The Dream

#11

Thanks Inky

I can’t breathe.

My chest hurts so much, I can barely hear the pen I dropped on the ground. I could hear my heart thump so loud in my ears…

It hurts.

Someone help. Help help help help help someone help.

Hundreds and millions of thoughts are screaming at me I can’t hear any of them.

I’m sweating.

I’m trembling.

My hands are shaking.

All I see are flashing colours.

. . . . . . . .

“Miao”

I blinked. The flashing colours slowly faded away.

The thoughts are suddenly quiet.

Two pairs of confused black eyes look at me, my hands shakily reach out and I run a hand through her soft fur.

Shakily exhaling, I hugged Inky as she snuggled her face into my stomach.

Something about her always…relaxed me.

My heart calmed.

Thanks Inky.

The End~

Photo courtesy of New York Times

Another Chance

          My mom passed away right after I was born. My father was devastated, but he didn’t tell me anything about her death. I was too young and innocent. But of course, I found out sooner or later. I wasn’t that sad though, to be honest, I did not see my mom at all except in photos. Didn’t mean I was all that jolly either.

          I respected my dad. He wasn’t abusive or anything. He was nice, though he was a bit distant. It broke my heart to see him so depressed and sad, when he looked at pictures of mom. But I couldn’t help him. I tried, and it went horribly wrong. I told him it was alright and that mom was in a better place. He practically screamed in my face and threw a vase at me. It might’d flew an inch from my face. I felt the wind of it go by. Let say I didn’t say anything after that.

          It might be somewhat fine in the household, but high school, was hell.      

          I was 15, starting a second new year of the same school, with same people. I walked through the packed hallways with my head down and hood up. The kids there know me by a lot of names. ‘Emo Freak’, ‘Loser’, ‘Quiet Freak’, ‘Idiot’. You name it. I was the quiet kid of the school who barely had any friends. You think I should had speak up or something, right? I did, in fact. But it also went horribly wrong.  I tried speaking to some people, and tried to make friends but it just got me more enemies. I didn’t know why they hate me so much. But I could guess the suspect to be my eyes. Their purple, and they think is the sign of death. Which is stupid. I tried telling teachers, but they won’t do anything.

          Then on the 20th of October. Something life changing happened.

          Dad’s mental health must had gotten worse without me knowing. I come home to find dad...                                                                                                                                 ....in a pool of blood.

          News spread like bush-fire. Soon nearly the whole school knew that the ‘Emo Freak’s’ father had committed suicide. And what was disgusting is that they find it funny! The bullying got worse day by day. I got more depressed each day by each day. The demon and taken over my head and there was no more angels singing in my head. I grew colder and colder. Till the point where I started to think that grabbing a knife and killing everyone was better off. 

          I got up from bed and walked to the kitchen. Then something had happened, but it was a blur before I fell into darkness.

          I woke up in a bed. It wasn’t mine though. All around me was blue. Peaceful blue. I stood up and caught a door in my sight. It was blue except for the doorknob, which was sparkling gold. I timidly tip-toed towards to the door and opened it. I was immediately blinded by bright light.

          I shot up from my bed. The covers flew of my body. I was sweating profusely. It was all just a dream. I ran a hand through my hair and heard a familiar voice calling for breakfast. “MUM! DAD! Oh my god I’m so glad you’re alive!” Both gave confused and amused laugh and glances. “I had this dream and... Nevermind, It’s not important.” I smiled and ate my pancakes with my loving family. Then a voice sounded in my head, 

“You’re not hopeless Mandy. Don’t listen to others. Purple can represent anything. For you it would be hope. I’ll give you another chance to live. To change.”

#12

Truth or Dare

“Truth or Dare?”

Hah, I'm no chicken! “Dare! Let’s do this.”

My friends chuckled evilly. I put on a brave face, but was screaming on the inside. Hopefully they don’t make me do anything embarrassing.

