Abigail | Putri Marin

Chapter 11

 "Sharen, you may go first.", I said as she's the one who is holding the candle. "Why thank you, Abby, well I did not come prepared for this fort time so I'll just tell you guys a continuation of the last fort time story." The night was getting darker as time passed by with only the candle lighting up the whole fort and stories and laughter filling up the air. It was a beautiful sight to see from my perspective.

   Stories after stories were told, candles were passed by as a new person told a new story and it was finally our time to tell the stories. "Alright my turn!", I said now holding the candle. "Well how do I start this.", I said thinking while looking at the candle. "It's not quite a story, more like a secret you may say.", Ruth said informing the others. "What secret?", Sharen asks seeming to be the odd one out.

   From what I thought it the boys probably know that I already tell Ruth since I did spend the whole day with her in the library, there's no way I can keep my mouth shut. "We have a deer friend!", Michael said as the words slipped out of his mouth. He covered his mouth with his palm shocked at his own words. "Was I supposed to say that?", Michael asks worriedly. "Yeah actually.", I said giggling. Soon everyone started giggling as well except for Sharen who have a confused look on her face.

   "Dear?", She asks confused. "No Sharen, deer, like an actual deer animal you know.", I told her clearing the misunderstanding as to the boys and I laugh once more remembering the bad pun I say when they first met Joy. "Wait, let me get this straight. You guys saw a deer?", Sharen said still trying to understand the secret. "Yeah, Abby named him Joy.", William said as Sharen still have a confused look.

   "How is that a secret?", She asks as seeing a deer is rare and out of the ordinary but it is not a big deal until we need to tell it in fort time which is where big secrets are told. "Well, I didn't tell any of you guys this -except for Ruth- but I had an encounter with Joy around three nights ago. And he is not a normal deer, he's a Silver Deer.", I told them as I sweat nervously. I know my family will understand me and believe in my words but I am still scared of their response. Ruth seemed to notice and hold my hand calming me down, which helped a lot.

   "What's a Silver Deer?", Joshua asks. "Well let us show you a presentation we've worked on the whole day in the library for.", I said with pride on my face. Ruth opens the notebook and shows them our drawing of a Silver deer and the information written around it. Everyone seemed to give their full attention to the notebook. "Your sketch is off.", William commented before we even started our presentation.

   "Shut up.", I said before coughing and continue hold the pride on my face. "Silver Deers are magical creatures. They come in packs and at first, might seem to be normal deers, but they could transform into gorgeous silver-colored deers. Their fur, antlers, and eyes become silver. Usually, they transform into their true form to use their powers to the maximum.", I inform them as they seemed to nod along in understanding.

   "Thay have powers?!", William asks as that part seemed to stand out more to him. Ruth continues, "Yes, they do. Their powers that we know so far is that they could communicate with humans and they could float, or fly you may say. So far that's the only power we know.", she informs. "Oh, last time Joy could also control the shadow of a candle!", I said remembering the memory very last minute. "That's so awesome!", William said.

   He loves reading in the comic section of the library after school, but during the summer break, he has been focusing on his sketching skills instead of reading them. "I know right!", I said smiling and returning the same energy to him. "We can fly while riding him!", Michael follows soon. "Nice vocabulary Will.", Joshua tease while smirking at William. "Shut up.", He replied.

   "But, let's not forget the most important part.", Ruth said reminding me of what was our main purpose. "Oh yeah!", I said now remembering. "Joy is not the main secret.", I said as the air got more serious. "He is from the other side.", I said and everyone -except me and Ruth- have shock written on their faces. "T-the other side?", Joshua started. "But, how?", Sharen asks.

   "It's a long story...", I said as I told them what Joy had told me before. They all seemed to be stunned and shocked at the news. "But that means, we could visit that side.", Sharen said. "Well, we're not sure yet if he remembers his way there, but he did follow the river. For now, we're not even sure when will our next encounter be.", I said correcting her. "Do we tell the grown-ups?", Michael asks, eyes looking for answers.

   It was quiet for a moment as everyone was asking themself the same thing. "Let's make this our little secret okay?", Ruth said and gave a wink at Michael. They all smile in understanding, excited for the new adventures coming their way.

   We continue to bicker at each other before climbing our beds and wishing each other good night. "Good night.", I start. "Good night", Michael continue, then William "Good night", then Ruth, "Good night", then Joshua, "Good night", and then last, Sharen, "Good night". She said before blowing the candle, bringing darkness into the room with the only light source being the moonlight that came through the windows.

   That night, everyone have their thoughts. Ruth was thinking of questions she could ask when the time came she meet Joy. William was thinking of a comic idea about the deer as one of the characters, or even the main character. Joshua and Michael can't wait for a new friend and flying with the deer. Sharen was thinking about the next time she'll meet this mysterious friend of her sister. While Abigail was thinking of how something out of the ordinary might happen.