He still couldn’t find what he was looking for and decided to search every nook and cranny inside the room. He punched the bed’s mattress out of frustration, causing Kaleb’s heart to explode out of his chest. He flinched so hard that he accidentally hit his head on the top of the bed’s frame. Xander was too angry to notice the noise. He then snatched the sheets off his bed and did the same with the closet, checking in every pocket in his jackets and pants. The other two girls added to Xander’s frustrating search.

“Have you lost something?” Ada asked, folding her arms in boredom.

“I’m not surprised at this point,” Asa added.

“What did he lose this time?” Ada asked while rolling her eyes to the back of her head. “Every time you lose something, we’re always the ones who need to find it!” Ada shouted while stomping her feet on the floor.

“Maybe he lost his key,” Asa answered her while shrugging her shoulders, knowing she was right.

“At this point, Betsy-” Ada said before she was interrupted.

“BETSY IS WHAT?! SHE STOLE IT FROM ME!” Xander interrupted Ada by shouting at her at the top of his lungs. His kids no longer respected him; instead, they treated him like a sibling. “She-she-she-” Xander stuttered, trying to retort, but they wouldn’t believe him. He had lost his temper, turning red from the fury. His breathing was rapid and loud, which then began to slow down. He looked around the room, trying to get back on track. He was thinking about where he had lost his key.

Kaleb was shocked; not only was this family secretive, but it was also dangerous. ‘What is this idiot talking about? How can a blind kid steal? But then again, how can a mute kid talk?’ Question after question was raised through the boy’s head, and curiosity sparked. He thought of ways to unveil the family’s secrets; that is when he found a book under the bed called Warren Gasyer. Warren Gasyer was a legend to the village, the best hunter this village has ever known. Until he was dethroned by Kaleb’s mother. His emerging thoughts were interrupted as he noticed Xander’s legs walking closer to the bed. His heart felt like it was going to explode. He’s sneaked into plenty of houses before, but never the notorious hunter’s home known as the Gasyer family.

His breath began getting rapid; he would’ve never thought that hiding could be so frightening. The moment he saw Xander stop in front of the bed, chills ran down his back. Kaleb saw Xander’s bright yellow eyes meet his. His heart dropped, and his mind went completely blank. Not knowing what to do, he froze. Like a deer caught in headlights, he looked at him with an expressionless look. All he could do was stare. Xander had checked under the bed and found Kaleb. Xander’s eyes twitched in annoyance; he didn’t seem surprised to find a total stranger in his own home.

Kaleb was still frozen in fear as Xander looked at him with his bright and murderous yellow eyes.

Xander then grumbled lowly, making sure that only the boy could hear him.”She stole it from me the day she was born. I’m just taking back what belongs to me.”

Xander’s eyes narrowed down to the key Kaleb had. It was around his neck, but the key was placed on the floor. Xander snatched the shiny object off his neck, making Kaleb flinch in pain. Smiling ear to ear, he stood up and raised the stolen key in the air. “Found it!” He said proudly while walking out the door and leaving the room, he slowly closed the door behind him.

Kaleb was confused about what had just happened. He rolled out from under the bed, making sure not to make any noise. He stood up and began to ponder. ‘Why did he let me go?’ Question after question came up in the young boy’s head until curiosity quickly took hold of him, and he decided to explore. First, he pressed his ear against the door and tried to listen carefully if anyone was roaming the halls. Kaleb then opened the door slowly. He winced when the door made a painfully loud creak that could be heard down the halls. Kaleb was hiding behind the door, still holding onto the doorknob with a tight grip.

He poked his head from behind the door and saw a small rabbit sitting in the middle of the corridor. This bunny was colored in a particular way; it was light blue with a bright cyan tail, and its eyes were also blue. Kaleb’s face went blank once again as the bunny stared at him with the same look. His hands gripped the doorknob even harder. Kaleb heard about the rumors that once you see a bunny in the Storm, it means certain death. A story that spread around the village is that when you see a rabbit inside your home, it means death has come for you. He completely believed in the rumors circulating in the village.

The only reason why Kaleb accepted them is because of his Mother. He remembers at a young age his mother’s last words, ‘I found a rabbit, Kaleb, open the door so we can eat rabbit stew. ’ After the storm passed, the villagers found her body lifeless on top of the cold floor. Kaleb closes his eyes tightly, hoping that he is imagining things. He opened them again and found the rabbit staring at him. He closes them tightly once again and rubs his eyes until it hurt.

He opens them wide open and looks at the spot where the bunny is sitting. It was gone. He sticks his neck out as if he’s reaching for something and turns his head to the other side of the corridor. He sees the rabbit turning into a corner and disappearing around the wall. He makes a break for it and starts running until he reaches the kitchen. Just as Betsy instructed him before, he heard a noise. The noise came out of nowhere. It was an unpleasant sound that made the hair on his neck stand. It was nothing he had ever heard before; no animal or human on the planet could make such a blood-curdling cry.

The noise was like a howl, but at the same time, a trumpet ready for war; with it came the sound of the wind with a hint of a broken whistle. It was like a war cry, a beast roaring that finally found its next victim. Kaleb began combing his surroundings and couldn’t pinpoint where the noise was coming from because it sounded like it was everywhere and yet far away.

A horrid smell punched his small nose. It was so strong that he couldn’t help but gag and cover his nose with his elbows. The smell was metallic, but it had a distinct, pungent odor, reminiscent of rust, and it was incredibly strong. The cry made his bones shiver, fear struck him like a lightning bolt, and everything was happening so suddenly. As quickly as the screeching outcry came, it was gone. The smell was still stronger than ever, and it had become very familiar to him. It was the smell of blood. The scent was so unimaginably sharp and powerful that he had to investigate for himself.