Chapter 10: THE MYSTERY PARCEL

R Y A N

Man! I was very exhausted today. I drove to my house as soon as I dropped Miya off. Today was not that bad, to be honest. My classes went well and a rencounter with a person also went well. I was just glad that she was dressed appropriately this time.

I opened the door to the house and removed the shoes at the door. My house was located in Southern California where I lived with my mom and sister. Our house was neither big nor small. It was a modern house with two floors and a garage. The exterior of the house was coated with cream paint and the front flaunted a small yet dainty garden to my home.

"Luca! You are finally home." My mom yelled over the kitchen in her Italian accent. Her English was not that strong because she did not have time to study the language that well. She also loved calling me that name. It was the first name she gave me but she decided to go along with the name my dad gave me; Ryan.

"Ovviamente, Mamma! "(Of course, Mom!) I yelled back as I threw my bag on the sofa and ran to the kitchen to have whatever she was cooking.

When it came to food, my mom was a queen at that. Her foods always left us licking off our fingers.

"Ah, my beautiful baby. Look how tired you look." She gushed and squeezed my cheeks. Damn! When was she going to stop treating me like a baby?! I was an adult now.

"I am okay, Momma. I am not tired at all." I removed her hand from my face and moved past her to look at what she was cooking.

"Mmm! A Tortellini. My favourite of all time." My stomach grumbled; waiting to be fed.

"I know it is your favourite. That's why I made it." She shook her hand and shoved me away from the cooker to continue her cooking.

"Grazie, Momma." I hugged her while stealing a chicken from the plate. I started to run before she could hit me with a spatula.

"Maledetto!" (Damn you!) Her voice boomed across the hallway. I ran up the stairs and opened the door to my room. I threw myself on top of my bed and sighed. I looked up to the ceiling and just concentrated on it.

People might think that this was weird but when you concentrate on an object for a while, you start to notice details that you might have missed before. I always did it when I have a lot on my mind and right now, I had a lot.

Something was off for the past few days. I do not know what it was but since I come from the camp, there was something wrong. I did not feel like myself and all the time, I felt like someone was watching me. My thoughts were cut off by a knock on the door.

"Come in!"

A head popped out that belonged my younger sister by two years. Aria took after the features of my mom; she had green eyes with a pyramid-shaped face. She was tall for a sixteen-year-old with a height of 5'8 inches. Although she took after my mom in the features, her personality was way different from her. My sister was rowdy and did things without thinking clearly. I took after my mom in the personality section but I looked like nothing her. My mom said that was because I looked my dad who sadly died in an accident.

A bemused smile appeared on her face as she leaned on the door. "What are you doing?"

"Can't you see? I was resting until you interrupted me." I remarked.

She scrunched her nose and rolled her eyes. "Stop lying. You were doing nothing."

I grunted in annoyance and rolled my body out of the laying position to sit down. "What the fuck made you come here in the first place?"

"Annoying big shit. I am not here to entertain you. I was just bringing you this parcel. She threw a medium-sized box at me.

I turned the box to see who it came from but it had no address. It simply stated 'To Ryan. From your well-wisher.' What was it supposed to mean?

"Who is it from?"

"I do not know and I do not care. Bye, lazy ass." She sang and slammed the door as she left.

Ugh! Rude much

I continued glancing at the red box that had some strange inscriptions on it. The designs looked they were handcrafted; it was some animals' symbols. I tore the tape that held the opening together to look at what was inside. Inside it, was a letter in an envelope with a necklace symbol on it. Alongside that was a book with a red vintage cover. I decided to open the envelope first to see what was inside of it.

"Dear Ryan, I hope this letter reaches you because I have something important to say. Right now, I cannot say much in it as I am afraid that I will be tracked. For now, what I can say is that do not trust anyone. Including those who are close to you as you might not know who is the betrayer amongst them.

You might think that I am a strange person but beware of my words, sire. The worst is to come and no one will be spared including those whom you love. In this box, is a red book. Keep it safe as It will help you in the future. Make sure you do not give it to anyone. And I mean on one. When the right comes, I will visit you. Until then, be safe.

Sincerely,

Your, well-wisher.

What the fuck was this? Who would do this stupid prank on me? And what did they mean by 'the worst is yet to come'? I glanced at the red book that seemed to also have the necklace symbol. I took it out of the box and flipped it open.

In the first page, was a drawing of a woman, shedding tears that were red as people threw stones at her. Under the image was a small inscription that said, "Under the tears of a mother, there will be wrath that will be unleashed."

Wrath? Tears? How was this related to me? I looked closely to the face of the woman and she looked quite familiar. Where did I see her before? I then flipped on the next page to see a bigger version of the necklace symbol. The strangest part of it was that it looked similar to the necklace I picked up from the cave only this time it was red.

I caressed the image, trying to see what it felt like. Suddenly I felt a pain on my finger and I turned my finger to see what was wrong. I had a cut on my finger at the same place as before. The blood dripped from my finger to the book. Then the single drop made the whole page red. It flowed like water on top of the necklace.

What in the world? My mind could not digest what was happening anymore.

The blood started wobbling and then it transformed into a snake. I threw the book away in fright and scooted to the back of my bed.

"Luca! Dinner is ready. Come down, now!" My mom yelled.

I took baby steps towards the book just to reconfirm what I saw. I opened the same page to see that the drawing was there but the blood and the snake symbol was not. Was I finally going crazy?

I slammed the book in anger and threw it on my bed. Maybe, I was just tired. That's why I was seeing things. I groaned and ruffled my hair in annoyance.