Oh man I hope…

The next thing I knew someone blindfolded me, without giving me any heads up. “Guys w-what are we doing?”

They shuffled me to... a table? My hands felt the texture of the wooden table in the kitchen. They made me sit down.

“Put your right hand on the table.” I heard Connor’s voice.

“Hehe, couldn’t you guys just tell me what’s going on.” I said as I slowly put my hand on the smooth, cold surface of the table.

“Spread out your fingers.” Connor ordered again.

I obeyed, nervous.

There was silence for the next few seconds.

Then I heard Miso say, “If you really are our friends, then prove yourself, do not resist.”

Before I could even get a word out, I felt something go “thunk” on the table.

Right between my fingers.

“Guys no! You don’t have to do this!” No one responded. The only sounds were the “thunk thunk” sounds of the knife stabbing the table, right between my fingers, and my heavy breathing. Cold sweat formed on my forehead, and my eyes were filled with hot tears, threatening to let loose! I shook my hand, desperate to stop this but it was no use, someone was holding my hand down like an iron shackle. I used my other hand to pry loose of that iron grip but all efforts were in vain, I was going to be dead meat.

Why did they have to do this?

I lost all hope...

Then, a plan formed in my head.

I timed the knife plunging into the wood, and as soon as I heard the next ‘thunk’, I immediately shot my head down and bit as hard as I could into the ‘iron chain’, I heard a familiar screech and finally, my hand was free!

But.. maybe I should have timed the knife better...

The knife plunged into the flesh of my finger, I immediately started screaming. I tumbled to the floor from my chair, shrieking my throat raw. I clutched onto what was remaining on my injured finger. I could feel warm liquid spilling on to my left hand. “Please guys! Help! Call an ambulance! Do something!”

They made the most horrifying response.

They laughed.

“You thought we were your friends?”

“You’re a good for nothing to us.”

“Good luck, and good night.”

“No please!”

And just like that… they left.

“SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!”

But no one came.

End~

#3

Headphones

Ah! Such sweet music, flowing through my ears! Nothing was more amazing than such beautiful music. Free from the dreadful city noises that gave me horrible anxiety. Music is awesome.

I recently got a shiny new headphones, which was great. The headphones help me avoid daily gossip, news from strangers I don’t care about. If I didn’t get headphones anytime soon, I might’d lost my mind! Once I put them on, I was immediately in heaven, any noise around me would be muted, and the only noise I would hear is my own.

I brought it everywhere. The train, on the streets, in school. Everywhere. Especially in places that were always crowded.

My headphones saved my life. No one could take it away from me. No one.

I was a loner in school, which immediately made me a target by bullies. Music always made me happy though. During recess and breaks, I would go up to the school roof with my headphones and listen to music. No one goes up there for some reason. It may be dusty, but the view was breathtaking. No people, no bullies, means sweet silence except for my own music.

I was always up there, alone. No one went to the school roof. Yet.

It was like any other day. During the lunch break, I sneaked up to the school roof to listen to music and enjoy the fabulous view. Like usual. Except...

They found me.

“Hey twig!” I heard a far off voice which could be covered up by my music if I turned up the volume a bit higher. I froze. I recognised that voice, and it was the last thing I wanted to hear. I didn’t know what to do! I continued standing still, pretending not to hear him. Maybe they’d think I’m another person, maybe they’d walk away-

Suddenly, my beloved headphones were yanked off my head. All the sweet sound was gone. I was hysterical. In an instant, I turned towards Randy and kicked him, screaming over and over again, “GIVE IT BACK. GIVE IT BACK!” My headphones were in his grubby hands, they were screaming for help! I have to save them, I needed them. Randy smirked evilly, he shoved me aside and walked forward to the edge of the roof. I screeched and tried to run after him, but his friends held me back.

Randy stood at the edge of the roof. He turned towards me, laughing at my struggle. He had the nerve to laugh. I screamed at him again to return my headphones.

