The cool breeze, which was coming from the ceiling fan, passed through the bandages on Cole's forehead. He was lying on a recliner, with his legs resting on a footstool. He was facing the TV set. He didn't feel the pain in his head anymore but began to feel it in his chest — burning pain around his chest.
He was alone in the Living room, still thinking about what he had seen. He saw exactly what Jax saw, 'But why didn't I see it in the first place?....' He thought. Maybe only unconscious people could see it.
Not less than a minute, Mr. Mason was inside the Living room.
"Hey, Cole..... Are you alright?" He asked, as he quickly sat beside him and caressed his bandaged forehead.
"Am Fine" he replied, in a haste
"So, am gonna ask you some questions and you're gonna answer me honestly"
"But don't be in a hurry.... And don't try to think too much, Okay?" He added
"Yeah" Cole muttered
"So, what did you see?" He asked further
"See?"
"Kevin and Lenora sensed you saw something and fell unconscious" He said
"Yeah.... You mean the rock?" Cole said, trying to hide some details.
Immediately he said 'rock', Mr. Mason paused for a minute.
"Dad?" Cole beckoned at him, seeing him confused
"Oh!"
"Anything?" Cole asked
"Nothing..... So, we were talking about something.... You saw the rock and felt.... "
"Yes," Cole cut in
"What did you see?"
"Don't remember much but I.... " Cole stammered
"Is okay.... Like I said, you don't have to think too much"
It was just at that moment Cole noticed Mr. Mason's bleeding arm
"Sir, you're..... You're injured" He exclaimed
"Oh... Yeah... Is not that serious though"
But looking at the arm, it was seriously wounded. Mr. Mason's Coagulating arm has began to percolate profusely. It stained the white sofa
"I think it has to be dressed... It's really gross" Cole suggested. Mr. Mason nodded in agreement and headed for the bathroom — at least that was what Cole thought.
The Yelping of the dogs woke Cole up again. He leaned towards the Window and long sighted Mr. and Mrs. Mason discussing. He stood up reluctantly and staggered toward his bedroom. Getting there, he threw himself onto the single bed. After some time, he felt some fluid in his left arm. He sat up, leaned his head to look at the left arm properly, and saw red stains on the sleeve. He must have caressed the blood stains on the sofa. He headed for the bathroom door.
Coming out, he found Kevin and a little boy, sitting in his bed
"Uh.... Cole, this lad wanna talk to you" Kevin said and hurried out of the room
Cole stared at him for a moment
"Am done with the book, Sir" The tiny voice ran out of the boy's mouth
"Oh... Nice one, Alex" Cole replied, as he kept an eye on the boy, how dropped a book on the bed and walked out of his room.
Alexander was a pale short kid, with brown hair , dark brown eyes and a space between his first two teeth. He was an orphan, Living with his relatives ( The Watts family ), who maltreated him in all aspects.
"Hey, Cole!" Lenora forced the door open
"We're going out ... Please get ready"
Cole chuckled, "What do you mean?... To where?" He asked
"To Montana. Dad says we're gonna see a relative"
"I've never been there before" Cole murmured but it seems it came out too loud
"Neither have I!..." She said
"Of course!... I know who she is" A voice was talking behind the door
BOOM!
Kevin kicked the door open, dragging two trunks along with him
"What did you just say?" Lenora asked
"I said I know Montana.... And more over, the relative we're gonna visit, Aunty Sally... That beefy lady!" Kevin answered
"That's kinda disrespectful.... Calling your aunt beefy"
"You know Kevin likes to talk shit about people" Cole said
"Why?... What's that?.... Of course, she is beefy. The truth has to be told" Kevin exclaimed
"Truth?... " Lenora chuckled
"Put some respect on her name!"
"I thought you guys were the one telling me to always say the truth"
"And the truth is: She's beefy!" Kevin added.
"Hey!, Hey!... Enough guys!" Cole interrupted the conservation, as it was turning into an argument
"Like you said, let me get ready" He added
"Don't forget to get your backpack ready also"
Cole got himself into a pair of trainers, a black T-shirt, blue jeans and a baseball cap.... Along with his backpack. He arranged some books, clothes and other necessary stuff in it. His eyes swirled from side to side around the room, checking to make sure he didn't forget anything till it met with the trunks Kevin had dropped in the room earlier.
