CHAPTER NINE

UNTOLD MYSTERY

Stokes went into the house after giving Lily a considerable amount of dog food; she wagged her tail happily as she relished her breakfast.

He walked over to the dining; his mum was still there sipping her tea why reading a fashion magazine. Annabelle had left for her room; she's probably watching another series of animation. Stokes thought.

Stokes took his toasted bread from the dining; as he was about to leave, his mum whispered;

"Thought you lost your appetite."

Stokes didn't look back, he replied;

"I'll be keeping this in case I get hungry,"

He walked tiredly to his room; it was a massive blessing that there were no classes today; he heaved a sigh as he struggled with his doorknob. He had phase through this door some hours ago, remembering it made him feel like a superhuman, he smiled.

When the door finally opened, the toasted bread he was holding fell from his hands in surprise, his mouth agape, he couldn't believe what he was staring at.

A guy was sitting on his reading table, dressed in a black polo, black Jean, and a black leather jacket; he had curly golden hair.

"How the fuck did you get in here?" Stokes asked, bemused.

The strange guy didn't respond; he was reading a book and concentrating all his attention on it, his leg crossed.

"Hey, what's up? I'm talking to you," Stokes continued, still surprised at what was happening.

The strange boy sighed and closed the book he was reading; he looked up at Stokes, "call me Bryan, Bryan woods," he said, extending his hand for a shake.

Stokes didn't shake him; after what has happened in his life lately, he needed to be very cautious of his environment.

"What do you want, and how did you get into my room?" Stokes continued ignoring the extended hands.

"I kinda knew you wouldn't shake my hand; well, nobody In your situation would," Bryan said, rising from the chair, hands tucked inside his pocket. He looked more like an assassin.

"I'll be very straightforward with you Stokes, I won't beat around the bush, but you've to calm down and listen to what I've to say," Bryan said, strolling around the small room.

"How did you know my name," Stokes asked anxiously.

"Because you're one of us," Bryan replied; he stopped his pace and gave Stokes a frightening look.

Before Stokes could ask another question, he continued;

"You might not believe it, or maybe you're still in doubt, but you're gifted; your girlfriend Ruby is also gifted; in fact, she has the same gift as you do."

Stokes frowned on hearing the girlfriend word; he wondered why everyone was calling Ruby his girlfriend, speaking of girlfriend, what he was hearing was starting to get exciting and complicated.

"Stokes Pritchard, you're the one we've been looking for, the one who has the power to go into different realms, Ruby also has the same power as you do, but we know you've got the potential to grow and become more powerful, how would it be, when you can travel between realms without altering the time frame in the real world, you can trap people in different dimensions, you've got the power to travel all the dimensions and realms in the entire multiverse."

Stokes was left in pandemonium; what he was hearing couldn't sink in; travel realms? How was that even possible? Do supernatural powers exist?

"I know you're finding it very hard to believe what I'm uttering right now, but it's the absolute truth Stokes, you just have to join us; we need you; we've waited hundreds of years for you, Stokes."

"Hundreds of years!!" Stokes exclaimed, looking more confused.

"Yeah, Stokes, we don't age," Bryan replied, staring outside the window with his hands tucked inside his pocket.

Stokes has never been confused all his life; what he was hearing was beyond him; they don't age? How is that possible?

He sauntered and sat on the chair, shoved his hands inside his dark hair, trying to assimilate all that Bryan has been spitting out.

Bryan continued, "We don't age once we become 20 years Stokes, and you'll going to be 20 this year, I guess, and in that year, you get to discover your powers. What you went through in the beyond was a test; you've passed the test by defeating the beast. Thank God for you; you helped Ruby passed the test."

"Every hundred years, three persons are chosen to undergo the test in the beyond, given the same power of dimensional travel, for centuries, no one had made it out, you're the first person in ages. Stokes, and that's why we need you, because you're very important to us, without you, we'd be stuck here, in this world which isn't ours, you're our only hope to return to GRITH. Our real-world," Bryan concluded, the sun was starting to shine brighter into the room.

"So you're saying I also don't belong here," Stokes asked calmly; he was starting to understand all that was going on.

"In a way, you do belong here," Bryan replied, turning towards Stokes. He walked towards him, phasing through the bed; Stokes was astonished to see the phasing, so powers were real, he thought.

"You're the Gatekeeper Stokes, that's what all Dimensional travelers are called; your job is to keep Intruders from entering different dimensions. You don't belong anywhere exactly, and you're the most wanted person in the universe right now, join me, and I'll teach you everything about your powers," Bryan whispered the last sentence, stretching his hands once again to Stokes.

Stokes was calm; staring at Bryan with great enthusiasm; he needed answers; if he was wanted, it means Ruby will also be wanted; he needed to tell her quickly.

Stokes finally shook Bryan's hands, rising from where he sat.

"I'll join you, but first, I need to inform Ruby."

Stokes said.

Bryan smiled.

"Very well then, meet me at the front of Great minds college at 6 pm," Bryan said; he strolled to the window and phased through it with a happy grin on his face.

“Great Mind College, been hearing that name too often today; I need to find Ruby," Stokes murmured to himself.

To be continued...