And then, he did the worst thing that broke me.

Randy stretched his hand over school roof fence... AND DROPPED MY HEADPHONES!

“NOOOOO!!!” I kicked and punched Randy’s friends, and I was finally free. I rushed forward, screaming like a maniac. I pushed Randy aside and without thinking. I jumped off the roof after my headphones.

Everything was in slow-motion. Everything around me blurred. I grabbed my headphone. I felt the leather of my precious headphone. I put them on. I smiled.

No one can take my headphones away anymore.

End~

Photo courtesy of New York Times

A Cold Autumn Night

          “ I sat at my favorite blue, wooden table, arms folded, a small red teacup filled with warm milk tea sat in front of my folded arms. Though I was at home, it was still surprisingly cold, and I liked it.

          It was a cold autumn night, 11.34 p.m. Soon it would strike 12 midnight, and I would had to dive under the warm covers in bed. I looked up at the bright crescent hanging in the night sky. It was shining especially bright that night, beaming at me. Outside, a bare tree stood lonely at the sidewalk. Around it were leaves that were once green and lush, growing on the strongest branches of the tree were now falling and dead. Soon winter would come and snow would cover them.

          Then, I spotted a lone star shining in the ink-black sky. I smiled at the star, and shifted my long, red hair, out of my eyes. To watch the star. Outside was silent. Everyone had went to bed. ‘Misty neighborhood’ was silent, and I immersed myself in it. I sipped my milk tea but felt nothing. My house was dark and quiet, the only light that shone was the moonlight. 

          I looked at my watch. 11.55 p.m. 5 more minutes. Might as well finish the tea. I picked up my red teacup and drank the rest of the tea and set it down on the cold table. Tomorrow at 8.30 a.m, the kids would be coming to listen stories. Again. I smiled at the thought. I glimpsed at my watch, 11,59 p.m. Time to sleep. I put my cup in the sink and went up the green staircase.

          As I heard the clock strike 12 midnight, I heard the bark of the three legged dog, leading my neighbor for his usual walk.”

          Jewel closed the book with a thud and looked down at 20 curious faces staring back at her. “But Miss Jewel? I did not see anyone next door.” Jewel smiled at Thomas. “You just didn’t look harder enough. He’s always at home in the mornings.” Thomas beamed at Jewel. Then someone knocked on the door. And soon, all the kids were sent back home.

          Jewel sat at her blue table, arms folded, a red teacup set in front of her. She sighed. If only the kids knew the truth. A newspaper clipping was being carried by the wind. And on the newspaper clipping read the headlines:

Poisonous Gas Released in ‘Misty Neighborhood’ At 12 Midnight. Residents Died In Their Sleep!

#4

My Happy Balloon

Throughout my childhood, I always held my Happy Balloon. Sometimes it deflated just a bit, but it always expanded after a day or so. It floated with me the whole way.

When I was a teenager, things got a little bit rough with my Happy Balloon. They were people who would try to pop it by stepping on it. It was a bit dirty, and sometimes it would deflate for a long, long time due to some holes in it. But Cassie would come. She would pick up my Happy Balloon, and put plasters on the holes, my Happy Balloon would then return to normal again, smiling. It was all thanks to my dear friend Cassie.

Then I went to college. Cassie and I went to the same school. One day we saw some people messing up someone else’s Happy Balloon. Cassie and I quickly ran to get help. When the people went away, Cassie and I went and fixed up the person’s Happy Balloon. It was as good as new. The person thanked us and introduced herself as “Lessie”. Lessie, Cassie and I became very good friends! Or so I thought.

Cassie, Lessie and I helped each other, we were best of friends, ready to protect one another. But soon, I noticed Cassie and Lessie started to drift away from me. I felt my Happy Balloon start to deflate little by little, day by day. Then finally, they popped it. Without my Happy Balloon by my side, I felt sad. I had no more friends, and no Happy Balloon.

