What they say is true. Sleep is a blissful blessing. Braylan woke up the next morning, a little late though. He could hear his mom's furious voice.
"Braylon, if you don't come down in next five minutes, I will take your phone away." Well she did take his phone twice. So he went to the bathroom, took a quick shower while brushing and was down within 10 minutes. Jane didn't think she should go hard on him as he came down after 7 minutes and smiled at her sons.
Jayden was already sitting at the dining table, eating his waffles with whipped cream.
'Well it's typical Jayden to be a very good and punctual boy.' He thought and sat beside him.
"I still don't get why you love waffles with whipped cream." He said, pulling his plate towards him and pouring maple syrup on his waffles.
"The way I don't get why you eat them with maple syrup?" He asked innocently.
"We both have our priorities sorted then," he replied with a sigh and Jayden punched him in shoulder, laughing.
"Come on boys. Finish your breakfast and be quick. Oh no! Marco!" Jane said, washing her plate. "Marco! I said you to bring groceries! You forgot! Boys" she said turning towards them. " You will have to buy some snacks on your way to school."
"It's okay! We will buy!" Jayden said and he nodded.
They walked out of the house and started their journey towards their schools. After sometime, their ways parted. Jayden went to his school and Braylan turned back.. He had a plan. He was going to bunk his school and search Jayden's room. This was not a good idea and he would feel the guilt for the rest of his life. But greater good needs some small crimes. He walked in a supermarket that was near his school and was not in the way of his parents' office, and spent almost half an hour checking all the aisles.
Luckily, his school was not the one that notifies the parents if their ward is absent and his school had a dress code but not a colour code. So today he purposely wore something informal that wouldn't be against his dress code and at the same time, he would never step his school in that type of dressing. The dress code was simple. The shirt should not be sleeveless. It should be half sleeved or full sleeved. Shorts were not allowed and bushirts were preferred, not compulsory. He had many formal shirts that he wore to the school. He liked to be formally dressed while attending the school, but today, he wore a dark green shirt which had a quote writing in the front. It read- I am the coolest of all' with a grey track pant.
After half an hour, he had some chocolate bars, chocolate cookies, doritos and Cheetos. After billing and payment, be was sure that his parents would not be home. But just to be extra careful, he went to the cycling park and had a lot of fun. Then finally after an hour, he returned back and ofcourse, no one was home. He washed his face and freshen up. He had to admit it. He was scared to go inside his brother's room all alone. But he had to do it! So he steeled himself and entered the room.
He searched the closet, the study table, the storage under bed and it was full of Jayden's snacks. He was tempted to steal a few of his Snickers but thought better of it. He had found nothing and the bookshelf and the cupboard in which there were toys and trophies were left. So far, he wasn't able to find anything that was useful, except snacks. He searched the cupboard and he found something. It was the cursed necklace Jacob had been talking about. But there was a note with it.
'Visit the 7th grave in the 4th row. It will be fun!' He almost fainted. So this was where he was yesterday. He thought. He didn't want to touch the necklace and he was definitely not leaving that note. He tore it into pieces and burnt it in the kitchen sink. He did capture a picture of the necklace and the note before burning it, though.
There was no need of searching the book stand. He found something that ivery dangerous. Was Jayden hiding it from him or was it placed just now? He thought. He felt betrayed and wanted to soothe he heart by thinking that it was placed today itself. But that didn't explain Jayden's behaviour the previous day. He was sitting in the living room as he wanted to stay far away from Jayden's room and at the same time, being in the house. He was sitting on the couch with his head in his hands. He was so worried that he couldn't think of anything else but Jayden.
He jumped out of his skin when he heard a loud thud from upstairs. He ran up and in Jayden's room. There was nothing on the floor. So he ran to his room and the disaster was there.
*********
Samuel waited for his buddy to come. But he didn't. The school hours were eating him. Usually, he and Braylan survived the boring classes by commenting on some boring topic. They would snigger silently and then pass another comment. He also wanted to share his recent discovery with him. He forgot to update it in the group so he decided that he will tell him in person. He found a book on Satanic Cults, their symbols and powers in his house. He even started reading it. It was written by three authors. One was exorcist, and the other two were professors in some supernatural department. It was over a thousand pages and he was able to read about the authors only.
Finally when the bell rang, indicating the end of the school hours, he grabbed his cycle and paddled as fast as he could. He reached his home, changed clothes, ate after school snack, spoke to his mom for some time and then ran outside and rang the doorbell of his friend's house.
*********
His toys and books were on the floor. The closet was open and its contents were still in their place. He bravely walked inside the room. He was scared. What did this mean? He slowly walked towards the mess and started picking up the books. He started arranging his bookshelf when he heard someone laugh. I am imagining things? He told himself and continued his work. He heard another giggle.
"Still imagining!" he whispered to himself. He was not going to believe that he was also a target for some invisible thing. He heard Whispers around him. They were in some strange language and he could not understand. The temperature around him dropped. He was shivering from cold and fear.
' I should leave the house for sometime!' He thought and ran out of the house. Luckily he still had the keys in his pocket or else he would have been in trouble. He walked towards the library, but then turned back. He felt silly now. He shouted not have freaked out in this way. Feeling angry with himself, he walked back to his house. He checked the clock while climbing and it was almost dispersal time. He should better hurry in cleaning the mess or it would be hard to explain. He went back to his room and started arranging his toys. When he was done, he noticed something that didn't belong to him It was a piece of old parchment. He cautiously picked it.
'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!'
He read the poem again. It was an ultimatum. No body knew about his plan. It was written in red ink but he had a horrible feeling that it was not red ink but blood. But he tried to ignore it and tried to understand what this warning could mean.
The doorbell rang and made him shriek. He went downstairs and opened the door, still clutching the parchment. He opened the door and saw Samuel.
"Hi!" He said cheerfully but when he saw Braylan was all pale and holding a note, his cheerfulness vanished. "What is that?" He asked seriously.
"Come inside."
The boys were sitting in the living room and Samuel had read the warning. Braylan was now filling him with his detective work. Braylan had taken the parchment and folded it and kept it inside his pocket. He then showed Samuel the picture he had captured.
"So what are you planning to do?" Samuel asked after sometime. "You can leave it upto us if you want, you know!" He added and Braylan didn't reply. He was thinking.
"No! I willl not give up. Whatever happens, I am not leaving. I can't leave." He said, his voice ull of determination, his pale face shining with determination. " I will not leave him alone even for a second. I will not let him visit that grave." He said in a determined voice.