A
cobweb swept over Dan’s face, leaving him with a little shake. He swiped it
off, afraid that an insect-or even worse-a spider was on the cobweb.
‘Did
mom make this place or did she find it?’ Dan thought, still holding the torch
in his hand as he walked, unsure where he was heading.
After
what seemed like forever, Dan saw a wide opening at what seemed like the end of
the path. He walked into the opening and saw that it was a room with tall
stepping stones that its roots vanished at the bottomless pit.
Dan
peered down at the bottomless pit, shivering for a minute. ‘I don’t have to
cross this… Do I?’ He thought to himself.
As
if someone read his mind, a voice said, “Read the top of each stepping stone.
Some stepping stones hold the truth that you lied about while some hold the
things that your mother wished to say to you before her passing.”
“What
do I have to do here, exactly?” Dan asked impatiently.
“I’m
getting there, laddie.” Answered the voice, leaving Dan with a grin. “Step on
the stepping stone that has the story that you want to live by.”
“That’s
it?” Dan asked. He scoffed and said, “That’s easy enough.”
“Not
just that, young one.” The voice said. “The stone in which you step on has to
be a sincere choice by you. One insincere move can lead to fatal results.”
Dan
nodded, unsure whether the person talking to him could see if he was nodding.
Dan walked until he reached 2 neatly arranged stepping stones. It was as if
they were in a row. Dan looked over the 2 stepping stones. There were many
pairs of stepping stones way ahead of him.
He
peered down and saw the bottomless pit, its darkness thrilling-yet scaring-him.
Dan
took a deep breath. “Okayyy.” He said under his breath. He read the first
stepping stone.
31st
July.
I’m
the cause of our cat, Montee’s, death. I was stupid enough to play with him on
the streets that he got run over by a lorry. I never told anyone but I lied. I
told my family that Montee went missing.
Dan
closed his eyes hard after he read the stepping stone. “Montee…” He said under
his breath, remembering the cream coloured cat that Emma loved.
He
took a deep breath and read the next stepping stone which had what his mother
wanted to say to him before her passing.
Danniel,
You
were never my child. Your father and I found you one late night in a dark alley
as we were walking home. You were crying in a cardboard box with a note on your
blanket. It read ‘Danniel.’
Dan
was struck frozen. He didn’t know how to react. “Does Emma know this?!” Dan
asked in a loud voice. No answer.
A
tear streamed down Dan’s cheek. He wiped it away. ‘You gotta be strong, Dan.’
He thought to himself. He stepped on the stone that had what his mom wanted to
tell him.
Dan
almost lost his footing on the stone. He squatted and held onto the stone’s
edge.
“Be
careful laddie.” Said the voice.
“Oh,
now you talk?” Dan said in a glaring voice. Again, the voice was silent. Dan
grunted.
He
read the stepping stone in front of him.
18th
Jan
I
lost my father’s thumb-drive. It contained all the important documents my
father needed for his job. He almost lost his job but was saved by a copy he
made of the important document. He asked who lost his thumb-drive and I blamed
it on Emma, claiming that I saw her playing with it the other day.
Dan
sighed. ‘Is this my level of evil?’ Dan thought to himself. He shook his head.
He turned his head to the right and read the next stone.
Danniel,
On
the night that your father and I found you, your father thought of leaving you
at an orphanage. I told him no, we have been married for 3 years and yet we do
not have any children. We shall take this boy home and turn him into a boy with
looks and intelligence. Your father was against it but I brought you home anyway.
For the first couple of days, he treated you horridly. He tried to drown you in
the pond. I saved you and your father and I fought. We almost got a divorce.
But what saved us? Remains between me and your father.
“This
is sooooo messed up.” Dan said as he ruffled through his hair using his
fingers. He stepped on the stone in front of him which talked about the missing
thumb-drive. He didn’t want to live his life knowing that his father had once
hated him.
“You
don’t say?” Said the unknown voice in a sassy way. “Speak only when you have
something important to say.” Dan said in annoyance.
“Only
2 stones to choose from next. After you choose one of them, you can leave this
place.” The voice told Dan. “Finally something important.” Dan replied.
No
answer.
Dan
shook his head and sighed. He read the stone on his left.
Dan,
Even
if you aren’t my child, I still love you and Emma the same. Don’t you ever forget
that.
-Love,
Mom.
Dan
smiled as a tear rolled down his cheek. “I love you too mom.” Dan said under
his breath. He turned to the stone on his right.
Come
on. What else could be better to live by than having your foster mom love you
with all her heart?
A
smile crossed Dan’s face. He wiped away the tear and stepped on the stone on
the left and onto the platform that was near to the stone.
“See
ya.” Dan said to the unknown voice. The unknown voice whistled as an answer
and, before Dan knew it, the room disappeared as if it was never there, making
Dan wonder if it all had been in his head.
‘Gotta
find Emma and Nicky.’ Dan thought, running through the passage.
To be continued in: Nicky, oh Nicky.
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