CHAPTER 3 : First introductions

THE BOY WHO RETURNED

CHAPTER 3 (unedited)

A U D R I C

It took me a while to realize that I had stained my image in front of Mrs. Raleigh for eternity. My mom would probably be dying of embarrassment and counting ways to ship me somewhere in the remotest villages of Africa so I could never bother her social life, every again.

I felt like a complete fool which I probably was considering the comic accidents that happened to me so often.

A tent and paint is all that is left for me to start my own Circus company. I doubt people will even spend a cent to hear my lame jokes and terrible puns but they could enjoy the hilariousness of my tragic life.

With a heavy heart, I pull a white tee over my head and shrug on some loose pants. I dry my hair and place the towel on my chair, scowling at it.

Betrayer.

Never am I going to step out of the bathroom in just a towel. Never.

It isn't the first time I have to face strangers after embarrassing myself in front of them. Back in my old school, I was quite known for this, I had received a lot of attention from girls because apparently my life was very funny and they loved to laugh. My next door neighbor-aka my best friend- in Aspchester was the only one who sympathized with me and didn't mind the clumsiness and bad luck that came with me being around.

In my freshman year, a chewing gum landed in my head and obviosuly I had a hair disaster. Being the self confident boy I was, I took it upon myself to make it right and with a pair of scissors entered the boys washroom. Five minutes later I came out to find snickering seniors around me and when I saw my reflection, I knew I would be the joke of the week. I had chopped not just a small tuft but an entire section of my hair from the middle and my head resembled a pot waiting for an egg to crack inside it.

Next day I walked through the school doors with a bald head, thanks to my mom.

Another time, I managed to lock myself in the janitors closet. In my defense, I thought I had heard a dog whimpering inside and had rushed inside, full of worry, like a mother without her baby. I was rescued only after I screamed as loud and shrill as Zayn Malik.

Two years ago, during our annual sports celebrations, I was in the dance team. During one of our final practices, I had diverted all my energy to focus on my leg coordination and I was engrossed that I magically slipped on an invisible banana peel and stumbled towards our female dance instructor. I more than just stumbled, I fell on her causing us both to fall on the wooden floor. The worst part of it was, my lips accidently brushed against her.

I didn't meet her eyes for the next week. Needless to say, I wasn't a part of the dance team anymore.

"Audric!" I hear the dull yell in my room. I fall back on my bed and groan into the pillow.

How I wish I was different.

Hauling my ass up and putting a sober face, I walk out of my room and downstairs. Light voices float in the air and mirth is evident in their conversations.

"Audric will change anytime now." My mother's voice is soft and alert which makes me stop. She was probably near the other end of the living room and I had no idea how I could hear her so clearly. Maybe the walls were made of paper, who knows.

"How are you going to talk to him about us?" Mrs. Raleigh sounded concerned but I furrowed my eyebrows when I realized that my parents had already told me about them.

"I honestly don't know," my mother replied, sighing. What were they talking about? What do I not know?

"Have you been giving him hints?" Mrs. Raleigh asks. Hints? Hints of what?

"No, James insists we hide his transformation for now."

My transformation? Into what?!

Panic bubbles inside my chest at my mother's reply. Do they think I'm going mad?! Am I transforming into an unsound boy who doesn't have enough IQ?

Oh dear lord, I'm not actually as dumb as they think I am!

I don't want to become that sore thumb among crowds who stands out for his stupidity. My mouth felt dry and my limbs felt shaky. I needed wat-

"Is this place haunted?" a sharp voice brings me out of my turmoil and I raise my head quickly to see the owner. A short girl stands in front of me, her hands stuffed in her pant pockets and her oval face watched me carefully.

"I-I don't know." I'm slightly caught off guard by her question. The very same possibilty sprouted in my head this morning. Did something happen to her too?

"Then why do you look horrified?" She raises a dark eyebrow at me and I'm confused for a bit. I realised how tormented I must be looking when she saw me. She adds, "You look like you've seen a ghost," before her face breaks into a friendly grin.

I relax my tensed muscles and let out a breath, she climbs up and sits right next to me on the stair. I hadn't even realised that I had slid down in the midst of my panic driven state.

"James and Amity's only son, Audric, right? " she asks politely, placing her elbows on her knees.

I give her a nod in approval and manage to push my lips up in an attempt to smile at her.

"And you're Brucie, the girl my parents have irrevocably fallen in love with." I say adding a bit humour and watch her chuckle lightly.

