His recent discovery made them all shocked.
"So what does that mean?" Samuel asked him in the classroom. It was Geography and their Geography teacher was a very naive woman. She wouldn't mind if her students whisper in each other's ears. So usually, this class was equivalent to free time. Braylan shrugged. He didn't know what to do or what to expect.
"I don't want to touch it. But I am curious to see what is inside it." Braylon whispered after few seconds.
"May be we can use rubber gloves or something!" Samuel suggested.
"Nice thinking, Sam. But if it is the mortal touch or something? I don't want to suffer direly." He replied.
"What if it is not?"
"Instead of arguing, I think we should find out what this symbol or rune or whatever it is, means. It is really important." He replied, his eyes deep in thoughts. The bell indicated end of the class and they didn't get a chance to speak more about this.
Braylon returned home as usual. He washed his hands and poured some orange juice to quench his thirst. He turned to get some cookies.
"One who meddles with the business that doesn't affect him, shall suffer eternally.
One who tries to change destiny, shall suffer direly.
You have been warned, Oh Meddler!
Beware!" A cold, harsh voice hit his ear drums. He quickly turned back but no one was there. He didn't say a word. So something was after him. He understood the danger he was facing. But he was not going to accept defeat and be scared. But it was the beginning.
After eating a couple of cookies and drinking orange juice, he went to his room to wash up and wear some comfortable clothes. He sat on his bed and opened a book. It was about runes and their meanings. It was a very boring book and his eyes were droopy. If it wasn't for Jayden, he would have never read this book. The sleep was more tempting. He drifted off while reading.
Someone was strangling him. He was not able to breathe.
"Kh...kh.." He was out of breath. He wanted to breathe. He could feel his eyes popping.
My life has reached the end. He thought miserably. I hope rest of my family live long with enough happiness. The world around him was going black. His ears were closed and the pressure left his throat.
*******
Jayden returned back as usual. He had a very normal day as he tried to be near people at all times. This technique worked. He couldn't feel the wickedness. He had a project to complete. They were asked to make a report for their favourite book, write their opinion on the plot and to point out stuff that they thought shouldn't included. Word limit was 2000 words. Jayden knew which book he would choose. He decided that he would start working on the project today itself. He knew that soon other subject teachers will also start assigning them projects. He walked upstairs and saw Braylan sleeping peacefully. He smiled at the little boy. He looked really young when he was asleep. He couldn't believe how he was coping with all the things. He knew for sure that Braylan was usually staying up late at night as he was sleeping late in the morning.
He walked past his brother's room and entered his room. He took a shower, changed into PJ's. He liked to be very comfortable when he was doing his assignments. He went to the bookshelf and picked his favourite books - 39 clues series. He had read the books several times already, so he knew what was in it. He started listing the authors and started typing his work.
"Boys! Come down for dinner!" Marco called.
"Coming!" He shouted. He was passing by Braylan's room, when he saw him. His eyes were popping out of their sockets, he had gone red and he was making choking sounds.
"BRAYLAN!" he shouted and entered the room. He had seen in first aid sessions how to help a choking person. But he was scared to try it.
"MOM! DAD! PLEASE COME HERE! BRAYLAN'S CHOKING" He shouted. Braylan's eyes were now closed. Jayden ran towards him and checked his pulse with shaking hands. He couldn't feel it. Running footsteps indicated that Marco and Jane were coming too. Jayden was hugging Braylan.
"Braylan! Wake up! Please! Open your eyes!" He whispered, touching his forehead and ruffling his hair like he always did when his brother was upset or hurt. But this time he didn't respond. Jane and Marco entered the room. Jane screamed and Marco tried checking Braylon's pulse. He couldn't feel anything.
"I will try CPR." He said weakly. He and Jayden lied Braylon's body straight and Marco started by pinching the nose, counting and pushing. There was no response. Marco lifted his head. His face was covered with sweat and tears were rolling down his cheeks. He shook his head and covered his face with both hands. Jane ran forward and hugged her lifeless son's body and started sobbing.
Jayden felt like his legs were made of jelly. They gave away and he fell down.
'Its all my fault!' He whispered, sobbing. 'Its all my fault!' He was crying. All of them were. He didn't have enough courage to look at his brother's lifeless body.
All the time he thought he was going to die. But now it was his young brother who had contagious cheerfulness. He wanted to see what made his brother choke. He lifted his head and started searching the bed. But there was nothing that could cause choking. H pointed this to his parents.
"Are you sure he was choking? Or was he like having some difficulty in breathing?" Marco asked. Jayden narrated what he saw. He couldn't control his tears. He started sobbing as he relived those moments when his brother was choking. Jane was hugging him. She too was shaking with sobs.
After sometime, Jane and Marco went to do what was necessary. Jayden was left all alone with his brother. He sat down beside him, ruffling his hair. He was devastated. His heart was crushing with the pain. He never thought his brother would ever leave him. It was not possible! How could his sweet little brother leave him. He never hurted someone. How could he leave them all in such a pain, suffering and longing? Then another emotion too lk over him. It was guilt. He could have saved him if he was not scared.
"Forgive me Bray! Its all my fault. I could have saved you if I was not scared. But I was scared that I might hurt you while trying to save you! Please forgive me and come back. Don't leave me alone!" He said, sobbing and knowing that he would never come back now. He was dead! He knew that! But still, he wanted some miracle to happen and bring back his dead brother. Tears were still rolling down his cheeks. He was hugging lifeless Braylan. He could smell the rotting smell. He knew he would have to leave his brother's body. The smell was getting stronger and stronger but he hugged him tightly.
The room was filled with excited whispers. There were smoky figures in the room. They were happy and Jayden understood why.
"Why would you kill a child? Why?" He said. "HE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU OR ANYONE! WHY DID YOU KILL HIM?" He shouted and no one replied. Instead Jane entered the room. She might have heard him. She was hugging him once again, both were sobbing in each other's shoulder.
"They killed him, mom! I know they did." He whispered and his mom hugged him more tightly and patted him in order to comfort him. He was burning with anger. He wanted revenge. He would sacrifice himself if it meant that his brother's killers were hurt.
While the Smiths were devastated, some were not. They were celebrating the death. They had finally succeeded in their mission. They had eliminated the threat. Or did they?