"My mother died after giving birth to my little brother. Our father raised us up until he could. It was only a few years when our father decided to reunite with our mother. I was 14. All I had left was a little brother, and the memories of our demised parents. I ran several errands a day to bring up my only family left in this world as best as a brother could have. I did my best. And my brother, Nell, he never once complained about being an orphan because he knew his big brother would tear the whole world apart for him. I won't lie about how our lives would have been different given our parents had not died, however, we were somehow trying to survive in the happiest way possible, having each other's backs in the hardest times. And we did secure a corner for us in this harsh world. But who knew, this family was yet to witness the worst that could happen to one.
It was a calm dark night just like the one tonight. The air felt a pungent tinge in the nostrils - A tinge that calls the storms.
After I got off work, as usual, I went to the studio where he used to play the instruments with some of his other band mates. I could see him through the glass windows, playing the drums. His eyes smiled as he played. I stood outside and waited for him.
But he never came out.
Half an hour slipped by so I had to go there and check on him.
And what I saw in there made me doubt my visions for a while. Everything, believe me or not, literally everything froze. It was as if someone clicked the pause button on the video called THE UNIVERSE. The one who was playing the guitar remained there with his two legs high above the ground, defying gravity. Jake, the vocalist seemed to desire orange juice only the juice could never reach his throat. The matter secured itself an invisible home to hang in until nature mends its ways. It was the same way outdoors. But, what caught me with even more astonishment was Nell's absence. He could not be spotted anywhere in the hall. The unnatural circumstances made me lose my senses but I had to keep it together to find my brother.
A beam of red light, flickering now and then, made my way to the terrace. As I was heading up , my heartbeats were in a continuous series of up and down. Is he alright? as the only thought bouncing in my mind.
When I got up there, I reached Nell only I did not. He was being taken away right in front of me. Some men dressed in all black were dragging him to … some kind of spiral opening which had colored rays all around its circumference. Those abductors had defined attire. With a cap more like a head scarf covering their heads, they wore a black cloth that hid their entire body, from neck to toe. Even their faces appeared the same. Each one of them had a red gleaming, flickering object over their heads but not touching. That was what led the beam of red light reach me.
Before they could take my brother into that spiral curvy thing, I caught hold of one of them. Nevertheless, he was unbelievingly strong. A huge blow and I was against the wall. But I didn't give up. I had to run and grab one of them by his apparel. He consistently tried to get rid of me but I would not let go. However, in spite of my interference, they seized him and apparently, infiltrated into some kind of seemingly fallacy of infinite dimensions. In a blink, the entire thing melted into thin air.
Nature retrieved its normal.
Yet, I stayed there, pathetic; figuring out if I witnessed a delusion or I lost my brother for real, with a piece of cloth, probably of the one whom I collided with.
From filing reports to interrogating every single person in the neighborhood, I left no stone unturned. I stuck to the thought that he might be somewhere near me. He might be shouting out for help , I just need to find out from where.
All of that was to no avail.
One night, I dreamt of the memory when Nell was captured. Thankfully, this time, I faced the truth and decided to go along with it. Going along with something groundless if that means getting Nell back, it'd be worth anything.
I carried the piece of black cloth to an old tailor. On inspecting it from every angle with a giant magnifying glass, he said that the cloth is made up of rare cotton which used to be abundant around centuries ago. It is almost extinct in this era. But before he could get more curious, I left the store.
Ergo, I went ahead to acknowledge the fact that there might be a supernatural factor involved. Given its implausibility, I was aware that no one would lend an ear so I refrained myself from discussing it with anyone and began digging the elements that could lead to it.
The first thing I did was to look into similar cases where people disappeared into nowhere. Being a detective, the process wasn't time consuming. There had been twenty seven such events since the last three decades. No evidence, No suspect, not even a footprint was present around the places where victims were last seen. After wondering for a while, I fathomed out that there must be a common factor linking all of them that led to their sudden disappearance. So, I looked into each of one of their relations, places they used to often visit and people they met during their last few days of presence. It had been walking on eggshells, took me several months to get the result.
Hard work always pays off. And I came across the link that put all of them including my brother in a single box.
That is your parents.
All of the victims had a meeting with your parents in the last few days before they went missing. And as for my brother, two days before his abduction he visited an anonymous agency who wanted to sign him and his band members, at least that's what they said on the phone. It appeared suspicious. Yet, I asked him to give it a try. If only I had known the consequence of the visit, I would never have let him go there. And as I believed, it turned out that the so called fake thing was arranged by your parents. – Anne Frost and Edward Frost. And you are their one and only child, Syle Frost."
After a long pause, Ryan pulled a deep breath and fixed his gaze at Syle. He expected an unexpected credence, but , he hoped for too much.
Instead, she scoffed though it was light, "What for you're looking me at?"
"Okay, look I do not know how do you want me to respond. I mean what do you expect me to say like- Yes, I believe your story and I will stand by you."
"It's not a story." His eyes had a certain glare, a glare that justifies truth.
"Whatever may it be. It's beyond my understanding. And what'd you say regarding my parents? They met your brother a few months ago which eventually led to his disappearance. That's bullshit. I haven't seen them since like 11 years and I don't feel much elated to say this but.... they might be dead."
"Just try to believe ….."
Syle cut him short. " And what's even more concerning is that you , someone I have never come across, come out of nowhere all the way to where I stay and ask me to trust some spectacular conclusion you came up with, which is utterly based on evidences no one believes."
Ryan kept his calm. He said in a very subdued tone,
"I understand that it must be hard for you to believe a stranger's words who comes out of nowhere and blabbers some kind of unconvincing facts and asks you to show faith in it. But trust me, I am no different than you, I have been through the dilemma what you are facing right now. But I could not escape. I had to face it. I had to face the reality for my brother. It's been months and I don't have the slightest idea of where he is, in what condition they have kept him or whether he is still …"
The sudden spill of emotions made him stop for a while.
"And who knows? Your parents whom you considered to be dead might be stuck in a place they can't seek help out. Yes, I do suspect them for all the misfortunes but that does not count them out as being casualties. If you trust me, we can find a way to help them out. "
Syle shifted her gaze down. Ryan's words had a cold effect on her.
"They never cared for me , did they ? All those years I spent with them, never once did I feel that I have people around me. They were either to be found in the study or the bedroom. I never saw them smile since I have gained consciousness. When I grew up where I was able to stay home alone, they began staying away for long, long time. I'd cry my eyes out but that emotion never took any toll on them. It has been such a gap, I can hardly picturize them now."
Meanwhile, Ryan pulled out a photograph from his jacket and handed to her.
She sobbed in soft sobs. The pale grey eyes resembled clouds showering grief and innocence. Ryan stood patiently as she cried her burdens out. She held her mom and dad close to her chest.
"You are right. I won't step back from my responsibilities, from my duties and everything I owe them for being their daughter. If what you said relating my parents, your brother and the paranormal mishaps are for real, I'll help you in whatever way I can. "