Jayden returned from the library with a couple of books on amphibians. He had a biology project to complete before next Monday. He always loved to complete his work beforehand so that he can be calm and stress-free at the last moment. He was planning to complete it by Tuesday or Wednesday. So he started collecting information for his project. He was really busy in reading and organising the books that he lost track of time. He had his dinner and started working once again. It was almost ten at night when his mom entered his room.
"Holly Molly, Jayden! Go to bed now! It is way past your bedtime. "
"Yeah mom. Goodnight. " He replied. His eyes were getting heavy and it was better for him to sleep. He was too lazy to change into PJ's so he jumped into his bed and closed his eyes. He felt asleep almost immediately.
Jayden woke up with a start. Someone was sitting near his head, more like squatting near his head. That someone was stroking his hair. Jayden shot up straight and clicked his bed lamp on. Squatting on the floor was Roger.
"What the hell Roger! What do you think you are doing? " He asked in an angry whisper.
"Ares asked me to be here. He said you have a habit of running into trouble at night. " Roger replied.
"Well he asked you to be here. Not to wake me up you idiot. " He replied angrily.
"Woah! Calm down! I was just playing with your hair. " He replied.
"You woke me up. Now I can't go back to sleep. You go now. Please. I swear I won't leave the room before dawn. I even brought a bottle of water so I don't have to go down. ' He replied.
" It's okay. I will be here. Please. " Roger pleaded.
"No Roger. Please go away. " Roger opened his mouth to argue but Jayden held his hand up and said- "Now! "
"Alright! " Roger murmured and disappeared into the thin air.
"These spirits, either good or bad will not let me live peacefully. " He muttered like an old, grumpy lady and tossed in his bed to get into a comfortable position. He was asleep once again within five minutes and Roger had reappeared beside him. He didn't touch him or tried to come near him.
"I won't leave you that easily Jayden. Don't worry. " He said, smiling slyly and Jayden made an indistinct sound in his throat and continued sleeping.
******
Jayden woke up in the morning with a feeling of not getting enough sleep. He followed his morning routine lazily. After getting ready for the school, he headed down, towards the kitchen to eat some breakfast. To his disappointment, breakfast was some toast with avocado paste. Everyone liked avocado in his family but he was not a big fan of avocados. He sighed and ate his slice of toast with some orange juice. It was not a great morning.
"Mom what are you packing for lunch? " He asked
"Some cheese sticks with ham and cheese sandwiches. " She replied.
"That sounds great. Thanks mom. " He said, feeling his spirits rising up. At least the lunch was good. "Can we have Mac and cheese for dinner? " He asked hopefully.
"Yeah mom. We didn't eat Mac and cheese in like forever. " Braylan said while spreading generous amount of avocado on his toast.
"Okay boys but first finish your breakfast and lunch. Then you can worry about dinner as much as you want. " She replied, packing their lunches and the boys smiled.
After eating his breakfast, Jayden cycled his way to the school. Jacob was already in the classroom when Jayden entered. Jayden was planning to tell Jacob about Roger. The moment they greeted each other, Jayden started informing him about Roger. He wanted to tell Jacob before their teacher entered the class. He said about the first meeting and the night incident. Jacob heard it with gasps at right time, not even giving a hint that he knew everything all along. More than everything Jayden knew.
"Good for you man! Even I was a bit curious about this spirit boy's disappearance. " He said with a smile. He was about to ask something when their Math teacher entered the class. Talking in his class was equal to a two hour wort detention. So they started their work quietly and saved the rest of questions and answers for later. They didn't get a chance to speak until the lunch break. They sat on a table with only each other for company. William was sick so he hadn't attended the school since last Thursday. So the trio was reduced to only them.
"So this Roger boy, he said he is a friend of Ares, right? " Jacob asked after settling down. Jayden nodded in reply and opened his pack of cheese sticks. "So do you trust him? " He asked.
"Well I think I do. He seems like a good person. "
"Good spirit you mean. " Jacob said with a smile. Jayden smiled too and held the bag of cheese sticks.
"Have some cheese sticks. " He said and started eating his sandwich. They ate their lunch, talked about the project they were to complete and about some other stuff that were totally random. Soon it was time for their classes and after classes, the boys headed back to their homes with the plan of playing basketball in Jacob's backyard. Jayden was feeling happy. He hadn't been this happy since almost five to six months. He didn't have any unexplained urge to hurt someone since Sunday breakfast. It was a good thing. This made him trust Roger even more. It was like his presence was a good omen and that finally he will succeed in defeating the evil around him. He reached home completed the usual tasks of changing and bathing. He sat down and started his project.
"Jayden." Someone called him. He turned around to see Roger standing a few feet away from him.
"Hi Roger, wassup." He greeted him casually as though popping out of thin air in someone's room was completely understandable.
" You need to be extra cautious. I am here to warn you. "
"Cautious from whom? " He asked casually.
"Everyone. Do not trust anyone. Did you tell anyone about me? " Roger asked. He was very serious.
"I mentioned it to my best friend. " He replied, this time very seriously.
"Oh! You shouldn't have done that! " He said, hitting his forehead with his palm. "Anyway, what's done is done. You can't undo it. But be careful from next time. You can't share our meetings with anyone. Do you understand? "
"Okay. But why? I mean I shared it with my friend. "
"You can't even trust people who are closest to you. " he replied. But before Jayden could say anything, Roger looked towards the window and- "Oh no! " He exclaimed, his eyes wide with fear. "Promise me Jayden you will be careful and keep our meetings secret. " He whispered quickly, his tone full of urgency.
"I promise but.. " even before he could complete his word, Roger disappeared and Jayden turned towards the window to see what had frightened Roger so much. What he saw unnerved him. He was not expecting anything like this. Not when he had Roger to protect him. But now he had to face it. Once again.