Chapter 2 The scroll

Dianne pulled Clinton into a deeper kiss,crossing her leg over his waist as he supported it with his hand.He slightly lifted her and pinned her to the wall,using his other hand to navigate under her.She stopped him immediately,pulled away then adjusted her skirt.

"The rest are waiting,we should hurry"she cleared her voice, buttoning her shirt.

Clinton however, didn't seem satisfied.He just zipped his pants up.

"Yeah,yeah...some other time"he said.Dianne smiled but looked away.

They headed to the power box and Clinton opened it."it's fried"

"Can you fix it?"

"With you by side, ofcourse"he teased, causing a smile to year through her face.

The clang of a metal pulled their attention towards the opposite direction of the power box."whosoever you are,stop playing games come out already"Clinton said.He felt Dianne's fist clench the Hem of his shirt, firmly.

They began taking steps towards the sound.There were wet foot prints,which trailed all the way down the dark building.

"Animal prints"Clinton stated.He stopped moving as his torch caught a scratch on the wall.He used his hand to feel the scratch gently.

"Claws... belonging to a wild animal"He added.

There was a swift zape of wind behind them,making them turn immediately.

"We should leave"Dianne said.I grabbed her wrist and we began hurrying towards the exist.

We got to the door,only to realize it was locked after I pulled it."Ammie!"

"Dan!"I screamed after Dianne did.We began banging the door,but noone seemed to hear us."Something's not right.I smell diesel"I said.I tracked the smell,with Dianne clutched to my shirt."Fuck"

A diesel was leaking into the room from the other exist.It had trailed down to the power supply, spreading round it.I could feel my heart race faster as thoughts of death began flooding my memory.

"Clinton..what do we do"Dianne cried.She was already restless.I pulled her into a tight hug and began patting her head gently.

"We pray"I couldn't believe I was the person saying that.i dreaded the church alot,but my mum was one devouted Christian,who had passed down lots of teachings to me.one of them includes prayer when in trouble.

"We pray Dianne,we pray"I added, already feeling the tears from my eyes travel down and wet her hair.

From nowhere,a fire began.It travelled down to the power supply,and was already eating up the wires.I closed my eyes tightly, same time, squeezing Dianne in my arms.

I heard a loud bang from the other exist,which made me force my eyes open again.

"A saviour"I exclaimed.

"Run"I heard Emily scream.Dianne and I took to our heels,as the fire grew larger and wider.Dan and Ammie held a fire extinguisher.The bought went a closer to the fire and tried their best,but to no avail.

"We should leave,I'm leaving"Dianne cried and hurried out of the room.

Just as I turned to stop call her back,I saw a stem hurl and fiercely go through her stomach.I lost my words.Everywhere grew silent.Just Dianne choking,and the stem digging deeper into her,till it found its way out from her back.

For a moment I thought I saw it come towards me.But the next moment,I was crashing into the

Empty cartons used to import the power machines.

***

Dan stood up from Clinton and rushed back to the door,but Dianne was gone.

"What ...just happened?"Emily stammered."Dan what just happened!?"She yelled this time, pulling his shirt.

"He's as confused as we are,let him go Emily"Ammie struggled taking off Emily's hand from Dan's shirt.

"I could bet he's not.He's been acting all strange since Hessey left us here.He sure does know something.What the fuck was that!"

"Dan"Ammie called him.His attention was fixed somewhere else."Dan"she called again,this time,she gently turned his face towards hers.He was staring directly into her eyes."Do you know what .."

"She's gone"he muttered.

"What do mean she's gone?"Clinton muttered,finally standing from his spot."What do you mean she's gone!"he yelled and grabbed Dan from by his shirt.

"She's gone.That's all I can say"

Dan concluded,with tears already cuddling up his eyes.Clinton let him go, slowly falling to the ground in tears.

*** *** ***

"Inspect the rest of the area,I'll be in the van"The white haired sheriff ordered the two officers before carrying a cup to the Back of the van.

"How do you feel?"he asked Clinton,who was covered in a blanket and had just given a statement to the police.

"Better"he said and accepted the cup from the man."Thanks dad"he gulped the glucose completely."Any report ?"

"Nothing has been found yet.We've checked every nook and cranny of the school,she's nowhere to be found.Are you sure about what you saw?"

"I am.Dad We all saw it. I'm not crazy"Clinton tried defending himself.His dad gave him a hug immediately.