I was not going to deal with shit anymore. I thought as I headed to the kitchen for dinner. 

"So son, did you decide on what College or University you were going to?" My mom glanced at me as I washed the utensils we had our dinner on. She was leaning on the counter as she drank her wine.

"No, mom. I haven't yet." I sighed

"Perche no? figlio mio." (Why not? my son). She placed the glass on the counter and grabbed my shoulder so I could face her.

"Non sono pronto." (I am not ready). I avoided looking at her eyes. I was afraid that she might able to read as she was always able to do that.

"Ah, Luca. It's okay if you are not ready yet. You do not have to force yourself to be ready. Take your time, hmm." She raised my chin with her finger so I could look at her eyes. She did not have the annoyed look on her face but rather she was beaming with a proud smile.

I gave her a tight hug. "Grazie per tutto il supporto, Madre." (Thank you for all the support, mother).

She chuckled and patted my back. "Ah, sciocchezze. Non ringraziarmi. Sono tua madre. E mio dovero sostenerti." (Ah, nonsense. Don't thank me. I am your mother. It is my duty to support you.)

I shook my head at that comment. My mother never accepted thank you for she believed that there was no purpose of it. She always said, "If you are thankful, then show that appreciation by helping another person in need. That way, the humanity in us might be restored." She was an awesome woman.

"Okay, Momma."

"So tell what's the other thing that's disturbing you?" She narrowed her eyes and placed her hands at her hips. Oh shit! I think I got caught.

I forced chuckled and avoided her eyes. There was no way I could look at her eyes and lie. "Nothing, mom. Just some school work."

She pursed her lips and forced a chuckle. "You think you can fool me, young man?"

Fool? As if I could pull that off. Nothing gets past this woman.

"I am not fooling! I swear on tortellini." I pinched my Adam's apple and raised my left hand.

A lopsided smile appeared on her face. "Alright, Luca. One day you will come to me." She patted my head and made her way out of the kitchen with her wine.

What was that supposed to mean? God! Everything was starting to sound insane. Maybe it is me finally going lunatic.

I finished my chore and ran to my room to call David. That idiot must be doing nothing other than giving nightmares to Andrew.

The phone ran for a couple of seconds before a loud, enthusiastic "Sup, bro!" come from the other side.

I winced and moved the phone away from my ear. "Jesus! Do you have to yell every time we talk on the phone?"

A loud laugh erupted from him. "Sorry, bro. I was playing my guitar so I was still in the zone."

I rolled my eyes. "I am not even going to question why you are playing that loud instrument at this time of the night. Anyways, come to my home tomorrow. There is something I have got to show you."

"You could have told me that at school tomorrow, you know that right?"

"I could but where is the fun in that?" I laughed as he groaned in annoyance.

"Dick move, Ryan. Dick move." He tsked.

"I know. Anyways, Goodnight. Don't let the bugs bite your butt!"

"Never! This butt is untouchable."

"David! Stop screaming in the middle of the night." I heard a feminine voice yell in the background.

"Sorry, mother!" He also yelled.

"Go to sleep, knucklehead!"

Jesus! What was with this family and screaming? I felt bad for their neighbour. Oh shit! That was Miya and her family. I inwardly laughed at that.

"Dude, sorry. You heard the woman. I have got to go to bed now."

Goodnight, knucklehead." I sang.

"Do not call me that!" He whined.

"Call you what? Knucklehead?" I teased. To annoy David was my favourite thing to do. He always had the best reactions.

"Fuck you, Ryan! Fuck you!" He growled.

"David! Don't make me come there and take your phone."

"Byeee, baby bear." A smirk appeared on his face before he hung up. Oh, he did not just say that! That was a nickname my mom gave me and that to this day, I still cringe when she called me that. I would for sure get him back! I thought as I turned the lights off. 

The morning arrived sooner than I expected it to come. How came the nights were faster than the days? I just wished the nights were longer. I ruffled my hair and staggered my way to the bathroom. I glanced at my reflection in the mirror.

Hmm, not bad looking. I winked at the reflection and gave out an amused laugh. I was such a weirdo sometimes.

I quickly took a shower then brushed my teeth. After that, I took out clothes for the day and ran to the kitchen to take a bite before I left for school.

"Luca! Eat slowly. Where are you running to?" My mom glared at me.

I swallowed my food before replying. "I have an early meeting with my counsellor today, mom."

She huffed in annoyance. "But still. Take the time to eat your breakfast well. It is the most important meal of the day."

I stood up and packed my stuff. "Bye, mom! See you later." I kissed her on her cheeks and then ruffled Aria's hair. She groaned and stomped on my foot.

"Ouch! That was painful, you brat!" I groaned in pain.

"Good for you!" She stung out her tongue.

I narrowed my eyes at her. "I will deal with you later." I took an apple and washed it before leaving.

"Get me before that, big head!" She yelled.

"Aria! Shut it and eat your breakfast or else you will be late." Mother scolded her.

Oh, I will get you, you little monster. Just wait for it. I chuckled darkly as I planned on the epic prank to pull on her.

Soon I reached school and parked my car. As I was walking on the hallway that had few people on it since it was still early, my eyes landed on Catherine talking to Mr Rodriguez with a distressed look on her face.

He held his forehead and shook his head. He then took out a red book; that was kind of similar to the book in the parcel yesterday out of his bag and gave it to her.

"You do know that spying on people is not cool, right?" A voice spoke behind my back.

I turned to see who it was and a familiar grinning face appeared right in front of me.

"You!"