I was now working at a convenience store as a job. One day, the new guy came up to me. He had a Happy Balloon by his side, it reminded me of when I had my own Happy Balloon. He came up to me and told me his name: Jonathan. Jonathan asked if we could be friends. I was skeptical about it, but I accepted it.

I expected Jonathan to be like Cassie and Lessie. Drift away from me after a while. It’s been 3 months. He hadn’t drift off yet. He had been so kind to me, he had protected me. He even gave me a Happy Balloon. It’s been forever since I had my Happy Balloon! We were best of friends.

It’s been 2 years. Jonathan still hadn’t drift off yet. Neither did I. We had ups and downs, but nothing deflated our Happy Balloons. Nothing at all. Not even when Jonathan finally told me about his medical condition.

He had cancer. Something that cannot be cured. He had this for 3 years. He didn’t want to tell me as he thought it would deflate my Happy Balloon. I cried of course, I was a little bit mad at him for not telling me about it, but not for very long. It didn’t deflate my Happy Balloon one bit. I wanted to make his last few months with me the best months in in entire life. We went everywhere, to the places we always wanted to go, took pictures, memories.

Before he died, we went to our hangout. The swing under the apple tree on Silent hill. We looked at the beautiful scenery. It was so peaceful. Then Jonathan told me, “Promise me, that even if I am gone, you would hold on to your Happy Balloon. Remember that I’ll be up there, looking after you.” I cried and hugged him for a very long time.

I kept my promise. I visited his grave, holding onto my Happy Balloon that Jonathan gave me. When I saw Jonathan’s Happy Balloon floating next to his headstone, I cried, I knew he was at peace now. His death didn’t pop my Happy Balloon. And it will float by my side even after death.

End~

Photo courtesy of New York Times

The Secret Room

          When Janice turned eight, she was at the age where she was curious and adventurous. She loved to run around and poke around with her sister and brother. Out of her 4 siblings if you ask them who was the most active and curious they would simultaneously point to Janice. She was also very clumsy, often tripping over her own feet, tripping over invisible rocks on the ground. She had gotten use to the pain of scratches and bruises on her legs and arms. Her mother always thought that her curiosity would be put into good use in the near future so she encouraged Janice to be more curious. Her father said otherwise. Janice did not care, she continued being curious and adventurous just like what her mother said.

         One day, the family decided to move into a new house about a state away. Janice wasn’t particularly happy about it but she also saw it as a chance to explore the house and neighborhood. As soon as they stepped into the new house, Janice rushed around, opening doors and exploring them. Her father rolled his eyes playfully while her mother giggled at Janice’s reaction to every room she opened up to. 

          But nothing could compare when Janice opened a door to what seem like heaven itself.

          Shelves and shelves of books filled the room. There were two bean bags, a table and chairs and even a window seat! It was like a paradise to Janice. One look at the books, the warm and inviting room and the sweet smell of books, she knew that she was meant to be in this house. Janice rushed up to her mother and father, who were unpacking their luggage, gave them a big hug and screamed, “THANK YOU! THANK YOU!” Her four siblings came up and wondered what the commotion was all about.

          A few months later, when the clock strike twelve, Janice immediately threw down her pencils and raced to the ‘Library’. She shut the ‘Library’ door behind her and roamed the shelves, looking for the perfect book to transport her to a wonderland. As her eyes roamed from title to title, her eyes glued to one captivating title. ‘The Secret Room’. It sounded like the book ‘The Secret Garden’ which was Janice’s all time favorite books. Her eyes lit up and she reached out a hand to take the book out.

          It wouldn’t budge. Janice raised an eyebrow and tugged at it. It still wouldn’t budge. Janice forehead wrinkled in confusion. Is this book glued to the wall? She gripped the book with both hands, took a deep breath and tugged hard at the stubborn book.

          CLICK!

          The book tilted abruptly but stopped all of a sudden, sending Janice stumbling back and falling on her butt. “Ow...” She got up and dusted herself just in time to see something extraordinary.

