Braylan had heard the crash while he was in the restroom. He had seen Jayden's wound. It was messed up. Now he was at home with his mother, waiting for any news to come from the hospital. Braylan was missing school once again. He texted in the group about what had happened and now he was sitting in his room. He heard the door creaking. He got up to investigate, knowing it was silly to do so. He opened the door of Jayden's room. The chair was laying on the floor, broken. Jayden's study set was white and black. The chair was quite comfortable but not anymore. One of its legs was broken and had bloodstains on it. Braylan walked towards it touched it. Suddenly he saw a scene. It was like he was in a 7-D theatre. Jayden was staring at him and then he moved towards him. He backed off quickly only to trip at the chair. He quickly moved sideways and he saw Roger standing there. The moment Jayden came near him, he threw the chair on him with all his might, and Braylan gasped for air. He was standing beside the chair, holding the broken leg. Was it possible that he was able to see the past or something? He could hear his mom walking downstairs, she was talking to her mother over the call. Braylan left the room and walked down. He took a seat on a couch near the window and listened to Jane telling everything about what happened to Jayden. Then she disconnected the call and called Marco for the latest news.
"They are stitching him. " She informed him. He was numb and didn't reply. Jane came and sat next to him and put a comforting arm around him. "I know it's hard on you. You don't deserve this. All the voices and smells. You can go stay with your Nana or aunt if you wish. "
"No mom. I don't want to leave. I just hope Jayden's fine and he comes back soon. " He replied boldly. He wasn't going to leave. Not when he saw Roger who had contacted his brother as a friend. He knew that all these things were to harm Jayden. He didn't tell any of these to his already worried mom.
"You didn't eat breakfast. Let me make some waffles. " She said hurriedly, her eyes shining from tears.
"Thanks mom, but I am not hungry. " He replied with a sigh.
"No I was preparing waffles before all the hustle. It will take a few. minutes. " She said, getting up and walking into the kitchen.
Braylan was eating waffles with blue berries with Jane. He felt like the waffle was made up of cardboard and sponge. It was extremely dry and chewy and he wasn't able to swallow it. He had pointed this to Jane and she insisted on adding more syrup. " You have to eat something! " She had said and Braylan, after accepting his defeat was trying to swallow his waffle. He was playing with a piece of waffle and trying to chew a piece when he heard a clap, a loud, booming crash followed by running footsteps. The mother and the son exchanged frightened looks and Jane tried to act brave and shouted 'Who's there? ' Of course there was no reply.
Two hours passed without any events. Jayden was all patched up and was given a list if tests and scans that were to be conducted. The cut hadn't affected skull as it wasn't very deep. Taking out bits of woods was a nasty job and doctors were curious how this mishap occurred. None of them knew the whole story. Braylan knew but he was too scared to share it. It would raise weird questions and suspicions. So they were all waiting for Jayden to wake up and tell them what actually happened. Doctors reckoned that he would be conscious within three hours. They were all waiting for him to wake up. Braylan and Jane were on their way to the hospital. They reached hospital in about 10 minutes and they were guided towards Jayden's room. The moment Braylan entered the room, he felt the Presence he had felt in his home. Jayden was now awake and was staring them. He forced a smile for his brother as he neared him, trying to keep his fears to himself.
"How are you feeling? " He asked with a smile.
"Better, I guess! "Jayden replied with a smile. Braylan was feeling a stronger presence near Jayden. He was pretending very hard to be happy. He was happy that Jayden was awake but the Presence had him worried.
" So how long are you going to stay here? " He asked.
"About three days I guess. That's what the doctor said when dad asked her." Jayden replied.
"Three days! That's a lot of time! " Braylan said and Jayden smiled. "Dad can I stay here at night? I want to be with him! " He asked. He didn't know how it will help Jayden, but he wanted to be near him.
"No buddy, it has to be either me or your mom. Only adults can stay here. " Marco replied. "You will have to stay at home with either of us. "
"But.. but dad, I wanna be here with him. I have to be here, please! " He said with a tone of desperation in his voice.
"It's okay, Ray, I will be fine. Besides you can visit me whenever you want! " Jayden said, smiling at him and he had to back off.
After several hours, Braylan was returning back with Marco. He was really sad that he had to leave his brother with some unknown entity. He was barely holding his tears. It was only to cheer him up that Marco had stopped at a store and asked him to grab whatever he wanted to. He had picked up some chocolates and ice cream and some chips for himself and Jayden. They reached their house and walked inside it. Braylan felt strangely calm. He couldn't sense anything in the house. He didn't know if he should be glad or worried.
After a while, Braylan was sitting in his room, worrying about Jayden. He didn't feel 12 anymore. He felt like he was 22 or something. He felt so mature at the same time, he felt himself breaking. A lump has formed in his throat and his eyes were burning with tears. He allowed them to flow and soon enough, he was crying harder than he could have remembered. Maybe he was sobbing too loud or maybe it was because the house was empty and his voice had traveled easily and Marco heard it, he was beside him trying to calm him down. It took a long time before Braylan stopped crying and a longer time for his hiccups to stop.
"You can come and sleep with me if you want." Marco said. "Listen buddy, I know you love your brother very much. We all love him, and we all love you. The doctors said he will be fine within no time. Don't stress yourself too much. "
"It's not the injury I am scared of. " He replied, "It's that I am scared if everything that has been happening since our summer vacations. I am scared of the unseen people. I think they want to hurt Jayden! " This brought fresh wave of tears and Marco tried to calm him
"Listen to me. Let's have him back and then I will contact the church nad ask for an Exorcist. Is it okay? " Marco said and Braylan nodded. " Now come and sleep with me. It would be better if we knew that our little boy is well rested and fresh. We won't have to be worried. We will be happy and proud because you will sleep well and eat well. " He continued. Braylan smiled a teary smile and nodded.
"Don't worry dad, I feel a lot better now. "
"That's my boy! Marco said and they both went to the master bedroom. Braylan lay awake for a long time, finally drifting into a deep sleep that took all his worries away from him.