The Life Of Lies

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The life of lies Chapter 1: A dare we share. Danan put a full stop at the end of his sentence. “Done and centre”. Ann looked Danan. Honestly Danan will soon be at a mental asylum she thought. “Miss Cremshot is a homeless person you know” “So Miss Cremshot lives in a classroom?” “No she lives on the roads” “Yeah right” Danan burst out laughing. Ann could be real funny sometimes. Miss Cremshot scowled at Danan. “Danan, are you a monkey or a human?” Danan shrugged his shoulders, whilst Ann started to smirk. “Depends on how you look at it. I could probably be a vampire although I would not be telling you that.” Miss Cremshot scowled again. Danan took no notice. He ruffled his jet black hair and his big dark blue eyes started to water out of boredom. Ann flipped her chestnut hair out of her eyes. Her exhaustion showed in her emerald green eyes. Her face, like Danan, was red and hot. Danan got his water bottle and started to drink from it. Ann raised an eyebrow at Danan. “What are you looking at?” “Oh I don’t know maybe the wall” Ann hit him hard in the arm. Before Danan could protest he was interrupted. “Danan, tell the class the homework”. “We got homework?” “Congratulations on your rubbish listening skills.” A boy called Jack McKenzie put his hand up. “Yes, Jack” “Miss you said nothing about homework” “Well Daniel has”. “Who’s Daniel?” “You have homework now, Ann, for talking.” Ann just shrugged her shoulders. It was good news for her that she had homework. There were never exciting events in Italy. The only things that were good and impressive were the restaurants. Danan didn’t understand what Ann saw in homework. At last the bell rang. Danan stuffed everything in to his bag. “How are going to do your research then?” Danan sighed. Ann always did that. She would always ask how he was going to do his homework. “I guess I will have to go to the library.” Ann had a mischievous grin on her face. Danan seeing this began to ask “What are you grinning abo…” “Let’s get out of this classroom” Danan grumbled, “There was no need to interrupt me” With that they ran out the classroom in to the corridors.

2 When at last they were finally in the playground and through the steel gates, they stopped running. “Let’s do a dare.” Danan looked at Ann incredulously. The last time that they had done a real dare they had got in to serious trouble. Mr. Humpfrie was still always anxious to get into his shower. “Okay, no way am I going into any burning, sweating woods” “No, this dare is more exciting and interesting than Mr. Humpfrie’s shower.” Danan raised an eyebrow. Ann’s idea of exciting things was sabotaging Mr. Humpfrie’s bath days. “Listen, I am not helping you to sabo….” “How many times do I have to tell you? It’s a different dare, nothing to do with showers or if it makes you happy, nothing to do with water.” Danan hated it when Ann became forceful; however, that was when she was the funniest. “You have a very bad habit of interrupting people” Danan told Ann. “Yeah, my mother is always telling me how annoying that is” “Well, maybe just this once, you should take her word for it” Danan suggested. “Anyway, getting back to the dare” “Whoa! Who said anything about a dare?” Danan cried frantically. “Don’t be such a coward” Ann drawled in a bored voice. “Why all of a sudden do you want to do a dare?” enquired Danan Ann looked at Danan and sighed. “Danan listen our life is so boring you knows full well Italy never does exciting events, so I thought why not a little adventure with each other.” Danan looked at Ann. Ann always pulled that face which would make you give in an argument. She only did that when she knew that she was losing. “It’s not going to work with me Ann” said Danan confidently. “Fine if you’re not going to do the dare can I at least tell you what it was?” Danan hesitated. This was a trick of Ann’s; she never gave up in an argument. “Alright fine but make it quick” mumbled Danan “The dare I was trying to tell you about was to go into that old deserted library.” Danan looked outrageous. His mum made him promise not to go into that library. Yet again if he failed to disobey that his mum said not to touch anything in the library. “Listen Ann it sounds fun but my mu……” “Don’t try that on me you never listen to your mum, you’re just scared.” “That’s a lie” said Danan. “You know it’s true.” Ann was right she always was. Danan didn’t care at all what his mum says, he was just scared. He wasn’t scared because of the rumours. He was scared of whether something dangerous was in there. Parents had their reasons for why things were not allowed. Mainly that they were dangerous. “Don’t worry nothing dangerous is going to be in there.” replied Ann. Danan relaxed. “You could never be sure what could happen.” Danan thought. And he was absolutely right. “So are you going to do the dare?” “Your on” Danan challenged. “I’ll meet you in the park then we will walk to the library” Danan groaned. He hated walking.

3 At last when Danan got to his doorstep he fished out his key out of his bag. When he entered his house he heard shouting. “Same old, same old” thought Danan. His sister and brother were always fighting. But it was different it was not his sister and brother Who was fighting. His brother was yelling at father. Danan walked into the living room. “What’s gong on?” Danan asked. Everyone stopped. Danan’s older brother Basalnan had tears in his eyes. Basalnan quickly wiped his tears away. It was too late. “Why are you crying Basalnan?” Basalnan smiled. “Co’s I’m looking at your face.” Danan looked at his brother. There was something wrong. Something had made his brother really sad that he could not make proper jokes. You could tell when Basalnan was joking because his eyes would sparkle. Now his eyes just looked boring and dead. “Mum?” enquired Danan “Everything is alright dear” replied mum with a sad smile. Basalnan ran up to his room and slammed his bedroom door. Danan looked around the living room. Where was his sister Shalayna? She was always here when there was drama in the house. Shalayna had a mental illness. So in order to get better the doctor said she should get more into the drama, but maybe not this type of drama. “Where is Shalayna?” asked Danan. His mother and father looked at each other. They were hiding something from Danan, because it would upset Danan. Danan ran upstairs into Shalayna’s room. He circled the room like an eagle circling its prey. “Shalayna, hide and seek is over, come out now.” No reply came. “Shalayna” Danan called into the empty room. Danan sat on the bed. What was going on? He decided that the only person that could answer his questions was Basalnan. Danan didn’t like asking his brother questions because it made him look stupid but it was the only way. Danan walked to his brother’s bedroom and knocked on the door. “Go away; I don’t want your disgusting spinach.” Danan heard his brother’s annoyed voice yell. “My brother has gone mad after all” Danan thought to himself. Danan barged into the room, even though he knew it was rude. “There is something known as knocking” Basalnan grumbled. “I did knock, you pea brain.” Basalnan scowled. “What do you want?” “I’ve come here to beat you up.” Danan said sarcastically. “Just tell me what you want because I’m very busy.” “Alright, where is Shalayna?” Basalnan stayed silent. Finally he spoke: “I don’t know”. “Yeah, you do, now tell me”. “I can’t.” “Why?” Danan asked irritable. Was anyone going to give him any answers? “Mum told me not to tell you”. “So you’re allowed to know what’s going on, whereas I’m not” “Fine, if you want to know so badly, okay then, Shalayna’s been sent to a mental hospital” “Why?” Danan asked, thoroughly confused.

4 “Because, she felt like having a cup of tea with the other mental people” Basalnan replied harshly. “TELL ME, WHY?” Danan bellowed. “THE DOCTORS TOOK HER AWAY BECAUSE SHE WAS TOO HARD TO CONTROL AT HOME” Basalnan bellowed back. “She was having another episode, mum couldn’t control her, so she called a doctor, and they said that Shalayna needs full attention which she can only get in the hospital” Basalnan explained sadly. The shock rendered Danan speechless. He fled the room, leaving Basalnan to wallow in his own grief. He flung himself onto his own bed in his own room, thinking of his older sister, all alone, with only mental people for company. What had started out as a normal day had now become a huge disaster. However, Danan had no idea how much worse things were going to get.

Chapter 2 the library “That’s horrible” exclaimed Ann. It was a lovely shiny day. It was weather not suitable for the moment. Ever since Shalayna had gone Danan was not in a very happy mood. “Shall we start going to the library?” “IS THAT ALL YOU CAN THINK ABOUT?” Ann backed away immediately. “See you later or maybe not” Ann replied dryly. She started to walk away. “Wait Ann” Danan called after her. Ann turned around. She did as she was told, so as to prevent her from getting yelled at again. “Listen, I’m sorry for jumping on you like that. It’s just that I’m so upset and lost.” Ann smiled comfortably. “It’s alright it happens, I think someone needs a hug.” Danan smiled and walked up to her and hugged her. Ann did the same. They quickly stopped. “Shall we start to go to the library then?” asked Danan. “Yeah we don’t want to get back late.” It was not a really long. By the time they got Danan wasn’t even tired. “Feeling active? Are you now?” asked Ann “Are we just going to stand here or are we going to go in?” grumbled Danan. Ann laughed. “So you do want to do the dare after all.” “Let’s go in I’m starting to feel hot” complained Danan. Both of them walked to the door. Danan put his hand on the handle. He tried to push the door open but it neither would nor budge. Danan felt his temper rising at Ann. She knew full well that the door would be locked. “The door is locked” “Yeah I know” replied Ann as though there was no problem. “So how are we going to get?” asked Danan. “We unlock the door of course didn’t you know that?” replied Ann incredulously. “How do we do that?” snapped Danan.

5 Ann shoved past Danan. She unzipped her bag. She took out an old tarnished hairclip. Danan looked at her. “Will you stop doping around?” snarled Danan. Ann just nodded her head. “This is our key to get into the library.” Ann explained. Danan opened his mouth to argue but Ann did her specialty and interrupted him. “Go be the lookout while I unlock this door” hissed Ann. Danan looked reluctant but he did as he was told. He knew better when Ann gave a threatening look; it was sort of like a warning. Danan stood in front of Ann. He looked around the deserted streets. “Ann probably didn’t want me to know the trick, so that’s why she sent me away.” He thought. Danan looked towards the house opposite him. Jack McKenzie (a boy who was a nerd and someone in his class) lived in that house. Danan could see someone watching them from behind the window. That someone was Jack. Danan had never acted fast in his whole life. “ANN HURRY UP THE NERD HAS JUST SEEN US QUICK HURRY UP.” Danan bellowed. “I’M NEARLY THERE QUIT SCREAMING”. Ann screamed at him. “WE HAVE TO HURRY, NOW.” Danan yelled at Ann. “Nearly there, done!” Danan grabbed Ann’s hand and dragged her along into the library with him. Ann locked the door again. Danan was still holding her hand, when he realised this he let go immediately. Danan looked around his surroundings. There were shelves of books all covered in dust. Danan started to wonder around. Ann followed behind him. Danan saw a table cloth laid on the table. It was covered in blood. So far Danan wasn’t scared. “Something bad must have happened which probably caused the library to shut down.” Ann said in a confident voice. Danan thought about this. Something caught Danan’s eyes. It was an unopened letter. Well it must have been because the envelop wasn’t open. Danan opened the envelop and took the letter out. “Hey Ann come and look at what I found.” Danan called. Ann was wondering near some shelves. She walked over towards Danan. “Oooh a letter lets read it then.” “Okay hem” coughed Danan. ‘Dear Jim I hope you don’t mind but I think it would be better if the library was shut down. I know it’s stupid but everyone is in danger and I don’t mean everyone that comes to the library. I mean everyone in the estate. Since you refuse to remove that troublesome book of yours out of the library. We are all in danger because of that book. You say that it can never be destroyed well it s possible to save other people from reading it like I know this really mischievous boy. He is the sort of person that will sometime have the book. I am not writing the books title in case this falls into the wrong hands. I do not want that boy in danger because he IS MY SON. So you either remove that book or the library shuts down. T.L Danan looked at the handwriting. It looked strangely familiar somehow. “Well that’s very interesting” said Ann awkwardly. “Yeah it is, do you know what this means?” “No” replied Ann tiredly. “It means that one of these books is dangerous.” Danan said to mystically. Ann rolled her eyes.

