CHAPTER 3
The street lights flickered out one by one, leaving Kelvin in darkness. Only a single building, stubborn and bright, cast a pool of light on the sidewalk. Kelvin stumbled towards his house, his legs heavy and his lungs burning. He practically fell onto the porch steps, gasping for air.
With a groan, he pushed himself up and pounded on the door. It echoed through the quiet night, unanswered. Panic clawed at him for a moment before he slammed his fist against the wood again, harder this time.
The door creaked open, revealing Kelvin's Kid sister, Michelle standing in the dim hallway. A lamp in her hand cast dancing shadows across her face. She squinted at him through the gap.
"Hey Son, Welcome back".. noticing Kelvin's stressed demeanor.
"Watch your words, young lady. I'm not your son," Kelvin retorted.
"Please, get me some water. I'm stressed out," Kelvin pleaded as he struggled to rise.
Michelle stared at him for a moment, then replied, "You know what? Maybe you should go get the water yourself since you're not my son." With that, she returned inside, slamming the door shut and leaving Kelvin alone outside.
"Michelle!! You're not getting away with this," Kelvin snapped as he pushed open the door and stormed inside.
"Go get your water yourself!" Michelle's voice echoed from within the house.
Kelvin quickly searched for water and was relieved to find his mom emerging from inside the house.
"Hey, Kelvin, you're back.
and you look tired. Is everything okay?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.
Kelvin hesitated, his mind replaying the chaotic events of the night. He opened his mouth to speak, then stopped. How could he explain the glowing hands, the strange voice, the fight with the gunman? It all sounded insane.
"Mom, I'm not okay. I'm going insane. I'm going crazy!" he blurted out, his voice laced with desperation.
Nikole's eyes widened with alarm. Before she could respond, Kelvin continued, pouring out the story of the party. As Kelvin's voice trailed off, Nikole's expression shifted. Her features contorted into a mixture of surprise and disapproval.
"You did what?! Kelvin, you know we don't go to parties in this house. Your father specifically gave that instruction. Why did you lie to me, you told me you were going to a friend's house?"
With a pang of guilt, Kelvin lowered his gaze and confessed, "Mom, I'm sorry, it wasn't my fault, George Kept insisting I follow him to the party."
"It's okay, Kelvin. Keep talking."
Gathering his thoughts, Kelvin continued,
"Then I took a seat as George left me, and all of a sudden, my ears began to tingle, my hands started sparkling with light, and my vision filled with light. I could feel this weird strength in me..."
Before Kelvin could finish his sentence, Nikole interrupted him again, her voice tinged with urgency. "Kelvin, did anyone see you?"
"You didn't let me finish..." Kelvin began, frustration creeping into his voice. "I stood up suddenly and went to the back of the building. I saw my friend Sarah being harassed by a gunman. I pounced on him, making him unconscious. When I gained my sanity, I had to run away."
As Kelvin's confusion deepened, Nikole took a moment to collect her thoughts. She knew the truth could no longer be hidden. With a deep breath, she said,
"There's something you need to see, Kelvin. Come with me."
Nikole led him up the stairs, her steps filled with urgency. They reached the attic, a dusty, forgotten space filled with cobwebs and old furniture. Nikole pointed towards a high shelf in the corner, barely visible in the dim light.
"There," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "Look closely."
Kelvin squinted, his eyes adjusting to the darkness. He saw a small, ornately carved wooden box tucked away on the shelf. A strange pull seemed to emanate from it, urging him closer.
"What is it?" he asked, curiosity piqued.
"It belonged to your grandfather," Nikole replied, her voice heavy with emotion. "He never spoke of it, but I always suspected there was more to the story. Now, I think….."
Before Nikole could explain further, the door burst open, and Mr. Thompson Kelvin's Father staggered into the room, his face pale, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. "Nikole, there's trouble!" he exclaimed, leaning his back against the door.