Chapter 10: Understanding the Television and a Glimpse of the Grisham-Trem History

Breakfast was not as uneventful as they thought it would be. Lumi was curious about the lox and bagel. She wasn't too happy about the cream cheese, making a face when she tasted it.

"Huh, so fermented fish is normal, but anything late 19th century to now, she's not into," Barney commented. He searched for when cream cheese was invented. Fun fact, it was in 1880, and Lumi was probably in hibernation then, he deduced.

"Why do you say you are well-versed in curses?" Lumi glanced at Matthos, who was looking at his metal plate, which he told her was called 'phone.'

"My maternal grandmother was cursed at birth, and my grandfather's family stems from a family of curse breakers. We're not new to handling people who carry curses." He conveniently left out the laboratory experiments, the organization, and the almost tragic ending. For now, the information was not necessary. At least, he didn't deem it to be.

"Huh, that is peculiar," Lumi ate her bagel, finding it strange that she likes it at each bite. 'Is this sorcery?' she thought to herself. When she looked at the others, they were just concentrating on those metal tablets. Those 'phones' that they told her about. She could not fathom how it emitted light and why it had words and paintings in it.

Barney caught her curiosity and gave Matthos a light punch.

"You could say something like a normal person instead of hitting me," Matthos rubbed his sore arm.

"Hey Lumi," he caught Lumi's attention as she was about to take a bite of her bagel," We'll give you a phone in the future. But first, we have to teach you about phones and other technological devices. I think we should start with the television," Barney prompted.

Matthos only agreed, "I'll have to do some research," he said apologetically, "So I'll leave you in Barney's capable hands. When it comes to technology and coming up to modern times, Barney will be your teacher. Modern living, it's with me."

"But what about my curse?"

"What do you know of your curse?" Barney inquired. He felt the strong blow on the barrier they created last night, and it was no joke. They weren't types of people who would leave anyone behind, and so he agreed. Knowing Matthos, he took it as a change of fate. The deck showed those cards for a reason. He was compelled. It was destined.

'That was cringy,' Barney internally shivered at the thought.

"I see creatures. They speak to me—something about lullabies and songs, of the old times and an ancient pact. The creatures warn me, and I fall asleep. But there was a time when I was captured, I couldn't hear the spirits, and there was so much blood," Lumi's eye shook. To Matthos's trained eyes, it looked like she was about to remember a trauma.

'It wasn't time,' he said to himself and stopped her from remembering more.

"Hey," he coaxed her, "Don't hurt yourself trying to remember. It will come. For now, finish your food and try to see if you can handle the television."

"Tele-vision?"

It was not as easy as they thought it would be. Barney thought that he'd just show the screen and BAAM! Lumi would be hooked. That was not the case, and he was glad that Matthos didn't leave him on his own yet.

"This is a television," Barney indicated to the large screen, "It has moving pictures."

"Moving what?" Lumi reiterated

'Fudge' Barney instantly searched through his head and then cringed at the word he used, "Paintings. It has moving paintings."

Lumi instantly scrambled behind Matthos, who was already looking at him with a deadpan. It was as if he was saying, "Just why?" through his expression.

"Think of it as a dream," and that worsened things because Lumi tried to throw what was close to her grasp. It was the vase.

"NO!" Barney caught the vase, but not without hurting his arm. He ended up on the floor with a loud thud.

"You alright, bud?" Matthos asked nonchalantly

"Fudge you from the bottom of my ass," he cursed as he stood. "Look," Barney held up his hands once he set the vase down, "Why don't we check out the TV first? PLEASE?" He begged.

Lumi looked at Matthos, who was staring at her and then nervously nodded.

Barney turned on the TV, and to their chagrin, the volume was too loud that it caused Lumi to scream.

"AAAAAHHHHH"

Matthos felt his ears ring at the loud sound. It was identical to the banshee they once encountered in the fields. Like the wrong side of chalk scratching the blackboard. Barney did not fare any better. Though his palms covered his ears, the scream echoed in his head.

"Lumi, it's fine," when Matthos recollected himself after the long shriek, he gently held Lumi's shoulders and coaxed her," We'll adjust the volume, the level of the sound, alright? Barney."

Barney didn't need further instructions, turning the volume down. Unluckily, the TV was set on the news channel.

The news anchor droned, "Four churches in City A have been closed. Police reported that it is due to some of its members falling into a state of hysteria. Pastors and priests claim that they heard sounds of someone singing, and then some members suddenly went berserk, begging them to make it stop. Though other members have stopped hearing the song, it seems that the members who went hysteric did not.

The church members are still being treated in a medical facility. Police are investigating the area for carbon monoxide poisoning. Until further notice, the Mayor of City A ordered that all churches hold virtual masses as all churches will be investigated. It may be a planned crime, although the targets are still unclear…"

Barney turned off the TV, "Well, that's depressing."

"That's strange," Matthos frowned, " My parents are in City A, investigating those churches. So it wasn't a prank."

"Could be a crime to stage an apocalypse. It's not the first," Barney contemplated.

"No, it is not the apocalypse," Lumi cut in, "I'm sure that it's the curse."

"What curse?" Matthos asked, diverting his attention on Lumi

"The curse of the Wren"