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“Look at what T.L says in the letter, he or she thinks that the book will always be trouble wherever it is.” Ann implored. Danan looked at Ann. Why did Ann always say sensible stuff? Danan looked at the dust covered shelves. “So one of these books could be dangerous?” Danan asked. “Probably, we should not touch any of the shelves” Ann suggested. “Then it was pointless coming here.” Danan said irritably. “No it weren’t, we are here to see if the place is haunted.” Ann argued. “Or to wonder around” smiled Danan. “So what are we waiting for?” “Let’s get going”. Danan wondered around the shelves. All these books looked like they had never been touched in years. Danan walked over to shelf 2F. He could see a book right at the back. “We should not touch anything” Ann’s voiced echoed in Danan’s head. So what, he was only neatening the shelves? Danan reached for the book at the back. The life of lies was the title of the book. Danan looked for the author’s name on the book and to his disappointment all it said was Anon. everyone knew anon was short for anonlesheour which meant anonymous. So when Danan saw this word it was a big disappointment. “DANAN WE HAVE TO GO SOMEONE IS TRYING TO GET IN THE LIBRARY”. Ann shouted. Danan quickly stuffed the book into his bag and went to look for Ann. “ANN, WHERE ARE YOU?” he yelled. Ann ran towards Danan. “Don’t speak we have to hide somewhere” whispered Ann. Danan looked around. He spotted a shelf near the door. He tapped Ann on the shoulder and pointed towards the shelf. Ann looked at Danan. “Are you ma…” she began but Danan just grabbed Ann’s hand and hid behind the shelf. “Oh wow Danan this is a brilliant hiding place that no one will be able to see us” Ann hissed quietly. Danan shushed her. If they were discovered they would be in big trouble. Yet again they would be asked what they were doing here. Both of them watched the door. Finally it burst open. Ann gasped. It was the caretaker of the estate. The caretaker was a potbellied dwarf. There was nothing else to describe about him. The caretaker walked towards the back shelf. “Let’s quickly run towards the door now!” Danan whispered to Ann. Ann nodded. Together both of them ran towards the door. The caretaker didn’t see them. They kept running until they were out of the estate. Both of them were panting, “I can’t believe it that was completely useless” Ann said angrily. “Not completely useless” Danan replied with a smirk. Judging by the puzzled look on Ann’s face, Danan took the book out. Ann gasped then looked at him angrily. “I told you not to touch any of the shelves” Ann hissed. Danan looked at Ann as if she was mad. “Oh come on I’m sure this book is not dangerous” replied Danan with a huff. “Hmm” said Ann while narrowing her eyes. “I’ll see you tomorrow on the beach” replied Danan. “At the funfair” said Ann. Danan grunted “The funfairs are never fun”. But Ann was already gone. Danan shrugged his shoulders and started to make his long walk back to home.

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Chapter 3 Visiting Shalayna As soon as Danan entered the house he heard shouting. His brother and father were having a row. The door to the living room was closed. He could still hear from out here. Danan went closer to the door to listen. “THIS IS YOUR ENTIRE FAULT. SHALAYNA WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN THERE.” Basalnan yelled. “SINCE WHEN HAVE YOU CARED ONE CLIPPING TOENAIL ABOUT SHALAYNA, YOU ONLY WANT HER BACK TO FIGHT WTH HER.” Danan’s father screeched. Basalnan said something in Latin that made everyone in the room gasp. “Basalnan you will always be our son”. Danan heard his mother wept. “But I’m not your son I’m just an orphan you adopted” cried Basalnan. Danan heard his mother cry. “You can’t leave Basalnan. Your brother would be devastated.” Said Danan’s mother. Danan could not listen to anymore. He ran up to his bedroom and flung himself on to his bed. Everything was going wrong. First Shalayna. Now this! Danan needed to talk to someone. Someone who would understand. Definitely not Ann. That’s it Shalayna. So what if she was mad? She was the only person who would understand. There was a knock on Danan’s bedroom door. “Come in” called Danan. It was Basalnan. He never came into Danan’s room. “What do you want?” asked Danan. Basalnan sighed. He sat down next to me. “Listen I got something shocking to tell you.” Said Basalnan sadly. “You’re not my brother” Danan said dully. “How do you know?” demanded Basalnan. “Just tell me is it true?” asked Danan. “No that’s garbage” replied Basalnan. “Yeah it is” said Danan happily. Basalnan smiled at Danan for the first time ever. Both of them thought silently. Basalnan broke the silence first. “I’m going from here” replied Basalnan “You are going to take me with you” Danan said in a bold voice. “You don’t even know where I’m going” replied Basalnan in a voice of disgust. “Even if you’re not going there you’re going to take me to visit Shalayna” “Why would I do that?” “Because I’ll do it by my own and if I get hurt it will be your entire fault for refusing to take me” “I’ll do it” replied Basalnan quickly. “I thought you would see it my way.” Danan smiled Basalnan gave Danan a dirty look. Danan smiled at. This was going to be fun. Really fun. “I’ll need my car keys” Basalnan mumbled. He ran out of Danan’s room leaving him time to think what he was to say to Shalayna. Danan smiled. Shalayna won’t have mad people for company because he was going to visit Shalayna everyday. He didn’t care what anyone else thinks because Shalayna was his sister.

8 “I’m not going to wait you know, you either come or you don” said Basalnan in a foul mood. Danan heaved himself from his bed and went downstairs. He went outside and waited beside Basalnan’s car. Basalnan came out carrying a suitcase. Danan looked at him. “We are not going to live there” snapped Danan. Basalnan ignored this comment. He indicated to get in the car. Danan reluctantly got inside the car. Basalnan buckled his seatbelt and started the engine. Finally the car was on the road. “Why have you got a suitcase?” Danan tried again. Basalnan gave him a look which meant shut up before do it for you. Danan immediately shut it. “Do you even know which hospital it is?” asked Danan. “Where do you think I’m going stupid?” hissed Basalnan. Danan turned red. He hated it when Basalnan made him look stupid. Danan knew that what he had said was stupid. He just wanted to make sure. The car gave a jerk, and then it stopped. “We are here” replied Basalnan grudgingly. Danan sighed. Basalnan hated mental asylums. Not because of the mental people or because it was a sad place. He had a bad experience when he was little, let’s not go into great detail but it was what made Shalayna mad. Basalnan still felt guilty even though it was not his fault. “I’ll wait for you in the car” replied Basalnan. Danan looked at him. Basalnan was never going to face his fears if he didn’t try. “Come on, are you a man or what?” said Danan scornfully. “You know it was this hospital that brings the memory back to me” Basalnan yelped. “You’re never going to get over it if you don’t try” repeated Danan impatiently. Basalnan sighed. Danan decided the only way to get Basalnan to move was to give him a time out. “I HAVE HAD ENOUGH WITH YOU, YOU ONLY CARE ABOUT YOURSELF. YOUR SISTER IS IN THERE NEEDING YOUR HELP AND DON’T GIVE ME THAT CRAP ABOUT SHE IS NOT YOUR SISTER BECAUSE EVEN IF SHE ISN’T SHE STILL NEEDS YOU. NOW TELL ME ARE A COWARD OR A MAN.” Danan screeched. Basalnan gave Danan a look of loathing, then smiled and jumped out of the car. “WE ARE HERE FOR YOU SHALAYNA” Basalnan yelled at the top of his voice. Danan and Basalnan both walked into the entrance door. They went to the reception. “Can I help you?” asked the secretary in a bored voice. Danan looked down at his shoes. Basalnan straightened to his full height and said “We’re here to visit Shalayna Lonesville” replied Basalnan in a pompous manner. The secretary looked towards her computer. Finally she looked towards Danan and Basalnan. “Yes you can, but you must be seventeen or above to visit on your own and you must be twenty to visit with a child.” The secretary chanted .It seemed that she had repeated this many times. Basalnan looked at Danan. “I’m sorry but why is that?” asked Basalnan politely. “I’m afraid I do not know” replied the secretary. Danan could not control his temper. He went through a lot of hard work to visit Shalayna and a visit to Shalayna he was going to get. “Listen here, I don’t care about your stupid rules but we came here to visit someone special and if you have got a problem well here’s a newsflash for you I DON’T CARE” replied Danan angrily. The secretary looked shocked. She gave Danan a look. “I told you politely that I do not know any of the rules so you can ta….” Danan didn’t bother to listen to the rest. He ran towards Shalayna’s hospital room. He flung the

9 door open. There was Shalayna in her bed weak and old. It made Danan’s eyes sting with water. Shalayna sat in her bed staring into space. “Shalayna?” Danan croaked uncertainly. Shalayna turned her gaze towards Danan and smiled at him. “Go into my room and look underneath the pillow” Shalayna said in a drifty voice. Danan looked at his sister’s calm expression. Danan could not bear to look at it. “Shalayna why are you telling me that?” Danan asked. Shalayna looked at him and smiled. “You don’t have to do it but if you want help and advice then I suggest you read it” replied Shalayna. Danan looked at his sister sadly. He didn’t bother to hide the tears in his eyes. “You will be fine, I promise and I will keep that promise” Danan croaked. Shalayna laughed. She kept laughing and would not stop. “Do you honestly think I’ll survive when I’m looking like this” replied Shalayna with joy. Security guards and doctors came running into the room. Shalayna was still laughing. Danan tried to get closer to the bed but the security guards grabbed him. “SHALAYNA YOU WILL BE ALRIGHT I PROMISE I SWEAR I’LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU SHALAYNA YOU’RE MY SISTER AND ALWAYS WILL BE.” Danan screamed. The security guards struggled to hold on to Danan. “Give my love to all the family Danan and stay out of trouble” yelled Shalayna. “SHALAYNA DON’T GIVE…” Danan tried to yell. Shalayna laughed happily. “SHALAYNA PLEASE DON’T DO …..” “It’s over boy” “SHALAYNA DON’T LEAVE ME” Danan yelled “I ‘VE GOT TO, YOUR ALONE THIS TIME DANAN GO INTO MY BEDROOM AND LOOK UNDER MY PILLOW. TRUST ME IF YOU CARE ABOUT ME DANAN” Shalayna screamed. Danan tried to wrestle his way out. The guards grabbed Danan’s arms and dragged him out of the room. Danan tried to look around for Basalnan. “OI LET GO OF MY BROTHER YOU BLUNDERING GORRILA’S”. Danan tried to twist out of the guards grip. Then Danan had an idea it was bad and painful but it was the only way to escape from this chaos. Danan turned around and punched the guard in the face. Then he kicked the man in the shins. The guard loosened his grip on Danan. Loose enough for him to escape. Danan ran towards the exit. “GET THAT BOY” screamed the secretary. An apple came soaring and hit the secretary in the head. The secretary fell down and lay unconscious. “GOAL” yelled Basalnan “I’LL MEET IN THE CAR” Danan screamed out to Basalnan. Danan started to run towards the exit. He hid behind a wall waiting for the guards to go. Danan started to run again. He skidded over something then everything went black.

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Chapter 3 Shalayna’s letter Danan opened his eyes. He looked around his surroundings. “Where am I?” Danan asked himself. “You’re in the car” replied Basalnan’s voice. Danan looked at his brother. “How did I get here? Danan asked impatiently. Basalnan shook his head. “You were running, and then you slipped and fell unconscious” Basalnan said in a bored voice. “What are we doing in a taxi? , Where is your car?” Danan asked hurriedly. Basalnan completely ignored Danan and just looked straight. The taxi parked next to Danan’s house. Basalnan helped Danan out. Basalnan turned to face Danan and sighed. Something was wrong. “Danan I’d just like you to know that you will always be my brother and I’m going to miss you” said Basalnan in a pitiful voice. Danan looked at his brother. That was it. The suitcase explained everything. Basalnan was leaving him and his family. Danan glowered and gave angry looks at Basalnan. “You’re going to abandon us, me, mum and dad” Danan said quietly “Danan you’ve got it wrong” Basalnan tried to say. Danan just shook his head. “You’re going to dump us” Danan said softly this time. Basalnan’s face looked hurt. “Danan I’m not your bro….” “YOU’RE RIGHT, YOU’RE NOT MY BROTHER YOU ARE A MONSTER” Danan screamed. Basalnan tried to shush him but Danan ignored that. “Tell me the truth, all those things you said were they true or just lies” Danan asked. “D Danan” Basalnan stammered. He was afraid of hurting Danan’s feelings. “THEY WERE LIES, LIAR YOU SAID YOUR NOT A LIAR” Danan screeched. “Danan I’m…” “I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE, YOUR’RE A FAKE AND I DON’T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH YOU, YOUR NOT MY BROTHER ANYMORE, NEVER”. Danan ran to the front door before Basalnan could stop him. He burst into the hallway and ran upstairs straight to his room. He needed sometime alone. Even from Shalayna (even though she was not here anymore) Danan looked around his room. He heard some shouting and screaming from downstairs. Danan went down to investigate. It was not Basalnan and his father. It was Danan’s mother and father that were fighting. Danan was not in the mood for bad news so he slouched into his room. Suddenly Danan just remembered something important. “Go into my room and look under my pillow” Danan remembered. Danan ran into Shalayna’s bedroom and looked underneath the pillow. There was an envelop underneath with Danan written in his sister’s neat handwriting. Danan ripped the envelop open and started to read the letter ‘Dear Danan, I’d first like to say that I wrote this letter when you were born. So you must be all grown and I might be dead. Don’t say this as my will. Let’s just say what you can keep of mine. You get to keep whatever you want okay. Now this is really important so listen very carefully. Whatever you do, do not go near that deserted library. I know it might sound silly but it is dangerous. That library was shut down for a reason. I’m NOT going into full detail because if you DISOBEYED MOTHER and you took something dangerous. You will do the things below.

