.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎

(𝙰𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎...)

𝙻𝚘𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 : 𝙱𝚕𝚊𝚣𝚎' 𝙿𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚝'𝚜 𝙷𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎
.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎.͎

"Yes I'm here." Dewin spoke softly. He didn't want to make noise at that time of night. Not only would that be inconvenient but also, slightly scary.

"I don't know how I'm going to repay you for this." Blaze's voice came from the other end.

"There's nothing to repay here. You know it." Dewin locked the car and started making his way towards the house' front gate.

"I'll hang up now. Mavis is here." Blaze spoke as soon as Dewin reached the front gate.

"It's okay. Please take care of everything there. Of something happens, let me know straightaway." What more could he offer than his presence.

"I'll let you know for sure. Take care of the kids. And remember what I told you about turning around. You'll not respond to voices calling for you. The one weakness of the Call of Night, is that it can only call out your name two times. So, whatever you do - don't answer the Nishi Dak. Wait for the voice to call at least four times before answering. It attacks the kids more so please make sure they're safe. Especially Valerie. I know you would find it hard to believe. The black magic and everything..."

"It's okay. I'll take care of it. Stay safe yourself there." Black magic was a new and strange term for Dewin. Never in his whole life did he think his cousin would call in the middle of night asking him to check on Valerie, who was staying at Blaze parent's house.

Black magic... This term wasn't ready to leave Dewin' mind all the way. Blaze had told him everything on his way here. How they went to Sanctuary. How they met Sylvie. How Rhys was targeted again. How everything was ready to go to ruins. Dewin could do nothing than hear whatever he had to say. It was hard to imagine something like that happening with real people in real life but, he knew better than to pass way his cousin's word. Blaze was no fool. He wouldn't have done all this just for pranks. There was some reality in it. And even if it wasn't, checking up on kids was the bare minimum he could do to help at this point.

All his life, he had believed black magic to be a fleeting term. It was always known by different names all over the world. Black magic was used for evil purposes by taking control of evil spirits. If someone had mastered doing black magic then he/she was capable of doing black magic. To master it, they performed rituals and chanted spells by which they come in contact with evil spirits. Black magic could be used to harm a person. It was done to torture the person mentally which could cause physical harm. A person gets it done on others for his own benefit so that his own personal purpose is fulfilled. That's all he knew about this strange yet familiar term. Whether or not, it was real, Dewin couldn't care less. For him, the children's safety mattered most and he was going to make sure they were okay.

★¸.•☆•.¸★ ........................ ★⡀.•☆•.★

Blaze lived in a joint family like set up with five houses side by side, all in a same area and most of the part was still covered in trees. The whole house was under construction. He never wanted to be away from his parents and so, all the houses were in the same plot.

Suddenly, Dewin started hearing whispers. Some people were talking, in whispers. He stopped in his tracks and looked around only to see emptiness. There was not a single person beside him. Still, he could hear the talks. Some people were murmuring among themselves. They were talking about things like they have felt another presence or seen a shadow, and many such things. Neither Blaze nor his parents had ever really had any experience of any of those so, he didn't know what to make of the voice. He tried ignoring it and made his way inside the house as Blaze's parents were already informed about his visit. Everyone was wide awake. After all, it was tough falling asleep in a situation like this. He understood it perfectly.

Suddenly, small droplets started pouring down. It was raining. In the middle of night. Out of nowhere. Of this wasn't weird, what else was.

Rain to him felt comforting. Whenever it rained, he remembered all the times he had woken up to raindrops landing on his window, tapping gently and then falling onto the outer window sill made of metal, smelled the moist air. It reminded him of being safe in his room, or outside where it was lush and green, under a tree. In normal cases, the rain instilled a soft excitement within Dewin. It gave him freedom but, not now.

Heavy droplets had started falling in rapid succession. It was rhythmic, methodical, incessant. The sky was suddenly white, contrasting starkly against the trees that were oh-so-green. This symphony was constant throughout the whole area. The soft tinkling against the wind chimes hanging outside outside, were easily overpowered and eventually drowned out by the roaring and crashing of water. It was drenching. Yet, Dewin couldn't move his feet. He was glued in his spot. His eyes wide and his heart was a mess.

Leaves of all sorts were flying around him, eventually scattering across the grass, spilling over onto the patio. The deep black bird bath was overflowing. A swiftly-moving river ran down the street. Every plink and plunk caused endless ripples in murky puddles. It was suddenly a drowsy day. What was happening there? Somehow, Dewin moved himself from the lawn and stepped inside the house.

It began raining heavily, powercuts during heavy rains was a normal thing so after a few minutes of rain, there was a blackout. Blaze's mother came out with a towel.

"Look at the unpredictable weather. It was normal few minutes ago..." She passed a towel to Dewin. That's when he noticed it.

Blaze and his family had many staffs for helping with household chores. But, they all left in the evening. Only a maid used to live here 24x7, mainly to take care of Blaze's child and his parents since, both needed complete attention at this point of time. She did the cooking and cleaning as well. Dewin had seen her countless times to not remember her. Blaze's father was sitting in one room reading the newspaper and his mother and Dewin were in the drawing room talking. They had this third room where the maid used to stay. It was located just around the corner of drawing room.

The power came back and after few seconds, the power went out, again. Blaze's father was just sitting idle and then he saw that the maid lit candles in the hall and other places. She was keeping it in between the two rooms. In that light, he resumed reading the newspaper. Meanwhile, Dewin' eyes followed the maid's movement. After sometime, he suddenly remembered that the maid had gone to her native place that morning itself. That was the whole point in asking for Valerie and other kids to stay in their Villa to begin with.

