"Hello, uh, Aunt Lina," Artemis said. He smiled even more awkwardly and felt more uncomfortable. "Yes Artemis. It's seems there's bad service here," Aunt Lina said. "Yeah, over here too," he responded casually.

"So what was that question anyways?" She asked, still waiting for a reply . . . Or a question. Artemis covered up the phone speaker like he had done before and said. "Now would be a good time to start trying."

"It's not as easy as you think it is guys," Alak said.

"Well, then just try," Aeo said. Alak pictures an imaginative scene, where Aunt Lina and Corey were. He hadn't seen Corey before so he didn't even try controlling him.

"Guys this is not working," he said. "Then try harder. This might be out only shot," Aeo hammered on.

His diversion had to be something believable but all he could think about was a kiss. He had to get Corey to kiss Aunt Lina. "Put it on speaker phone."

"Okay?"

"Artemis are you still there? Hello?" She asked. "Uh . . . Yes, I am. Must be that bad service huh-" he continued.

"Tell her," came Alak's whisper.

"Okay, uh . . . I wanted to ask-" Artemis began. As he started his questioning, Alak was already feeling Corey under his control. Just a kiss, that's all I need you to do. He thought.

But it wasn't easy. The distance was just too far and besides he was only just getting used to these powers.

The fear of failure formed tears in his eyes and he tried his best to dry them up with courage.

At the sound of "C'mon Lina, gimme a kiss . . . Just one," he knew that he had gotten into his head. He almost fell, before Aeo caught him with a chair. "Sorry, Artemis please, tell me what you wanted to know . . . I don't know what's gotten into Corey-" Aunt Lina said, laughing as Corey tickled her.

"Continue bro," Alak said. "Tell her in one go and don't hesitate."

"Here goes nothing . . . Um, Aunt Lina, what's the passcode to the vintage box we found in the ceiling?" Artemis said, quickly.

"What did you say?" She asked.

"One kiss baby, just one bug-a-boo," Corey kept pestering.

"Oh man, she's on to us," Artemis said. "Don't worry, Corey'll keep her busy," Alak assured.

"Uh, it's the vintage box? In your bathroom ceiling?" Artemis said, again. His nerves were really putting him in the tight zone. "Hahahaha!!" Aunt Lina laughed on.

"We're on to her. I can feel out victory!" Aeo said dramatically, like a mad scientist.

"What is it Aunt Lina? The combination?" Artemis asked desperately. "It's . . . Haha . . . Stop Corey . . . Stop . . . Hahahaha . . . "

"Can you stop with that dude, she's not saying anything," Artemis complained to Alak. "Hold your horses, this is the hour of triumph," Aeo continued his drama.

"It's 19 . . . 7. . . Hahaha. . . 8 . . . I'm sorry I meant 3, or was it 6-" she said and hung up.

"Well that was something," Artemis said.

"Good job Alak. But I gotta ask, how'd guess that by making Corey unbearable, Aunt Lina would speak up?" Aeo asked. "That's because I didn't control just Corey."

"Say what now?"

"Simple, once Mr love bug was way too vulnerable, I left him and controlled Aunt Lina," Alak explained. "Sorry guys, I need to get an ice pack for my head . . . And maybe my brain."

"Ok Aeo, bring the box of metal over here," Aeo said.

Alak strided in with an ice pack over his head and sat with them. "Well we've come this far. Whatever's in there must be the final piece of the puzzle," he said.

"I guess you should do the honours of punching in the numbers Alak, I mean you were the one that made it all happen," Alak said, knowing fully well that it'll anger Artemis.

And it did.

"Excuse the both of you. Did you think we'd be in front of this box without me?" Artemis questioned. "That was supposed to be a joke Artemis," Alak said.

"Oh, I didn't know. Ha ha ha," Artemis retorted sarcastically.

"Can we just open the box," Aeo said.

This was the breaking point of the mystery that had been driving them crazy for weeks now. Whatever was behind the frame of that box held the truth, but as much as they wanted to know what was in there, another side was terribly terrified of was inside.

"Aunt Lina gave us three possible outcomes-" and before he could finish Aeo echoed: "I call dibbs on nineteen seventy eight . . . Cos that was the first choice and obviously the correct one."

Alak stared at Artemis but was a little behind in saying, "I choose nineteen seventy six. Because she said it last and obviously she must have remembered at the last minute," Artemis said.

"I guess that leaves me with nineteen seventy, what was the last one again?" Alak asked.

"Seventy three," Artemis said.

"Oh, yeah seventy three. We go according to age in ascending order."

Aeo leaned forward and pointed out his fingers at the buttons. After punching them in, the screen above the keypad wrote; Wrong password . . . Two more trials.