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1. DON’T do anything to destroy it. It will make it angrier. 2. DO NOT read any more of it. If you have gone past chapter 5 then STOP. 3. DO NOT TELL ANYONE what is happening. 4. IF you have NOT started the book THEN DON’T START IT. Just leave it. You will know if it is the book that it dangerous listen to these signs. 1. You will start to have family problems which has never occurred before 2. You will start to loose really close people. 3. Finally bad things will start happening to you. With all my love Xxxxxxx Shalayna Xxxxxxx Danan just shook his head. Honestly Shalayna can be real funny. Danan went back to his own room and threw the letter underneath his bed with all the other useless junk. He then went downstairs and opened the front door and stepped out into the breezy wind. Basalnan was standing outside watching the house. He then sighed and got into the taxi. Basalnan saw Danan and waved a sad goodbye. Danan returned it. Basalnan was staring at Danan sadly. Danan ran to the taxi. “Where are you going to go?” asked Danan. Basalnan smiled. A devious smile. “I’m going to join my real father. We are going to have fun times.” Basalnan said happily. Danan just sighed. He had grown up in Basalnan’s company all his life. Now here they were departing from each other even though hey were not related. “Your dad is in that bombing group that call themselves the attackers” Danan said. “Yeah and I will be joining them” replied Basalnan excitedly. Danan was shocked. This gentle person he had known was now out there to kill people. “Am I going to be one of your victims?” Danan asked curiously. Basalnan started to laugh madly. The taxi started to drive off. Then just at the corner Basalnan shouted something. “YOU WILL BE MY FIRST, TORO!” Danan stared at the taxi. He shrugged his shoulders and started to make his way towards his and Ann’s secret place. He needed to tell Ann everything.

Chapter 4 Lost in the woods

12 “That’s good for you” Ann snapped. She was so angry. How could Danan miss their special trip? Danan looked at Ann with his sad blue eyes. “I’m sorry, okay” Danan tried again. “Does sorry cut it Danan?” Ann snarled. Was Danan really her friend? “I thought it would” Danan added helplessly. Ann still would not look at him. “This was meant to be a trip to remember, a trip to remember you and Italy, but it isn’t now.” Ann replied without remorse. Danan sat up at hearing that. “What do you mean to remember Italy?” Danan asked suspiciously. Ann burst into tears. Danan didn’t rush to comfort her. His curiosity was taking over him. “What do you mean?” It suddenly came to his head. “You don’t mean that you’re moving? Do you?” asked Danan. Ann nodded her head sadly. There was nothing to say. Ann was moving. No one to tell any jokes or sorrows to share. “When are you moving?” Danan asked sadly. Ann took a deep breath. “After new years day” Ann quickly went back to keep her gaze on the grass. Danan sighed. Suddenly an idea rushed into his head. “Hey, you know how I missed our trip to the fair.” “Yeah, you don’t feel any remorse” Ann sniffed. “I’ve got a better suggestion” “What’s that?” “We can go to the Italian woods” Danan replied with a smile. Ann gasped. The Italian woods were beautiful especially at night. That was when it was really expensive. “How are we going to pay?” Ann asked. Danan rolled his eyes. “By money” Danan said in a slow voice. “It cost one hundred pounds. We don’t have that sort of money.” “We don’t need to pay” “Of course we do, don’t be stupid” “Not unless we’re breaking into the woods.” Ann looked at Danan. Why did he have to be so stupid and dopey? “Oh wow Danan, they are not going to notice a sixteen year old boy barging past them” Ann said sarcastically. “That’s why we are going at night” Danan replied. Ann gasped again. Danan smiled. “Now which suggestion is better? Mine or yours.” Danan asked Ann. “At least my one isn’t risky and mental” “Think of it as a dare.” Ann glared at Danan. “When are we going?” asked Ann. “Tonight.” Ann spluttered. Is Danan insane? “What do you mean tonight, we’re not even ready” Ann spluttered. “Well get ready now! It’s a long walk and bring some refreshments if you are going to get hungry, I don’t want you moaning all the way” Danan replied harshly. Ann glowered at him “Where should I meet you?” Ann asked “Here will do, we will then leave from here” Danan walked to the direction to his house. This was going to be fun alright and a real dare. Ann would love it. Danan rushed into his house. He went straight to his room and grabbed his jacket. Danan then went into the kitchen and grabbed a hot water bottle and made a cheese sandwich. He put them in his jeans pocket. Danan heard shouting. He put his hands on his ears. He didn’t want to hear more secrets. Basalnan kicked the

13 living room door open and on his way to the front door then he stopped when he saw Danan. Danan kept his gaze on Basalnan. “Where are you going?” asked Basalnan suspiciously. Danan shook his head. “I could be asking you the same question” Danan said. “Yeah but your not asking me” “I am now.” “So what are you asking?” “I’m asking where you are going.” “You can’t ask that.” “Why?” “Because I asked you first.” “I was at the doorstep first.” Basalnan smiled. It was obvious that Danan had won the argument so Basalnan had to answer Danan’s question. “I’m going to live my dream with my father” Basalnan replied with a mystic smile on his face. “Your father hates your guts” Danan replied “No he doesn’t” “Why did he abandon you”. “He didn’t have enough time.” Basalnan was losing the fight. “He would never kill me.” Basalnan piped up. “But he would welcome you with open arms, would he now?” Basalnan drew a fist but Danan ducked and ran out the door. “Why won’t he listen? His father won’t hesitate if he tried to kill me.” Danan thought. “After all I was his nephew.” Danan was so engrossed in his thinking that he had walked past Ann. “DANAN LONSVILLE, WHAT ARE YOU PLAYING AT.” Ann roared. Danan staggered. “Sorry, let’s start waking.” Ann narrowed her eyes but agreed. It was a long journey. Every time, Ann would take her phone out and talk in such a way that it looked as though she was playing a spy game. “Will you stop it” Danan said in an irritated voice. “I’m not doing anything” Ann blurted out. “That’s the problem” Ann went in a sulk and would not talk to Danan throughout the rest of the journey. Finally when they arrived, Ann started to poked Danan in the arm. “Look we have be quiet okay, if we make a sound then we’re in deep trouble” “But…” Ann did her specialty by interrupting him. She shushed him. “Follow me” Ann whispered. She hid behind a tree and beckoned Danan forwards. “What are you doing?” Danan hissed quietly. Ann put her fingers on her lips. They quietly when Danan tripped over. It made such a racket. “Someone is trying to sneak past” yelled one of the security guards. “Don’t worry will ge em.” This security guard seemed to have a Scottish accent so it was hard to make out what he said. Ann glowered at Danan. “What?” Danan snapped. “I’ll tell you what, you thought it would be fun to make a war dance up, could you not do that later?” Danan glared at Ann. 14 “First of all I don’t want to do it later, second of all I was not making up a war dance, I tripped over.”

14 “Shut up you stupid berk” Ann hissed. They waited silently for the guards to pass them. When they were finally out of sight. Ann got out the tree. Danan followed suit. “Right now the guards are looking for us at the other end, so this is our chance to get through that gate.” Danan started to laugh. “What are you laughing at?” Ann enquired. “Well the security must be mad not to have a guard by the gate.” “So?” Ann replied. “So how are we meant to get past the guard?” “I’ve got him sorted out” Ann said with glee. Danan looked at her. “Let’s start climbing then.” Ann looked at Danan incredulously. “No way, that is a total abuse of the guards.” “So you have already used them.” Danan replied with disgust. “I beg your pardon?” asked Ann. “While they are gone looking for us we’re trying to get in, we didn’t ask them if we can go in so that’s a total abuse of the guards.” Ann smiled. “I guess your right.” Ann walked over the gates. She put her hands on the bars then her feet. She then hoisted herself over in a way that she landed on the other side. Danan did the same. There was no guard to be seen. “Where should we go?” Ann asked politely. “There’s a party here today. It’s somewhere near the recycling centre.” Danan replied. He was about to lead the way when Ann stopped him. “Let’s not go there. Can we just look at where the moon sets?” “Sure”. So together they started to wander towards the place where the moon set. Ann sat on the floor. Danan sat next to her. Both of them watched the moon silently. “Ann?” Danan asked. “Yeah.” Ann started to smile. “Would you still be my friend if I was dangerous?” Ann’s smile vanished. “Of course, are you thinking of abandoning me?” Danan started to laugh. “I guess not.” Ann said curtly. Danan just stared at her. “Shall we go to the party?” Danan asked. Ann shook her head. “No I think I should go home now.” Ann replied softly. Danan still looked at her. “But it’s only six.” Danan contradicted. Ann gave him a blazing look. “Thanks for taking me here, I really appreciated this.” Ann replied quietly. Danan nodded his head. “Let’s go.” “You don’t have to go” Ann said quickly. Danan shushed her. “I think it’s getting late let’s just go.” Ann nodded. They walked towards the gate. The guard opened it for them. They began the long walk home. “I’ll see you tomorrow around our special place” Danan said. Ann looked down. Danan noticed. “You can’t meet me, can you?” Danan asked. He tried hard not to look upset. “I’m sorry Danan, it’s just that we need to see family and friends, you know.” “I’m a friend.” Danan tried. Ann laughed. “You know what I mean, like acquaintances.” Danan smiled. “I’ll see you soon.” They waved goodbye. Danan started to make his way towards his house. He was looking forwards to dinner.

Chapter 5

15

Shalayna dies Danan’s clock made a beep. Danan made an irritated grunt. Danan opened his eyes. He looked around his room. His gaze landed on the picture frame. It was him and Shalayna holding hands. He smiled. Shalayna was always willing to help him with difficulties. Danans smiled turned to painful expression. Danan’s meeting with Shalayna was very brief. All that happened was that Shalayna told him to look at the letter. He got chased by the security guards. After that he must have fell unconscious. someone must have whacked him on the head hard. Even worst than that the letter was useless. Danan had even more questions now. Danan decided to get changed. He came down the stairs. The doorbell rang. His mother rushed to open the door. There stood two men. They were carrying briefcases with them. Danan had seen one of the men somewhere but he could not remember where he had seen him. Danan’s mother seemed to have recognised the man. She saw Danan standing in the hallway. “Danan go upstairs and do your homework, now.” His mother replied. Danan went upstairs but he didn’t go into his room. Instead he hid behind the stairway and listened to his mother. “What are you doing here?” Danan’s mother enquired. “Talansiya I am here to tell you something about you know what.” “Jay I told you, that is out of my life now, don’t bring it back” “It’s Jim.” “It’s an adorable nickname.” “Back to the story.” “What story.” “Gary has told me some teens broke into the library.” “Gary is always making things u…..” “There was an eye witness.” “Who was that?” Jim decided it was best to ignore this question. “What if someone has taken the book?” “They won’t have.” “Talansiya be realistic. The li…” Danan’s mum looked around. She saw Danan. “DANAN LONSVILLE, HOW DARE YOU EAVESDROP.” Danan was taken A back that his mum didn’t say Hoto! Hoto! Whenever his mother was shocked She would say name name in Latin. It was very funny the way she said it. But right now he was in a serious trouble. The only thing that Danan could think of was to run to his bedroom. So that was exactly what he did. “That conversation was completely useless.” Danan thought. But it wasn’t. Not once did stop to think about the conversation because if he realised carefully that conversation was very useful indeed. *

Danan looked at Ann. She was not speaking. Normally Ann would find something to blab about but today it seemed she was having difficulty with that. Ann was hiding something from Danan and Danan was going to find out.

