Chapter 1

The front door cracked open as Danny and Jimmy sat in the sitting room, each getting their hands busy. The soft wind filled the whole sitting room as they continued what they were doing, not even checking to see who or what had opened the door. A tall-looking woman stood at the entrance as she gazed at the boys who didn't seem to notice her. After glancing at the sitting room, Meredith Kipling made a few knocks on the door and then walked straight to the boys who then turned to see who had just walked in. They could hear knocking sounds which were made by the hills of her shoe.

" Hi, boys! What have you guys got to be doing this cold afternoon?" Meredith Kipling asked as she approached them. Danny took to his feet at once dropping his gamepads and heading towards Meredith Kipling who was a few metres away from them while Jimmy drew in a long breath and let out some air.

" Afternoon Mom." they both exclaimed almost in accordance.

"Why are you back so early?" Danny asked, taking the grocery bag from Meredith's hand. Without wasting any time, he headed for the kitchen. 

"Thought it would be a long day but there wasn't much work to do today. Not all workers came though." Exclaimed Meredith as she dropped her handbag on one of the couches and headed for the stairs.

"Where're my novels, Mom? "Asked Jimmy, who was now busy with his phone.

"What do you have with all these Surprise novels Jimmy? I just can't get it."

"These days all you read and talk about is Surprise." Said Meredith in a bit of a joke. "I wonder what you gain from reading those." Danny shrugged as he entered the sitting room.

"Maybe you could explain why you waste most of your time trying to learn maths and reading fantasy novels." "What's the point of learning maths when you can't even be good at it for once? Or is it just to please Mr Jones." 

Jimmy shrugged. Immediately, he got up from the couch. Leaving his phone on the table in front of him. Without wasting much time, Jimmy hurried up the staircase to his room at once.

Danny's face looked almost like it was about to turn red as he frowned his face with clenched fists, giving death glares at Jimmy who was now out of sight. "Sucker," Danny murmured. All of a sudden, Danny shot a glance at the other end of the sitting room next to the window side not far from the stairs. "Oum Mom. When did she leave here?" He asked, looking very surprised. "Maybe she's gone to her room." Danny shrugged looking upstairs.

"I'll go check." Immediately, Danny ran out of the sitting room, and up the stairs.

"Mom. Mom. Where're my novels?" shouted Jimmy, who was standing in front of Meredith's room. Meredith

"Hope you didn't forget to buy them? Huh!"

Jimmy was a sci-fi enthusiast who recently started loving sci-fi after seeing the release of an action thriller sci-fi movie which his friend had shown him some time ago and now, he loves almost everything sci-fi. He had spent more than half his monthly savings on purchasing stuff about sci-fi. Whether it was a novel, a movie or even a magazine about sci-fi.

"Hmm, I must have forgotten to buy them from the store. Oh I'm sorry Jimmy my dear." "Maybe next time Jimmy. Ok?" Meredith said from behind the door. "Or you can go check them out yourself next time." She gasped, sounding a bit tired.

Immediately, Jimmy turned his face to the ceiling. His hands are on his waist. And he looked quite serious. Then Jimmy drew in a long deep breath and exhaled. "Ok, I'll go check them out myself." Feeling very disappointed, he turned around slowly to face the other side of the passage opposite his parent's room.

Immediately he stormed off.

Danny was just coming downstairs from the attic with a certain book in his hand when Meredith called him and Jimmy. He had just finished cleaning out the attic and was headed for the room closest to his. His sister's room. When she suddenly called for them. He was going to ask her about the book he had in his hand. The one he had just found in the attic. As soon as Danny got down the stairs from the attic, he branched into the passage leading to his room immediately. He could still hear Meredith calling for him and Jimmy but he kept going. Not feeling any need to go check why she was calling him. He had some pretty important questions to ask his sister about the book. A gothic novel about a certain man who just couldn't feel any empathy. One of those stories that gave him the freaks.

As Danny kept walking towards her room, Meredith kept calling but he still ignored her. Convincing himself, he would check why she was calling when he had finished talking with his sister. All of a sudden, Danny paused, then he turned to the direction he heard her voice coming from. "Why is she even calling me? I hope it's not for another chore. I've used up all my energy." Danny made a little murmur. Without wasting further time, he hurried to his sister's room. Now walking faster.

. "I have good news for you guys, very good news and you'll love it." Danny heard Meredith's voice now coming from the sitting. Immediately Danny paused trying to digest what she had just said. But he couldn't let himself be fooled by that kind of trick. It wasn't the once or twice his mom had tricked him into doing something for her or someone else either by telling him she had some kind of good news for him or by using any of her other methods. She had many ways to make him or someone else fall for her tricks. And she just loved doing it. Danny rolled his eyes at once. "Oum. Mom, I'm not falling for any of those old tricks. At least not for today." He shouted. Meredith Danny was about to head straight to his sister's room when Meredith suddenly said something. "I know you guys feel I'm trying to trick you into doing something." "No." "It's about your uncle Stanley. And…Well, you'll know the rest when you get here. You guys should hurry down here. Fast! I've got some news about your dad's work too."

As soon as Danny heard this, he paused immediately. Part of him felt like continuing to where he was going. But part of him felt he should go see what his mom was talking about. Danny turned immediately to the end of the passage where he was headed. As soon as he took one step, he paused and then turned to the other side of the passage opposite where he was going. Second thoughts filled his head as he began massaging his head vigorously. What the hell should I do right now? Danny just didn't know what to do next. "What the heck. I'll go see why she's calling me." Danny gasped brushing his palm against his left arm. Without wasting any time, Danny made a fast turn to the left side of the passage where the staircase that led downstairs to the sitting room was located. "The news better be worth it. Or I'll…When I get there first." He murmured as he began heading towards the stairs.

Danny came running downstairs. He felt a bit anxious about the sudden news his mom had about his uncle. Even about his dad's work. "Hope it's really good news. I don't want to hear something that will disappoint me this afternoon." He gasped while the staircase made him bounce a little bit as he rushed down to the sitting room.

As Danny arrived at the sitting room, he saw Meredith standing at the TV side with her hands crossed around her chest. Her face was full of early smiles as the evening sun shone on her like golden light. As soon as she saw him, she gasped.

"Guess what," Meredith said with a long smile on her face. "Your uncle Stanley will be coming over tonight." Immediately, Danny's eyes drew wide open. "Mom. You mean like this night."