The Game

The Game

“….. Though Professor Dawson stands as one of the strongest contender against Mr. Golding, an infinite number continue to support Mr. Golding’s campaign, ultimately telling us one fact: Mr. Golding is here to stay….”

“And you are one of them”. Mr. Laurel shouted at the TV screen.

“If he wins this election too, then there’s no stopping him……” Mr. Stewart answered. He turned to Mr. Dawson and asked, “What do you suggest we do, Professor?”

Professor Dawson picked up his glass of beer, raised it to his colleagues and said with a small smile, “We Win”. Both his members looked at each other, confused.

“Sir, I have a question. We all know that you come from a very humble background and that you needed to borrow money to finance your first campaign. Do you remember how much you borrowed?”

“Um…. it’s been a real long time… but I assure you, that every penny was returned and well before time”, answered Mr. Golding.

The reporter smiled. “Well, $5 Million was easy enough to return…. well before time, I guess?”

Mr. Golding’s smile faltered.

“There also have been rumors about your hand in our ex-president’s death. What is your say in this?”

Mr. Golding stared at the reporter. You will die for this!!

Mr. Golding’s assistant stepped forward. “They are just rumors. Please do not appreciate them. This press conference has now ended. Thank You”. 

 Once in his car, Mr. Golding turned to his assistant, breathing hard he said. “I want a complete file on that reporter….. by tonight!!”

“What happened? Were you able to find anything on that reporter?”

The assistant bowed his head. “I’m afraid; it’s more bad news, Sir. The reporter was a fake. He was sent by someone”

“Dawson!! He’s the only one who wants to see you down, Father. He’s going to pay for this. I’ll-“

“……rumors have yet again caught the wind. Whether Mr. Golding really murdered our late President or not? What can a man do-“

Golding Jr. moved to turn off the TV, but Mr. Golding ordered against it.

“Father-“. 

Mr. Golding raised his hand for silence. 

“He used a fake reporter. We use the real media….. and real supporters. Felix, you know what to do”

“……continuous riots have caused problems round the city. The rumors of Mr. Golding’s so called “sins”, has enraged the mass and it seems they won’t be stopping at anything”

“… Mr. Golding has been accused allegedly of being in contact with the mafia. These allegations come in at a time when presidential elections are at its closest. News also has that these proceedings were financed by none other than the opposition leader, Mr. Dawson”

Mr. Stewart looked up from the TV at Inspector Clark, who had just arrived.

“Inspector Clark!! What brings you here?”

“My apologies, but I’m here to arrest Mr. Dawson on spreading false rumors about Mr. Golding” answered the Inspector.

Professor Dawson smiled. He turned to look at Mr. Stewart, who nodded and started making calls.

“… More breaking news: Mr. Dawson has been remanded by the local police for creating false rumors about Mr. Golding”

“Your plan worked father”

Mr. Golding smiled and relaxed on his couch. “Now, we win”

“…. But it has also come to notice that the police do not have exact proof against Mr. Dawson. This might also go to suggest that Mr. Golding might be using his powers to get Professor Dawson behind bars”

“…. In the latest news, it has come to light that Mr. Golding had indeed borrowed a hefty amount of $5 Million for his first campaign. And the people who had loaned the money have either joined hands with him or met a terrible death. Mr. Faulkner, who had loaned $80,000 to Mr. Golding, was killed by a dangerous mafia gang. It’s been rumored that Mr. Golding had financed the hit…”

“… Sources at the CBI have confirmed that our late President’s death was indeed a case of murder. Sources also confirm that a hand of a highly established official …..”

“… It is also said that the frequent riots caused, was an ‘Act of drama’ directed by Mr. Golding himself…”

“As you can see the celebrations of our newly elected President continues …”

“Ah… Welcome Mr. Golding!!” greeted Professor Dawson.

“Congratulations!!....Mr. President…..” Mr. Golding replied with a tight smile.

“Thank you. But it is as they say: the night is always followed by the day….”  Professor replied with a smile.

“Enjoy while you can, Dawson. You’ve played your part and now it’s time to play play mine”

The Unexpected Treasure

The Golden Treasure

I’ll always be with you

Aaron hadn't touched his dinner. The loss of his grandfather had taken a toll over him. He felt alone and depressed. But the worst of it was, he didn’t have any souvenir of his grandfather to hold on to.