16 “What’s the matter?” Danan asked. “Nothing, what made you think that something was wrong? Because I am as pleased as punch”. Danan looked at Ann. Something was definitely bothering Ann. Ann sighed “Okay fine but promise me that you will still be my friend.” Danan gave Ann a suspicious look. “I promise.” Danan replied. Ann took a deep breath. She shook her head. “Sorry Danan I can’t say, it’s a secret.” Danan looked at his friend. Ann and he had agreed never to keep secrets and now Ann was breaking her promise. “Ann, we promised not to keep secre…” “I know! I know! But this is a rare occasion where that oath does not apply in this situation.” Danan shook his head in disbelief. “What are you hiding from me?” “Everyone has a secret that they don’t have to share Danan.” “Well not with us.” “Everyone has a right to have their own secret.” “Well you are sort of like urm differ….” Danan’s voice trailed off. “Oh so I’m different now because I’m a girl.” “It’s not like that” Danan replied with a bewildered look. “So you say.” Ann started to walk off. Danan chased after her. “Wait.” “Wait for what?” Danan did not know why he said to wait. He had made a complete spectacle of himself. Ann walked off completely ignoring Danan. “Fine then, you’re the one who started to say that you have a secret.” Danan yelled after Ann. Danan walked the opposite way towards his house. When Danan reached his house he fumbled for his key. The house was quiet. “Mum, Dad.” Danan called. No one answered. “Mum, Dad” Danan called again. No one answered still. Danan shrugged his shoulders assuming that his parents must be out shopping or going to see Shalayna. Danan walked to his room. There was a note on the door. It was his mother’s handwriting it looked like it had been rushed. Danan took the note off and started to read it. ‘Danan, Shalayna has just died. At the hospital right now. Don’t get into mischief and on circumstances don’t go near that library. IT IS DANGEROUS. STAY IN THE HOUSE. Don’t let your grief stop you enjoying life. Don’t make the same mistake I did. It will harden your heart. Have fun! My little pumpkin. From your sweet mother.’ Danan looked at the letter in his. “Should I send mother to the mental asylum.” Danan thought. Danan sat on his bed. Shalayna was Danan’s older sister. Normally it is the older siblings looking out for the younger siblings. But it was the other way round with Danan. Oh how he wished it was different for him that he had a sibling watching out for him. How could his mother expect him to have fun? He was not allowed to go out the house. He was fifteen. He was going to turn sixteen next month and yet his mother still treated him like a kid. “I DON’T UNDERSTAND.” Danan shouted. “You don’t need to understand.” A calm voice replied. Danan thought he had the impression that he was alone. His first thought that it was his mother

17 but his mother was at the hospital. Basalnan abandoned him to join his real father (Danan didn’t really care about Basalnan). Danan turned around to see who it was. Danan gasped. There stood Shalayna Lonsville with her long dark hair tied up. She looked peaceful. This made Danan so happy that he was crying out of joy. His feelings were a mixture of anger and hate. The joy he had a minute a go had left him. Anger and hate was the only thing he desired now. No love or happiness. Just anger and hate. “Hello Shalayna” Danan managed to spit out. “You look deep in thought” Shalayna replied. Her expression was unfathomable. “Yeah I was thinking how I would kill you.” Shalayna showed no pain at that comment. Shalayna kept calm. She didn’t beg for forgiveness. Instead she remained calm. “Okay.” Danan looked at Shalayna. Just looking at her calm face made him feel guilty about what he said to her. “How do you do it?” Danan implored. Shalayna laughed. “You need patience and peace to do it. It will be impossible to try it now after all you have been through.” Danan looked at Shalayna. Again he felt his anger inflict on his sister. “You committed suicide.” “Why would I do that?” “Before you were mad. You always said how you hated life and you just wanted to escape from the mayhem.” “Yeah so” “So you wanted to get out of life. So you urm…” “Come on you know this Danan, How did I become mad?” “You ran in front of a car to commit suicide but instead you survived and that’s how ended up Mad.” Shalayna smiled. “Are you a hallucination?” Danan asked rapidly. Shalayna laughed again “Do you think I’m a hallucination?” Shalayna asked pointlessly. “I don’t know, so that’s why I was asking you.” Danan replied irritably. “Danan hallucinations are messing with your mind, making you imagine things. They pretend to exist.” “I know what a hallucination is.” Danan snapped. “So if I was a hallucination I would be trying to trick you into believing that I still existed. So I would not be telling you that I was a hallucination now would I?” Danan thought about this. He had forgotten how smart and sensible Shalayna was. “So you are a hallucination.” Danan replied slowly. The last thing he wanted was to decide whether he was hallucinating. “Are you….” Danan began. “I just wanted to say that you are in great danger.” “What do you mean?” Danan asked curiously. “Have you been anywhere where it was strictly out of bounds and took something from there.” Danan gasped. Was it his guilty conscience? “Well I did go to that old abandoned library.” It was Shalayna’s turn to gasp. “Danan, how could you?” Shalayna exclaimed. This made Danan feel guilty. “Danan, it’s not that I’m disappointed that you disobeyed mother you do it all the time so what’s new? But the worst part is that you didn’t pay attention to peoples warning about the danger in the library.” Danan knew what

18 Shalayna was saying was true. He had asked his mother how it was dangerous but all she said that it needs refurnishing and that the ceiling could collapse. Danan didn’t buy this story. He didn’t believe it because some builders came to check whether the ceiling was safe, they said that the ceiling would last over 90 years before the ceiling would collapse. “The ceiling is safe Shalayna you don’t need to worry.” Danan thought he had won the argument but Shalayna was not going to be defeated. “There are other ways that the library could be dangerous, like a particular thing on the shelf could be dangerous.” Shalayna’s face looked really serious. There was no sign of leg pulling or jokes on her face. Only anxiety was there on that face. Shalayna looked at her watch. “This is the time already, I’ve got to go now.” Danan looked baffled, “Wait, you haven’t told me if you’re a hallucination or a figment of my imagination.” Shalayna laughed. “Danan, I could be real or a hallucination.” “So which one are you?” “Neither.” When Shalayna saw the puzzlement look on Danan’s face she hurried on. “I had never existed, I was only here to guide you on your errands.” Danan felt like Shalayna was talking in riddles to him. “I had once existed as your older sibling, but it was time for me to go and I had no choice but to leave you. I am really sorry Danan but I had no choice.” Danan looked at his sister with fright. “What about Mother and Father, will they have to leave?” Shalayna laughed. “Oh no, they have led and will lead a normal life like humans do.” Danan scowled at his sister. “What about me? Am I going to have to leave like you did?” Shalayna stared at Danan hard. “Danan, you have a long time to leave, first of all before you can think of leaving you must get the burden which you haven’t realised yet off your chest. You then have to look after all the mortal human beings. After you have looked after them for about four years maximum then it is your choice whether you want to leave or not. I am not going to make the decision for you, it is yours to make.” Danan was baffled. “Mortal human beings?” Danan asked. “There is a note in your pillowcase Danan. It has been there for a long time. Don’t open it if you don’t want but I advise you do. Sweet dreams Danan.” With that Danan felt everything go black.

Chapter 5 Basalnan

19 Mike sat in his seat. He looked around the hall. He was alone. There was a timid knock. Mike sighed. He knew who tapped like that. His pathetic servant Ludlow always tapped like that. Timid and shy he was. Ludlow was Mikes only servant that looked up to him. The rest of Mike’s servants just did what they were told. Never coming too close to Mike and never staying too distant with Mike. Ludlow was probably different to them because he was Mike’s son. Mike didn’t know this but Ludlow knew. Ludlow didn’t tell him because he knew that Mike had regretted having his first son and if Ludlow really told him who he was, then this would make Mike angry with Ludlow. “Come in.” As Mike predicted it was Ludlow. “Cacalus, a boy has come and claims to know.” Mike sighed. He told everyone to call him that. “Send him in.” Ludlow nodded. A boy who looked around seventeen came in. He looked really scared. Mike smiled. “Who are you?” Mike asked. “I am Basalnan. Are you Mike?” he asked uncertainly. Mike smiled. “Yes but everyone knows me as Cacalus.” “Oh …. Sorry.” Mike smiled. “Everyone makes that mistake when they first meet me and they will know not to make that mistake again. Otherwise they know the consequences.” Basalnan made a small cough. Mike would be very happy if the subject could move faster. “Right what do you exactly want?” Basalnan gave a frightful look. “I was carrying a survey out. I went to your house but one of the slaves said you were not in. They told me you would be in the office. So I came here.” Basalnan paused to get back his breath. “I see” Mike replied with a nod. “So what do you want?” This question surprised Basalnan. It was all quick and sudden that it made him sound rude. “Yes I know it’s rude but I’m not known for politeness.” Mike laughed. Basalnan looked pale. “Can he read my thoughts?” Basalnan asked himself. Mike laughed again. “There are many secrets hidden in me and you would not like to know them otherwise you will face the consequences.” Basalnan smiled. “It would be better if I did not think anything.” Basalnan thought again. “Yes that would be better.” Mike replied. “Now what do you want?” Basalnan gulped. “I just wanted to know whether you had any children?” Mike smiled. “Well how do you know if I still live with my children?” “I just want to know if you have any children?” “Yes I do.” Basalnan’s expression lightened up at the answer. “Did you have a son?” “Yes.” Basalnan’s mood got more excited at every answer. “What was his name?” “I do not know.” Basalnan looked shocked. “Didn’t your wife ever tell you your son’s name?” “Both of us realised that it was a mistake to have any children. So after that we both decided that it would not work out if we stayed together so now we have gone our separate ways.” Basalnan looked really pale and lost. “But don’t you at least keep contact?”

20 “No, when I mean that we have gone separate it means that we have nothing to do with each other.” Basalnan opened his mouth to ask one more question but Mike interrupted him. “Thank you for coming it was a pleasure to meet you.” Basalnan nodded. “I am really sorry for wasting your time.” Mike nodded. “Why did you ask these questions to me?” Mike asked. “Oh well I have been to every house office and flats to look for my parents but I have not been successful yet.” “What made you think that I would be your father?” Basalnan looked down at his shoes. “What I did was that I tried to get many addresses, like from business cards and I happened to be able to have found this address, like I said before I am really sorry.” Mike made an amusing smile. “Well good luck in your mission I’ll see you soon.” “Thank you and good luck in your urm….. work.” Mike smiled again but this time a impatient smile. “Thank you; I will get one of my employees to show you the exit.” “No thank you, I know where the exit is.” “Please I insist.” “No thank you I think I’ll be fine.” “Fine if you really don’t want to be escorted…..” “Yes that will be great.” “Okay goodbye.” Mike didn’t want this conversation to last so long. “Goodbye Cacalus.” Basalnan walked out of the door. When Basalnan was out of earshot Mike quickly grabbed a Walkie Talkie out of his draw. “Secretary send Ludlow to me quick!” “Ludlow will come shortly sir.” There was quiet tap on the door. “Come in.” Mike called out. Ludlow entered and sat in the seat opposite Mike. “Ludlow, I want you to bring that boy back to me.” Ludlow nodded. “Does he have the book?” Ludlow asked. “I presume but if he doesn’t have it he will be able to tell us where it is.” “Is he the one?” Ludlow asked. “Yes he is the one.” “Are you really sure because we don’t want a repeat of last time.” Mike remembered the consequences of his mistake of not checking. It led to the consequences of having to find a new location for the office and changing the name of their company. This all happened because of him and he didn’t like to be reminded of that. Mike smiled. “Do as I say or you won’t see the sun.” Ludlow nodded and went out. A few seconds later, there was a knock on the door. “Come in you fool.” Mike snarled. Ludlow came in with Basalnan struggling to get out of Ludlow’s reach. Mike got up from his seat and walked towards Basalnan. “Well Basalnan I did say we would be seeing each other very soon.” Mike mused. All Basalnan could do was glare. “You are a criminal.” Basalnan spat out. Mike laughed mirthlessly “Ah Basalnan, I’d say more than a criminal. I’d say I’m a villain, a villain who will have you hostage until you tell me where the book is” “What book?” Basalnan asked. “Games are over, tell me where the book is?”

