why is this happening?

Minutes later the group finds themselves standing in the road, blocks away under the orange streetlights. Each of them shaking and panting, trying to find the words to say. 

 

Sarah is the first to break the silence, her voice is meek, “Everyone saw what I saw, right?”

 

Matt nods his head, his chest still rising and falling rapidly. Fran, however, doesn’t respond. She’s looking down the street as if trying to see if someone had followed. 

​

“That was…” Fran begins but doesn’t finish her sentence. She has the artefact in her hand and she won’t stop fidgeting with it, turning it over and rubbing it like a worry stone. 

 

Matt watches her body language as she lightly stumbles and continues to examine the object with a renewed fascination. Matt tenses up, even more, his brows furrowing. 

 

“Something’s not right about that thing, Fran. I knew we never should’ve messed with it. Now, look what’s happened.” 

 

Again, this elicits no response from Fran.

“Hello?” Frustrated by her lack of emotion, Matt starts towards Fran, finally snapping her out of her trance. “Give me that, I’m getting rid of it.” 

​

“NO,” She darts back and clasps the artefact close to her chest, her face contorted in a glare of disgust cast towards Matt. Both Sarah and Matt are taken aback, they share a concerned glance for a split second as they back away from Fran. The air around the three seems to prickle with hot energy. 

Then, just as quickly as it appeared, the anger in Fran’s eyes recedes and she continues “No, no we can’t just throw it away.” Fran’s words suddenly feel calm and level-headed. “We saw tonight exactly what it can do, we can’t allow something like that to be floating around.” Once again Fran returns her gaze to the item in her hand. 

​

“I think I know what it is, I’ve read about it before.” 

​

Feeling the tension start to ease away, Sarah chimes in, “So your freaky research is finally getting put to good use then?” She attempts a smile but falters. 

​

“I don’t quite know what to do with it yet, but I do know we can’t allow it to fall into the wrong hands.”

​

Matt reluctantly agrees, nodding his head but not saying a word.

​

“I’d have to do some more research, but if you guys are with me, we can make sure that tonight is the last time something like this ever happens.” 

​

There is an eerie silence as the group stands under the orangey glow. A few moments of quiet marks an unspoken agreement. They turn and slowly begin a solemn journey back home...