Chapter 3 Chapter 3 I Found a Friend

Daniel walks into the woods. As he walks, he keeps on looking behind him, making sure he is not being followed. The leaves rustle under his feet as he walks. He reaches a point where the trees are light, and the leaves are all dry as if it is fall already. There he sees a trailer truck parked in the middle of nowhere. The trailer is all rustic from the outside. The windscreen is dusty, and the paint of the trailer is faded. Daniel walks up to the trailer and knocks on the rustic door. He hits and looks behind him. He sees no one but leaves and empty trees. He knocks again, and this time the door opens. A man raised his head out of the window. He looks like he is in his early 30s. With a rough beard and hair, all messed up, some white and some grey. This man is wearing denim jeans with holes on his thighs, a tank top, and a cap. He opens the door and steps outside. Daniel takes a few steps back.

The man adjusts his cap and looks at Daniel, “So kid, I thought you were serious about that opportunity I helped you with. Do you want me to let your little secret out?”

Daniel stutters, “No, no. I have got the package. Here.”

Daniel takes out a package from his bag. The package is wrapped in a newspaper. He takes it out and gives it to the man.

The man holds the package and takes off the wrapping. There is some cash underneath all that wrapping. He counts the money and stops, “This is not what I asked for. I said ten grand this only

8. Where is the other two grand kid?” The man asks with anger

as he walks closer to Daniel.

Daniel steps back as the man gets closer to him. The man grabs Daniel’s jacket and pulls him. “Listen, you punk; you were the one who came to me for help which I gave. You owe me money in return which you have not given me yet. Now you better pay me before changing my mind and letting your little secret out in the world. Got it?”

The man lets go of Daniel, and he falls on dry leaves. "Two days,” he says with showing two fingers, “I want it all in two days with the remaining two grand, or otherwise a package will be

delivered to your family too, with your body in it.” He picks

Daniel up by his collar and kicks him. “Now, get out of here.”

Daniel walks out, dusting his clothes. He grabs his stuff and walks away. The man’s words are echoing in his ears. He had to pay the man. He cannot let the secret out. Daniel is afraid. He cannot talk to his friends or anybody else about his situation. He thinks all of this as he walks around the woods when he senses that someone is following him. Daniel stops and looks around, but he cannot see anyone. He continues walking when he hears the words, "That was quite a clean deal there."

Daniel turns and sees Nathan standing. He ignores him and keeps on walking. Nathan follows him. "That dude didn't seem happy with the delivery though, what did you do to him?" Nathan asks with laughter in his tone.

Daniel replies, “It isn’t any of your business Nathan, let it go.” he

walks away.

“You sure? That was some shady heated meeting, and the guy seemed pretty peeved off. You sure you don’t want me to ask him myself?” Nathan says as Daniel walks away.

Daniel stops and faces Nathan, “You wouldn’t do that.” He says with his eyes staring into Nathan’s.

"Why wouldn't I?" Nathan replies with his severe and sarcastic face.

“Because I won’t let you,” Daniel says and charges at Nathan.

He jumps on Nathan, and they both fall. Nathan tries to get him off, but Daniel keeps him on the ground. “Seriously? What are

you? Twelve!” Nathan mocks Daniel.

Daniels gets up, “Listen, man, whatever it is, it is my matter, and I have got it all covered. So you can drop it and move on with

your chicks, okay.”

“I saw the way you handled it. The guy threatened to kill you if

you didn’t pay him. You look like a decent guy. What business do you have with such a road toad any way?” Nathan says to Daniel.

He sees Daniel bleeding from his wrist. “You are bleeding.” Daniel looks at the wound, “It is fine.”

“The cuts seem deep, come let’s go to my place. It is near. You can find some bandages there.” Nathan offers.

Daniel looks hesitant but then grabs his bag, which he has dropped for the second time, and walks with Nathan.

They both walk to an old mansion right outside the woods. The mansion looks like a huge boarding school straight out of a fictional TV show.

