Cost of Peace

RELOCATION

It had been a hectic day for the two boys. Jack and his crew had been making life impossible for them with series of pranks being thrown at them but Brian wasn’t feeling motivated to return the favours. He had been feeling too weak all day, concerned and bothered about the look on his mom’s face earlier in the day. The look was always followed by a sudden relocation that occurs every 4 years.

Mitchell couldn’t stand Jack’s tantrums anymore and came up with a plan with Brain to get back at Jack and his crew. Even though it got them all in detention, Mitchell took it as a win. He couldn't stop gloating, vilifying Jack the more. Mitchell was enjoying the victory.

After detention, Brian asked Mitchell about the mysterious ball that kept glowing in his room all night.

“Where exactly did you see the ball?” Brian inquired worriedly. Seeing his mom get flustered at the sight of it when she came to wake him up, he wanted to know more.

“Okay, okay. A woman sold it to me. She said it helps get sleep” Mitchell replied

“So, did it help?” Mitchell asked with curiosity.

“Yeah and I had some pretty crazy dreams” Brian retorted as they both headed back home.

Brian’s fears became reality when he got home and met with rooms filled with boxes.

“We have to go now” Melissa bellowed.

Although it was expected,Brian was not ready. He was supposed to have one more year to prepare himself mentally. Quite angry and trying to keep a level head, Brian demanded an answer for their occasional relocations that has denied him a normal childhood and had cost him several relationships. Melissa; filled with secrets was not ready to give an answer but eventually persuaded him to comply. Being driven off, Brian couldn’t stop thinking about how he didn’t get the chance to say goodbye to Mitchell; the only real friend he's ever made. After a few hours of driving, they got to an old house late at night with Melissa’s husband receiving them.

Harry was always on “business" trips and rarely lived with Melissa and Brian causing the weird relationship he shared with Brian but he was always present for the relocation process.

The reunited family had barely settled before Melissa ordered them to go back on the road. She had sensed some strange presences moving closer at a very fast speed. Was this the day Melissa and Harry would face their past? Driving off, the air around his parents was filled with fear, anguish. “What could they be running from? What could be so scary?" Brian was lost in his thoughts. A few miles away, they got assaulted by a group of strange individuals with one of them staring them down with bright red eyes.

Melissa and Harry fought back against their attackers to the best of their abilities. Brian experiencing the greatest surprise of his life. Sitting in the car's backseat, watching Harry shoot at these strangers who refused to die. It was like watching a movie and he could not believe his eyes. Logic went astray when his mother’s eyes turned blue with fangs being snarled at the assailants.