21 “I don’t know what book your talking about.” Mike shook his head. So far they were not successful. He would look like a fool again. “The life of lies, do you know where that book is?” “No” Mike could feel his temper rising. “Stop acting like a moron before I send you flying through that window.” Basalnan looked over to the window. Ludlow followed his lead. “Stop looking at the window and tell me where the book is?” Mike growled. “I don’t know” Basalnan replied. Mike finally gave up. Again Mike had made a complete spectacle of himself but all was not lost. “Ludlow, keep in the cellar where he will starve.” Mike hissed. “Don’t you want me to kill him sir?” Ludlow asked casually. “No, he will die a painful death unless he reveals us the location of the book.” Basalnan looked terrified. “No, please I am only doing my job.” Basalnan cried out. Mike raised a hand. “I’ll pay you.” Basalnan squealed. Mike laughed coldly. “I don’t want money you annoying twat, money is worthless compared to that book.” Basalnan shivered. “If you don’t have money then how do you survive?” Basalnan asked. Mike laughed, so did his henchmen. “Who said I didn’t have money?” Mike snapped his fingers. About five henchmen walked in to the room with each of them holding suitcases. They laid the suitcases on the big table. “All these suitcases contain money.” Mike replied casually. Mike snapped his fingers. The henchmen opened all the suitcases. Each suitcase was filled to the brim with stacks and stacks of money. Basalnan goggled at the money. Mike smiled. “That’s nothing; we have even got foreign money.” Mike replied amusingly. Mike snapped his fingers again the henchmen closed the suitcases. It was like they were specially trained to obey the clicking of Mike’s fingers. Basalnan struggled against the ropes. Mike smiled. “Take him to the cellar and starve him.” Mike replied. The henchmen grabbed Basalnan by the collar and pushed him out of the room. With that everything went dark and Mike disappeared on the spot to his house.

Chapter 6 Out and about.

22

“Danan I want to have a little word with you.” Danan’s mother called. Danan trotted down the stairs. He felt really sad and miserable. A funeral was not the happiest of occasions and a place where no one would like to be. Danan couldn’t bear to look at Shalayna’s corpse and was over the moon when the funeral was only to be three hours. Three hours went past which pleased Danan very much. “Danan, I have been lately noticing that you haven’t been out that much. I know you don’t feel like going out but can you at least try to make an effort?” his mother lectured. Danan nodded. He didn’t want to make his mother more depressed. She had been facing too many things. She had lost two on her children and didn’t want to lose Danan. So Danan tried to boost his mother’s confidence to sticking to the positive side. “I’ll go hang out with Ann.” Danan replied. Danan’s mother smiled. “What’s so funny?” Danan demanded. “It’s just that it makes me happy that you have found a girlfriend.” “Me and Ann are just friends.” Danan replied firmly. Danan’s mother laughed. Danan made a rush for the door. He went to meet Ann in their special place. Ann wasn’t there. Danan frowned. Ann was always here even if he didn’t come. Suddenly his mobile phone started to ring. Danan wrenched it out of his pocket. It was Ann. Danan pressed the button to talk to her. “Hey what’s up?” Danan replied. “Listen Danan, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier but I found someone to go to the school disco with. So I’m sorry okay I’ll see you later.” With that the phone line went dead. Danan started to look down the list of people’s phone numbers. “Jack bunny Midget.” Danan read. That was his and Ann’s nickname for Jack McKenzie. Danan shrugged his shoulders. “It can’t be that bad.” Danan said to himself as he dialled Jack’s number. “NO WAY” Jack yelled. Danan shook his head. “Oh come on, we will just go into the library entrance and come out.” Danan explained for the umpteenth time. “No, my Mum said it’s not good to go there.” Danan rolled his eyes. “Jack I don’t think that she is the reliable person.” Danan replied slowly. He didn’t want to hurt Jack’s feelings. Although they were enemies Danan felt sorry for Jack because Jack didn’t have a mother who was right in the head. “What do you mean?” Jack asked suspiciously. “I mean she doesn’t understand properly.” Danan replied. “Yeah she does.” Jack insisted. “No she doesn’t” Danan argued back. “My mother looks after me unlike your mother.” Jack hissed. “Well at least my mother has a brain and isn’t locked up in the loony ward.” Danan hissed back angrily. Jack looked down. “Jack…..” Danan began. “No it’s okay that’s what everyone thinks. I am just the boy with the wacky mother and poor father.” Jack replied sadly. Both them stood silently. “Listen Jack you know the stuff I said about your mother being wacky I didn’t mean it.” Danan replied softly. Jack nodded. “You know all the stuff I said about your mother not being able to look after you I didn’t mean that. I think she does a great job at looking after you.” Jack said quietly. Danan smiled. “It’s okay I guess we just snapped at each other.” Jack nodded.

23 “Are we still enemies?” Jack asked. Danan smiled. “Always will be.” Jack smiled. “Thanks for calling, I better be going now.” Jack replied. Danan nodded. “Yeah, see ya tra…. ack.” Jack looked at Danan with a confused expression. “Track?” Jack asked. Danan was about to call Jack tramp but stopped half way so it ended up as track. “Yeah that’s a nickname, Get it? Track Jack.” Jack nodded slowly. “I better am getting to school.” Jack replied. Danan looked puzzled. The holidays were not finished yet. But lots of weird things go on in tramps mind. “Are you coming?” Jack asked impatiently. “Why would I go to school if it’s holidays?” Jack rolled his eyes. “The school dance.” Jack replied in a voice that even a baby could figure it out. “No, who are you going with?” Danan asked. “Oh I’m not going there to dance, I’m working there.” “What are you doing?” “Picking all the litter up that people drop.” Danan could help but laugh out loud. Jack scowled. “How come when I tell everyone this they laugh?” Jack asked. “Because everyone knows that is what tramps do and you are a tramp and you’re doing exactly what tramps do.” Danan replied with a smirk. Jack scowled in disgust and walked off. “Hey where ya going?” Danan called. “Away from you.” “Why what did I do? “You called me a tramp.” “Well it’s true.” Jack started to run. Danan didn’t see any wrong in telling the truth to Jack. “Well you asked why, so I told you.” Danan called out angrily. “Well if you were smart enough you would not have told me the truth because you would know it would hurt my feelings.” Jack yelled. “Fine, we laugh because we’re happy that you found something that will not make your life wasted. Happy?” “No.” Jack yelled even louder than before. “Why?” “Because you said that my life was wasted from before.” “Well that’s the past now.” But Jack was out of the park. “Fine, be like that then. Oh yeah your life is still wasted even with that job because that’s tramps work you stupid moron.” Danan yelled at Jack. Danan kicked a tree angrily. What was he suppose to do? His mother wouldn’t let him back in the house for another hour. Ann had bailed on him and Jack was too idiotic to hang out with. There was nothing to do. He could go back to the deserted library but if wouldn’t be fun on your own. It would be too quiet. Sometimes Danan wished he had a brother close to his age. His mother counted him as immature. Maybe she thought that because Danan was nearly sixteen. The things he did were probably too childish. “I’m telling you Cacalus, that boy doesn’t know anything about it.” Danan looked across the street. Two men in suits were walking down the footpath. Danan didn’t know why but started to follow them. He did it casually and pretended to play with his mobile phone. Although there was no need for it because none of the men saw him. They were too busy in their conversation. “What’s the boys name again?” the man called Cacalus asked.

24 “Basal I think. No wait Basalnan yeah Basalnan.” Danan felt a shiver run down his spine. Basalnan his brother. Basalnan had abandoned his fostered family and ran away to find his real father. Had these men have something to do with his brother? Did they have contact with his brother? Danan was about to approach them but stopped. The stopped their conversation. Danan suddenly felt the urge to hide. He saw a tree and hid behind it. Not the best hiding place but there was nothing else. Both men turned around. “Come out, boy we won’t hurt you.” Cacalus replied in a soft voice. Although they said they won’t hurt Danan, Danan still didn’t come out. The voice sounded friendly but dangerously friendly. So Danan didn’t come out. “Sir, try reading the persons mind” the other man suggested. “That’s what I’m doing Ludlow.” Cacalus said irritated. The other man Ludlow nodded. “I see that his name is Danan and he is sixteen and that’s it.” This suddenly gave Danan an idea. These people could read peoples mind. So why don’t he think insulting things. “You should be locked up in the wacky ward in hospital.” Danan thought. “He says that I should…” Cacalus started to turn red. “What did he say sir?” Ludlow asked. “That I should be locked up in the wacky ward.” Cacalus said quietly. Ludlow smirked. Cacalus looked at Ludlow and stopped immediately. “Wow, did your mother tell you to have a bath in dog poo because you smell like it.” Danan thought. Cacalus turned red. “Let’s go to the car” Cacalus demanded to Ludlow. Danan suddenly stopped smirking. If they went to the car that would mean that Danan would have to get a taxi. Both men walked towards their car. When they could not see him Danan started to follow them. They stopped at a shiny black Mercedes car. A taxi came by. Danan signalled for it. He got in. “Listen I’ll pay you all you want but…” Danan began. “Free of charge” the taxi driver replied without looking at Danan. Danan looked surprised. “I’ll pay you the money I ha…” Danan trailed off by the expression on the taxi driver face. Danan got into the taxi. He did not want to be difficult. “I want…” “You want me to follow that shiny black Mercedes.” The taxi driver repeated. Danan looked surprised. The taxi driver looked at Danan. “That’s your mission Danan” the taxi driver replied with no hint of expression on his face. The taxi driver waited for the shiny black Mercedes to move. It turned right. So did the taxi driver. So now they were right behind the Mercedes. Danan felt very apprehensive of doing this. Yet again Danan felt that these men were up to something that they shouldn’t be doing. Drugs probably? No it must have to be even worst than that. “You seem deep in thought there.” The taxi driver said suddenly. “Huh, oh yeah lots of things have happened to me, not good things.” Danan replied with haste in his voice. The taxi driver laughed. “Trust me good things will start happening to you soon.” “Are you a fortune teller?” Danan asked. The taxi driver roared with laughter. “You don’t have to be a fortune teller to see good things will happen to people” the taxi driver was still sniggering.

25 “You can just tell by three glances” the taxi driver added. Danan added and glanced at the taxi driver three times. “You are going to have bad luck in future” Danan predicted. “Yes that is right, I have always had bad luck and I suppose that will never change.” The taxi driver sighed. “But it doesn’t matter about me, what we have to do right now is to get you to our enemies lair” the taxi driver stopped the car. “These people are my enemies?” Danan asked. The taxi driver looked at Danan incredulously. “Why of course they’re your enemies, trust me they’re not your best mates.” Danan didn’t know why he got himself involved with these people. “Right here is your disguise; you are going to pretend to be a customer I will wait in the car on the next road. When you are done just walk on to the next road and I’ll be waiting in the car any questions?” “Yes, I’ve got millions of questions” Danan retorted. “Well too bad, I don’t have time to answer all your questions. You can change in the toilets right there.” The taxi driver pointed towards some cubicles. Danan sighed. “Listen, I am having fun but how do I get back home?” Danan asked again. The taxi driver just sighed. “Listen Danan there is no home for you now, everyone warned you of that library and it isn’t our fault if you were just being ignorant that time.” “Hey I wasn’t being ignorant” Danan interrupted. “Yeah that’s what they all say.” “I AM NOT IGNORANT” Danan roared. “Shut up you blistering baboon, do you them to hear us” the taxi driver hissed. “Oh what are they going to do, throw us to the crocodiles?” Danan replied sarcastically. “Yes, that’s exactly what they will do. Although they won’t throw you to the crocodiles but they will kill you some other way.” Danan was frozen to the spot. The taxi driver smiled. “Good, now stop babooning around and get to work.” “Babooning around?” Danan asked. The taxi smiled. “Au Revoir.” Danan rolled his and with that the taxi drove off. Danan looked at the building. Then he walked towards the cubicles. Inside the cubicles Danan looked at his reflection in the mirror. He sure did look like a tourist. Danan felt very hesitant. He still walked in to the building. The reception was very large and big. He looked around. “Can I help you?” asked a secretary. Danan didn’t know what to say. He didn’t even know this company was or what was its business. “Yes I’m from urm…. Britain and I like can’t find a hotel so do you know any hotels nearby” Danan replied. The secretary smiled. “This is a hotel. We are very sorry for any inconvenience. It’s just that our hotel doesn’t have a name yet but yes this is a hotel” the secretary replied. Danan smiled. “Ah you must be Robert Pampers” Danan didn’t know who Robert Pampers where or why his surname was named after babies nappies but played along. “Yes I am” Danan announced. The secretary nodded. “I’ll get a concierge to show you to your room.” Danan nodded. Shortly afterwards Danan was in a room. “I already have somewhere to live” Danan hissed to himself. There was a knock at the door.

