Dare to Fear? [Chapter 3: The Ray of Hope]

“The six decide to keep Fabio away from this misery, but will it be so simple? Is their fate in their favour or, will everything fall apart?”

FABIO: Goodbye…

SEBASTIAN: WHAT HAPPENED FABIO? What is wrong?

There is no reply from Fabio’s end.

CHARLES: FABIO!!! Say something dude.

EMMA: (Nervously) I-I think it has reached Fabio. Is anybody else experiencing anything?

SEBASTIAN: No

CHARLES: Not us either.

EMMA: (Terrified) Oh my god! (Cries) This cannot end like this. Say something Fabio, talk to us.

They are right. This time it has got Fabio on its hooks. And the consequences of it are beyond their scope of imagination. Fabio stood near the Fireplace when the six heard a thunderous sound. He turns around to look at the fireplace and what he sees is immobilising. Massive thunderous clouds were crawling down the chimney and progressing towards him. It took a few seconds, a few gulps and a few steps back for him to realise that he was in grave danger. Not a single sound escapes his mouth in his misery. He closes his eyes and digs his toe digits into the floor. His face droops down with clenched jaws, not rising by an inch. He hears millions of whispers, but none distinct enough to make sense. He stands in the eye of a hurricane, a hurricane of fear and uncertainty. Dread revolves around him as he stands still, holding his breath, murmuring his last prayers. But to his surprise and disbelief, the whisperings start to fade away. He slowly removes his hands, uncovering his ears, and opens his right eye to check his surroundings. He sees the clouds preceding into the chimney.

FABIO: H-How is this even possible? Do I have some kind of supernatural power?

BOULT: My goodness! Why the hell weren’t you saying anything?

EMMA: And what supernatural power are you talking about?

SEBASTIAN: You had us on the edge, Fabio! What did it make you see?

FABIO: N-Nothing…

ARSEN: Stop kidding! Out of all the people, you are the one who scared it away?

CHARLES: Yeah, I mean I don’t want to be rude, but it is really hard to believe that it got scared away by you. There ought to be something else.

FABIO: What if I’m naturally shielded by God? And I was born to destroy this thing?

BOULT: How many mangas have you read Fabio? (Chuckles)

SEBASTIAN: I agree with Charles, there must be some other reason. And I sense something good.

CHARLES: Shit! How come I didn’t think of it before? It chooses the most dreadful of our fears to trap us, and we all have one such fear. But Fabio, he is afraid of anything and everything. And that’s the reason why it couldn’t feed upon his fears. It couldn’t settle upon a single thing to trap him.

ARSEN: So basically you mean Fabio confused the thing away rather than scaring it away. Good job buddy!

CHARLES: Um… Sort of. Anyway, the moral of the story is, if we are together then it cannot get to us because it is incapable of holding a droplet when pushed in the ocean. So, no matter what, we have to come together.

SEBASTIAN: But every time, no matter how hard we try, it simply wouldn’t let that happen. Before we can get to each other, it gets to one of us.

EMMA: It is impossible to come together unless we can see each other!

CHARLES: Emma is right. See, we can feel each other, hear each other, but cannot see each other. This means we haven’t vanished, but instead we are simply hidden.

BOULT: Hidden? But how can a living person be hidden like this?

FABIO: Reflection? I mean, whatever we see results from reflection or refraction of light. So maybe it is a game of light.

CHARLES: Exactly Fabio! That is what it is. (Looks around the room, trying to search for something) Hmm, interesting enough. Mirrors placed where they are of no use.

ARSEN: Yes actually, why would one climb up a ladder to see their face in the mirror?

EMMA: And the angles are weird! I couldn’t even see my face properly in the ones hanging on the walls.

ARSEN: Checking out your face in a haunted house? Really Emma?

EMMA: I just wanted to tie my hair real quick.

Arsen rolls his eyes at Emma.

CHARLES: YES! THANKS EMMA!

EMMA: For doing my hair?

CHARLES: NO! For the angle thing. All the mirrors are set in the same angle, but just in different directions. Some on top of the walls, some a bit lower, others on the pillars. But everything is on the same level, like storeys of mirrors. But something is missing in this pattern (turns his head to the other side) There! That oval mirror on the pillar. It is covered by a cloth. We need to remove the covering.

BOULT: But it is at a great height. How will we reach up there?

EMMA: We can use the tables and stools to get up there.

SEBASTIAN: Boult, you are tallest among us so you will have to climb the tables.

BOULT: Got it!

CHARLES: But be careful Boult, you just need to uncover the mirror, without disturbing its position.

BOULT: Okay, I’ll be careful.

SEBASTIAN: Let’s hurry guys. If we are certain about one thing in this villa, then it has to be us not having much time in our hands.

CHARLES: Right. It would never want us to be able to complete the task because the faster we are, the closer it is to its destruction.

EMMA: This night feels as long as a road.

SEBASTIAN: And we are not yet at the dead end of this road. So keep up guys.

