"So you say you are not in danger. What made you think that?" Jacob asked casually.
"I jut know it. Its like a feeling. A comforting thought!" Jayden replied. "Why do you ask about it?" He added.
"Just asking. No reason." Jacob lied. "See you tomorrow. I am busy in the evening. He are going to Gran's house today." He said, peddling towards his home.
"Ok Bye!" Jayden had reached the door of his house. He entered the house and sure enough Braylan and Samuel were sitting in the living room, holding joysticks but not playing anything. They greeted him and he replied them with a smile. He went to his room to freshen up.
He opened the cupboard to check the necklace and sure enough it was there wrapped in a note. He smiled and unwrapped the note.
"Dear Jayden,
You have to visit 8th grave in 5th row. We are having fun. We don't want to miss it like last time. Why don't you head there as soon as you read it? Believe me, you will love it!
Your well wisher.
P.S. : Don't forget the necklace."
Jayden smiled. He was going to the graveyard today. No one could stop him. He was not even scared. He washed his hands and face, dried up, changed into a comfortable dress, wore his running shoes, pocketed the amulet and walked downstairs.
"Where are you going?" Braylan asked him.
"I have some work. I have to meet William." He replied.
"I'll come with you."
" No Braylan I am fine."
"I am bored. Please. I wanna come too."
"Look Braylan!" He said in a stern voice that was filled with annoyance. "I don't need you to dog me around. I said I am fine I can go by myself. Why do you insist?" He walked towards the door, ignoring the hurt look on Braylan's face.
'He should stop it. I am not going to drop ded or something.' He thought angrily. ' I need some privacy. I don't need someone or the other breathing down my neck every second. They need to stop it.'
He reached the graveyard and walked towards the mentioned place. It was strange that he was neither scared nor happy. All he could feel was numbness. He reached the grave and carefully observed the place. It was a typical graveyard. He walked around the grave. The gravestone didn't have any name on it. May be it stood against many stormy nights and very hot days. But it was as smooth as paper. Almost. Jayden sat beside the grave which was something he never thought he would do.
"So you came here!" Said a warm voice and he turned to look who ot was. It was an old lay with her face covered in wrinkles and unnaturally black hair that were tied up in a bun. She was smiling pleasantly. Jayden felt the warmth of her smile and felt himself smiling in reply too. "You are a good boy, Jayden. I want to help you." She said warmly and Jayden didn't even bother to ask her how she knew his name. His smile widened as the old lady sat beside him and kissed him on the forehead.
"So tell me young lad," she said with her warm smile. "how are you?" The conversation continued. Old lady, who siad her name was Olivia, asked Jayden questions about his personal life and Jayden answered her. He felt indescribable happiness in the presence of this lady. When Olivia aske d him to meet her after three days on the same spot, he accepted the offer immediately.
"Okay young boy, I will see you." She said and kissed him on forehead once again.
"Ok, Bye!" Jayden said and Olivia started walking away and Jayden watched her going away. He was smiling but he didn't notice a boy standing near him, shaking his head in disappointment and sighing hopelessly.
******
Braylan had asked Samuel to leave at once just after they heard the whisper. Now he was pacing his room angrily.
"The more I try to help him, the more idiotic he becomes. Moron!" He was speaking to himself. " Why doesn't he get the fact that I am helping him! What is wrong with him? If he is keeping secrets, how will I help him?!" He heard the front door open and close.
"Braylan, Jayden you guys home?" Jane called from downstairs.
"Yeah, I am not home." He shouted.
"Where is Jayden?" She asked.
"He went to William's." He replied bitterly. Jane didn't reply and he sat on his bed with his head on his arms. If Jayden's attitude was not going to change, he would beat him up until he decides to be like how he was. With this, he called on of his friends and asked him to share everything they did in the room school. He quickly finished his work and started pacing his room once again. It had been an hour and Jayden was still not back.
"Maybe he is with William." He whispered to himself. "Probably I am just being paranoid."
"Sorry didn't catch that." A cold whisper, followed by a humourless giggle ran across the room, making him jump out of his skin. He looked around his room and didn't find anyone or anything.
He was scared. Something was going to happen. He knew it. He texted his friends (Sam and Jacob) about this. He also mentioned his feeling about something bad was going to happen. He kept his phone aside and walked downstairs. He needed company and his mom would be a good company.
*******
Jayden finally left the graveyard and started walking home. He felt like he found his long lost family member. Olivia was a very kind lady and she gave him a feeling of comfort and warmth. He would surely come back and meet her. He was disappointed at the long gap between their next meet. He was thinking that he would tell Olivia to meet him daily. But still he felt joyous and walked back home smiling ear to ear. He didn't bring the keys so he will have to ring the doorbell.
He reached home and Braylan opened the door for him. He didn't acknowledge him and turned his back and didn't say a word. His smile widened. He knew he should feel bad that his brother is mad at him and won't talk to him but as they say every cloud has a silver lining and the silver lining for this cloud was-
He could go wherever he wanted without his brother breathing down at his neck. He walked upstairs, towards his room, still smiling.