Chapter 3: The promise, the call of fate.
A deep, unknown forest, it's so dark. The atmosphere is so foggy that almost everything seems disappeared.
Kaelin was running through the forest. Behind him, there was an unknown creature!
"Run Kae, run! Let me see, how far you can run away from me! Faster Kae, faster!"
Its fierce voice and fearsome laughter made his chest tremble. The distance between them gradually decreases with time. Kailin desperately ran but couldn't escape, the creature caught him. Before he fainted, he saw the eyes of the creature, it was glowing red!
Kaelin sat up on the bed. His while body was drenched in sweat, and the heartbeat was still high!
"Oh! That was a dream!"
He breathed heavily. How could a dream be so real! He felt like he was actually experiencing the horror.
Kaelin got out of his bed and drank some water. After a long time he had seen such an frightful eerie dream again. But this time it was more horrible, more real!
He went towards the window. The surroundings were quiet. The fields under the starry night looked like a place from another world. The leafy trunks of the trees were swinging in gentle wind.
"Kaelin!"
Suddenly he heard his name as if someone whispered his name in the wind. He was startled. There's no one except for him in the room, then who called him!
"Kaelin.. come, we are waiting for you."
The words whispered in his ear.
"Wh-who! Who's there!"
He asked in a timid voice. No one answered, the room was quiet again like nothing happened.
He walked towards the bed silently. Wrapped in the blanket, soon fell asleep.
On the frame outside his window, a nocturnal bird was sitting for a long time. It flew away as he fell asleep.
....
Today, Kae woke up a little late. Coming out of his room, he looked around.
"Granny! Granny!"
He called loudly, but didn't get an answer. Smiling, he walked towards the kitchen. The sounds of utensils was telling him where she was.
"Good morning, granny!"
"Morning."
She replied coldly, beating the eggs with the whisker.
Kaelin hugged her tightly from behind.
"Are you still mad at me?"
"No."
"No, you're still mad at me. Ok, I'm sorry. Can you forgive me this time? Please!"
She stopped beating the eggs. She moved back and looked into his eyes.
"Kae, in future please don't do anything I forbid you to do. I know you're curious, but don't ignore my words. You don't know so many things, and I really can't tell you. I'm sorry but I'm bound to do this for your own good! Please listen to me, never enter the forest again, whatever happens. I have already lost your father and mother, I can't afford to lose you Kae!"
Kaelin didn't say anything for a while. He could see the worries in her eyes. She was frightened. Frightened for him.
He grabbed her hands, held tightly.
"I promise Granny. I'll never do anything that'd harm me. Today, I'm promising you, I won't put myself in danger."
Grandma's eyes were filled with tears. With tearful eyes, she smiled.
"That's more like my Kae!"
Kaelin hugged her tightly.
"Don't ever worry about me, okay!"
....
Tonight is the night of Halloween. It's been a month since that incident. During this period, Kaelin never went towards the forest. He promised his grandma, and he was definitely not someone who easily breaks his promise.
He was hanging the lanterns in the village square. It's a tradition of Kateris. On the night of Halloween, everyone gathers at the village square and celebrate the spooky night together, filled with joy, laughter, food and games.
"Kae, look!"
He looked behind, Joe, his childhood friend was standing behind him.
"What happened?"
Joe pointed out towards his right side. Kaelin glanced there and found out Noah, standing a little far from them. He smiled at him, but Noah didn't respond. Standing for a while, he went back to the playing ground at the roadside to join his friends.
"Did you notice something?"
Joe asked in a low voice.
"What?"
"After coming from the forest, it seems like Noah has changed. Though it's not clearly visible, but something is off about him."
"Why are you saying that? I haven't felt something like that!"
"Well, see. Noah was earlier a playful kid. But after returning from the jungle, it is like he is not that kid anymore. He has become silent than before. Sometimes, he just stare at anything for a very long time. And I have noticed that ever since you came back from the forest, he has been following you around, as if keeping an eye on you. Its not the behavior of a four years old kid!"
"Joe, I think you're overthinking. Getting lost inside that forest was a scary experience for him, so maybe the kid still hasn't gotten over that fear."
"Maybe, but still...
My sixth sense keeps telling me, there's something else!"
"Ok, ok. We'll see what happens next. Now, let's get back to the work. There's still a lot left."
....
As evening fell, a crowd began to gather in the village square. Little kids wearing Halloween dresses started to knock the doors of neighbors. The place soon filled with giggles and laughter.
"Joe, help me."
Kaelin called out. He was doing barbecue by the side.
Joe went there and picked up a piece.
"Umm, delicious!"
"I've called you to help me, not to eat."
"C'mon Kae, when there is good food, you have to keep everything aside and enjoy it. Otherwise, the food gets angry."
Kaelin smiled.
"And who said that!"
"The great philosopher, Joe!"
"Huh, self-acclaimed philosopher."
The night was progressing with such fun and laughter. Everyone was divided into small groups. Elders sat aside and gossiped about so many things.
"Lara, your grandson is really brave. We can't even think about going into that forest, but Kae not only went, but also escaped safely with Noah!"
A woman told Kaelin's grandmother.
She smiled, saying nothing.
Soon their gossips started to revolve around so many topics. Kaelin's grandmother was enjoying the chitchats, looking at her grandson, who was busy with Joe in barbecuing.
Suddenly she felt that the environment has changed a little. All of a sudden the air felt a bit heavy, a very faint pungent smell of something was in the air, like a smell coming from an wild animal.
It took her some seconds to understand, soon her eyes were widened with fear and surprise!
"No, it cannot happen. It must be my mistake. How can the door be opened! I've put it off for a lifetime."
"Y-yes.. I'm mistaken. They cannot come out. No way!"
She murmured, but in a way that no one could hear. Her hands were shivering, sweat accumulated on the forehead.
Far away, the silhouette was seen again in the forest. He stood at the edge of the forest, looked at the village and whispered.
"Come on Kaelin. Come, before it's too late."