“Dad? I want to find Grandpa’s treasure” Aaron announced at the dinner table.

Mr. Milan stopped eating. He set his spoon silently on the table. 

“Aaron. I have told you many a times. There… is… no… treasure. Your grandfather was nuts, thinking there's treasure hidden somewhere….. He lived a wasted life. Don’t waste yours”

“He told only the deserving would be able to find it”, Aaron defended.

“THERE’S NO TREASURE, AARON!! Don’t waste your time over such superfluous things. This is the time for you to make a career, not finding something that’s never been there!!”

“It is there!! Grandfather left it for us. You were just never brave enough to go look for it”.

“ENOUGH!! I’m not hearing anything about this nonsense anymore. Tomorrow, you are starting your job at the Miller's. I don’t want to hear any excuses”

Anger raging in his chest, Aaron left his dinner and stalked out to his room. He tossed everything that stood around him.

After a while, he calmed himself. He went and stood near the window and looked outside. The street stood lonely, just like the way he felt right now.... 

Of the legend I speak,

For it is what you seek

Sparing lives is not in its history,

Clouded as is by fear and mystery

It holds not what you seek,

But what you need.

Not far does it lie, beyond the cursed

A cold and dark place, is where it unfurls

Lies beyond the cursed.... cold dark place..... 

Only one thing that the Milan family held was cursed: grandma's necklace. But it was currently on display at the National Museum.

When young, Aaron had tried peeping into the room that stood behind the show piece, but his father had always pulled him away.

But now…… he was a grown up man!! If he wished, he could visit it now!! 

The watchman of the museum was snoring lightly in his chair. Knowing the museum’s main door would be locked, Aaron searched for an alternate entrance. A window lay open on the top floor, just out of his reach. But there was nothing that could help him reach, except if the watchman helped him in giving him a boost. 

The walls of the museum had been decorated with horizontal ridges all around. Aaron’s eyes lit instantly. He threw his shoes into the nearby bush and tried to climb the wall, by balancing himself over the ridges. He fell instantly. He tried again, but in vain. Determined, he tried again. This time, successfully hauling and grabbing the window frame.

Once inside, Aaron immediately dashed to find the locked room. Using a tool pin he unlocked the door. He inhaled deeply.

This was it….

He slowly pushed the door open, excitement and fear tightening in his chest. He entered the room and looked around. It was empty.

This cannot be…

Not believing, Aaron searched the room.

This cannot happen…. He had failed his grandfather again… He had lost him forever this time….

Frustration filled Aaron’s heart. He dropped to the floor and let out a cry.

“Why? Why did you ever tell me there was a treasure? Why did you ever make me believe there was something hidden here?” Aaron shouted at the walls.

He laid on the floor, dejected.

You haven’t failed me, son. I will always be with you.

“Grandpa?” . No answer….. He looked around. No one…  

  

Aaron closed his eyes and stayed there.

I’m sorry grandpa….

 

Aaron managed to return home. He made his way to find his own cold and dark sanctuary….

Aaron suddenly stopped in his tracks. Cold and dark…? Sparing lives is not in its history…. The cursed necklace always caused death…. and fear…..Beyond the cursed…. Grandfather always told us to look beyond our fears…which meant….

Aaron rushed up to the attic. Not caring about the noise made, he searched the room for the treasure. And there it stood, on the top shelf, covered in dust. Aaron climbed the ladder and brought the box down. It was locked. Aaron traced the edges of the keyhole. It had an unusual design. It had the symbol of the Sun. Aaron removed the pendant from his chain and inserted it into the lock. A small click was heard and Aaron turned the key.

Instead of finding shining ornaments, he found his old childhood toys that he had used to play with his grandfather and grandfather’s last used spectacles.

It holds not what you seek…. But what you need…..

Tears brimming in his eyes, Aaron smiled at the treasure.

The Final Act

The Final Act

“Hello my dear sister… do you remember me?”

“Sarah?”

“Oh! She remembers!!Thank God!! I thought I would’ve to introduce myself to my own sister”

“Sarah…. Why did you call?”