          The bookshelf with the tilted book swung open to her very slowly. Like a door. Janice’s eyes widened in both fear and excitement. She took a tentative step towards it and peered inside and gasped.

          It was a room! It had a blue bed and a picture of cherry blossoms on the wall. Janice couldn’t breathe. She stepped inside and swung her head wildly. There was a desk at the end of the room. She tiptoed towards the room and found a purple velvet book with a rusty key next to it. She picked up the purple book and blew the dust on it away. Janice started to open it but realize there was a strange lock on it, the same colour as the key......

          Janice sat on the blue bed and flipped to the first page. “The Secret Room. Wait, it’s that book!” Janice exclaimed excitedly, just as her mother called her for lunch. Janice reluctantly got up and turned the key, locking the book. After putting the book back at where it belonged, she stepped into the familiar ‘Library’ and shut the bookshelf. Janice grinned.

          No one will ever find that room. No one will ever enter the room. No one will find out what is hidden. Because it is mine. And mine only.

1. One sentence summary: Janice was a thirteen year old girl who found a secret room behind a bookshelf in her new house.

One paragraph summary: Janice was a clumsy, adventurous and curious thirteen year old girl who unintentionally stumbled upon a secret room behind a bookshelf a few days after she moved in her new house. She decided that this room would be hers and no one should find out about it.

#2

My Friends

I have friends in my head. I’m sure everybody has them.

They can be good, they can be bad, or maybe even both. It also depends on how you handle them.

I have many friends in my head, but I can only introduce a few of them. I’ll be very glad to introduce them to whoever is reading this!

Joyce is one of my best friends. She was always there to make me smile, and remind me of the wonderful things that happened to me. She always tell me things like, “You can do it!” Or “Good job!”. She allows me to look at the positive side of things.

But sometimes, when I don’t handle Joyce well, sometimes people will call me selfish. When people play tricks on me that I don’t like, she will tell me to go along and smile, to not be mad at them. I don’t like that, so I will have to handle Joyce well.

Sam is another friend I have who lives in my head. I don’t quite like him, since he is quite the opposite of Joyce. He reminds me of the bad memories I had, like the time I was in a competition and lost, and I cry. He makes me cry. And I don’t like it. People will call me a ‘crybaby’.

But Sam can also be nice. Sometimes Sam will motivate me to do better, and because of that, I will be happy with the result.

Joyce and Sam work together from time to time. Sometimes they remind me of a memory which both sad and happy. Remember the memory I told you about that competition I lost? Well even though I was sad, Joyce told me that at least I had fun! Which looking back, I did have fun. Which makes me happy. Even though I was sad that I lost, I was happy that I had fun preparing for the competition.

I want to introduce one last friend: Fran

Fran is helpful sometimes. Sometimes my friends urge me to go on a scary roller coaster ride. But Fran tells me not to, as it is scary. I listen to her no matter what my friends say. In the end, my friends might come out crying or sick. Fran helps me avoid these situations from getting me into trouble.

Somethings though, when I listen to Fran, people will make fun of me, taunting me and calling me a ‘scaredy-cat’. I don’t like that. So I will tell Fran that I can do it. Though she might urge me to stop, I won’t listen to her and will face my fears. There may be good and bad outcomes, but at least I have the experience.

Well that’s all the friends I’m able to introduce you to. I would love to introduce the rest of my friends, but their not ready yet. For now, you will now know Sam, Joyce and Fran. Thanks for reading!

Skipping Stones

Chapter 1: Seeing Ghosts

“Are there any spirits here with us?”

The rain fell, as always, pattering against the windows, droplets sliding down the panes. Lightning flashed in the ink black sky every so often, followed closely by the low rumbling of thunder.

Six hands placed firmly, determinedly, fearfully, with uncertainty on the planchette on the ouija board, surrounded the group of three. The flame of the slowly melting candles around them reflected their mixed emotions in which the darkness of the mansion would’ve hidden otherwise.

