The spirit of Devfronds

22. That time Calvin cried

Travelling through the portal was weird.

One moment, he is in a pool of water, with Susan's tight grip on his biceps and next moment he is in a black hole. All around him, white dots swirled and looking at them made him feel like he wanted to vomit. 

He could feel no wind on him, but it was as if the dots were soaking up all the water droplets from his body slowly. Maybe the whole portal worked on some sort of hydel energy? 

They tumbled into their house, right where Mathew had landed that day on the balcony. It seemed so long ago now. 

Calvin sat down in the swing in the balcony and Susan sat beside her. 

"Now go get the internet, don't just keep sitting here."

"Susan, that's not how...nevermind." He opened his phone settings and turned on his mobile data. 

The screen lit up with tirade of messages. Most of them would probably be advertisements, and school group messages, so he put the phone down so as not to hang it.

Susan looked with wide eyes at it and said, "What happened to it?"

Calvin pulled on a worried expression, "Dunno, this was not supposed to happen, I think its hacked."

"What do you mean?"

"I think someone got into it."

"So, how do we bring them out?"

Calvin shrugged, but then couldn't keep his laughter in. He ended up cracking up bad. 

"That was a prank wasn't it." Calvin nodded, "Oh sweet, you're in trouble. I didn't know about one thing. You? You have a whole new world to see." 

Calvin's laughter subsided immediately. "Oh come on. Isn't a guy supposed to joke a little."

"No." 

Calvin picked up his phone, now that it had stopped vibrating. Susan looked down in interest. 

126 new messages from Braedon.

32 called from Braedon.

Oh shit.

He opened his messages quickly. The latest message was the largest one. Calvin could tell this was serious, Braedon never, even messaged in a whole paragraph. He always wrote a phrase and sent it.

It read, 

Calvin, 

I have sent you about thousands of messages, which have not reached you, called you, but it said that your phone is out of reach.

I came to your home when you didn't come to school for two days, and the house was locked and your neighbours tell me you have moved away.

Next day, I get the message that you've left the school. That I'm never going to ever see you again. Calvin, you're moving away, you don't say goodbye, your phone is not getting connected. 

You've left me hanging Calvin. You could've at least told me. This is my last try. I'll not try to message and call you again.

A very hurt Braedon.

There was not a single spelling mistake in the message, no short forms, proper paragraphs. This was serious. 

"Hey, why are you crying?" Susan's voice was softer than He had ever heard.

It was then he realised that he had something wet on his face. He opened his chat and recorded voicemail. It took him several tries, but he got it.

Hey Braedon,