The boys didn't need words to communicate. They started running towards Jacob's house. His house was nearer from this park.
"He is following us!" Jayden said while running. People were giving them weid looks.
"Why are they staring us like we are doing something wrong? Can't they see an old creep following two young boys?" Jacob said. They finally reached Jacob's house and turned in time to see the old man disappearing into thin air.
"He is not a human." was all Jayden could say.
"Oh no!" cried Jacob. "I forgot my keys and mom's not home. She is in the hospital, doing her shift. Dad's not home either. He went on a business trip. "
"It's alright. Come with me. Be quick. I don't want to be outside anymore." And the boys started walking towards Jayden's house.
"Mom ,Jacob's here for lunch." Jayden informed his mother who smiled and nodded.
"Should we tell someone about it? Parents or cops?" Jacob asked after entering Jayden's room.
"No Jacob! No! I said you. No one's going to believe us!"
"But someone ought to know about all this." Jacob tried to persuade him.
"If I say another word about this matter, I will probably have to visit a psychologist for months. Mom and dad think I am becoming paranoid."
"Yeah! You are probably right."
"What about your basketball practice?"
" I don't know. I didn't speak mom regarding this."
"Let's practice in backyard." Jayden said so that they will have something to do. Jacob agreed to this and they started practicing basketball. The boys were trying to act normal. Both of them found it hard to concentrate and after sometime, they simply gave up and went back upstairs.
'I think we are in trouble!" Jacob said. His eyes showed that he was doing some deep thinking. He had been thinking alot about this matter lately. He also came up with a lot of theories, but wasn't sure if he should share them with his already scared friend. He loved horror movies and horror books. He had a collection of such books and also had alot of informative books on this matter. If he just had a key to his house, he would read them and understand this matter. He felt guilty because he thought it was his fault that Jayden had touched the amulet.
The room was silent. Nothing like this had ever happened before as the boys couldn't stop talking about random stuff. But now, both of them were sitting next to each other and that was because both of them were scared and needed some physical reassurance. So they were providing it to each other.
The silence in the room was broken by a giggle followed by a groan.
"What was that?" said Jayden, inspecting the room for the source of the noise. Jacob shrugged his shoulders. There was the sound of paper and immediately spotted the source. Jayden's books were lying open. It was not windy and the books were hardcover so it was concluded that someone invisible was with them. They were trying to adapt this when suddenly his whole bookshelf was emptied on the floor. The books fell with a loud thud.
"Jayden, Jayyyden!" He heard a whisper on his left. He was scared and Jacob didn't seem to hear it because he was still looking at the books with wide eyes. Jayden slowly turned to his left.
******************
Braylan was worried about his brother. He believed him even if his parents didn't. He knew that he wasn't lying or making up things or hallucinating. He was not really sure if his brother would confide in him after their parents' behaviour. He felt bad for how his dad laughed at Jayden. Maybe he should have stood up for his brother. He wasn't a big mature guy, he was just eleven. But he and Jayden were pretty close. His brother trusted him and Jacob the most. Just like he trusts his brother and Samuel.
Maybe I should try speaking with mom and dad regarding this. Maybe they will see the reason when I try. He thought. He overheard Jayden and Jacob today in the park. He heard what happened with his brother last night. He knew that it was wrong to overhear but he had no choice. After the breakfast, he doubted that Jayden would ever confide anything in him or their parents anymore. So he has to do it.
I will try to speak with Jacob. I will say him that I believe them and maybe he will explain me what is actually happening. He thought and with this plan, he started walking towards his home just to find it locked. Thinking that maybe Jacob is in their house, Braylon started walking towards their house.
**********
Standing there was a man he had never seen. He was wearing a red shroud. His fingers were longer than he had ever seen, the fingernails were impossibly long ,pointed and were black. His feet were twisted, his knees were like a camel's. The toes were long and the toenails were black too. His eyes were bloodshot and seemed to be bleeding. His nose seemed like it was broken atleast 5 times in his life. There was something else that seemed unnatural but it was hard to point out. It was his teeth. While each and every human canines, incisors, premolars and molars, he had incisors only. His teeth were pointed and seemed like they were really dirty. The stranger had a strange tool in his hand. It was very sharp but Jayden didn't know what he would do with it.
"Please don't hurt us. Please." he cried softly. The man giggled and raised his tool and started coming closer.
"Please don't hurt us. You can take everything. But don't hurt us." Jayden was sobbing now.
***************
Braylan opened the door. Their mom wasn't home. She went out to get some groceries. He locked the door and went in the kitchen to drink water. He just took a sip from his glass when
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!" He heard his brother screaming. He threw the glass and ran upstairs to his brother's room to see what had happened.