𝐀 𝐅𝐄𝐖 𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒 𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐑:
Jayden returned from his very last psychiatrist visit. He was not looking forward to going to school the next day. The words 'Jayden- The deranged lunatic' still rang in his ears. He was scared that if he attend the school next day, Jackson would come up with something worse. His brother called him down for dinner. He ate his spaghetti in silence.
He went to the bed as usual . But he couldn't sleep. An hour passed, still couldn't sleep. Two hours, same result.
Finally it was past midnight and he was still awake. He heard some Whispers. Suddenly there was a strange glow in his room. He searched for the source of this shine and found a round orb of light in the centre of the room. He gaped at it in awe. It was such a beautiful thing. The orb was moving towards him. It hit Jayden's chest but he didn't feel anything. The orb started moving away from him. He sat still on his bed, staring that beautiful thing go away from him. The orb moved back and nudged him in the chest once again. It was like the orb wanted him to follow it. Jayden got to his feet and started walking slowly. He followed the orb until he was in the spare room.
The room was empty. There was nothing except for the bed and cupboard. Jayden had no idea why the orb wanted to bring him here. Jayden turned back to the door but it closed on its on accord. He tried to open it, but it was locked. He felt the dread of unknown. Was that orb of light something bad? But it was a very beautiful thing and bad powers can't disguise as something so beautiful and so pure. But the locked door? He was now feeling a bit sleepy. He had no choice so he climbed the bed and soon he was in deep sleep. Was he asleep because he wanted to or was he asleep because someone else wanted him to sleep.
He was sleeping. He was trapped in the sleep. He wanted to wake up. Someone was very close to him.They were staring him. Something was ruffling his hair. He could smell the rot. He wanted to wake up. He was struggling against this cursed sleep. But he couldn't wake up. He felt pain. His head hurted really bad.
Suddenly, the veil of sleep was lifted. The room was empty now. He sat on the bed, thinking what to do. He stood and walked towards the door. It was still locked. For a fraction of second he thought of banging the door until someone comes and unlocks it. But he felt the presence of someone. He turned behind and saw a very beautiful man standing behind him.
"Who are you?" He asked.
"Why did you come here?" The man asked. Jayden had no other answer for this so he shrugged.
"Did you tell anyone before coming here? Does anyone know that you are here?" He asked again and Jayden shook his head.
"Good! We can have some fun now!" The man replied with a smile that did not suit him.
"What do you mean?" Jayden asked, he had goosebumps all over his body and he was scared. The man laughed coldly. He started walking towards him. Suddenly more of them started popping. They were surrounding him.
Finally, the last one came with a box that he had seen in his dreams many times. He walked towards Jayden and handed him the box.
"Take it and open it!" He ordered. Jayden refused. He was definitely not going to take whatever it was. He stood there motionless. Suddenly the air started pressing him. He could feel a lot of pressure around him.
"Take it!" The man ordered again. Jayden knew whatever was inside would be very harmful. He now regretted following the orb. He should have woken Braylan and said him about this. Didn't the spirit warn him before? The boy had said him to be careful and he had protected him before too. He had walked here like a fool. He was now regretting his desicion. The pressure around him reduced and he took a great shot of air. But now the pain was in him. It was like his blood carried pain. He could feel the veins twitching and bones twisting. The pain was unimaginable.
"Open it!" He ordered and Jayden gave up. He was just a thirteen-year-old boy. He couldn't have resisted much more. He opened the box.
"Take it!" The man ordered. Jayden didn't have much power left to resist. He took the thing that was inside the box. It was the necklace! There was a blur of movement. Jayden stood in the centre, numb from head to toe. He couldn't see, hear or feel anything. He was falling into a black hole.
****
Jayden woke up. It was not morning yet. He had the necklace with him. He just touched it on the chain. He hid the necklace first. He remembered that he was in a room and a beautiful man had given him for save keeping. He had no recollection of the pain and pressure. He didn't even remember that the giver was the scariest thing he had ever seen.
He couldn't go back to sleep now. He sat on his bed, thinking what to do. He had the strange urge to go and see the Amulet. But he resisted it and opened the window. The breeze was cool and he felt refreshed.
*******
It was finally morning and when Jayden saw himself in mirror, he started making reasons for staying home. His eyes were puffy and bloodshot.
"Mom, my head hurts." He said at the breakfast table. Jane glanced towards him and with that face, she thought it would be better if he stays at home.
After breakfast everyone was in school or at work except for him. He was home alone. He was too lazy and tired to do anything so he simply stretched and went back to bed. He jumped in the bed and the weather was cool. Refreshing breeze was coming through the window. He was enjoying it. He closed his eyes and soon be was asleep.
He woke up after sleeping for one hour. He took a shower and he heard his stomach growling. He went to the pantry and took a large packet of cheesy Cheetos. He sat on the couch, playing PS and munching his snack. After finishing one round of game, he went to wash his hands and he found himself thinking about the necklace. He just wanted to see it and no one was around so no one will know about the whearabout of the necklace. He dashed to his room and opened his closet.
There was a note near the necklace. Jayden was shocked and curious. He carefully took the note and it said-
'Dear Jayden,
I think you need some fresh air and freedom. Why don't you visit the park with graveyard?
From
Someone who cares.'
Jayden read and reread the note for 5 minutes. He concluded that it was from Jane and she wanted him to go there. He checked the time. Half an hour later Braylan would come back from school. So he quickly grabbed the keys and went outside.
The park was crowded today. The moment he entered, head turned towards him, people smiled and they started coming towards him. The stopped at a certain distance and he was surrounded by them. He walked and walked and finally, they reached the graveyard.
What Jayden failed to notice was the appearance of these people. Their arms could bend in both the directions and their legs too. Their nails were twisted and their fingers were long and twisted too. But here, in graveyard, he had no choice but to acknowledge that they were not humans as they suddenly disappeared. Jayden was scared. He was deep in the graveyard and now he was alone. He heard a twig crack and he turned in the direction of sound. No one was visible.
"Hello!" He said and no one was there to reply.
He was about to leave this place when he was surrounded by shadows. These shadows were playing something. They would come near him, slap him or just touch him and go back. It kept happening and then Jayden felt weak. He was in pain. He lost his consciousness. But he was still standing.
"It is not the time. GO BACK!" Someone said and the shadows started disappearing one by one.
Jayden could see his sheild. It was a bit shaky but it was still there. He knew it would hold on for few months. He couldn't explain what his sheild was and how he was able to see his when he was in slumbers or was unconscious.
He finally regained his consciousness and started finding his way back. He reached the house and Braylon was standing with Jacob. Jayden wanted to shout. He wanted to tell where he was and what he had. But something was forcing him to shut up. He was a mere prisoner of this force. It made him lie and Jayden was really miserable. He wanted to overthrow this force. He walked back to his room after fooling the only two people who had believed him. He was crying. He slammed the door shut and when he turned, he saw the door of his cupboard was open. He ran and started searching for the necklace. Instead of necklace, he found something else...