Hello, friends. I am back with my update of TFB. Ha! I know it's late. I didn't make it sooner as I had promised, but promises are made to be broken. Hey, what is that? No! I can't see you guys with that sad look. Alright, I am sorry. I was just kidding. I won't do it again. This time I promise not to break my promises. Now smile :)

WARNING : THIS IS UNEDITED CHAPTER AND I NEED TO EDIT IT.

Okay, let's get back to the story. Till now the story has been slow. This was because I wanted to give time to develop character in your imagination. As a result, now you know who are Ash, Ron and Steven. How they are and what they feel for each other. Now, it's time when story takes it pace. Lots of things are going to happen in the world of TFB. So stay tuned. Without much delay, here is another unedited dosage for you all.

Enjoy reading

God Bless You :)

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***Chapter 19 - Dark Shadows

"Hello," Ron spoke hoarsely. I looked at him intently as he paused, listening to the voice on the other end. "Why are you calling me, Dad?" he hissed. "What do you want?" Ron pursed his lips and stood up. He made his way towards one corner, in order to avoid disturbance or so I guessed. Though I couldn't hear what Ron was saying, it was clear from the way his expressions changed during conversation, that there was something wrong between them. The tension was so thick that I could actually feel it even at this distance.

Sitting reluctantly at a tormenting distance from the corner where Ron stood, I struggled not to entertain fearful thoughts that were enveloping my mind right now. What could have been wrong? Ron's temper was not something I had never faced, but I had never seen him fight with his father. He respected them. He never dishonored his parents. What could have possibly happened to make him forget all his morals?

I bit my lower lip as I followed his movements. Ron's mouth twitched with each word he said as if trying hard to control his tongue, afraid of spitting out some bad words. A deep frown carved creases on his forehead. Though Ron did it all the time, today was a different day as he brushed his hand through his hair fifth time within last two minutes. I was sure, by the end of the day he would have his hair ripped out. His gaze was fixed on the opposite wall, behind me. As though feeling my eyes on him, he suddenly dropped his gaze on me, staring at me longingly. I tried to give him a smile, just to let him know that I was here for him, but he immediately turned his back towards me.

I wanted to know what was wrong, but I also respected his privacy. I moved around and grabbed my pizza from the plate. I had no appetite left to eat it, though. Glancing one more time towards Ron, who was still busy on phone, I brought the pizza close to my mouth to take a bite.

"Because I don't want to talk to you, don't you understand that?" Ron's raised voice echoed distinctly amidst the chaos in cafeteria. Everyone turned their head towards him. "No, I don't want to think or talk anything. Why don't you just mind your own business and stop calling me?" his voice crackled with anger.

Till now it was only me who had noticed Ron's tension, but now everyone present in the cafeteria watched him silently as he continued spewing venom through his words. Everyone's ears were perked up in the curiosity to know what the matter was. I didn't like Ron's privacy being displayed on open. I knew the word of Ron's fight with his dad would spread like a fire even before we realize. He was shaking in anger. His outburst was unexpected. He would have never done it unless it was a really serious matter, something closed to life or death case. I wanted to run to him, hold him close to calm him down, but I was rooted to the ground due to shock. I simply watched him like a spectator.

"You have left me nothing to worry about manners. Just leave me alone," Ron continued with same bitter tone. "I am not a kid anymore. It's my life and I can make my own decision. You don't need to worry about that. And why did you call principal... No, dad, you had no business calling. You are just keen on ruining my life, imposing your decisions on me. I have had enough. Not more now. No, Dad, no, I don't want it. I don't wanna talk about it. Stop bugging me. Just leave me alone." Ron disconnected the call and banged his fist on the wall, frustrated. Taking a deep breath and brushing his hair with his fingers once again, he turned around. His face snapped in comprehension when he looked around the silent cafeteria. All- that included me too- stared at him aghast, but he was way far from self conscience. He threw a menacing glare at them and walked towards our table. Everyone resumed their eating with the latest topic to chew on- Ron's outburst.

"Ron, what-"

"Please, Ash," he cut me off of mid-sentence when I tried to ask him about what just happened. "Let's not talk about it at the moment, okay?"

"But Ron..."