26 “Come in” Danan called out. A concierge was holding a phone. “Call for you sir” Danan took the phone. The concierge went out and shut the door. “Hello” Danan called to the phone. “Hey it’s me” Danan recognised the voice. It was the taxi driver. “What the hell am I doing in a hotel?” Danan asked angrily. “Look you are Robert Pampers okay” the taxi driver told Danan. “Yeah I think can remember that since my surname is named of diapers.” Danan hissed. “Listen your room is next Cacalus and his minion, so what you have to do is get Calculus’s wallet.” Danan looked shocked. “So all of this was for money, that’s it I’m out.” Danan had been fooled. “It doesn’t have money you buffoon, it has information that you need badly. So I would advice you to do it.” Danan shut up immediately. “Not a whisper of this to your friend.” “My lips are sealed” Danan replied. “Good, I’ll call back in another twenty minutes be careful bye.” The line went dead. Danan put the phone down on his bedside table. He had to get those men to leave that room. “Concierge” Danan called. The concierge came in. “Yes what can I do for you sir?” the concierge asked politely. “What’s the phone number in room nine?” Danan asked. “There is a piece of paper with every phone number of each room in the drawer.” “Thank you” “Are you still using the telephone sir?” the concierge asked. “No, you can take it.” The concierge lifted the telephone and took it out of his room. Danan took his mobile phone out and looked at the piece of paper. He dialled room nine’s number. “Hello” replied a voice. “Is this Mr. Ludlow and Mr. Mike?” Danan asked. “Yes who is this?” “All guests have to go down to the lobby immediately.” “Why?” “A mouse has escaped and besides it’s nearly dinner anyway so you might has well go and leave your doors open so we can check for the mouse we will lock the doors for you once we are done.” Danan replied. “Who is this?” Ludlow asked. “Mr. Urm… Fickleberry” Danan lied again. “Mr. Fickleberry we are very grateful for calling us. Goodbye” the phone line went dead. Danan put his mobile back in his pocket. He could hear doors opening. He waited for everything to go silent. Danan then went outside his room. No one was there. Danan tried to open the door. Apparently they were not that stupid. Danan looked for a nail. There was a small one on the floor. It took quite a while for Danan to get in but he did in the end. Danan looked around the room. He went to the bedside table and sure enough there was a wallet. Danan opened it there was only a piece of paper. Danan took it out. “I see you manage to open the door” replied a voice. Danan slowly looked up. Cacalus and his minion Ludlow were standing in the room. Cacalus stepped forward and Danan took a step back.

27 “That’s very sneaky of you; you were the person following us. Well we will let you go if you give me my paper.” Cacalus replied softly. Again there was that soft voice that was friendly but the voice somehow was not honest. Danan didn’t believe it. “You’re lying” Danan replied quietly. Cacalus smiled. “We will let you go if you give my paper.” “And I will not hurt you if you let me go” Danan retorted back softly as well. Cacalus laughed. “You can’t hurt me because you are just a skinny shrimp.” While Cacalus blabbed Danan looked for a weapon. There was a broom and a bucket of water. Danan grabbed the broom and the bucket. “I warned you.” Danan called out to Cacalus and chucked the bucket of water at Cacalus. Cacalus spluttered. Then while Danan was running out of the room he whacked the broom hard at Ludlow. Ludlow fell down unconscious. “Get him.” Cacalus yelled. Out of nowhere men started to appear. Danan ran faster. One the henchmen appeared in front of Danan. Danan kicked the man in the stomach and ran past him. There was an alarm and then Danan was being chased by security guards, Cacalus’s henchmen and Cacalus and Ludlow. Danan ran out of the hotel on to the next road and flung himself into the taxi. “Quick move now” the taxi man accelerated. They were going right into a tree. “AAAAH” screamed Danan and the taxi man. Then everything went blurry. Then everything went black.

Chapter 7 Identity The taxi car stood near the tree hidden. If anybody did see the car then they wouldn’t take too kindly to find an unconscious boy lying in the back seat and a taxi driver smoking a pipe. Now you got to admit that sounded very abnormal. But Danan was starting to return to consciousness. Danan finally was conscious. “What happened?” Danan asked rubbing his eyes. “You fell unconscious” the taxi driver replied without any worry. “Yeah I know that, but how?” Danan snapped at the taxi driver. “Well we nearly crashed into a tree but I used the brake and then you fell out” the taxi diver explained. Danan sighed. “I failed” Danan croaked. The taxi driver grinned. “Your wrong, you succeeded.” Danan was confused. “You forgot that you had the piece of paper with you” replied the taxi driver waving a piece of paper. Danan finally remembered. “You look familiar” Danan told the taxi driver. “Is it so?” the taxi driver asked without looking Danan. Danan suddenly remembered that the taxi driver refused to show his face. Danan had to ask him even if it was rude to say so. “If you don’t want to show your true face get plastic surgery” Danan hissed. He suddenly remembered his manners. Danan felt he messed up but to his surprise he started to laugh.

28 “That’s what loads of people say and then they all say sorry which bloody well annoys me because if they feel sorry then why say it?” the taxi driver said. Danan smiled. “Well it isn’t a nice thing to say so maybe that’s why they say sorry.” “Well said, although I would like to say that you haven’t explained probably because celebrates are always being rude so yeah your being a hypocrite.” “You blab too much and how am I a hypocrite.” “You haven’t said sorry.” “Sorry.” The taxi driver roared with laughter. He shook his head at Danan. Something occurred to Danan then. The taxi driver hadn’t mentioned his name. “You haven’t told me your name.” Danan quoted. The taxi driver sighed. “I have been given strict orders as not to reveal my identity” the taxi driver said sadly. Danan looked confused. “I’m not going to shout your name to the whole world” Danan said silkily. The taxi driver sighed again. Apparently Danan was being a real hassle for him. “I had led a horrible life before and I am hoping to put that behind me by working for the T.V.W.” Danan looked confused again. “What’s the T.V.W?” Danan asked. The taxi driver started to smirk. “Never mind I don’t want to make you more depressed.” Danan nodded. “What’s your name?” Danan asked again. The taxi driver just shook his head. “You win, my name is Jim.” Danan slapped his forehead. “That’s all you had to say Jim.” Danan mimicked the word Jim. Jim just started to smirk again. “That’s just a nickname you know.” Danan didn’t bother to find out his real name. “Am I going home now?” Danan asked. Jim started to laugh. “We’re not done yet, we need to get you a fake identity.” Danan spun his head at that. “Why do I need a fake identity?” Danan asked. “Well you would be in deep shit if someone found out your real identity.” Jim went back to his driving Danan nodded. “Will I ever return home?” Danan asked. Jim nodded. “You will but you will be out quite a lot. Will that create suspicion?” “No it’s perfect.” Danan grinned. “My mum wants me to spend a lot of time out.” “I’m not sure she meant it in this way” Jim murmured. Danan looked out the window. They were on the motorway. Danan’s mobile started to ring. It was Ann. “Hello” Danan called to the phone. “Hey Danan, it’s me Ann.” “Yeah I know that” Danan snapped. “Are you angry with me?” Ann asked in a timid voice. “Why would I be angry?” Danan asked. “Because I bailed on you.” Danan laughed scornfully. “Ann why did you phone me?” “I just wanted to invite you to my birthday party.” Danan would have said no. He was very angry with Ann and didn’t want to be with her but that would hurt her feelings. “Yeah okay.” Danan sounded horribly bitter and he felt like that as well. “Thanks Danan you’re the best, do you want to see a film?” Ann asked. “I’m busy bye.” Danan disconnected the call. Jim didn’t say anything about the conversation. The car stopped. A man walked towards the car and handed Jim

29 a brown envelop. Jim drove one without a word. The car stopped outside Danan’s house. Danan got out. Jim waved and drove off. Danan went inside the house. Everyone was quiet. Danan slouched upstairs into his bedroom. He had so many photos in his bedroom. There was a big picture of Danan with his family. Next to that picture was a photo of him and Ann side by side laughing. Recently they were both staying distant. Danan sighed. Most of the happy faces on the photos were not happy now. Some of them were not even here now. Danan just sighed. When will this world start becoming happy?

Chapter 8 Distant “Now who can tell me where is Chicago?” Miss Cremshot questioned. Danan yawned. This lesson was getting really boring. “Danan” Miss Cremshot called. “I didn’t put my hand up” Danan replied. “I know that’s why I chose you.” Everyone who had their hands up put their hands down immediately. “Er… Africa?” Danan guessed. Everyone laughed but no one laughed as hard as Jack. “How stupid can you get?” Jack insulted. “How ugly can you get?” Ann insulted back. “Not as ugly as you” Jack answered. Danan felt his temper rising. “Have you looked in the mirror lately?” Danan insulted heatedly. “Have you?” “No because you cracked it with your face before I could look.” Everyone laughed. “Enough” Miss Cremshot shouted. Everyone stopped laughing. Miss Cremshot started to blab again. “Your welcome” Ann whispered. “Welcome for what?” Danan asked. “For backing you up.” Ann replied. “I don’t need backing up” Danan hissed. “Well I thought I could help.” “Well you didn’t instead you made everything worst.” The hurt on Ann’s face was insignificant. Danan regretted what he said. Ann turned her back to him. Danan sighed. “Ann…” Danan began. “No it’s okay I understand that you can’t hang out with me.” Danan looked at Ann. “I don’t think that.” “You can’t hang out with me because I’m a girl.” Danan stared at Ann. The bell rang and Ann was out of her seat in a second. When Danan was out of the school he

30 saw Ann she was waiting for him as usual. Ann smiled at Danan. Danan returned the smile. Ann walked past Danan to another boy from her class. Danan looked at them. The boy put his arm around Ann and they both walked off. Danan didn’t mind Ann having a boyfriend but Ann always walked home with Danan. Things were changing rapidly. Danan decided to phone Ann. “Hello” Ann’s voice said. “Ann you’re meant to be walking with me.” Danan told Ann. “I’m walking with Mike.” “Who the hell is he?” “A friend.” Ann replied. “I’m still your friend.” Danan nodded. “Well tell Mike to walk with someone else” Danan snapped. The phone line went dead. Danan was outraged. Ann just cut him off. Danan could feel his friend disappearing. “Hey Danan” greeted a girl called Lauren from Danan’s geography class. “Hey Lauren” Danan greeted back. “Is something troubling you?” Lauren asked. Danan shook his head. “Yeah there is, well Ann sort of bailed on me.” Lauren nodded. “Yeah I saw her walking with Mike.” Danan nodded. “I better get going.” Lauren nodded and walked off. Danan shrugged his shoulders. He walked to his house and went straight to his room. Danan tried to phone Ann again. This time it was a different voice that answered. “Hello” said a gruff voice. Danan wasn’t able to make who it was. “Hi is Ann there?” Danan asked politely. “Yeah.” The voice replied. “Hello” Ann’s voice replied. “What are you playing at?” Danan asked furiously. “Mike offered to walk home with me.” Danan was about to reply but had something better. “Meet me at our special place and if you don’t come then I guess that is an answer as not to be my friend” Danan told Ann. “But Danan…” Ann didn’t finish her protest because Danan disconnected the call. He ran out the front door and walked to the park where no one was there. He then climbed over the fence near the river. Danan finally gave up and started to head home. “Wait Danan.” Danan turned around. Ann was running to him. Danan smiled but was still angry. When Ann was finally standing opposite him. Danan began. “What has happened to you?” Danan asked furiously. “What do you mean?” Ann asked looking puzzled. That made Danan even angrier. “As if you don’t know” Danan replied sarcastically. Ann’s eyes started to cloud with anger. “No Danan I don’t know so tell me.” “Oh so your stupid as well as being a dumper” Danan snarled nastily. Ann had enough. “You have gone too far Danan.” “Make me go further then.” Ann narrowed her eyes. “Just tell me what your problem is?” “My problem is YOU.” Danan shouted the last word. Danan and Ann were glaring at each other like enemies. “My problem is you because you have been ignoring. My problem is you because you have been bailing on me. My Problem is you you YOU” Danan shrieked.

