The Mysterious Disappearance Of Rob

Chapter 5: The End

Both Josh and Rob get to know the reason behind them listening to The Thuds. But what about the voices that the heard? Their minds were very much in a dilemma.
And so was the mind of Tim, who learned about what had happened to Josh and Rob through Steven, Rob's neighbor, who also studied in the same college as Rob did.

Rob and Josh didn't know what needs to be done next. They decide to meet up again after college. Sit down peacefully and recollect incidences before the beginning of the Thuds to see if any of their actions had lead to all of these. Just to make sure The thuds won't disturb them, this time Rob agreed to come over Josh's place. Both of them finish college and quickly take the subway to Josh's house, a locality where not much houses are seen except one house which is very much adjacent to Josh's. It is dark, the street dogs are barking, the single light bulb that is seen on the street seems to be broken. Just observing all these, Rob gets scared. As a result, he stumbles upon the stairs of Josh's house. Josh, who is standing beside him is freaking out, seeing his behavior.

They reach the door and Josh reaches his pockets, to take the key out. And to his surprise, he noticed that the key wasn't there. He starts freaking out even more. He searches all over his bag and also asks Rob to check. Both of them couldn't find it. Josh realized that he had dropped them out in the subway, while taking his phone out. He didn't realize back then as the subway was filled with people. Rob has a scary look on his face. Josh sits down with his hands on his head, in despair.

"Josh, what to do now? Its getting dark as well" said Rob.

"I don't know man. I messed it up. I am really sorry." replied Josh.

"No. Don't be. You didn't do it purposely. Lets think of getting in somehow. We can't go all the way back to my place now. It will be late"

"Right. You know what? Let's break through the window. Come on, find a big stone soon."

"Okay, that seems to be a good idea. But let us inform the granny next door that there is nothing there to panic" added Rob.

"Okay" said Josh.

(Both inform to Mrs. Houffer and then break the glass)

Both settle down. It is windy outside and hence it is chill inside as they had broken the glass. Josh offers some Cappuccino, to which Rob refuses. He requests a glass of hot water instead. Josh gets that to him along with a glass of Cappuccino for himself and sits down. Some time later, they could hear an old woman moaning. It was Mrs. Houffer's voice. Both Josh and Rob goes near the wall that Josh and Mrs. Houffer shared and held their ears on the wall. They could hear her complaining to her daughter in call. 

"From few days, I am hearing your dad's voices at night. He says "You have been chosen, for there are no ways to avoid it." I don't even know what that means. I need someone to stay with me. I am old and I can't be alone. Not in this place. Your dad is dead. You know it, I know it. It can't be him. It isn't him"

Rob's and Josh's hearts were beating so fast, that they doubted it would explode at a point. They were really scared about what they had overheard.
Few moments later, a loud scream was heard from Mrs. Houffer's house. Josh quickly goes out of the house and enteres inside the old woman's house, to see if she needed some help.
To his surprise, there was nobody inside. Near the TV, there was a note which read "Things get so lonely at times. I wish I could stop the thuds, but I just can't. It is the order that I get and hence it is my duty to obey them"

He wanted to say this to Rob. He goes back with the note in his hand, shivering. Gets inside his house and searches all over for Rob.
Rob had disappeared. He thought to go out and see if Rob is seen anywhere there.

(Door shuts very hardly and gets locked. All the window glasses are shattered. TheThuds follow)