"It's okay son..I believe you"he stroke his hair gently."Just stick to the story you told okay,I'll be back"Sherriff said and headed back into the school.

"Come with me"

"Fuck,bro!"Clinton exclaimed.Dan looked in a hurry.Clinton dropped the cup and followed him.

He was led a few distance into the woods,not failing to throw questions at Dan.

They finally got to a spot and stopped,then Emily and Ammie walked out.

"What's going on?"he asked.

Dan turned on his light and directed it towards the floor.Clinton followed the direction of the light,and finally caught the object.

"Is that...."

"Yes"Dan didn't wait for him to finish.

"Which means whatever took Dianne is still here,and there's still hope that she's alive"Ammie added.

"Whatever....so we all agree there's something wrong something and this is abnormal s d I'm not going crazy"Clinton asked

"You're not going crazy Clinton.And I promise to explain the rest of it to you guys,but for now,you remain clueless,cause your lives might be in danger aswell.Just get back to the van,act normal and I'll get back to everyone"Dan convinced.

"Clinton!"

"Shit,my father must have noticed I'm no longer in the van"Clinton said.His sheriff dad had already began a search for him.

They all headed back to the van, giving different excuses on why they all disappeared.The sheriff however, didn't buy the story.

*** *** ***

Dan walked out of the shower,wore his briefs and slid into his duvet.

He reached for the scroll under his pillow and opened it.The moon light travelled directly into his room, through the window beside his bed.

He sat up gently and placed the scroll under the light.

The scroll had a lot of drawings and writings.Most were in strange languages,while the rest were in English.He read through with his fingers,till he got to the part which had a diagram of tree,with parts stretching to four edges of the page.At the center of the tree ,was a glowing ball of blood and at the feet,lay human diagrams.Dan pulled the scroll closer.On the next page,was a full moon,two black wolves,one badly injured,and the other in a perfect condition.

He heard the door to the living room open and close,and soon,his.Steph walked in.

"Where've you been?"she asked and sat beside him on the bed.

"The scroll has a lot of messages.From the creation of creatures like us,to the fight that caused the separation of the worlds.But one thing that still looks strange,is this tree"he pointed it out.Steph took the scroll slowly and

"It's called QUADXON, believed to have grown from the very roots of hell.It disappeared after the separation of the worlds.Rumour has it that it lies in one of the worlds and has been feeding souls to hell"

"Feeding souls to hell?"Daniel asked.Steph nodded.

"We should have nothing to worry about.It's not in ours"

"Or maybe it's finding it's way into ours"He added."Dianne got struck by the stem of a tree,and before we knew what was happening,she went missing.I was able to trace her scent and was led to the woods,where I found this"he pointed at the stem of tree.

"Is it possible it can find its way into another world?"

"If what you're saying is true,then we're in much trouble than we thought"

"But why didn't uncle say anything about these.He had the scroll for years.Unless...."

"He's the one creating a breach between worlds,and wants noone to know,cause he gets to achieve something personal"Steph completed.

They had both known their uncle for years.Once it comes to personal gain,he acted blindly.

"Keep this safe.i'll be back".

***. ***. ***

BRENDAN'S P.O.V

"Being called the "resurrected kid",urm..really sucks.I just want to be normal,play with other kids,go to school, make my parents proud of me

Graduate from college.I believe I had alot of incomplete dreams,which is the reason I was given a second chance.And I'm so glad to see the faces of every single person sitted here"Brendan smiled at the camera and the rest of the crowd who were all over the hospital.

It was filled with more religious people who believed so much in resurrection.

"So can you tell what it felt like,being dead for what...four hours?"

"Okay that enough,brendy let's go"Brendan's mum interrupted the interviewer.She set his wheelchair ready and wheeled him across the stand point of the interviewers,down to the ice cream stand."Are you okay baby?"she asked.

"Yes I am"Brendan replied.He reached for an ice cream from the counter.The man helped him with one but refused money from his mum.

"It's on the house ma'am"

She got a call from her husband and moved s distance from Brendan.

"How's he"he asked.

"He's changed.Not negatively though,but...he's different.He's more social,more accomodating..I don't know if I should be scared Chris"

"It's alright Hannah"Chris, Brendan's dad consoled."There's no need to be scared.He's our son, and nothing will change that.okay.I'll give you a call once I'm in okay,love you"

"Love you too"Mrs Hannah ended the call.She turned around and dropped her phone out of shock."Oh my God,brendy,you scared me"

"You're scared of me"

"What?..hell no "

"Yes,you are!"

