Baa Baa Black Sheep

Chapter 9: 20 years later

Twenty years had passed since the disappearance of the Clayton family. After the massacre of the tribal people in rumble woods, police entered the crime scene and found the diary of Sarthak Clayton. The dairy had the rules and details of members of the Clayton family. Police now knew that all the previous missing complaints in the city are actually murders done by the Clayton family.  They now have the evidence in the form of the diary. However they still failed to find the Clayton family after 18 years of investigation. The gruesome massacre they had carried out against the tribe of Rumble Woods had become a distant memory, fading into the annals of history. The city had moved on, it's been twenty years and now the Clayton family is nothing but a distinct memory for them.

Nolen, once a man leading a happy life with his wife June and their children, found himself drawn into a web of darkness due to one ill-fated decision. As he read the newspaper, his eyes widened with horror at the reports of the murders plaguing the city. The chilling tales of the animal-masked thieves who desecrated graveyards and stole dead bodies sent shivers down his spine.

"People nowadays! I mean, who steals dead bodies?" Nolen exclaimed, his voice filled with a mix of disgust and disbelief.

June, concerned for her family's well-being, joined in the conversation, expressing her fear. "They must be cannibals!" she whispered, her voice laden with apprehension.

Curiosity piqued, May, Nolen and June's daughter, asked innocently, "What are cannibals?"

Leon, their son, took it upon himself to answer. "They are those who eat human flesh," he explained, inadvertently sending a shiver down May's spine.

Realizing the dark turn the conversation had taken, June quickly interjected, "That's enough talk about such things, children. It's time for breakfast, and you need to get ready for school. And Nolen, please water the plants in the garden," she directed, attempting to shift their focus to more mundane matters.

Nolen complied, stepping outside to tend to the garden. As he watered the plants, he noticed a new face in the neighborhood—a man named Dhruv Clayton. Intrigued, Nolen struck up a conversation with his new neighbor, and to their surprise, they found themselves connecting on a deeper level. Dhruv's warm demeanor and genuine kindness won Nolen over, and the two quickly formed a friendship.

Impressed by Dhruv's amiable nature, Nolen extended an invitation for dinner that evening, suggesting that Dhruv bring his family along. Dhruv agreed with a smile, assuring Nolen that he would be delighted to join them. Eager to introduce his new friend to his family, Nolen informed June of the dinner plans.

June, however, had her reservations. Trust issues clouded her mind, exacerbated by the recent murders in the city. She couldn't shake off the fear of welcoming strangers into their home, uncertain of their true intentions. Sensing June's hesitancy, Nolen reassured her, emphasizing his own positive impressions of Dhruv and the absence of any red flags he had noticed. After a lengthy discussion, June reluctantly agreed, making preparations for the dinner and steeling herself for the evening.

As twilight descended, Dhruv arrived at Nolen's doorstep, accompanied by his family. The Clayton family consisted of Dhruv, his sister Lindsey, his brother Naval, and their father Sarthak. Excitement filled the air as introductions were made, and the two families shared a warm meal, laughter and conversation filling the room.

Sarthak, keen to forge a connection, regaled Nolen with tales of the Clayton family's illustrious history as skilled magicians. His words were not mere anecdotes; he backed them up by performing a captivating magic trick, leaving May and Leon wide-eyed with wonder. The display seemed to ease their tensions, but June remained wary, her instincts refusing to be silenced.