'What's inside' He thought desperately. Walking towards the trunks to find out, Kevin startled him again, with a bang on the door
"Hey, I saw you. You flinched!" Kevin said, trying to make jest of him
"I didn't just trying to find out what was inside these trunks" But Kevin laughing sound made him slightly deaf.
"Besides, what is inside?" Cole asked, as Kevin seemed to have calmed down
"Oh ... Nothing much.... Just some bunks that Dad and Mum needs for the trip. Forget them... Came to grab it" He replied and dragged them back out of the room
"Cole, come on... We're about to go" Lenora shouted from outside.
Vroom!
The sound of the car travelled around the woodland. Kevin and Cole dragging trunks, ran as fast as they could, with their backpacks hanging on their back, to catch up with the car.
As soon as they got to the SUV, they dumped the trunks and backpacks into the trunk of the car, hopped in and Mr. Mason drove away
Cole didn't notice Jax in the car. He was busy, flapping through the pages of a book — A fantasy book, as the car sped down the road through the woods and slowed down when they came across the Muddy patches on the road. Cole flipped back to the beginning of the book:
The orphanage beggar
By J.J Johnson
Chapter 1
Not long... Like not too long.... In the valley, which had existed for a thousand years, was a wooden house — A wooden orphanage home where orphans and failures lived, with dumb instructors.... Which was like hell ....
"Cole!, Cole!" Kevin patted his lap. After enough time of patting and calling, he was forced to pull the book out of Cole's hand
"Yo!.... What is it?" Cole asked, out of eagerness
"I have been calling your name for a couple of hours now.... And you aren't even paying attention!" Kevin said
"That's a lie!" Lenora exclaimed
"It hasn't gotten up to an hour since we left the house" She added
"And besides..." Kevin continued, ignoring Lenora
"These are Cock-and-bull stories" He said, raising the book onto Cole's face
"It's quite interesting though" Cole suggested
Kevin hurled his arm in the air, letting go of the book, which docked onto Cole's lap
"We're almost on the highway," Lenora said
"Where are we headed to by the way?" Cole asked
"Montana.... Told yaa before" Lenora replied
"Oh... Yeah..... I forgot. I think that's the Capital of North America, right?"
"No, it's not.... It's one of the state in US" Lenora corrected Cole
"Oh... Yeah"
"Kinda didn't attend geography class much" He added
"Miss Intelligence" Kevin cut in
"Nonsense" Lenora hissed
And soon, they got to Montana, down a particular street, Mr. Mason took a curved route into a Compound, which was known as Aunty Sally's house.
The first thing they saw was a huge statue of a dolphin in the middle of a mini-fountain. The house was built in the woods, similar to the Mason's Mansion in style, with a little garden, which was far away from the major building.
"Hey, lads!" Mr. Mason, who had hit the brake pedal earlier, called out the teenagers
"I definitely know you guys aren't familiar with the faces you're gonna meet here but try your best to the best person you can be. Like we said, we are about to meet a relative — A distant one though" Mrs. Mason said
They was no response from the trio, as they exchanged ridiculous looks, nodding in agreement. They all hopped out of the car.
Wailing toward the hall in the main facility, they came across two women — An elephantine one and a Skeleton-like one, having a conversation.
"We aren't late, are we?" Mr. Mason interrupted the discussion
"Aww.... Mr. Mason!..." The elephantine woman replied, as she hugged him.
"You can never be late, my dear. I didn't expect you'd come so early"
She was Aunty Sally. She owns the Mansion in Montana, which was built in the woodland, similar to the Mason's Mansion. Standing in front of Mr. Mason, was a elephantine woman, with purple beefy face. She wore a black T-shirt and skirt. Close to Aunty Sally was the skeleton-like woman — Mrs. Robert. She had dull brown eyes, thin body, bonny face and she wore a brown old T-shirt and blue jeans.
"Oh.... Katherine, how've you been doing?" Mrs. Robert asked
"Am fine as usual"
"And Lenora too...."
"How are you?" She asked
"Very fine ma" Lenora answered.
"And Kevin!.... You've all grown so big" Aunty Sally turned to Kevin.
"How are you doing?" She asked, stretching her hand forward
"Fine" He simply answered, with an handshake
"And....." She stopped when her eyes got to Cole. Her eyes swirled from Cole's head to toe and stopped when it got to Jax
"Have I seen you before?...." She asked, as Cole just stood quietly with his head down
"Who is he?" She asked Mr. Mason
Cole anxiousness stopped him from talking that moment.