Boult, Arsen and Charles pick up the round table placed at the centre of the hall and starts shifting to the foot of the pillar. Sebastian and Emma as well proceeds to shift the surrounding stools respectively, to the site. But as soon as they come close enough to the pillar, a huge iron article flies into their way, intending to hit them. But fortunately, both of them were vigilant enough to move away.

CHARLES: Shit! I saw something fly in that direction! Is anybody hurt there?

SEBASTIAN: I was saved by an inch.

EMMA: Me too. We were shifting the stools.

CHARLES: Do not proceed any further. It is now aware of what we are trying to do and it will try to stop us. But this also means we are heading in the right direction.

SEBASTIAN: Okay, we’ll wait here. Emma, you must be close enough so hold my hands.

Emma moves her hands aimlessly, and it didn’t take her long to spot Sebastian.

FABIO: Hey guys! I’m still alone here.

CHARLES: You are anyway not in danger, Fabio. It is us at stake. So just stand still.

Boult along with Charles and Arsen places the tables on top of one another till it reaches the desirable height. After the setting is done, Boult carefully places himself on the first table. He looks at the mirror and takes an estimate of the height. He then steps on the second table and uses his hands to give his body the support it needs to push himself up. The foot of the second table isn’t levelled and hence it gives a jerk as Boult tries to push himself up. For a brief second, Boult lost his balance, but he knows how to handle himself.

ARSEN: Be careful brother!

BOULT: I’m alright.

Boult stands stable on the second table, preparing to continue the climb. He needs to climb the last table and then the job is done. He places his right leg on the small round table and pushes himself up. He now stands upright on the last table, all set to remove the veil. He holds the veil in his hand to pull it but before he could, the stool beside Emma flew with tremendous speed hitting exactly the legs of the topmost table. The leg of the table breaks into two, leading Boult to fall down along with the veil.

BOULT: UGHH! My back!

CHARLES: Oh no! Is it too bad Boult?

EMMA:  What happened? Boult, are you alright?

BOULT: Chill! I’m alright guys, just a sprain on my back.

CHARLES: No… SHIT! The mirror’s position got disturbed.  

BOULT: I’m sorry, Charles. I couldn’t balance it.

CHARLES: Don’t say sorry Boult. You did what you could. But we need to climb again.

ARSEN: Boult can’t climb anymore. Let’s do one thing. I’ll climb first, followed by Charles. And then I can take you on my shoulders.

CHARLES: Okay, let’s hurry.

Arsen climbs the table and then extends his hand to Charles to help him climb too. After they both reach the second table, Arsen kneels down for Charles to stand on his shoulders. Charles scans the surrounding before balancing himself on his shoulders. Arsen slowly rises himself up and Charles makes a firm grip of the mirror. He slowly tilts it back to its original position and jumps off the table.

CHARLES: Huff… Easier said than done. (Bends over to hold his knees in exertion)

ARSEN: Seriously. I never knew you were this heavy. Ugh, my shoulders are tearing apart.  (Stretches his arms to relax his muscles)

EMMA: So what next? The mirrors are set, but what about the light? All this will go in vain if we are unable to find the correct source of light.

CHARLES: Yes, and at the top of it, we have little time in our hand because this pattern will work only when the sun and the mirror are in the same line. And as much as I can estimate, the sun will be in line with this mirror one minute after sunrise.

SEBASTIAN: It is 4:45 a.m. right now. The sun rises exactly after fifteen minutes, and we need to find the source within sixteen minutes that is 5:01 a.m.

FABIO: But how are you so sure Charles that the light needs to fall in this particular oval mirror?

CHARLES: Firstly, this is the only mirror which doesn’t have another mirror facing it directly and secondly, all the other mirrors are square or rectangular in shape except this. This is the only mirror in the entire hall which has a different shape. This ought to have some significance.

SEBASTIAN: Where could it possibly be?

BOULT: All the windows are sealed. There’s no hole that I can spot.

CHARLES: (Examining the grand clock opposite to the oval mirror) The sun needs to be in the same line as the mirror, hence the source of light too should be in the same line. And this clock is exactly what we are looking for.

ARSEN: How can a clock be the source of light?

EMMA: No silly! The clock isn’t the source. But it holds the key to it. If we are hidden in this villa, then the solution to our problems must be hidden as well.

SEBASTIAN: Right. So this clock might as well be a cover to the source.

CHARLES: We have ten minutes left. Let’s hurry guys! Who is the closest to the clock?

SEBASTIAN: I’m standing right below it. Let me climb up the shelves.

Sebastian takes a quick look at the shelves and plans his steps in advance because he needs to be quick. He makes swift movements with his body and climbs up the steady shelves. He reaches the top and now he needs to remove the grand clock. He holds the clock from the two sides and tries to push it up the hook.

SEBASTIAN: It is too heavy guys!

CHARLES: Seb, we only have six minutes left! Hurry! Give it all the strength you have!

BOULT: You can do it buddy!

