding any way he can to attract people to his investigation. More and More time passed, and Mike began to lose hope on starting one on his own.
  
  But that night. Mike had an idea. As he was heading down his normal route looking for people. He stopped into a local staples, and grabbed paper, and pencils. While he was there, he picked up some staples too.
  
  Later that night, Mike had put ads up along where he travels. He attracted many people by the next morning, where he slept at a local hotel. He got a few phone calls. One at 9 in the morning.
  
  "Hello," Mike said, as he picked up the phone half asleep. "Who is this?"
  
  "This is Adam Henrick, I got your message on the pole by the food store, what a great place to put it," Adam laughed. "But I am interested, and so are my colleagues."
  
  "Well, great!" Mike exclaimed, all of the sudden happy. "When do you want to start?"
  
  "Thats the problem," Adam said, a little nervous. "I would like something in return, and I want it now."
  
  Mike, being in the bad mood he had been in, had gotten into a worse mood. His mind was already changing due to stress. That just put him in a worse mood.
  
  "Listen, Adam!" Mike yelled with no regrets. "You need to understand--"
  
  "I understand," Adam interrupted. "You want to give me nothing, but its either, you give me a little something, or no help!" Adam exclaimed.
  
  Giving up hope, Mike just either had to buy in and bribe Adam, and his friends with something, or he wouldn't get any help. His only other option would be too continue threatening them.
  
  > bribe the people
  Mike wondered how he can fully get them to listen. He wondered with all the money he had, how could he bribe them into working for him, unless...
  
  "I'll give you what you want, three things a month, you want most dearly." Mike insisted.
  
  "You mean that?" Adam said, suddenly excited.
  
  "Yes, I mean that." said Mike. Not totally sure if he did. Mike re-thought what he just said, and didn't know where to go with it. As Adam continued on talking, Mike did very little listening. all he heard was Adam talking about what he wanted.
  
  "It had to be really antique, because my wife wants it to be very valuable." Adam went on. "She loves that stuff, she is a big fan."
  
  Mike had a idea of what to say. "Excuse me?" He said to Adam, suddenly, throwing Adam off track.
  
  "What?" Adam asked, a little annoyed. "What do you want, it's my wife's birthday in two weeks, I want to get her something good."
  
  "About that," Mike began. "You need to understand I'm not made of money completely." Mike spoke softly to the phone as he said that.
  
  "Thanks," Adam said. "You have already promised me what I wanted, now your not coming through!" Adam yelled. "You make your choice now." Adam was getting more furious by the minute.
  
  "What would happen if I didn't come through/" Mike asked nervously.
  
  "You would have no head, is what would happen!" Adam yelled. Adam was on a roll. "You cannot promise somebody something and not do it." Adam said. "That is just wrong!"
  
  With that being said, Mike felt a lump in his throat. He knew it was up to him, either he had to come through and be the real man, or not come through, and see what is in store for him then.
  
  > come through on everything promised
  Mike began bribing everyone for anything they wanted. He was running out of money already. He bought them tons of gifts, and was giving up tons of money on his job.
  
  Not believing that the right thing to do would be to stop, Mike attempted to give someone a different gift then he wanted. Mike saved $130 dollars on a gift, and gave it to the person.
  
  As the person, named Seth opened the gift, he couldn't believe what he saw. It was a cheap gift not what he wanted. Mike had already left, expecting an explosion.
  
  So before long, Mike just saw everyone calling him. Mike didn't answer, but they left threats on the answering machine. Then, Mike was exiting the hotel one day. As he entered his car, he saw a few people, all were walking toward Mike with things he couldn't see, all he knew was...
  
  "I've got to get out of here!" Mike quickly screamed, as he fled in his car. He could see them walking with the sticks, or whatever they were for blocks.
  
  > escape to home, where they are chasing after you
  Mike wanted out immediately. He got that wish, he escaped, he was on his way home. When Mike got back, he quickly entered the house, looking for information.
  
  "I need to find that information!" Mike yelled, "I only have a few minutes, before the people track me down."
  
  Mike eventually found some information. It was on a napkin, it was hard for him to read, but once he read it, it said:
  
  "Mike, I'm sorry if you got to this late, but I killed myself. My childhood was a mess. I couldn't take anymore stress. It added on to me, and honestly killed me. Good luck in life,
  
  Karen.
  
  Mike sat on the bed, next to where the napkin was crying. Not even a minute later, he heard screams of people.
  
  "Hurry up!" A few people yelled. They were here, ready to take down Mike.
  
  "Look at this," Mike said. Pointing at the napkin. He handed it to one of them. They read it.
  
  "Alright," The person said. "Wow," He said again. "Well, I guess we should leave then," He exited, but let the door stay open. "Lastly, if you would like, close the door."
  
  Mike never closed the door. For hours, he just sat back on his bed, crying, as the napkin became hard to read, with the tears on it.