Joe stood a little distance away, his eyes were red-rimmed from unshed tears. The death of Kaelin's grandmother had shaken him deeply.
He was an orphaned child, just like Kaelin. The only difference was only that unlike him, he didn't have anyone to call as his own. He grew up alone with the help of the villagers till the age of four. But everything changed on his fourth birthday.
He still remembered that day he met her.
....
It was a chilly morning of winter. He was wandering through the dusty paths of the village. Last night when the clock stroked nine, he prayed to God to give him someone whom he could called as his own. Though waking up in the morning he thought that like every year, that year also his wishes would remain unfulfilled.
Wandering, he stood in front of an old abandoned house of the village. For a long time that house was empty and no one really lived there. But that day, a woman was standing in front of the door, with a little baby in her arms. The baby was sleeping in a white towel, like a cute snowball.
The woman looked back at him and smiled.
"Who are you, little boy?"
"Joe".
He smiled.
The woman entered the house and invited him inside, Joe went, following her. After that he didn't remember how the whole day went! She talked with him a lot, heard everything about him; and when she got to know about his birthday she made a cake for him!
For the first time someone celebrated his birthday!
He got to know that the little baby she took with her was also an orphan like him, his name was Kaelin. She took him to his baby cot. Joe forwarded his right hand to touch Kaelin's cheeks, and surprisingly, he held one of his fingers with his cute little hands!
He murmured.
"You are my friend, Kae, from today."
"And I'm your granny. Don't ever think that you are alone, Joe."
She hugged him tight.
....
From that day Joe really never felt alone! Kaelin's grandmother always treated him as his own grandson; from making foods to baking loafs to celebrating birthdays. She took him under her wings, gave him a sense of belonging. And today when she was lying dead in front of his eyes, he felt the same pain as Kaelin. When he lost his family, he was too little to understand the pain of losing a loved one, but today he knew how does it actually feel losing someone you love!
In a slow pace he went towards Kaelin and put his hand on his shoulder. Kaelin looked up.
He looked lost. Joe silently sat beside him, held him from side.
Suddenly, Kaelin started to cry. All the pains were coming out of his heart through his screams and tears. The frustrations of being weak, the guilt of not being able to save his grandma, the grief of losing her!
Joe wrapped him around his shoulders, he was crying silently. Two broken souls were trying to find their peace, in each other's solace.
But they didn't notice that, Noah stood far away, watching them with an unnerving intensity. His eyes seemed to darken, taking on an otherworldly hue!
....
And with all that, a day passed. At they cemetery of the village Kaelin left his grandma to rest peacefully, with all the victims of yesterday. The whole village was immersed in grief, any noise was hardly noticed.
After the funeral, Kaelin and Joe both returned to Kaelin's home. Joe decided not to leave Kaelin alone. Kaelin was also reluctant to live alone in that house, so they decided to stay together for some days.
Throughout the evening, the house was felt weird to them. Without the smell of delicious meals, sound of utensils, and presence of granny, the house didn't feel home!
As they finished dinner, the silence between them grew thicker. Kaelin and Joe moved to the drawing room, settling into the sofa. Joe's eyebrows furrowed, his eyes lost in thought as he stared into the darkness outside.
"What's on your mind?"
Kaelin broke the silence.
Joe's gaze refocused, his eyes locking onto Kaelin's.
"Kae, I still couldn't understand what happened yesterday. Like, from where did the creatures came! What was their intention!"
He took a breath.
"Even if we assume that they came out from the forest, why didn't their existence had been felt so far! How did you and Noah went inside and came out safely! Why did they came out suddenly, on the Halloween night! And Noah's sudden behavioral change... Is there any connection between all these matters!"
"Even I couldn't understand anything. What is the meaning of granny's last words! She told me that I'm not just a normal human, then who am I? She told me to find my true self, but how!"
Kaelin replied. He was totally clueless, lost.
"One thing is sure, there is definitely something, Kae. Granny was really not a normal human. Yesterday the whole village saw her, fighting with those demonic beasts. If she was hiding her powers under the veil of a normal human being, there is definitely something big purpose. We have to find out Kae, we have to!"
While they were talking, a knock on the door was heard suddenly. Someone was calling them.
Joe's eyes were frown, he pointed to Kaelin. Holding two sharp knives in their hands, they slowly walked towards the main door.
Kaelin opened the door and was surprised.
"Noah!"
The four years old child was standing at the doorstep!
"What are you doing outside at this time?"
Joe asked.
Noah didn't react, as if he couldn't hear what he said.
"Noah I'm asking something. Why-"
Before Joe could finished his words, Noah interrupted.
He looked up at Kaelin, and said in a strange voice.
"All your answers are waiting for you inside the forest. Go, and find yourself before its too late. Go Kaelin, you don't have much time left. Save Kateris, save Theria."
Kaelin's eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat.
"What...?"
He whispered.
"Tonight, when the clock strikes twelve, go inside the forest. You will find all your answers."
Without saying another word, Noah left.
Kaelin was going to chase him, but Joe stopped him.
"Don't go, Kae. He is not Noah."
"Huh!"
"Didn't you notice his voice and eyes! There is something fishy. And to find out what's exactly going on, we have to go inside the forest tonight."