"The Unknown"

Chapter 5: The Truth

I saw him standing there, looking at me with cold eyes. He looked like all his blood was drained from his body. He looked lonely and drained from energy.

"Grandma look!" I whispered in her ears not wanting to move my eyes.

Why?

Oh, not because I'm amazed or anything, it's just if I move my eyes and he's gone, I won't be able to sleep until I see him back.

She looked at him and stare. Roger was barking non-stop. But grandma told him to move away.

"James, what do you want?" Grandma asked.

"Don't forget the deal we seal a long time ago Madeline." A deep demonic voice said.

"Deal? What deal grandma?" I asked looking concerned.

"And you didn't tell Chrissy as yet? What a shame. I'm sure if she finds out, she won't be talking to you at all."

I looked at grandma with concern. She looked a little depressed but I want to know what's it about. As much I was trembling with fear, I was more concerned about the deal.

"I'll be back soon and we will trade then!" The little boy said as soon as he vanished in thin air.

"Come we need to talk," grandma said. "But not here. Follow me."

We walked at the back of the house. It was a bit scarier than I last remembered. We walked past the lake but it wasn't the same. Something about it has changed. It's a bit darker and smells differently.  Finally, we reached the house of the present and we entered.

As I walked into the house, I saw three-person standing in the kitchen. Three ghosts. Let me correct that.
"Don't worry, they can't harm you," Grandma said with a calm voice. "Let's go to your bedroom."

I felt a bit sorry for them because they look so helpless and cold. I walked upstairs and met grandma looking out my room window. Her facial expression changed. Completely.

"Sometimes, people do and say things with feelings in the present and not thinking about the future." She started talking while I took a seat on a chair.

"We can't stay here long but long enough to tell you the deal that I made with the Unknown. After your brother died and we held a funeral, I wanted him back. Because when he was born, I got attached to him.  The unknown visited me after the night of the funeral. He said he would bring back James only if he is given a life. Life of the same bloodline. So I told him that he can take my daughter, next child if one is born. I thought your mother couldn't make any more children knowing the condition that she had with your brother. He pulled out a contract to even sign it. I thought I could trick him but I haven't realized what I have done. So when you were being born, he revisited me to remind me of the deal. I couldn't tell your mother anything or she will shut me off for good."

I sat there with tears in my eyes and I felt a deep pain in my chest rising above my throat. But then a thought came to me.

"If he came for me doesn't that mean that he brought back James? I asked sniffling.

"No. He tricked me instead. All he did was possessed  his body because he needs someone to stay in our realm and not the ghost realm." She said with tears also in her eyes.
" I didn't mean to make a deal like that. I regretted every letter I wrote on that contract. I have a book.  I tried finding a way to reverse time or at least banish the Unknown for good this time but I haven't found away."

As she was speaking, I felt a cold chill around my neck. Every hair on my skin stood straight up. I was afraid to turn around to face for what I will see.

"Grandma Hush! Someone is behind me."

She turned to look around and she didn't move her eyes.

"Grandma!" I whispered. "Grandma! What are you staring at?" I asked.

I couldn't wait to hear what she was about to say so I turned around. The moment I did, I regretted it. Damn. I shouldn't have done that.

I saw my brother.  Well, the Unknown man. How I could tell? Because I'm sure my mother would not create a baby boy with black eyes.

He was close up. Like really close up. But then he couldn't harm me. But I was about to feel dizzy. My energy was draining. And so was grandma.

It was time to exit the house but where will we go? The Unknown is in the other house and he might or maybe will hurt us there.

"I know a place," grandma said quickly.

"Follow me!"

Great. More surprises.

She grabbed my hand and started running.  Surprisingly, my grandmother can run way faster than me. We were heading more at the back of the lake and it's beginning to get dark. Where is she taking me?

She looked back and told me that he's coming. I got inspired to run even faster. I looked ahead and saw a graveyard.

Wait. A graveyard?? What the hell. I stopped immediately.

"Why did you stop Chrissy? Let's go!!" She shouted.

"I am not going nowhere near that graveyard. Especially when it's getting dark." I said.

"Well fine. Stay here and let your "brother" get you because he isn't far." She said and she began running.
I looked back and saw no one. But it's getting even darker.

"Nope, not me," I said and dashed off following my grandmother.

" Come in here Chrissy."

I followed her voice and it was in a house in the graveyard. Gosh. The stench of dead people smelling and I can't even breathe properly. Yukk!!!

"Why are we here?" I asked

"Because he can't smell us here. Our pheromone can't be smelling here. We have to hide out until the morning." She said.

There is no freaking way I am staying here for more than 1 hour. Done said.