The night that changed us

Chapter 1

It's been ages since they had gotten an email to go ‘help’ someone with a family member or whatever they're dealing with. Parker was bouncing with excitement when he ran to Chester to tell him, exclaiming that they had finally someone to help!

“Don't you understand? It's been- what? A few months now?” Parker asked, a smile spread across his face. Chester just groaned as he sat up from his bed, and decided not to put his glasses on at the current moment.

“It's great, Parker but do you think we can help them this time..? Especially after, a lot of people we've tried to save,” Chester replied, running a hand through his fluffy blond hair as he looked over at Parker, who was still smiling.

The dark-haired man just rolled his eyes and sat next to his friend, putting his hand on Chester's before he spoke again, “Listen here, Chester. Stop being so paranoid and we help loads of people and this- this person needs us so we should be there! You get it, don't you?”

Chester wasn't listening, too focused on the warm sensation burning in his hand that Parker had rested his on. He gulped. “I guess so.” His gaze never left their hands until Parker stood up and began to exit the room, Chester's eyes following him.

“Perfect! Come on, I'll show you the email.” He said, leaving the room. Chester sighed before pushing himself off his bed and going after Parker.

The whole thing was so stupid. The two boys were on their way to Barbara's house. Apparently, she had lost one of her sons in a fire and then her other son, Caleb, had been acting ‘mentally unstable’. She also mentioned that Caleb apparently had an imaginary friend but since he created the so-called friend, he's completely changed. Caleb has also been doing other… weird.. things. Barbara is scared that her son is slowly losing his mind and that his imaginary friend is making him do these things.

The video she sent for proof was of Caleb talking to the wall, saying he doesn't want to do it, that he doesn't want to hurt his family but then he stops, grabs a vase of the wooden bedside table next to him, and throws it at the wall, smashing it everywhere.

Chester didn't want to do this but Parker insisted that they needed to help Barbara and Caleb. So of course, Chester agreed but he knew that they weren't going to be able to do anything about a mentally ill child but it didn't matter, as they were already on their way there.

They set off around 9 pm, and it was a 2-hour drive. Along the way, they had gotten into another petty argument about it. Chester had tried telling Parker about how they shouldn't be helping them and Barbara should just take her son to a therapist if she's really that worried he's gonna go crazy.

Parker obviously didn't think that. He thought they had to help this family and they needed their help, and started explaining how Caleb only created an imaginary friend because he was coping with the trauma of his brother's passing.

“Dude, can't they just like- go to a doctor? Why us?” Chester complained again, throwing his head back against the seat, camera in hand. Parker rolled his eyes as he continued driving.

“Caleb doesn't need a doctor. He just needs someone to be there for him, and we can do that.”

“You seriously think that? We aren't trained to be psychiatrists. And- why are you dressed like that?” It was true. Parker wasn't wearing what he usually wore, tonight he was wearing a black turtleneck and glasses. Chester noticed immediately but didn't question it til now, of course, he just wanted to look professional. Parker didn't reply, he just looked ahead onto the road completely ignoring Chester's complaints.

Finally, they had gotten to Barbara's house at 11 pm and knocked on her door, waiting for her to welcome them in. It took around 20 seconds before the front door opened a bit and revealed an old woman standing in the doorway. Her thin hair was pulled back into a ponytail that went down her back but only her roots were gray, the rest was a dark brown. The nightdress she was wearing was white, it was sleeveless, thick straps going over her shoulders, and it went down to her ankles.