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.CHAPTER 4.Mr. Thompson slammed the door shut, the deadbolt snapping into place with a metallic click. He spun around, his face a mask of terror. "Nikole, there's big trouble," he gasped, his voice ragged. "The Evernight... they found us."Nikole shot out of her chair, her heart hammering against her ribs. "How come? How did they find us? " Her voice was a sharp chirp, laced with panic. She lunged for Mr. Thompson's shirt, her fingers digging into the fabric.Across the room, Kelvin sat frozen, a forgotten book slumping in his lap. His eyes darted between the frantic adults, confusion clouding his countenance. Nikole's grip tightened on Mr. Thompson's shirt for a moment before she whirled on her son. Her voice, a storm brewing, lashed out. "Kelvin!"She grabbed his shirt, her fingers leaving white indents in the worn fabric. "Why did you do this? Didn't your father warn you? Now look at what you've done! You have no idea what you've unleashed!"Kelvin's face crumpled. "Do what, Mom? I
Michelle looked up at her mother, eyes filled with a mix of fear and sadness. "But mom...I don't want to leave yet. I'll miss my friends," she confessed, her voice shaking.Nikole gently brushed Michelle's hair back and held her daughter's hands with a comforting grip. "I know, sweetheart," she reassured, her voice soft and mixed with understanding. "But sometimes, life compels us to make difficult decisions for the greater good.""We have to leave, Michelle. The overnight gang will come looking for us, especially after they took your father. It's not safe here anymore," Nikole explained, her tone firm yet gentle, trying to set a sense of urgency in her young daughter.Kelvin flung his bag on his shoulder, feeling a big change coming. He went to his mom, Nikole, who always seemed so strong. Now, she looked a bit worried, thinking about what's best for them."Mom," Kelvin began, looking confused and worried. "Why do we have to leave our country? It's hard because we don't know anyone in
Nikole dabbed at her face with her sleeve, attempting to conceal the bloodstains from Kelvin and Michelle. "It's just a scratch," she assured them, her voice strained with effort.Michelle's eyes widened with concern. "Mom, you're bleeding! We need to get help," she urged, her tone tinged with fear.Nikole nodded weakly in agreement. "Yes, let's find somewhere safe to rest," she acquiesced, each word a struggle against her labored breathing.They stumbled upon a secluded alley and sank to the ground, seeking refuge from the chaos. Nikole leaned heavily on Kelvin, her head swimming with dizziness."We need water," Kelvin rasped, his voice hoarse from exhaustion. "And we should tend to Mom's wound."Nikole nodded in acknowledgment, her voice barely audible above their ragged breaths. "We'll find water and take care of this," she promised, determination flickering in her eyes despite the overwhelming odds.Nikole was getting worse by the minute. The blood kept flowing from her head, and s
Whisper led Kelvin to a secluded site in the forest, where bright green herbs covered the ground. Among them stood a special plant that caught Kelvin's eye. Its leaves were arranged in such a way that they resembled the shape of a man's face, with a crooked nose and a mischievous grin."Touch it," Whisper instructed, his voice barely audible over the rustling of leaves.Kelvin paused for a moment before reaching out to touch the herb. As his fingers made contact, the plant began to shake and swing, as if dancing to an invisible tune. Kelvin watched in awe as the herb responded to his touch."Wow!" Kelvin exclaimed, his eyes wide with amazement.But the heat of the sun bore down on them, intensifying with each passing moment. Kelvin felt beads of sweat trickling down his forehead as he listened to Whisper's next words."That's the herb you need for your mom," Whisper said solemnly, his eyes reflecting the seriousness of the situation. "Give it to her, and she'll start feeling better in
Michelle looked up as Kelvin approached, her eyes searching for good news. "So, what happened? Did you get the job?" she asked, her voice a mix of hope and anxiety. Kelvin managed a small smile, nodding. "Yes, I start tomorrow. It's going to be okay, Michelle. We'll make it through this," he reassured her, though the memory of Mr. Johnson's warning kept ringing in his mind.****The morning came with the usual bustle of Aridolia, the city waking up to the sound of cars and the distant hum of machines working non-stop. Kelvin was jolted awake by these loud noises, reminding him that today was his first day on a new job, a chance to change things for him and Michelle.Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Kelvin Searched through his bag, looking for something decent to wear. He pulled out the shirt his mom had given him a few months back before everything turned upside down. It wasn't much to look at, faded and a bit too large for him, but to Kelvin, it was perfect. The shirt was a pale blue
The clang of metal on metal echoed through the narrow stone passage, a horrific sight bouncing off the damp walls. Prisoners face etched with agony, huddled in the meager light filtering through a barred window high above. Their ragged clothes offered little protection from the cold, and the flickering torches lining the hallway cast monster shadows that danced across the uneven floor. The air hung heavy, thick with the stench of mold, sweat, and something far more disturbing, a metallic tang that sent shivers down Thompson's spine. It was the smell of blood, fresh and old.A deep scream ripped through the oppressive silence, shattering the peace that had momentarily settled. It was a blood-curdling shriek, filled with terror that echoed deep within Thompson's body. Weak and tired, Thompson changed positions. The last thing he remembered was a struggle, a searing pain in his head, and then… nothing. Panic surged through him as he tried to sit up, only to find his wrists and ankles bou
Marcus stormed into the Sunrise Cafe, his appearance unkempt and untidy, his clothes rumpled and stained. His eyes blazed with fury as he confronted Kelvin, who was busy wiping down the tables in preparation for the day ahead.Kelvin glanced up, startled by Marcus's sudden outburst, but chose to ignore him and continued with his task."You!" Marcus's voice boomed, cutting through the din of the cafe. "I've had enough of you! It's either you leave or I leave. You choose!".Kelvin leaned against a nearby table, staring defiantly as Marcus came closer. "Did you brush your teeth this morning?" Kelvin's voice was full of disdain. "Your breath stinks, Marcus. You smell."Marcus, surprised, brought his hand to his mouth and blew on it, then sniffed. His face twisted in disgust, confirming Kelvin's words.Marcus's fists clenched at his sides, his face contorted with rage. He was itching to deliver a blow to Kelvin's smug face, but Kelvin's challenging stare held him back."Go ahead, Marcus. D
As Kelvin sat in the corner, he nervously played with the envelope Mr. Wilson had given him earlier. He hadn't checked what was inside yet, feeling a bit scared. "Why am I feeling like this?" he whispered to himself, puzzled.Suddenly, the phone rang loudly, startling Kelvin. "Kelvin, come to my office now," Mr. Johnson's voice came through the receiver. Kelvin felt a shiver down his spine."Yes sir, I'm coming," Kelvin replied quickly, his hands trembling. He slipped the unopened envelope back into his pocket and rushed to Mr. Johnson's office, his mind filled with worry about what Mr. Johnson wanted to talk about.Kelvin stood in Mr. Johnson's office, his heart pounding with panic. Mr. Johnson extended his hand, silently requesting the envelope. Kelvin hesitated for a moment, wondering what Mr. Johnson was requesting.Without wasting any time, Kelvin brought out the envelope from his pocket and handed it over to Mr. Johnson. As Mr. Johnson examined the envelope, Kelvin couldn't shak