In a shock, he stood up and slowly started going in the direction. He saw that there was no hurricane, no wind, not even rain' sound in the edge of the maid's room. He panicked a little and hit his foot in the chair as he moved around. After sometime, he heard Blaze's mother. She heard her call him. Without responding back, he took the phone's flashlight and started making his way to them in the next room. He was all sweaty. It was easy to admit that he was scared a little. When he reached the hall, he sat down on the chair he had previously sat and suddenly, he felt a hairy hand on the handle and that's when he understood. There was no illusion.

It was no hallucination. It was something out if this realm. Whatever it was, it wasn't mortal. He was sure of it. YES... Something out of this world did exist. Being a journalist himself, he had heard many people experiencing the presence of some negative energies surrounding them. They had some terrible and dangerous life threatening incidents in their life. Ghosts, spirits, paranormal - these words had accompanied the existence of humans since time unknown. The existence of paranormal elements have been felt by many, supported by many more but no one has been able to find enough evidence to prove it. Some have refuted the idea, some have criticised those who believe in the presence of spirits. But now, he was sure of it. There definitely was something. Something that'd make sure to harm others.

Suddenly, he saw Valerie moving out of her room and going outside. Where was she going and from the balcony door at that. And wait, how did her small frame reached the door's handle?

With widened eyes, Dewin rushed back towards Valerie, repeatedly calling her name. But, her frame was just slipping away. He fastened his steps and that's where he saw it. Valerie was walking towards the black bird bath. His mind was just a mess of emotions at this point. Waves of intense and very difficult emotions, ranging from profound sadness, emptiness, and despair to shock, numbness, guilt, or regret. Even he didn't know what he was feeling. This was clear though. He was raged at the circumstances of his loved one's-his anger focused on only himself. One could say that he was being too harsh with himself.

That's when he felt it. The rain was already gone. And the ground was as clear and dry as they were before his arrival. The rain clouds started leaving the air. And it was the same stillness. The same night. The same dark sky. The same stars. The same moon. There was an addition though.

A guy, wearing a black hoodie had picked up Valerie in his lap. He made his steps towards Dewin. Where ever he stepped, the grass dried itself, leaving only ashes behind. Strange. His presence burnt grasses and not Valerie. Dewin looked awestruck at the guy. Who was he? Was he a saviour? Or the attacker?

★¸.•☆•.¸★ ........................ ★⡀.•☆•.★

"Where's room 213?" Dewin asked in a hurried voice.

"Please take the lift and turn left at floor 13." The receptionist said in a firm tone.

Number 13? He had heard it's an unlucky number. Some believe this is unlucky because one of those thirteen, Judas Iscariot, was the betrayer of Jesus Christ. From the 1890s, a number of English language sources relate the "unlucky" thirteen to an idea that at the Last Supper, Judas, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, was the 13th to sit at the table.

Going by general belief / observation '13/4′ is considered as an unlucky number. This is one of the four Karmik numbers in Pythagorean Numerology, the others being 14/5, 16/7, 19/1 but 13/4 is most commonly known. All these numbers reflect a certain kind of debt associated with it.

In an individual's chart, wherever it appears, a kind of debt has to be cleared in some form. 13 is composed of '1' that indicates negative qualities of planet Sun i.e "Selfishness & Ego" and '3' linked to negative side of planet Jupiter indicating "Trivial & Frivolous" activities as a result of negative aspect of '1 & 3' in the past life. The person may not have carried out his share of work & burdened others with it. As a result a debt is to be faced now in terms of limitations, restrictions & responsibilities. That's why even hotels and hospitals avoided keeping this room as a number. There are many buildings / floors / houses which are named as 12A instead of 13. Still for some people it has proved to be lucky but Overall '13' is a number of limitations & negation of advantages.

Friday the 13th is also considered as evil, world over. Death (XIII) is the 13th trump or Major Arcana card in most traditional Tarot decks. Why was everything happening on the same day! One after another unfortunate accidents were happening and he knew of no way to help this situation.

"The door are opening." He heard the automated response recording of the hospital lift as they opened. As soon as it opened, Valerie started running in a particular direction.

"Val..." That's all he could say before he started following her.

★¸.•☆•.¸★ ........................ ★⡀.•☆•.★

"Leave..." Dewin heard a woman scream as he neared the room where Sylvie possibly could be. On his way, he had met Mavis and Blaze and they were accompanying him.

"It's Luna!" Mavis panicked as she rushed and pushed the gate open.

What they saw was horrifying. Luna was standing on her feet with Sylvie lying on the floor. Her breathing ragged and her left eyes was bleeding profoundly. The blood sprawled all over the floor. Valerie was near the walls. It was as if someone had pushed her. Everyone looked at Luna with wide eyes. Dewin rushed towards the wall and picked little Valerie in his lap.

"Are you okay? Did it hurt?" He patted her back lightly and found her shaking her head. She was trembling with fear and yet, she was making sure to show herself strong. He was now sure who she took after. It wasn't Rhys or Luna, it was Sylvie, the one who had raised her like her own. Carrying her tightly on his shoulders, he came to stop before Sylvie and kneeled before her, blocking her vision of Luna. Whatever happened. It wasn't good. And Sylvie shouldn't see something so painful. He knew what family meant for her.

"You ruined everything!" Luna looked at Valerie with spite and slowly golden dust covered her whole body, and suddenly there was no one. No Luna. Not even a trace of her.

There was no reason to not believe in spirits and magic anymore. Dewin was sure that they existed. All along with humans...

▄︻デ.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷══━一

Number of words : 2497
▄︻デ.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷.̷══━一

Author's Note :-

We are finally here. Two to three chapters more and then it'd be over. The word count, I mean.

There's no time for author's note honestly. But since, I have been doing it, why not?

So, it was Luna all along. Why did she do it?

Till the next time. Take care.