Sebastian struggles with it, but no matter how hard he pushes, the clock wouldn’t move by an inch. He realises that his arms are far from enough to push it up. He looks around himself and spots an iron rod amidst the articles showcased in the shelves. He stretches his right arm and holds the clock with his left to have balance. He gets a grip on the rod and pulls it up with a single swift motion. The rod is heavy and thick enough to give the required thrust to the clock. Sebastian takes in a deep breath and hooks the rod below the clock and pushes it down. The clock finally shows some movement. But with this movement comes grave danger. Suddenly, the villa gets filled with thundering and crackling sounds. Dark mountains of clouds sweeps down the staircases rushing towards Sebastian.

CHARLES: SEBASTIAN HURRY! ONE MINUTE TO GO!

BOULT: IT IS COMING FOR YOU SEBASTIAN! HURRY!

SEBASTIAN: I’M TRYING MY BEST!

Sebastian keeps pushing it as the clouds come closer with each passing second. The clouds take a form of a growling face. Sebastian looks behind him and his heart stops beating, his hands seize and his legs feel numb. But he still hasn’t lost all his senses. He closes his eyes and whispers to himself,

SEBASTIAN: (Whispers) Its do or die.

Sebastian holds his breath and tightens his grip on the rod and gives a last push with all his body weight as he prays for his life.

CHARLES: (Murmurs to himself) 3 2 1… (Closes his eyes)

Everyone stands with closed eyes and joined hands in prayer.

 

 

 

 

 

Sebastian slowly opens his eyes and sees the light falling on the mirror and slowly it gets reflected from one to another. Soon it formed a three-dimensional hexagonal web of rays. And when he looked down at the floor, he saw Fabio standing near the staircase with closed eyes and joined hands.

SEBASTIAN: GUYS! I CAN SEE FABIO!

FABIO: But I can’t see you guys.

CHARLES: Woah! This looks beautiful! I think we need to be inside this web to be visible. Because Fabio is the only one inside the web right now.

BOULT: Great job, Seb!

SEBASTIAN: Thanks brother… (Jumps off the top shelf)

The rest five walk into the web and as soon as they step in, their skin glistens under the sunlight. They have probably never felt so happy to see each other prior to this instant. Without wasting much time, they stand beside each other, hand in hand, ready to face their fear once and for all. The dark clouds now surround the hexagonal web of rays but cannot proceed any further. The thundering sounds intensify to its peak before simmering down. The clouds begin to shrink in size while the growling still continues. The six stand facing it with no trace of fear on their faces. The light is indeed the poison to the darkness, be it the clouds or our fears. The clouds become whiter as time passes and start to spiral at a tremendous momentum, as if being drawn inside a narrow opening. Gust of wind blows around the six as they try to look away. The clouds shrink into emptiness and something significantly small, drops on the ground before the six pairs of eyes.

FABIO: What is that thing?

Sebastian advances towards the edge of the web to investigate it.

SEBASTIAN: It is a blood red crystal. I think the clouds got trapped inside it.

FABIO: Don’t touch it Seb!

EMMA: We should put it inside something and throw it away so that it can never be found again.

CHARLES: Yes, it is very dangerous to leave it here like this.

Sebastian extends his hands outside the web and holds the crystal in his fist. He then walks towards the shelf and grabs a wooden box. He opens up the box, drops the crystal in it and closes the lid.

SEBASTIAN: We’ll drop it into the river.

BOULT: Yes, that would be the best.

EMMA: Guys… we forgot something. We have collected no proof regarding our stay here.

ARSEN: SHIT!

SEBASTIAN: Leave it guys! We should be grateful that we are returning alive.

BOULT: True.

CHARLES: Let’s just get out of here first. I can’t stand this place for a second longer.

Boult gives a pull to the main door, and it opens up slowly. The six walk out of the villa soundly. They are proud of what they have done but also in shock regarding to what they have experienced in the last ten hours.

ARSEN: Hey Seb, you can hand that box to me. I’ll be going to the playground to take my mind off of these things, so I can throw it off in the river on my way. Anyway, I don’t think any of us should take it back to our home. It might not be the safest thing to do.

SEBASTIAN: I guess you are right. But be careful. Do not open the box or lose it anywhere.

ARSEN: Got it!

Sebastian hands the box to Arsen. Arsen quickly puts it inside his backpack and leaves for the playground. The rest five as well leave for their own destinations. However, Arsen has something else on his mind.

ARSEN: (Murmurs to himself) Who said we don’t have proof? Haha… Let him have the taste of his own medicine. (Scribbles something on a small piece of paper)

Arsen stops in front of Sam’s house and takes out the box from his backpack. He walks to the door and keeps the box on the doormat and leaves the chit of paper which has written on it ‘PROOF’. He rings the bell and runs off. After a few seconds, Sam opens the door and finds the box lying there. He picks it up and finds the blood red crystal along with the message.

SAM: I can’t believe they actually did it. But what the hell is this thing? Is it some sort of article they picked from the villa? Anyway, let’s get it inside.

Sam brings the crystal inside his room and leaves it on the table while he goes back to his bed to complete his sleep.

SAM: (Wakes up to thunder) WHAT THE HELL!

 

The End