The Rusted Riddle - The Echoes Of The Locked Past  (Paperback, Pranav bayari)

THE RUSTED RIDDLE: ECHOES OF THE LOCKED PAST A Dark Secret. A Hidden Box. A Past That Refuses to Die. In the forgotten corners of a small town cloaked in whispers and shadows, 15-year-old Prawl Bayarden stumbles upon the ashes of a truth long buried. Smart, daring, and scarred by the unsolved murder of his parents, Prawl lives with a pain too heavy for his young shoulders—but the past is not done with him yet. When a mysterious copper box, long rusted and locked tight, resurfaces from the shadows, it pulls Prawl into a terrifying web of riddles, secrets, and betrayal. Guided by sheer determination and the help of his fiercely loyal friend Neil, Prawl begins to untangle the enigma behind the box—a puzzle so layered and complex, it stretches back decades and demands more than just intelligence. It demands courage, sacrifice, and the willingness to face ghosts—both real and metaphorical. But nothing is as it seems. The deeper they dive, the more twisted the trail becomes. What starts as a quest for truth turns into a race for survival. They are led into the haunted halls of Lanchester, where his father once worked—a place reeking of silence and sin. Every riddle they solve leads to another locked door, every clue echoes with the screams of a forgotten past. And in the shadows, someone watches. Someone who knows the truth… and will do anything to keep it hidden. And then, Mr. Wallace vanishes, locking Prawl and Neil in a basement soaked in the echoes of horror. There, they find chilling evidence—Prawl’s parents were held there before their deaths. As Neil begins to behave strangely, suspicions rise. Who can Prawl trust? Who is the enemy? With danger closing in, a mysterious muscular but brilliant spy joins their fight. Together, they must outwit time itself, unlock the riddles, and reveal the true face of the enemy. But just when the truth seems within reach, a shocking twist turns the story upside down—Wallace isn’t the traitor. Neil was blackmailed all along, and the real mastermind remains hidden in the shadows, more dangerous than ever before. This isn’t just a mystery. This isn’t just an adventure. This is war. A war for truth, justice, and a voice silenced too soon. Will Prawl unearth the truth before the past consumes his future? Will the echoes of the locked past finally be heard?