The trio tonight consisted of a small-looking, timid boy, whose thick brown hair curled in front of his eyes, quite literally covering them, though not covering his quivering hands. A girl with the sparkliest hairband, her eyes equally shiny with tears that were still kept at bay. Lastly, a girl with the boldest red hair with a shine of determination and adventure in her eyes. The three look to be about seventeen to eighteen years of age, with the bold red-haired seeming to be the oldest of the group. 

“Can we go back home please? I don’t like this!” The timid boy squeaked. The hairband girl said nothing but nodded quickly.

“Oh come on, y’all agreed to this! We’re not going till we have a sign, you said so yourself!” The bold red-haired scoffed, pressing her hands firmly on the planchette, looking up to the grand chandelier hanging in the middle of the ceiling, the patterns on the white alabaster shades long obscured by the layers of dust.

“Is there anyone here with us tonight? Please give us a sign.” The bold red-haired repeated, louder, her voice echoing slightly in the empty mansion. 

Of course there was someone, they just could never see. People come and go, hoping to see something, expecting to see something, only to leave disappointed. Their closed eyes never seeing, never noticing. Even when they set candles to light up the dimmest of nights.  

All focused on a board and a planchette. 

Oh well, I couldn’t care less anyway. So what if they couldn’t see, I’ll send them running. I always will. And this group was no exception. 

“Oh my god! The front door! It opened by itself!” The timid boy screeched and jumped up to his feet. The bold red-haired shouted a warning but the damage was done as the timid boy stumbled, knocking over a nearby candle. The candle rolled over to the sparkly hairband girl, frozen in the confusion, the flames flickered to her skirt and caught fire. The girl screeched, swatting at the growing flame singing her skirt. 

“Get it out! Get it out!” She kicked and screamed, knocking more of the surrounding candles to the ground. Scrambling to her feet, she rushed towards the open front door, under the falling rain into the thick fog, with timid boy following closely and hastily behind. 

“Hey! Come back! What the hell!” The bold red-haired girl called out after them in protest, her voice muffled by the rain. The two that ran could no longer be seen. 

The bold red haired girl sighed in dismay, holding her head in her hand. She got up and cleaned up the mess, putting out the fire of the fallen candles and gathering them with the ouija board and planchette. Then, finally sat back down, back against the railings of grand stairs, a hand running through her red hair that fell messily on her shoulders.

Silence fell again. The darkness returned. I blended out of the front door, which was still wide ajar. Rain was entering the mansion, splashing slightly onto the marble floors. I went up to the girl, approaching closer to her. 

I thought she looked small. Smaller than I thought. Smaller than she was before.

More rain seemed to have splashed in. She shivered slightly, bringing her knees to her chest. So, I made myself small. As small as her. Just for a bit. 

She mumbled something inaudible, resting her head on her knees, soft red hair spilling onto the floor.

“It’s warm here.” She said softly. “Maybe there aren’t any ghosts here.” She said, staring past me. Into the foggy rain. 

Chapter 1: Seeing Ghosts _end_

#1

Family of four

“Ugh, your taste in hotels is garbage.” Ugh, this woman. “ DADDY, I’M HUNGRY!” “MOMMY WHERE ARE WE!?”

You could just feel the love radiating out of Edward’s family. Edward’s family consisted of Edward, his wife Peppy, 8 year old Peter and 6 year old Cassandra. Peppy had the idea of going on a family overseas trip. Harmless, right?

The family was chaos. Peter and Cassandra were restless throughout the plane ride and the journey to the hotel. It wasn’t a good time for the family. As if things couldn’t get any worse, Peppy complained about the design of the hotel, criticising Edward’s taste in hotels, even though it was Peppy who chose the hotel. While Edward was trying his best not to loose his patience, the family of four went up to the front desk.

