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40. Unlocked.

"Some say the graveyard is haunted. While people generally think every graveyard is, this one is different. It's home to someone known as the Keeper of the Key. Nobody has ever seen them, yet they still believe in their existence.

"Some say that those who see the Keeper of the Key won't have a chance to talk about it. They will keep their mouths shut, as if locked, like a secret kept in a special box with a special key.

"Some also say that those who manage to speak about the Keeper of the Key's existence will die about four weeks after witnessing them. Terrifying, huh?"

The boy then turned on the light, only to find that one of the club members didn't seem frightened. The others appeared chilled, but this boy remained indifferent.

Billy, who had told the story of the Keeper of the Key, understood why this particular member didn't react to the tale.

Ben, his twin brother, was known as The Heartless Kid because he didn't show many expressions. The only ones he displayed were smiles and frowns. Otherwise, he kept his thoughts to himself.

Billy was concerned because his brother was the type who wouldn't share anything unless asked. Due to his lack of expression, people often assumed he was fine on his own.

Billy sometimes thought the same about Ben. He worried from time to time, but as the years went by, Ben didn't seem to have any hidden problems.

This realization made Billy feel relieved. "What, wasn't the tale of the Keeper of the Key entertaining enough for you?" Billy asked.

Ben shook his head. "It was okay."

"Come on! Our friends are terrified."

"We're not!" another member yelled back. "It's just creepy how you said 'die' with such a blank expression..."

"Oh, shush, Mandy! I know you're scared by the tale."

Mandy pouted. "It was just a tale. You don't know if it's real or not."

Billy raised his brows and smiled at the crazy idea he had. Then he pushed himself to the front. "Bet."

The day they went to the local graveyard was when Billy began calling their friends wimps. Ben didn't agree with his twin's idea but said nothing. He was excited about the change and the chance to spend time with friends and his twin.

Though it wasn't the experience he expected, he felt joy anyway. They had to lie to their parents to stay out late.

The nearest graveyard was about five blocks from the school, which wasn't far. They didn't have any trouble walking, and it was enjoyable as they talked about common interests.

Ben still didn't talk much, but he was a great listener. Billy sometimes thought that was why people liked him, despite his silence. Talking to someone who only stares could be uncomfortable, though.

By the time they arrived, the sun was almost set. The moon was visible, and fortunately, they had flashlights. The graveyard looked eerie with mist swirling around, but they continued exploring.

The first person to step forward was George, the secretary of the Cult Club. He was trembling but ventured in anyway, followed by Ben, Billy, Mandy, Phoebe, Wilson, and Stephen.

It was a relief to discover that the graveyard had a path, making it easier to navigate. Though it was dark, only their flashlights illuminated the area.

They didn't find anything. There was a small hut, but it was empty. Wilson checked it out. Soon after, they decided to leave because Phoebe started to panic.