“Welcome to La' Cruise mansion," Nathan says as they reach.

Nathan opens the gate, and Daniel walks in. Daniel got amazed by the interior of the mansion. It looks like a whole castle from inside. With a common room in the middle and stairs are coming

from the sides. Swords and old antiques are hanging on the walls. "Wow, you live here?" Daniel says with amusement.

“Yeah, this is my old family mansion,” Nathan replies. “Sit. I’ll get the medical box.”

Daniel sits down and sees Nathan going in one direction, and he disappears. Nathan comes back with an orange box in his hand. He gave Daniel the box. Daniel takes out a bandage and a tape. Daniel tries to bandage his arm, but it cannot seem to do it.

Nathan walks in and takes the bandage from Daniel. He picks a pack of alcohol pads from the box and cleans the wound first, and then wraps the bandage around Daniel's arm.

Nathan puts the box on the side and lays back on the couch, “So, now you wanna tell me what that whole deal was about?” Nathan asks again.

Daniel sighs deeply, “That man is a dealer. I bought some stuff from him before summer trials to get into the school’s Football team, which I did. Now, he is blackmailing me into giving him ten grand every week or else he is going to tell everyone how I got

into the team.”

Nathan listens to the whole story, “Why do you care, man. You think anyone is going to believe some dude from the streets over you?”

“I can’t risk it. If this thing came out, I’d be kicked out of the

team, and I’ll lose my scholarship as well.” Daniel replies.

“Can you arrange ten grand in a week again? Oh, sorry 12.”

Nathan asks.

Daniel looks down, “I’ll figure something out.”

“Lemme help, I can help you get rid of that guy if you want,” Nathan says.

“No, you are going to stay out of it. It is my problem, and I’ll

handle it. Just stay out, okay.” Daniel says to Nathan.

Nathan agrees that he will not get involved. Daniel makes Nathan promise that he will not tell anyone about what happened today, and they are not going to discuss this ever again. Nathan agrees, and Daniel walks out after thanking Nathan for his hospitality.

The night falls, and the forest got covered with darkness. The guy is sitting in his trailer. He is cleaning his shotgun. He picks a polish spray and gives a few puffs in the nostril. He cleans it from the inside when suddenly his door knocks. He turns and looks at the door.

He opens and walks out with aiming his gun straight. He marches around his trailer, looking for who knocked on his door. "Who's there?" he yells with his stern voice. The forest is all quiet. He could only hear the sound of wind blowing and leaves rustling. He keeps his gun standing in the air, aiming it at the front. A sudden sound of leaves comes from the forest. He immediately turns in the direction and walks towards it with his gun aiming. "Who's there?" he asks again with his voice shivering. He moves slowly towards it when suddenly he hears his windscreen smashing. He turns and runs to the front. His windscreen has a hole in it as if someone has smashed a big stone through it.

Suddenly a shadow comes from above and lifts the man. His cries echo all around the forest.

The following day, Daniel wakes up and gets ready for school. He comes out of his room. His mother has already left for work, and his father is watching the news on TV while sipping coffee. "Hey, kiddo! Slept well?" his father asked.

Daniel rubs the back of his head and grabs a piece of bread and butter from the table, “Yeah, sorry, I just remembered I have a lot of homework to do, and I left my book in my room.” he replies and turns to get the book.

His father turns up the volume, and Daniel overhears the news, “A man in his 30’s found dead in the middle of the forest. His body was found next to a trailer in the forest. Police are saying that the guy was attacked by some wolf last night. People are advised to stay indoors at night as this beast can be deadly.”

Daniel turns rapidly and looks at the picture of the man appearing on the screen. It is the same man whom Daniel gave money the other day. Daniel's father looks at his face all white. "You okay, kiddo?" he asked.

Daniel looks at his father and says, “I have to go.” and heads out.

He walks outside of his house and murmurs, “Nathan killed the guy?”