Brendan screamed at her.He switched his wheelchair control and wheeled out .Hannah chased after him but couldn't keep up.She was already in tears.She took out her phone and dialed 911.

"My son's missing"

*** *** ***

Steph kept checking her wrist watch and she sat waiting in the car.She finally sighted whom she was waiting for and got down from the car.

"Why did you call Steph?"Scott asked.

Steph charged towards him and swept him off his feet.She grabbed him by the shirt just before he touched the floor and flung him into the windscreen of an old truck.

Before he could regain his stance,she pounced on him and pinned him to the truck.

"What's uncle up to?"

"What do mean?"Scott asked.He struggled to get off her grip,but she was tough.She sank a claw into his neck and pulled him out of the shattered screen.

"Don't act like you know nothing"She reached for his face with a clenched fist,but he stopped the punch and kicked her off him.

"Stop this madness already"he surrendered with his hands in the air.

She stood up and faced him.

"Scott you need to tell me what uncle Von is up to.There's been a breach between worlds and if it's not closed on time,then we're all going to be in danger"

"Steph"he called, signalling her to catch her breath.She took in a deep breath,before continuing.

"Yesterday,Dan and I were going through the scroll,and we saw the Quadxon.I believe the scroll contains images or some sort of information on what's going to happen soon"

"Where does uncle come in?"Scott interrupted.

"Two days ago a friend of Dans' was struck by the exact branch of the quadxon seen in the scroll.Her body hasn't been found ever since.Scott the quadxon doesn't exist in our world,so if that happened,it's obvious there's been a breach..and what other person knows of where the worlds meet other than Uncle Von!"

"You're mistaken, Steph.You...and the traitor you're helping"

"Dan is no traitor"she defended.

"Neither is my uncle aware of whatever it is you're talking about"Scott challenged and turned to leave.

"Scott please listen to me!"Steph made him stop in his tracks."I've seen it happen.It keeps coming to me in my dreams,the bloodshed,the sickness,the death of thousands of our specie.We would be used as a sacrifice to create the new order"she cried,hoping Scott would change his mind.

"Go home Stephanie"

Scott muttered.He morphed into his big,brown wolf and dashed into the woods.

*** *** ***

"Brendan!"

The name of the night echoed in the dark,wet woods as the search team went in units, looking for brendan.Sheriff led them deeper into the woods, alongside the dogs.

After travelling some distance deeper,he stopped and redirected his focus towards the East.

"Keep search, I'll go East"

"Sheriff"the junior officer sounded unsure about the sheriff's decision.

"It's fine,I'll give a call if I need anyone"sheriff said and began heading east.

He had walked a distance away from the rest when he began noticing wheel tracks on the wet sand.He went further down,till he could sight Brendan's wheel chair.

"Brendan"he called,but there was no response.His steps got slower as he got closer."Brendan if you're there I'll like you to gently turn around okay"he added,but no response still.

His hand firmly grasped his gun hanging by his belt,with his torch placed on eye level.He got to the chair and gently turned it around.

Brendan sat there, completely asleep.Sheriff let his gun go and knelt before the chair."Hey kid"he jerked him by the shoulder.He took out his whistle to signal the rest.

Brendan's eye fluttered, giving the sheriff a hope of life.

He shook his shoulders gently.

"Sheriff"

"What happened Brendan?"sheriff asked.Brendan looked around the woods,like he was trying to find his words.

"I.....I can't remember"he muttered.

"That's fine, we'll take you home"

"No"Brendan cut in."They're scared of me.But here, noone's scared of me.Everyone accepts me for who I am"

To the sheriff, Brendan was just recovering.Although what he said was more serious than thought.

"Look.. noone's scared of you, okay.Your mum is only in shock and is recovering.She loves you and has no reason to...."

While he was giving his pep talk,the rest of the team arrived."Take him to the van,I'll catch up"sheriff instructed.

He used a few minutes to inspect the whole area.While moving from spot to spot,his light caught a stem covered in purple flowers and black vines,which was curved into the ground.

He took out his phone,took a shot and headed out.

*** *** ***

Sheriff locked the door behind him and tossed the key on the table.He took of his jacket and headed for the freezer.

"Heading out dad"Clinton hurried down the stairs.