"Ash, drop it." Ron affirmed, leaving no space for further comment. He turned towards Mitzy who was miserably failing to act normal. "Do you have any plan for today after school?" he asked her.

"Erm... Nope," she replied popping 'P' loudly. Good way to hide the panic. Ron's anger which wasn't much familiar to her or anybody else had surely messed with her cool composure. "Why?" she questioned in return.

"Would you mind dropping Ash home later?"

"Off course not," Mitzy exclaimed, throwing spoon down on the floor in the process. She tended to become clumsy when nervous or scared. Clattering sound of spoon hitting the floor followed soon.

"Great. I know you are a sweetheart." Ron gave her a grateful smile and then kissed my hair. "I'll see you later."

"Where are you going?" I asked him, whilst he grabbed his backpack.

"Swimming practice," he replied in a determined tone.

"But, Ron, you just now had your food. You can't..." My protests trailed off as Ron's figure exited the cafeteria. I couldn't gather my mind to conclude what was wrong. Ron never talked to his father in this manner. As far as I knew, Ron's father was a nice person and very friendly to his teenage son. They got along very well. Apart from being strict in some matters like any other parent does, Ron's father was an iconic person.

Why Ron did start picking up fight with his dad? Is it because of Ron's getting drunk at party?

I knew his parents wouldn't appreciate his negligent behavior. Did I take it lightly? Was it something big to turn out into such a mess? Whatever the matter was, Ron needed some time to calm down, so I didn't try to push him. I believed he would come around later, explaining me the things. I just needed to wait till he feels free to talk about it.

It was about time to go for my next class which was history. I left my pizza half eaten and prepared myself to leave when a newspaper hit the tabletop in front me.

"Where were you two?" Mitzy asked both the girls, Stechi and Lee, who had been missing since last one hour.

"We-"

"Ahhh... I see the screw-up fairies have visited us again," Eloise teased them, interrupting whatever Stechi was going to reply.

Lee simply shrugged at his comment and slumped back leisurely in her chair, but Stechi couldn't tie her tongue so it clicked immediately in response. "I am busy right now. Can I ignore you some other time?"

"Don't be so ignorant, baby. Take a day off." Eloise winked, which only made her scowl.

"I'll try being nicer if you'll try being smarter."

"Will you two just stop it?" I stopped both of them from starting another war. We already had enough for today. I glared at both.

Eloise answered 'She started it' the exact same time as Stechi said 'He started it', pointing at each other.

Mitzy rolled her eyes, muttering, "They are never going to get along peacefully." She grabbed the newspaper and dipped herself in it.

I shook my head; I couldn't agree more. "Anyways, where had you been. And this newspaper? From when did you develop interest in reading newspaper?" I turned fully towards Lee and Stechi to listen to their story, anything to divert my mind.

"In the library, stalking Owen," Lee replied nonchalantly.

"You what?" I gasped, forming my mouth into 'O'.

"Right, I was stalking Owen. He was with one red-head who probably had jellied legs. She couldn't walk few steps voluntarily. She clung on him as if her life depended on him. They both entered the library so we followed him there. But we searched the whole library; we didn't find him or that red-head. We didn't have heart to come empty handed, so I grabbed this newspaper and came back." Lee explained the entire thing. The reason they gave for bringing the newspaper sounded weird, but that wasn't of my concern.

So I asked her only one question that mattered. "Why were you stalking Owen?" I eyed both of them skeptically.

"Let me tell you," Stechi jumped in the conversation, gaining my attention towards her. "Well, Lee has a thing for this grey eyed boy. And according to her, it's just not a simple crush, but a divine love," she said, emphasizing on 'divine' with a bit dramatic movement of hands.

"Whatever I am feeling is nothing but love. I know I love him," Lee whined, pouting her lips like a small kid. Lee- whose real name was Elizabeth but liked to be called as Lee- was actually a pretty girl if we don't consider some of her flaws like hitting every boy on her way. Her strawberry blond hair made her appearance livelier. Her eyes were of beautiful shade of blue. I imagined her coupled with Owen and they actually looked good, but I wasn't sure Owen was a right choice.

"Ash, you gotta help me." Lee's voice broke my trail of thoughts. "Please, you know him and only you can make this happen."

"I..." I trailed off, unsure what to reply her.

Making Owen fall for her? Owen and I were not even friends.