“Why-? Do I have to find a reason to call my own sister?  Oh!!”  Mrs. Phillip closed her eyes and touched her nose bridge, a small smile playing on her lips.

“Anyways, I had called to officially invite you to my daughter’s birthday party”

“Your daughter?”

Sarah rolled her eyes. “Yes! I have a daughter”

“Our Eevie?”

“Yes”

“She’s… one year’s old???”

“Yes”

“Already?”

“YES!!”

“I mean… it was just yesterday, when I had held her in the hospital…. and she had peed on you…. ”

“Thank you, for reminding me about that….”, Sarah said making sure the sarcasm showed in her voice. Mrs. Phillip laughed. “Stop laughing… and be there… and bring Ron too, please…”.

She cut the line.

“Muuuuuuuuuuuummmmmm….. We’ll be late… The train doesn’t wait for us, you know, even if they notice that you are boarding the train today”, Ron called on top of his voice.

Mrs. Phillip hurried from one room to another.  

“I know…. Put your shoes on, will you? Do this one favor to your mother” She called back. Ron rolled his eyes.

They reached the train station, with 20 minutes on the clock for the train’s departure. Mrs. Phillip crashed on an empty seat, with Ron taking the window seat next to her. He placed his toy train on the window.

“Where did you get that?”, asked Mrs. Phillip.

“A woman gave it to me”

“What woman?”. Ron pouted his lips and shrugged.

“Ron!! How many times do I have to tell you, not to accept gifts from strangers!!”

“She was a nice lady.... She said it was her son’s birthday today and she gifts all the kids on his birthday. Did you want me to refuse and break her heart?”

Mrs. Phillip tried to control her smile. Kids……

“That’s not the point-“

The point is she was nice”

“Fine, but here onwards you are not taking anything from anyone. Do you understand me?” Ron nodded an ‘OK’.

She looked at the toy once, then turned and laid her head back to take a nap, just when the train jerked forward.

That’s odd. There’s still 15 minutes on board.

The train started to move slowly. Mrs. Phillip looked outside to check on the time. Ron was playing with his toy, imitating the train’s movement. The clock read: 5:44 P.M. The train was scheduled for 6:00 P.M. departure.

Something was wrong. Well, at least they’ll reach her sister’s house early.

Mrs. Phillip smiled at her luck. The train gathered speed at a steady pace. Mrs. Phillip fell back on her seat to continue her nap.

“Mum… Mum… look at this”

Mrs. Phillip opened her eyes. They were halfway around the city.

Already?

She looked at her son. Ron rode the toy train on the glass and brought it down on the window sill and stopped it. After a second or two, the train, they were traveling in, came to a stop. Everybody rushed to the door. But it remained closed.

Ron started moving his toy again. He stopped it. He moved it once again. He stopped. The train outside started having troubles in moving too. 

“Mum, I can control this train!!”, Ron said in an ecstatic voice. Mrs. Phillip seemed to understand what was happening.

How’s this possible?…. How is this train imitating Ron’s toy? Can Ron really…? Rubbish….

“Ron, you can’t control the train. Looks like the driver’s drunk or something…” Mrs. Phillip tried to disagree.

Ron moved his train slowly against the window frame. He drove along the edges increasing its speed gradually. The train mimicked the Ron’s toy. Mrs. Phillip tried to look outside the glass. Everything passed in a blur. She looked at her son. He was moving his train faster than ever. If he didn’t stop, he was likely to lose its control. People inside the train panicked and started to scream. Ron, on the other hand, continued to play with his toy, blind to reality. Mrs. Phillip told him to stop playing, panic clearly visible in her voice. . Ron turned the train sharply on the window sill. But the speed of the train was too much for him to control the turn. Ron lost his grip and the train fell over front seat, where it did a somersault and fell on the floor, breaking into pieces…. All the compartments had been dislodged and strewn apart…..

It is unknown as to what has caused this disastrous incident. Further investigation is yet to be made by the police. But, harsh as it is, we regret to inform that all the passengers who boarded this ill-fated train are dead.

A woman, far away in the city, smiled at the TV screen.

She finally, had got her revenge…. even though it had asked for a few sacrifices...