"You can't be staying out by this time son.You know the times we're in"

"I promise to be safe.I'm going be with Dan in his home so..yeah,no public spaces"he said and sat to fix put on his sneakers."How was the search?"

"Yeah,we found him in the woods opposite Standford"

"Owwww...way to go Brendan"Clinton joked,but realized his dad wasn't having it.He made a nod and picked the key.

"Clint"his dad called."can you describe what struck Dianne again?"he asked.He noticed discomfort written all over Clinton's face."Nevermind son,sorry for bringing it up"

"Nahh it's cool"Clinton muttered."a brown branch, with black vines and purple flowers"

"Thank you"his dad said.He let Clinton ignite the car engine before he pulled out his phone and dialed a number.It rang for a few seconds

"We have a problem"

*** *** ***

DANIEL'S P.O.V

I just finished my lifetime story, really hoping someone was going to believe atleast a part of it.But instead,I was replied with a deafening silence.I could literally hear the ticking of Ammie's wrist watch. "Guys please say something"I broke the silence.

"I have nothing to say dan.i mean...you just filled out heads with stuff,new order, wolves, supernatural..it's actually a lot"

"I knew this was a waste of time"Emily chirped in.She packed her bag,hung it and began heading out.

"There's a hunt going on tonight.If you leave alone, believe me you won't get home in one piece"I warned, although it sounded more like a threat.Clinton hurried and grabbed her by the hand.

"Doesn't this all look familiar"he said.Ofcourse he was referring to the way Dianne was killed."Dan starts acting strange,and something bad happens the next minute"he added.

At this point I felt attacked but that wasn't the issue.I just wanted them to believe me,cause that was the only way we would find Dianne. "Look all I'm saying ,if we're leaving,we leave together,as a group.Noone stays alone.We must'nt believe Dan's story.There's no ...."

"Proof?"I interrupted him."I'll show you"

"What?"

"The hunt.If that's what it'll take to believe me,then I don't mind letting you witness the hunt tonight"I added,being more serious than ever.

Ammie was the first to negate.

"Bad idea"she muttered.

"We're doing this to find Dianne.she probably wasn't the best of a friend but every human deserves a chance.So even if we find her dead,she deserves a befiting ceremony"Clinton said.

At this point,I was convinced he uses some kind of spell to make people do his bidding.The girls were already looking like they were going to give me a chance.

"I'll keep you safe"I muttered to Ammie,who stole a glance at me.

*** *** ***

I noticed anxiety and impatience grow as we had squatted our legs out at the same spot .Emily intentionally made hers obvious as she kept pulling out the grasses from their roots.

"That's it,I'm out"

She stood up to leave but I pulled her down to the ground and signalled her to stay quiet.I pointed opposite where we hid.A small black wolf had just crept into the picture.My suspicions were that there was a hunt close by.

"That's just some random..."I silenced her again. Shortly after,three more wolves joined the first.The bigger wolf morphed into a feminine figure, completely naked.At this point,I noticed the shock which hit my friends.

She whispered into the ear of the small wolf,and it took off immediately with full speed.

I maintained my focus on the wolf, knowing fully well what was next.We were too close,and ofcourse,it had picked out scents.

"When I say run,you run"I whispered to my friends,who were already clinging on to me.

The female wolf turned towards our direction and stared for few seconds.She knelt,with her head buried in the grounds .

The next time she raised her head,I saw the red glow coming from her eye.She was their alpha.

She morphed back to her wolf.

"Run"I shouted.

We took to our heels,not minding the wet and unfriendly grass.Clinton led, dragging Emily along,who happened to be the slowest.

I raced behind Ammie,who to me, was a better athlete.

"Keep going!"I passed my bag to her and turned around.The wolves were closing in on us.

I think I heard her ask something amidst the race but wasn't sure what it was.

I felt this sudden surge of energy grow from within.It grew by every passing second,like a thread sprouting from the deepest part of my stomach,all the way up to my throat.

I let the energy take build up and take full control.My mouth for forced open and I let out a loud growl,which I believe lasted for sometime.

The wolves halted in their tracks,and began careful steps back.If they were scared or surprised,I was too,cause that was my first growl.

I noticed the female wolf stop and stare at me.Then she tilted her head like she was looking at someone behind me,before she ran out of sight.

I let out a breath of relief and turned,only to realize the trio were standing there all along,or rather,they were standing behind Clinton.They all had their hands covering their ears.

With the look I saw on their faces,I was sure they were going to make a good team.

*** *** ***