31 “Sorry” Ann replied calmly. “You have every right to be angry with me.” Danan laughed mirthlessly. “No I am meant to be sorry for you because you’re too much of an idiot.” Danan laughed. Ann stood there scowling. “Hey why don’t you just skip along with Mike and dump me in a garbage bin.” Danan had stopped laughing. All traces of jokes had disappeared. Ann gasped. “Danan I’d never do that” Ann cried out. A smirk spread out on Danan’s face. “Danan I’d never do that” Danan mimicked. “Get stuffed.” Ann glowered at Danan. “I have been very nice to you but you are being unreasonable.” Danan laughed. Not a warm laugh but a cold one. Ann looked at Danan. “Ann you never had been my friend. I was stupid to think that you were using me. I was a substitute.” Ann shook her head at these harsh words. Not trying to hide the tears. “Loser Ann that’s who you are. The girl that…” Danan didn’t finish his sentence because Ann pushed him into the little river in the park. Danan shook his hair. Ann was glaring at Danan with hatred. “You are wrong Danan. From now on I have nothing to do with you. That’s my last words. I’m sorry.” With those mourning words Ann jumped over the gate and the further she ran the sadder Danan felt that he had ruined a good relationship that could have lasted.

Chapter 9 Danan’s diary

32 Dear diary, Today I feel terrible. I, myself was furious with Ann on bailing on me and I let my anger wash up on me. I had said so many cruel things to Ann. She didn’t deserve that. At the end she was crying. It is really hard to make Ann cry. My words must have stung her bad. How did she do it? Like survive half my words. If I was in her shoes then I would have ran as far away as I can. I guess Ann is braver than me. Okay well Ann deserved it, she had it coming. No, she didn’t. Did I believe that? No, yes, I don’t know. I don’t know what to think. This is confusing. I guess mum was right. I have to make decisions myself. I’m sure she didn’t have this in mind. Why has my life suddenly got complicated? First Shalayna is sent to the metal hospital second Basalnan leaves (I don’t care about that he was a cow in the first place) third of all Shalayna dies now this? Has some curse been inflicted on me? I have to find out. Well Ann had it coming. I know she might be busy but that doesn’t explain her walking with Mankal or whatever his name is. Did my words really smack her hard? Stop being stupid like Jack, Danan. Of course they hurt her. They were pretty harsh. You should hear yourself. Acting like a cow. I swear I do feel guilty so there. Wait I have two consciousnesses. One is the good one and the other one is the bad one. Bob and Builder. Honestly I feel guilty. Ann deserved it of course she did Danan use your brain. That’s why god gave it to you. Use it or lose it. Seriously I need to get my back at Ann although I got to admit that was funny when I was pushed into the lake. It really was.

Chapter 10 Witches Stake

33 When Danan was at school. People had been talking non-stop about the trip to Le Francisco beach. Everyone was told by their teacher Miss Cremshot that they were there to study the drifts. “It is going to be really exciting” Miss Cremshot told them today. “You will stay with your partner that you chose from the beginning.” Miss Cremshot eyed Danan while she said that. Apparently the news about Danan and Ann’s break up had also hit the teachers as well. Danan scowled and while Miss Cremshot wasn’t looking threw a filthy look at Ann. Ann returned but also with a glare. It had been five weeks since Danan and Ann hadn’t talked. Danan had other friends but he would normally hang out with Ann. But now they had broken up Danan was hanging out with his other friends. Danan turned to face Miss Cremshot. He was no longer sitting with Ann but was sitting with his closest friend Kimo. Kimo was always jealous of Ann being Danan’s best friend. He wanted to be close to Danan at least and now he had gotten his wish. “Right everyone don’t forget the trip tomorrow. Make sure you make suitable plans with your partner so you arrive at the same time. Probably you both can walk with each other to school.” Miss Cremshot nodded at Danan and Ann. Everyone started to smirk. “Oooh” Jack McKenzie called out. Danan felt his temper rising. “At least I don’t look like a toad” Ann insulted. Everyone went ahh. “Look at the mirror then you will see who the toad is.” Danan couldn’t take it anymore. Danan threw his geography book at Jack. It hit Jack’s nose and it started to bleed. Miss Cremshot looked at Danan shocked. “Danan, how dare you throw things in my….” Miss Cremshot didn’t get to finish what she said because Jack ran forwards to throw a punch at Danan. Danan ducked so Jack ended up toppling over the table. A boy got on a table and screamed “FIGHT.” Everyone ended up fighting. Jack tried to kick Ann but Ann punched him in the face. Everyone was fighting but having fun. Danan ran to Ann. “Good punch” Danan congratulated Ann. Ann grinned. “Thanks, I guess I’m a pro” Ann claimed. Danan laughed. “I am the pro here.” Ann stared at Danan. “Do you want to see?” Danan smiled. For the first time things were going back to normal. Michael saw Danan and Ann talking. “Ann this is our chance to leave early” Michael told Ann. “Let’s go.” Ann frowned. “I want to stay Michael you can go if you want.” Michael sighed and took Ann by the wrist and dragged her. “Michael” Danan heard Ann say. Danan ran after them. “Michael don’t force her to leave” Danan told Michael. Michael smirked. “I think Ann knows who she wants to be with.” Michael looked at Ann. “Don’t you.” Ann sighed. “Sorry Danan everything is going to stay the same.” Ann walked off with Michael. Danan sensed something wrong. He decided to follow them. They walked out of the school and stood in the car park. Michael looked at Ann. “You remember our deal don’t you Ann” Michael reminded Ann. “You can’t” Ann whispered. “I’ve done everything you asked.” “Part of the deal was not to talk to that boy Danan.” Michael hissed. Ann shook her head in disgust. “I was stupid to believe that you could hurt him. Sure you will beat him up but you can’t kill him” Ann said more to herself than Michael. Michael laughed.

34 “Ann, Danan has already met my friend.” Ann looked puzzled. Michael just smiled. “It’s either me or Danan” Michael said ruthlessly. Ann looked at Michael in disgust. “I’d rather go out with Jack McKenzie than you” Ann shivered at the thought. “Yeah he’s a cow but you’re a selfish stupid cow.” Ann glared at Michael. Michael just smiled. Ann sighed. “I’ll do as you say.” Michael smiled with triumph. “Glad to see it my way.” With that Michael walked off. Danan approached Ann. Danan went to her. Ann saw him and gave him a dirty look. “What are you doing here?” Ann asked rudely. “I know the truth Ann.” “Can’t you se…” “Stop pretending” Danan snapped. “I heard everything.” “Get lost” Ann yelled at Danan. Ann and Danan stared at each other. Ann then started to cry. Danan went to comfort her but Ann took a step back. “Get lost I don’t need you” Ann sobbed. Danan shook his head. “I was going to say sorry for all those things I said in the park but I can’t.” Ann stopped crying and looked at Danan. “Why?” she asked. “You can’t be honest” Danan said in a obvious tone. Danan started to walk away. Ann grabbed his arm. “Don’t leave” she stammered. “Give me one reason why I should stay?” Ann stayed silent. Danan nodded. “I thought so.” “You’re my friend.” Danan turned around. Ann was standing still. “You’re my friend” Ann repeated. Danan didn’t say anything. “I’ll wait for you near the park tomorrow for the trip” Danan informed Ann. “Half past.” Danan started to walk home. Danan took his house key out and opened the door. He walked straight to his bedroom without announcing his arrival. That was how it was these days. The whole family would just go in and out. Everyone would dine of their food and that was it. Danan was nearly sixteen and was getting into practice of being independent. Danan walked upstairs. There was nothing to do. Ann and he were still not friends. His mobile started to ring. It was Kimo. Danan groaned but answered the call. “What?” Danan snapped. “Is this Danan?” Kimo asked. “Oh na William Shakespeare would be answering Danan’s mobile wouldn’t he?” Danan replied sarcastically. Kimo snickered. “Miss Cremshot was unconscious.” Danan started to get irritated. “Am I Miss Cremshot’s health inspector that I should know that?” Danan snapped. “I wanted to ask if you if you are going on the trip tomorrow?” “No I’m going Australia” Danan hissed sarcastically. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Kimo asked stupidly. This is why Danan never did get on with Kimo. Kimo was too stupid compared to Ann. Kimo wasn’t as stupid as Jack but it was for definite that Ann was way smarter than Kimo. “Kimo, it was sarcasm.” “Oh.” Danan was really starting to get annoyed. “Kimo, what do you want?” “I don’t know.” Danan had enough.

35 “Bi Kimo.” Danan didn’t wait for an answer and just disconnected the call. He put his phone down on the bedside table. It started to ring. Knowing it was Kimo. Danan picked the phone up. “Hi, bi.” Danan disconnected his call. His mobile rang again. Danan snatched his phone. “Listen, do you want me to break your fingers so you can never call me again.” “Not really.” Danan recognised the voice immediately. It was Basalnan. “Basalnan?” Danan checked. “The very same.” Danan wasn’t impressed to hear Basalnan. “BASALNAN, YOU STUPID MORON” Danan yelled at the phone. “I know you’re angry with me and I don’t blame you” Basalnan replied. “Your right, I BLAME YOU” Danan screamed. “Danan, please this is important” Basalnan pleaded. “I DON’T WANT TO LISTEN” Danan screeched. “Please Danan, this life or death situation” Basalnan begged. “I DON’T CARE ABOUT YOUR STUPID LIFE. I DON’T EVEN CARE IF YOU DIE.” Danan’s screeches echoed around the room. “Please Danan” Basalnan sobbed. Danan realised that his brother was in trouble. Even though he had abandoned them. “Why don’t you ask your real father? After all we’re not your real family” Danan sneered. “My father is the one holding hostage.” Danan heard Basalnan sob. Danan realised that Basalnan had made a mistake. Everyone had made some mistake. No one was perfect. “Fine, what do you want?” Danan asked grudgingly. “I want you to send my love to Mother and my Stepfather.” “Is that all?” Danan asked. “Yes, you can do that so I don’t know why you were screaming.” Danan smiled. “Okay.” Danan nodded. “Bi.” Basalnan disconnected the call. Danan sighed. The doorbell suddenly rang. Danan went down to get it. Danan opened the door. Jim stood in front of the door. He looked at Danan and smiled at him. “Hey Danan, this is 15 Roseberry street?” Jim asked. Danan nodded. “I’m not being rude but why are you here?” Danan asked. Jim smiled. “I’m here to see Talan- your mum.” Danan gave Jim a suspicious look. “She isn’t here.” “Oh, well where is she?” Jim enquired. Danan rolled his eyes. “I don’t know.” Jim nodded. “Tell her I came.” Danan nodded. “Okay, bi.” Jim smirked. Danan saw it. “What?” Jim shook his head. “I was just going to say that you are very behaved compared to other teenagers.” Danan scowled and waved goodbye at Jim and slammed the door hard. There was a knock again on the door. Danan scowled. What does he want know? Danan opened the door. “What now?” “Hi Danan.” It was Ann. Danan looked across the street. Jim was smirking again. Ann frowned and looked across the street too. She scowled and told him to go. Danan was confused. “Do you know him?” Danan asked. Ann frowned.

36 “Yeah, he is my uncle Jim.” Danan started to choke. Ann looked at him. “Are you okay?” Ann asked looking concerned. Danan nodded. “Are you sure? Because I can ask Uncle to drop you at a mental hospital.” Danan shoved Ann and shot a threatening look at Jim. Jim ran into his car and drove off. Ann laughed. So did Danan. “Don’t mind him; he is loony in the brain.” Danan nodded. “I see.” “Let’s forget my maniac uncle.” Danan nodded too. “I just wanted to say that I’ll wait for you outside our special place for the trip.” Danan nodded. Ann started to walk when Danan grabbed her arm. “I’ll walk with you.” Ann looked surprised but agreed anyway. Danan started to walk beside Ann. Danan stayed quiet. Ann broke the silence. “Are you okay?” Ann repeated for the third time. Danan was surprised and annoyed at the same time. “Why wouldn’t I be?” Danan smiled. Ann sighed. “Well after all you have been through.” Danan looked at Ann. Ann rushed on. “Like you know Basalnan leaving.” “He was a stupid cow” Danan snapped. “Shalayna” Ann prompted. “She was ill” Danan persisted. “Haven’t you ever thought how your sister became mad?” Ann asked. “I don’t need to” Danan hesitated. “She tried to commit suicide and that’s how she ended loony” Ann hissed. “No she never, it was an accident.” Ann looked at Danan. “Danan, just because your parents lied to you, you don’t need to force yourself to believe that lie” Ann replied softly. “It’s not a lie” Danan hissed angrily. “Danan don’t forc” “I’m not forcing myself to believe your imaginary lie.” Danan interrupted. “It’s not imaginary.” “You’re just jealous.” “Jealous of what?” “That you’re a loner.” Ann turned red. Danan regretted immediately what he said. Ann could have had a little sister but the baby was born dead. Ann tried to forget about it. When she remembered it her eyes would go dead and a new Ann would be born. In replace of the happy and bouncy Ann there would be a new Ann all sad and shallow. “Ann, I’m sorry” Danan tried. Ann raised a hand. “No your not” Ann was not looking at Danan but at the floor. “Yeah I am.” Ann looked up at Danan. “If you were sorry then you would have not said it.” Ann was apparently really upset. “I’ll do anything for you to forgive me.” Ann looked at Danan. Danan’s face was blank. “Danan, tell me one thing.” Danan nodded. “Saying as if I and your sister were hanging off a cliff. Who would you have saved first?” Danan looked at Ann. “I would save both of you but I would save my sister first.” “Why?” “Because she is my sister no matter what.” “What if it was Basalnan?” Danan bit his lip.