"He's Cole!.... I mean, his name is Cole" Mr. Mason answered
"Oh.... That Mr. Phillip's...."
"Yeah!" Mr. Mason cut in, to avoid any more talks
"Oh.... So, how are you?" She asked, stretching her hand forward for a handshake
"Uh.... Fine.... Ma.." Cole answered reluctantly, as he kept his hands to himself
"Okay then. I think you all can just get in and refresh, we'll be right back" Mrs. Robert said
"Okay then..." Mr. Mason said, as the two ladies walked away
"I think you guys should just hang around and get to know some kids" Mr. Mason said
"We'll be right back" He added, as the couples walked into the hall
"And Cole, remember!" Mr. Mason called out to Cole
"Keep a low profile" He whispered but somehow Cole heard it and nodded.
"So, I think am gonna have to go see somebody" Kevin said
Cole chuckled
"You know any body around here?" He asked
"He doesn't.... All he knows how to do is to get along with some stupid boys like him and they kick asses!" Lenora interrupted
"Yo!.... Keep it down" Kevin said.
"I may not know any one here but am gonna get to know everybody here... " He added and walked away
"Kevin!... Get back here!" Lenora shouted, running after him
"Be careful!" Cole told her
"Hmmmm.... I think we're all alone now. Come on Jax, let's get to somewhere peaceful" He said and Jax followed him as he walked down into the backyard of the hall
After a while, they saw themselves in front of a garden.
"Woah!" Cole exclaimed
"This is so beautiful!... Just like the one at home" he added, with his eyes fixed on the flowers.
WHO IS THERE!!
Cole almost jumped out of his trousers
Coming out, was a boy, with a watering can in his hand, on his Garden basics attire. He was Pale skinned, with blond hair and dark brown eyes.
"Who are you?" The voice talking now wasn't as fierce as the first one.
Cole stood there, quietly
"No name?.... Or are you afraid?" The guy asked again.
"Afraid?..... No" Cole chuckled
"So, how did you and your pal bug in?" He said, examining Jax with his eyes
"I kinda don't know.... Guess this's the wrong place then.... Let me just go back" Cole said, making his way out with Jax
"Hey!.... No.... It's not like that. Is just a simple question though. We haven't introduced ourselves yet"
Cole stopped
"The families are visiting.... You know, getting set for the planned picnic. Which family did you come with?"
"The Masons" Cole replied, uncomfortably
"Well, good to hear..... You can come with me so we can talk" he said
"By the way, my name is Percy" the boy added, stretching his hand forward for a handshake.
"Cole" Cole said, as they had an handshake
"No siblings?"
"Uh, yeah....." Cole replied, whirling his head around.
"Yes, there!" He pointed at Lenora and Kevin, who were standing at the front of a car, with some guys, chatting and laughing
"Hmmmm.... What a coincidence!. Those guys are my siblings too" Percy said
Cole didn't utter a word, as Percy continued to water the flowers. For some moment, the environment was quiet, not until Jax leaped and barked. Percy was shocked
"You got a pet??" He asked, frighten
"Yeah..... Her name is Jax"
"Lucky for you .... I got some good pets around too.... Wanna check them out?"
Cole chuckled, "I'd like to"
Together, they headed out of the garden, with Cole following Percy's lead. After a little walk, they found themselves in front of a horse, some dogs and other domestic animals
"Here they are!"
"Wow!!... You got bucks of them here" Cole said, as he started admiring the horse.
"Yo!, Boy.... What's it's name?" He asked Percy
"You can call it....."
"It's time for departure!" A girl's voice echoed round the compound
"I think we have to go now"
"Where?"
"The picnic. That was why you guys came" Percy answered
"And besides, that's Oliver, my Sister" He added
"The Oliver my sister was talking to?" Cole asked, finding the face familiar.
"Yeah.... So, let's get ready and go"
"So, the horse..." Cole couldn't his words
"Oh.... Can you ride it?" He asked
"Yeah".
"Hmmmmm.... Well, you can use the horse to come along and I'll send you the map"
"Thanks bro..... Very much!" Cole said, out of excitement
"So, see you there!... You can just take your left out of this place and you'll be at the front of the gate, leading right outside the compound" he added.