*
*The Return to the Village*
Titi was finishing school and heading back to his family's village for the holidays. He was looking forward to seeing his grandparents and enjoying the peaceful country life. But this time, these vacations would be much more eventful than the previous ones.
Once in the village, Titi joined his grandparents in their family home. He spent the first few days resting and enjoying the sun. But after two weeks, he started to get bored. He decided to explore the house from top to bottom.
*The Discovery of the Chest*
Titi went up to the attic, where he found an old wooden chest. It was covered in dust and cobwebs. Titi was intrigued by the mysterious chest. He observed it closely, trying to guess what it might contain.
"Who knows what's inside?" he wondered.
Suddenly, he heard a strange noise coming from the chest. "Grou grou"! Titi was surprised and frightened. He took a step back, his heart racing.
*The Voice from the Chest*
"Who's there?" Titi asked in a trembling voice.
"Please help me!" a weak and pleading voice replied.
Titi was surprised and curious. He approached the chest and asked, "Who are you? What are you doing in there?"
The voice grew clearer: "Please help me get out. I've been trapped for years."
Titi hesitated for a moment. Should he help this stranger? But his curiosity got the better of him. He decided to help.
*Opening the Chest*
Titi tried to lift the lid of the chest, but it was stuck. He heard a creaking sound, and then the chest slowly opened. Titi was surprised to see a man doubled over, his eyes closed.
The man opened his eyes and looked at Titi. "Thank you, young man," he said in a weak voice. "My name is... my name is..."
Titi was surprised by the man's appearance. He was thin and pale, with sunken eyes.
"I'll help you get out," Titi said.
But when he tried to do so, the man cried out in pain. Titi was surprised and stepped back.
"Sorry," he said. "I didn't mean to hurt you."
The man was panting, his eyes closed. "It's not a big deal," he whispered. "I'm just a bit weak."
Titi looked at the man with compassion. He decided to help him get out of the chest, but he didn't know how yet.
And then, he saw something that made him hesitate. A 10,000 franc note slipped out of the man's mouth. Titi was surprised, and his heart skipped a beat.
What did it all mean? Was it a dream or reality? Titi didn't know what to think.
*To be continued...*