37 “I would save Basalnan first.” Ann nodded. “I forgive you.” Danan looked confused. “Why?” Ann smiled. “I forgave you because you were loyal.” “So?” “If you were loyal you could have not meant what you said.” Danan didn’t get to ask anymore questions because Jim horned at Ann to get in the car. “Bi Danan.” Ann walked towards the taxi car and got in. Jim smirked at Danan and drove off. Danan’s mobile started to ring. “Hello.” “Where are you?” Danan’s mother shrieked. “Don’t worry mum I’m on my way.” “Good” his mother huffed. “What’s for dinner?” Danan asked eagerly. “Lasagne.” Danan groaned. That was the only good dish his father could cook. His mother’s lasagne was horrible. “Don’t worry your father made it.” Danan immediately looked forwards to dinner. “See ya at dinner Mum.” Danan disconnected the call for the umpteenth time.”

* “DANAN WE ARE LATE.” Ann shrieked. Danan grabbed Ann’s wrist and started to run. Ann had no choice but to run as well. They made it into the playground. Miss Cremshot was leading a line outside the playground. Danan and Ann told Miss Cremshot they were here and both of them went to the back of the line. A coach was waiting for them. Once Miss Cremshot stationed them in their seats. Danan got his mobile out. Ann looked at him. “What music have you got?” Ann asked. “Sonny Mitchell.” “You haven’t got Pavarotti.” Danan shoved Ann. Ann laughed. “Pavarotti is old” Danan replied disgusted. “What are you listening to?” “Britney Spears.” “Who’s that?” Danan asked. “She is an American singer” Ann replied in a tone saying that it was so obvious. “Is she fat?” Danan enquired. Ann glared at Danan. Danan immediately shut up. “Which song of hers are you listening to?” “Toxic.” Danan laughed. Ann scowled. She did not like to be laughed at. “What’s so funny?” Ann demanded. “The title.” Ann looked confused. “The title toxic. What is she? A druggy.” Ann had enough. “What about Pavarotti?” It was Danan’s turn to be confused. “Yeah what about him?” “He isn’t a fantastic singer” Ann snapped. “I never said he was.” Danan snarled. “Well stop criticising other singers from different countries.” “Well he’s better than Britney Spears.” “You haven’t even heard her” Ann argued. “Well I’m sure he is better than her” Danan ended.

38 “All he does is ‘aaaaahhh’” Ann imitated. “He is an opera singer.” “Well opera singers aren’t very popular.” “Stop being biased.” Ann had enough. She was going to have a hump with Danan. “Sorry about criticising your singer Berry Spears” Danan finally said. “Britney Spears and yeah I’m sorry too.” Danan smiled. “So does Sonny Mitchell like Italy?” Danan frowned. “Why wouldn’t he? After all he was born here.” Ann’s eyes widened. “He’s Latin?” Ann asked looking surprised. “Yeah, didn’t you know that?” Danan asked incredulously. “But his name.” Danan ignored that. “He was in the film La Forza de Destino” Danan said after a while. Ann decided not to say anything. The last thing she wanted was Danan to blab. “Why didn’t you tell me that Ji… that you had an uncle called Jim” Danan replied quite suddenly. Ann frowned. “Why do you care?” Ann asked. “Because I… Er… like the name Jim” Danan made up. Ann laughed. “Uncle hates the name Jim.” Danan looked down. He started to remember what Jim had said about the name Jim not being his real name. Danan couldn’t help but wonder if Ann knew the truth to Jim’s mysterious work he did. “Is Jim your uncle’s real name?” Danan couldn’t help but ask. Ann looked at Danan as if he was mental. “Of course that’s his real name. Well his full name is Jimen but he likes everyone to call him Jim.” Ann shook her head at Danan. “Honestly Danan, sometimes I think you’re on a different plane.” Danan ignored what Ann said. Jim hadn’t told anything to Ann. Jim said that wasn’t his real name. Was Jim trying to fool Danan? Or was Ann not telling him something? “Ann tell me everything about your uncle Jim” Danan demanded. Ann looked shocked. “I can tell you some things about Uncle Jim but I can’t tell you everything. Some things are secrets” Ann explained. “Oh” Danan had a disappointed look on his face. Ann looked at Danan suspiciously. “Since when were you interested in Uncle Jim?” Ann asked. Danan didn’t know what to say. If he told Ann what happened when she bailed on him then Ann would laugh at him. Jim told him not to tell anyone. “Uncle Jim told me to give this to you.” Ann was holding a slip out to Danan. Danan recognise the paper immediately. Danan snatched the paper from Ann and wrenched it open. ‘Door number 15 Crestant Avenue.’ Danan turned over the paper. Nothing. Danan glared at Ann. “Where is it?” Danan hissed at Ann. “I gave you it” Ann told Danan. Danan shook his head in disbelief. “No, this isn’t it you stole the real one” Danan accused Ann. Ann started to get angry. “Look, I just gave what Uncle Jim gave me. If you have a problem take it up with him” Ann hissed angrily. Before Danan could say anything Miss Cremshot interrupted. “Right class we have arrived at Witches stake to examine the way woman were accused of being witches if they could read or write and then they were burnt at a stake which was called witches stake.

39 Danan looked out the window. Miss Cremshot was right. They had arrived at Witches Stake. Witches Stake was said to be a wasteland. It was entirely true. There was no wildlife or human life around either. It was just a land with rocks and nothing else. Danan sighed. Witches Stake looked really depressing. Miss Cremshot’s voice took Danan out of his daydream. “Right get into your partners and line up outside the coach” Miss Cremshot instructed. Everyone ran outside the coach eager to get out and explore. Danan and Ann were the last to come out. When they were out pairs were already wondering around exploring their surroundings. “This place is haunted” Jack said in a superstitious voice. Everyone started to laugh. “It’s true.” Jack insisted. “It’s where the sprit Mary Alice comes and haunts people. No one has ever left this place alive once they have gone past that stake.” Jack pointed to a solid stake stuck into the ground. Everyone started to take it seriously. There was no smiling faces anywhere. “I’ve heard of Mary Alice, she as accused of being a witch” a girl called Sasha claimed. “But I thought that if you put some flowers and a memorial on the stake then Mary Alice won’t haunt you” another boy claimed as well. Soon loads of people started to share what they heard about the ghost called Mary Alice. Danan and Ann just laughed. Everyone stared at them. “It’s not funny” Jack hissed. “Yes it is, all of you are acting like idiots believing a fairy tale” Danan manage to spit out shaking with laughter. “We will go right up to the stake and kick it if you want then lets see your beloved Mary Alice” Ann joked. “Fine go on then, lets see if you’re brave enough” Jack challenged. Everyone started to agree. “Come on Ann lets do it.” Ann nodded to Danan and both of them headed in the stakes direction. When they were standing in front of the stake Danan nodded. “Okay, I’ll kick from the back and you kick from the front” Danan instructed. Ann nodded. “On three, one.” “Two.” Danan continued. “THREE.” Danan and Ann yelled at the same time. Danan felt his foot lift and kicked. Next thing he knew he was falling through the dark. Danan landed on a hard marble floor. Something landed on top of his back. “Sorry.” Danan heard Ann say. “It’s okay” Danan assured Ann. Ann helped Danan up. They looked around their surroundings. “Where are we?” Ann asked. Danan shrugged his shoulders. “Excuse me can I help you?” a voice asked from behind them. Danan and Ann slowly turned around. There stood the most beautiful woman. She had long flowing blonde hair and had the darkest biggest blue eyes. She smiled at them. Danan and Ann looked at each then screamed simultaneously. “It’s Mary Alice.” Ann screamed. “RUN!” Danan yelled. Both of them started to run. “Why did you have to kick the stake?” Danan moaned. “You told me to” Ann moaned back at him. “Keep running” Danan told Ann. Ann whimpered. “Keep running” Danan repeated at Ann.

40 “What do you think I’m doing? Dancing?” Ann shrieked at Danan. Danan hadn’t been looking where he was going and fell into a swimming pool. Ann tried to slow down but lost her grip and tumbled in after Danan. Both of them gasped and spluttered. Someone was peering over them. “I see you have been lost lately” a man told them. Danan looked up at the man and gasped. “Jim!” Ann looked up too. “Uncle Jim!” Ann repeated too. “What are you doing here?” both of them said in unison. Jim smiled. “I could ask both you the same question. So what are you doing here?” Danan and Ann glared at Jim. “Stop clowning around and tell us what happened?” Ann snarled. “You tell me” Jim demanded. “Oh I don’t know maybe we were falling from a black hole” Danan hissed sarcastically. “What sort of black hole was it?” “Very funny.” “I know I’m a comedian aren’t I. I mean I knew right from the start that…” Jim said in mid sentence. “No one cares. We want to get back to Witches Stake” Ann interrupted. Jim sighed. “Ann I wish you would stop that habit of interrupting people.” “Well for once it’s useful” Danan sneered. Jim just shook his head. “It’s so annoying when people kick that stake to see if Mary Alice will haunt them. I mean earlier today some idiots shouted Mary Alice at one of our workers and then they ran off.” Danan and Ann looked down. They sure did feel like idiots. “Anyways I suppose you want to get back to Witches Stake?” Jim asked. Danan and Ann looked at each other and nodded. “Wait!” Danan said. “Won’t people get suspicious if we are wet?” Danan asked. Jim shrugged his shoulders and lifted a panel. Next minute they were sitting beside the stake. Ann shook her hair. Danan looked around. They were back in the wasteland. “We are back” Danan told Ann. Ann nodded. “Yeah I can see that.” Danan looked at the stake. “Shall we go back?” Danan asked still looking at the stake. Ann shook her head straight away. “Uncle will yell at me.” Danan nodded. Ann laughed. “Look they think that Mary Alice got us.” Danan smiled deviously. Ann saw that. “What?” Ann asked. “Let’s pretend there is a Mary Alice.” Ann laughed. “Okay.” Danan and Ann ran to the group. “Where were you?” Jack asked. “First we see you kicking the stake. Next minute you’re gone.” Danan pulled a frightened face. “That was Mary Alice she kidnapped us then she took us into her secret lair and started to torture us.” Ann nodded solemnly. Jack looked frightened. So did everyone else. “Why are you wet?” someone asked. “Petrol” Ann said. “That’s right she tried to burn us alive just like she was burnt alive.” There were shrieks and screams and squawks. “Class time to go.” Miss Cremshot announced. Everyone ran straight into the coach. Danan and Ann took their seats. Both of them started to shake with laughter.

41 “That was so funny. They all fell for it.” Danan laughed again. “That was fun.” Ann agreed. Danan looked at Ann. Ann was deep in thought. Danan poked her. “Huh? What? Oh.” Danan stared at Ann. “What are you thinking?” Danan asked. “Why do you want to know?” Ann snapped. Danan gave Ann a look. Ann sighed. “I’ve been thinking about that stake leading us to another place.” Danan nodded. “It’s just not making sense. First we are kicking a stake, next minute we’re in another place that we don’t recognise and Uncle Jim is there! This is stupid.” Ann took a deep breath. “It is stupid” Danan agreed. “Yeah, this is stupid compared to you.” Ann smirked. “Yeah, this is stupid compared to you.” Danan emphasized on the last three words. Ann gasped. Danan smiled. “I’m surprised you understood what I said.” Ann shook her head. “The D.I.V” Ann whispered. Danan stopped laughing. “What did you say Ann?” Ann shook her head. “That was the headquarters. Uncle Jim is going to be so mad.” Ann shook her head again. Danan looked at Ann. “Ann, stop talking in code and tell me what the matter is?” Ann glowered at Danan. “Danan I know what that place was.” The coach suddenly stopped. Miss Cremshot got out of her seat.

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