“Edward Orsion and Peppy Orsion?” The tired-looking front desk person, whose name tag said Bob, asked in the most mundane voice. Edward nodded. Bob searched around in his desk drawer, and froze suddenly. Peppy tapped her foot impatiently. Knowing Edward will never hear the end of Peppy’s complaining, he leaned forward and politely questioned, “Sir? Is there something wrong?” At the sound of his voice, Bob snapped back from his stupor. He sheepishly grinned and said, with finally some emotion in his voice, “Sorry sir, my mind just drifted off a little.” Peppy scoffed. Bob handed Edward the keys and said, “Room 4, on the second floor.” Edward grabbed his suitcases and dragged his kids and wife towards the old lift.

Room 4 was beautiful. In Edward’s eyes anyway. The only thing that captured Peppy’s eyes was a painting of a beautiful family of four. A male and a female holding hands, with two beautiful children by their side, a boy and a girl. “That family is so perfect. Why can’t we be like them. Why can’t you be like the....” Edward tuned out of his wife’s rant. He walked around the room. A living room, a small kitchen and two small bedrooms, with even smaller toilets in each bedroom. It was pretty decent to Edward. Cassandra and Peter were on the tattered sofa switching between channels on the television to find something entertaining to watch. Edward sighed. He just hoped that the next day would be better.

Edward woke up, surprisingly later than the rest of the family. He washed up and went to the kitchen for breakfast. Peppy was drinking some coffee, while the kids drank milk with two packets of chocolate beans beside their mugs. Wait, I don’t remember bringing any chocolate beans. He questioned Peppy about it and she said, “That front desk guy gave us some chocolate beans, and I figured the kids would like it.” Edward thought nothing of it and continued the day.

The city tour later that day was a disaster. Cassandra and Peter were really nauseous and sick. They kept vomiting and complained about headaches. Eventually the disastrous day finally came to an end. Edward tucked the children in bed, but they took a very long time to fall asleep, causing Edward to stay up coaxing them to sleep. He was exhausted. On the way to his bedroom he passed by the living room. The picture of the family of four caught his eye, it looked different. Terrifyingly different. The four members began to show some signs of...decomposition. It was frighteningly real. Too real. Edward shook his head in disbelief and horror. Refusing to believe what he just saw and concluded that it’s the cause of his lack of sleep, he rushed to his bedroom to sleep.

“EDWARD!!! THE KIDS WON’T WAKE UP!” Edward snapped awake at Peppy’s cries. He jumped out of bed and stumbled towards the kids’ bedroom. Sure enough, the kids lay in bed, motionless. Peppy knelt beside the bed trying to shake them awake. Their eyes won’t budge. Edward stayed calm and walked towards Peppy. He shook the kids, coaxing them to wake up, like how he would have done if they try to feign sleep. They wouldn’t wake up. Edward was unsettled by this. Then suddenly, he was reminded of the picture he saw the night before. He gulped. No, it can’t be. He epresvhed out two fingers and placed them on both children’s necks.

No heartbeat.

Edward slumped onto the bed, silently crying.

“Their dead Peppy. Their dead...” “Now’s not the time to make jokes idiot!” All the same Edward could feel Peppy lean forward. Then he heard her wailing. Everything clicked though. It had to be that darn chocolate beans. It was the first thing Cassandra and Peter ate before they started showing symptoms.

And it was all caused by Bob.

Edward gritted his teeth. He stood up and grabbed blankets, laying them on the children. He then grabbed Peppy’s hand, helped her stand and both of them rushed to the front desk to confront Bob.

Down at the front desk, Bob stood there as he suddenly heard a woman’s wail. He smiled. That was fast. He smiled. He took out a photo from his desk drawer. It was a family of four. Bob, hand in hand with his wife, with his children by his side, a boy and a girl. He had a flashback to the dreadful car accident. His smile faded.

Suddenly he heard the lift coming. Bob smiled again. He gathered two knives and got ready.

End~