I nodded, after looking at her pleading eyes. But I didn't promise her anything. I would just try.

"Have you read this?" Mitzy exclaimed suddenly, causing my heart to jump. I looked at her, frowning. Her eyes were scrutinizing a piece of news on the paper. What was it? "Another group of teenagers went missing in the Verboten forest," she informed.

"It is not something new, Mitz. It's same old story. Till now lots of people have disappeared in the darkness of that forest. This group must have been one of those who had dared to prove the legends just a product of someone's imagination and superstitions." Stechi dismissed the news, waving her hand in air.

Verboten forest. As creepy as it sounded, this forest held many secrets in its heart. I didn't believe in any of these superstitions, but I knew something was wrong in there. Though I loved the beauty of nature, I always disliked forest. Whenever I crossed any path through forest, I felt some unknown fear surging in me. You can call it as forest-phobia, I don't know. Forests were like a black hole that absorbs everything from the surrounding, including light. Everytime I felt darkness of the forest would engulf me. And as we were talking about this particular forest which was a fuel for my forest-phobia, a shudder escaped through the length of my spine. There were different speculations about this forest. The common legend was, some evil creatures were habituating the area. Whenever any human entered there, never returned back. They were been killed for blood and flesh.

Gross! Was this some twilight saga?

I believed every superstition is based on the grounds of science whose answers are undiscovered or unexplained. But this belief had nothing to do with my fear about the forest neither did the so-called legend. It was just a fear, an unknown fear.

"So Miss Ignorant doesn't ignore this legend?" Eloise mocked, forming a ground for another fight with Stechi. I must have missed part of the conversation or fight while I was lost in my thoughts, because I could clearly see irritation on everyone's face- except Stechi and Eloise- silently pleading each other to stop them.

"Guys! Let's not fight on this right now. First listen to what Mitz has to say, alright?" Mitzy gave me a grateful smile and Lee almost blew out an audible sigh of relief.

I smiled in return. "So did they found them or... their bodies?" It was weird to talk about death and all, but it was a fact that we couldn't help to change, not untill we find any solution. Till now Police didn't find any dead bodies during their investigation in the forest. Sometimes they even doubted if the person missing had actually gone there. But hopes were high that someday they would find something against the culprit.

We all looked at Mitzy for her reply, but none were seemed bothered. I guessed it was because everyone expected a negative reply. She inhaled a deep breath and replied only in one word, "Yes".

"What?" we all cried out in unison. This was new, different. Now that she had grabbed our attention, we turned fully towards her, curious. Mitzy again dug her head low into the newspaper. Rendall who was sitting beside her as usual also peered in the news.

"Will you two drop this silent reading thing and read the news aloud for us?" Lee stated, drumming her fingers on the table impatiently.

Mitzy rolled her eyes and began, "There are mysteries that are so eerie and strange that they boggle the mind for days on end. The case of missing people in the Verboten Forest is one of them. On Sunday, 20 September 2012, a dead body of a teenage girl has been found in Verboten Forest giving wind to the years of speculations on the mysterious disappearance of people. It is confirmed that a group of around eight teenagers, students of St. Mary's School of Wokingham, had been seen last entering into the forest on Saturday night. Based on the complaint filed against the missing of the group by their parents, search warrant had been issued on Sunday. As a result of investigation they found one burnt body. Autopsy report states that the body belongs to a girl of age between 16-17 years and the cause of death is anemia (deficiency of red blood cells in body). Traces of burned trees and ash evidences fire, though the cause is unknown. Identity of the victim is kept unrevealed. However, there is much more to the story than what is implied by police reports..."

"Okay. Cut the rest of the crap," Stechi interrupted. "What do you think? Isn't it weird, death due to anemia?"

"As said, there is much more to the story than what is implied," Rendall spoke, sighing.

And thus a discussion started among my friends, sitting around the table, about the scenario and possibilities of what must have happened. One of them even suggested that those legendry night creatures must have drained out her blood. But I didn't know why, my mind suddenly got disturbed with all the information. A fear that had been tugging my heart since the night I had that weird dream or you can say nightmare erupted in my body. My body went numb. There was something terribly wrong happening around and I could sense the cruel dark shadows lurking on this town. Something dreadful was about to happen in coming days. And I could not have been more right.