The mother and son duo were only few steps away from their lawn and if James's eyes weren't playing tricks on him, he would have sworn the man who just passed had glowing yellow eyes like the image in his mares.
Just to make sure his eyes weren't playing tricks, he asked his mom.
"Did-did you see that? The man that just passed?"
"What's that? What man? I didn't see anything." Serena replied with one of her eyebrows slightly raised.
"Ah never mind." James said.
"You know what, we need to talk about these things you've been seeing and the constant dreams, or should I say mares you've been having." Serena said with an annoyed tone.
'Right! Now I'm hallucinating. Can things ever get better?' James was in his thoughts again.
They were at the doorstep, and with a slight twist of the knob, the door was opened.
A girl with brown curly hair ran out with her arms swung opened.
"Jessie! We were only gone for an hour or two, and here you're acting like we were gone for a year." Serena squeezed her daughter in a tight embrace and gave her a huge kiss on the forehead.
"He keeps acting like a guy with stone heart. You can't even hug your little sis." Jessica teased her brother. One would expect remorse or a gentle response, but James just shrugged.
James doesn't hate his sister or have any feeling like that towards her. No, he's just the type that doesn't show feelings.
"Let's not forget we have some chatting to do. Go freshen up while I make lunch."
With that said, the two headed to their rooms.
"Lunch is ready! Come out of your holes." Serena called with vivid smile on her face.
On the dining table, two plates of fried potatoes and scrambled eggs with diced and fried veggies laid.
"Why... why aren't you eating mum?" Jessica muffled with a spoonful of potatoes in her mouth.
"Be careful unless you want to be choked." James said with an evil grin on his face.
"I'm okay for now dear... you might want to congratulate your brother. He's now a student of Braxton High." Serena replied Jessica before giving James an irritated look for his comment earlier.
"Really bro? Congrats! I knew you'd pass. Now, I'll like to see the look on that loser, Jeremy's face."
"Please, I don't want to hear that name." James was furious upon hearing Jeremy's name. It seems he has an history with this said person.
The siblings were done with their meal and Jessica went to the kitchen to wash the plates.
"Now, let's talk." Serena said.
"Please mom, you've said this ten times."
"I know you once said there's this grey blur that relentlessly haunts you in your dream. Tell me, what's the problem? Have there been any changes? You've been unstable for few days now. Is it the same constant thing?" Serena continued with a straight face, showing how serious she was.
"There have been no changes mom. It's the same thing over and over. Only lately, it's been very constant. I hardly sleep and I'm scared mom." James replied with a soft tone that was a bit shaky.
"Ah! I wish your father is here now. I know he'll solve this in a heartbeat. He's a genius after all. But fear not son, once I accumulate enough, we'll go see a therapist. I really wish I can stop this trauma now and here." Serena said with a saddened look on her face.
She was about to go for an embrace when she saw James stood up with his face scrunched.
"I don't know why you bother about that man!" James shouted as he stood up. "He's been gone for ten years mom and what did he leave for us? An old box with a rickety stone! What are we supposed to do with that? Sell it for millions? He doesn't care mom!"
"He's still your father James! He left that thing for you because he deemed it important and hopefully we'll meet him again!" Serena too shouted with a tear rolling down her cheek.
James scoffed before rushing to his room and slammed the door shut.
"What's wrong mom?" Jessica rushed to the dining with soapy hands. There, she saw her mother crying uncontrollably.
In James's room, James was leaning on the door, also crying.
After three minutes or so, he went under his bed and brought out an old metal box. The metal box had a diagonal line running from the middle to both sides, making it look like two halves.
Both sides had halved upright and an upside down triangle placed on each other and also halved moon. The symbol only makes sense and vivid when closed, just like it is now.
Dials with strange symbols were placed on one side of the box, for the box requires specific combination to be opened.
With four random dials pushed, the box was opened. Although, random wouldn't make sense, for the combination has been revealed to James when he was five.
The box was opened and a white crystallized stone that glows was revealed.
'I don't know why you gave me this rock, all I know is there's this tingling sensation I feel whenever I hold it. I wish you're here to see how your children have been coping. Will you ever come back?' James thought with tears in his eyes.
Just as he was about to put the box away, a tear managed to drop on the stone before he closed it and placed it under his bed.
Unbeknownst to James, this drop of tear had a reaction. The stone shone brighter, almost illuminating every angle under his bed, even as it was placed in a box.
Outside, standing on their lawn, was the man in elegant suit, the same man James saw earlier.
If one was to peek through James's window, one would see a man with a neatly gelled jet black hair. He stood there staring at James's window.
"I can feel it. I can sense the power. Finally..."