"The only. You'll love me too, don't worry. " She gives me a cheeky smile and I reciprocate it. Her hair is light brown and pulled back in a messy ponytail and her eyes are a stormy grey with kohl around them.

"Well, we'll just have to wait for that." I state rubbing my clammy hands on my jeans. I turn my head up I'm greeted with four wide eyed adults who are peering up at us as if waiting.

"Are you alright, Rick?" Dad asks me, the entire groups gaze slowly oscillates between me and the girl next to me. I look to the side at a confused looking Brucie.

"Yes." I say slowly not understanding their sudden change of behaviour. "Yes I am."

"Are you feeling alright, Brucie?" Dad looks at Brucie with a calculating gaze and my mother looks like she's waiting for the verdict of court on the triple murder case.

"Yes." Brucie says still confused as to why the question was directed at her and her eyebrows furrow a little.

"Are you sure, you both are good?" It's Mr. Raleigh this time asking with a stronger voice. He is again a very well built man with tan skin and black hair.

My head turns sidewards and we exchange a discomforted look.

"We are fine. Everything's alright." Brucie answers in a firm voice and they continue to scrutinize us under their gazes. A moment passes and as if someone snapped their fingers all of they lean back and turn around walking away leaving us staring at the wall.

I hear something along the lines, 'No, no, they aren't..'

Yeah

Yeah, we aren't hurt if they were thinking that.

Brucie is the first one to break the silence.

"My parents are weird." She speaks keeping her head straight, refusing to meet my gaze.

"In my house, the weird one would be me," I mumble under my breath and hope she doesn't hear me.

"Just sometimes," she adds before looking at me. "They are normal so don't freak out." She chuckles nervously.

Oh, no. I wouldn't.

Ha. Ha.

"Let's go down." I say and get up, dusting my pants. Brucie follows me and for a sixteen year old she holds herself very boldly. I watch her from the corner of my eye as we walk into the living room, her shoulders are pushed back, head high and no worry or shyness at all on her face. It's as if she looks forward to meet new people, confident of herself.

She scans the entire home and I can't help but watch her. She is very well composed. Her head bobs a little when she tilts it, at our TV cabinet, looking impressed. Our is a forty inch LED TV screen that shines brightly under the white lights, two long speakers flank it on both sides and an entire collection of my video games occupied the five shelves under the TV.

I scratch my neck as I say, "I and my grandfather are crazy gamers."

"You don't even have to say, those CDs are enough proof," she turns to me, smirking. I look around trying to locate our parents but they aren't in sight so decide to check on them.

"I'll be right back," I tell Brucie who flops down on one of the brown bean bag and sighs contently. I chuckle before turning on my heel and walking out.

When I am near the kitchen, I hear whispers and I realise that the fanatastic four are gossiping happily in the kitchen while finishing off the lunch preprations.

Before I could take the last ten steps towards the kitchen, a buzzing sounds fills my ears. It's amplitude increases and I feeling something tickle my heart, I slowly look over my shoulder.

The house looks silent again but just before I'm about to resume my walk, I see it. A tiny orange flame flying around in air. My eyes widen a little at the sight.

It couldn't be a flame but it's colour was like a raging fire, it moved with agility in the air and roamed in the hallway in front of me.

Dumbfounded, my eyes could only watch it with utmost curiosity and awe. I strained my eyes to look better, maybe that glowing orange was the colour of its wing. It glided on recliner and rested on its head. My feet slowly began walking towards it. Before I could get a better look, it took and flew towards the book shelves. I didn't know why but I felt drawn to it.

Feeling adrenaline surge through me, I make my legs work and follow it's trail. There was a magistic field around it. I hurried before it could escape my sight.

What was that?

Could be a butterfly?

When I'm out in the open, my feet meet with the warm grass and sunlight hits my face. I shield my eyes from the scorching sun and look for that orange flash. No buzzing sounds are heard and no sign of that thing.

After a few seconds of disappointment greeting me, I sigh and walk more into the backyard watching out in all four directions. Then I see it again, but now it's bigger.

It's near the woods, zigzagging between the front rows of trees, still visible to me. I comprehend whether I should chase after it or let go. It could just be a rare species of insect which I probably will get a chance to see again.

I wipe my forehead with my sleeve and walk towards the door chewing my lip. A sudden chill runs down my spine and the hair on my body rises. A combination of fear and anticipation threatens to drown me in it and my stomach muscles clench involuntarily. My heart rate spikes unknowingly.

Before I can fully process what is happening to me, my vision turns pitch black.

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