"Dang it!"

"Step away brother, I believe it's my turn," Artemis said, hitting him away with his hip. "Lemme show you how it's done."

Artemis punched in 1-9-7-6 and the same message rolled on the screen. "Oh come on!"

Alak cracked his knuckles and punched in the pass code he assumed was right and it said approved. Then it said voice recognition required.

"This is just great. You see guys I think we should just wait for Aunt Lina to get back home and explain everything herself because I can't be driven crazy by this insane box," Aeo echoed in frustration.

"It has happened again guys . . . I've got an idea," Artemis said happily. "How about we call Aunt Lina and use her voice mail recognition 'Hey it's Lina, leave a message' to unlock this unbelievable box."

"And what's the probability that it'll go to voicemail?" Aeo asked.

"Mind control!" They chorused. "Then let's get going," Aeo said. They called her up and as predicted, it went straight to voicemail. But before she send Leave a message, they hung up.

The box opened and hesitation escaped all their hearts. At first they stretched their arms out to reveal the unknown, then they stopped.

The eerie feeling around them got them resisting the pull to open the darn box that had gotten them all worked up that day.

"Ok you know what, we open on three . . . 1, 2, 3-" Aeo said and they opened the box.

"I really thought that we could actually break the ice on this case, but. . ." Artemis shouted angrily. "Calm down. We still don't know what's in it yet, " Alak said.

Aeo brought out a bunch of letters and gave a confused look. His mind suddenly went blank for split second and came back then in return he said;

"All that, . . . For . . . This?"

"Oh my God. So now I'm guessing my powers came from romantic letters courtesy of Corey?" Artemis whined. "I don't think so ," Alak reassured.

"Why'd you say that?" Artemis asked.

"I said so cos, this one reads;

   
Dear Lina,
   
            We thank you immensely for this . . . well immense
            favour you're helping with. I know it was really
            risky and all but they don't suspect a thing. And
            there's something else, we are going ahead
           with what I told you about sometime ago.

            Frank agreed with it and we are getting people to
            agree with us. It's not easy but we're going to
            work it out anyway. Those rebels would never
            see it coming.

            Again thank you for taking care of the kids,
            it's such an honour. If our plan goes accordingly,
            be sure that we would help you in any way we
            can.

                                                                                                   Love
                                                                                 Presilda and Frank.

"I know we've come in contact with a lot of weird since all this began but this cheesy sounding letter is much more weird, am I right?" Artemis said.

"Yes. But we can't keep a closed eye on little clues," Aeo said. "Well speaking of clues, look at all these letters-" Alak said. "What's wrong with 'em?"

Alak circled at the spot where an address or post or anything regarding the sender on all the letters, and there was none.

"So, who's it mailed from?" "Nobody. Didn't you notice my circles around the, ugh! Nevermind."

"That means we've reached another dead end. But it's not the real end because I'm getting a feeling that these kids that are mentioned are actually the three of us," Artemis said.

"Theoretically speaking, it could be a possibility . . . Okay it's definitely us," Alak said. "And don't worry, cos Aunt Lina's gonna be here tomorrow and explain everything alright."

The care in Alak's voice served as courage to his brothers. They were in this together and nothing was going to break them apart. "Um, guys . . . This whole thing got me thinking. Do you think out parents are, you know . . . Alive?" Aeo asked sadly and filled with his emotions, however not letting his tears fall out.

"Again, it's a probability." Alak said.

"Maybe we should keep looking," Artemis suggested. "No, I really think we should rest," Aeo said, going for the door.

"What about you Alak?"

"I go with Aeo. I mean we're all clearly too emotional right now and . . .I mean . . . Look around, we practically messed everything up in this room. Let's have a rest," Alak said in the verge of tears.

"Ok. I guess you're right, and what better way to relax than by watching tv. Adios or Aurevoir whichever suits you," Artemis said, trying to lighten up their moods.

"I call dibbs on the tv and we are watching Pirate of the Nile," Aeo said, racing down the stairs.

"Oh no you don't."

Alak went over and shook Aeo's braided hair strands and said, "Sorry bro, maybe later on at night."

"Uh, I don't think so. Can't you just use the one in your room?" Aeo said. "Very funny, you know it's more or less gone," Alak commented, glaring at Artemis.

"I'll try to fix it. It would be a way to unwind from all this . . . And my electronics class should pay off," Artemis said.

"Much better. Now you can choose to sit here with me or go sit with the  . . ."

"Get up from there."

"What? . . ."

I had to bring in the comic relief . . . There was so much tension.

I think I'm gonna cry.

Drop your thoughts please.

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