Chapter 5 : MYSTERY 1

CHARACTERS : *PRESENT- Richard Wilson , Fedrick Brown ; *Simon ; *Nicolas ; *Bobby ; *Mark ; *Max ; *Felix .

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'FATE IS PLAYABLE!'

APRIL 22, 2021 ( Prolong ) :-

AT UNIVERSITY CANTEEN CORNER SEATING :

Nothing happens as we expect, right? Everything occurs according to our fate, huh!!. Poor Richard Wilson, he wished not to meet Fedrick Brown in his life again, but....sadly he ended up dashing on him the same day itself, hahaha. But how did this happen??

The land of the seating areas was glade-green. The chit-chat sound of students filled the air. The sun was like a phantom-silver orb. Staffs of slim light spilled from the sky and it was spirit-refreshing. Richard Wilson and his friends Simon, Bobby, and Nicolas were spending their leisure together at the canteen seating area.

"So he was the one who made you reach late, is it?", Simon questioned Richard.

Richard replied showing his anger, "Yeah!! I was already stressed out and he increased my stress level. I thought I would not meet him again, but...he is in the same university, ahh."

"But didn't you woke up late? I thought this was the reason you were late... haha", Simon said jokingly.

**RICHARD'S DEATH GLARE AT SIMON**

Simon trying to protect himself, "Ohh... I was just joking, calm down, haha", he proceeded "Mmm... But I have already seen him before. Ahh... yes I saw him on the billboard at the entrance of the medical block. I think he is the star of the medical department."

"Star?? What is that?", Bobby asked Simon with curiosity.

"It's a contest. Each department holds this 'star contest' to choose charming male and female stars from their branch. I think the medical dep is conducting first then the art department and third engineering. That's what I heard from our seniors.", Simon replied.

"Woww.... that's really cool", Nicolas expressed his support.

"Yes, it is. It's sad that no one is handsome and charming than me. I think I will be the star of engineering dep 2021, haha", Bobby started overreacting... ahh.

"Expectations lead to disappointments", Nicolas said with a straight face.

"Who selected him as the star of medical dep? ah... it's annoying", Richard said while rolling his eyes.

"Don't be like this always. You should not judge anyone.", Simon said to Richard.

"I am not judging him, I just hate him and don't want to meet him again", Richard replied.

"Oh yeah I forgot to say this, I think you might see him more often because his faculty is very much close to us.", Nicolas mumbled.

"What?? Ahh!! I wished not to see him but now I am fated to meet him every day. GOD!!", Richard sighed.

"Ohh!!! Why are you guys so serious about it? You shouldn't be stressed by having me by your side. I think I need to do something. Ahh, yes I will light up your moods using my jokes, hahaha, how is my idea?", Bobby said hilariously.

"Umm...I think your idea.... really sucks. It will increase Richard's anger. Don't risk your life, haha.", Simon said this in a teasing way to Bobby.

Then others followed Simon and began to tease Bobby. Whatever it is, we can't deny that their mood changed only because of Bobby, he is literally a mood lighter.

"Ok guys, I think it's time. We need to attend our lecture.", Nicolas alerted them and everyone began to leave for their classes.

Richard went first followed by Simon, Bobby, and then Nicolas. On their way, while passing the engineering block Bobby and Nicolas saw Fedrick's friends Mark and Felix.

BOBBY: **DEEPLY STARING AT FELIX**

NICOLAS: **INTENSELY STARING AT BOBBY** "Ahh.... this guy.."

"What are you staring at Bob? It's already time we need to go, uhh", Nicolas tried to distract Bobby.

"What is his name?", Bobby asked Nicolas by pointing at Felix.

"Who?? that specks one? He is 'that guy's friend. Mmm... his name is... I think Felix...yeah", Nicolas replied.

"That guy??", Bobby asked with a confused look.

"Ahh.... did you forget already? That guy who teased Richard. That Fedrick Brown's friend", Nicolas replied while seeing Bobby suspiciously.

He didn't stop with that. "Why are you asking this now?? You have any plans.. mm?", Nicolas questioned Bobby with a suspicious look.

"Ahh... what plans? Nothing. I am just seeing", Bobby replied in a nervous tone.

"Come on I am your best friend I won't leak anything...mm....tell me come on. Please I can't stand any secrets you know that well, come on fast", Nicolas persuaded him.

"Isn't he cute?", Bobby said with a smirk.

Nicolas started to pretend, "Who?? Felix??".

"Don't pretend as if you don't know.", Bobby replied while shaking his head with a sign of annoyance.

"Hahaha... I was just playing with you. Are you going to hit on Felix?", Nicolas asked Bobby.

"Mmmm... I don't know exactly. But I think he is cute and I like him too. But I don't know anything about him, what is he thinking about me? I don't have any idea", Bobby replied.

"Don't worry we can work together. Yeah I am here for you I will help you with that", Nicolas said by patting Bobby's shoulders.

Bobby replied with a wide smile, "Yes.... we need to start our mission from today. The mission 'FINDING FELIX'....haha".

"Yes...Yes....haha", Nicolas said along with Bobby.

Both Bobby and Nicolas are the best duo. They always help each other, care for each other and protect each other. This shows how much they love each other and respect their friendship.

AT UNIVERSITY PARK AREA :

A pleasant evening, the blue sky was dotted with fluffy white clouds that drifted lazily in the gentle breeze. The evening sun cast long shadows of maple trees on the ground and the slanting rays of the setting sun gave a warm orange tinge to the sky. Fedrick Brown was chilling along with his friends Mark, Felix, and Max after attending all the classes. They had a few drinks and snacks together. Fedrick Brown was sitting on a green-colored seating and was admiring the beauty of nature. He took a deep breath and felt the brisk forest air fill his lungs. Then he watched the captivating clouds slide over the bright blue sky. Watching the baby ducklings follow their mother to the pond was enchanting for him. He admired the fountain next to the pond which was aquarium-blue. It was gushing over the rocks. It had a beautiful serenity pool at the bottom and was veneer clear. The water flowed as smoothly as syrup. The grasses he stepped on were crispy under his feet. He gradually looked up and the trees were skyscraper tall. The air smelled fresh and organic. A while after admiring nature, he saw an unclear black-colored figure staring at him from a distance. He tried to figure out what was that but it didn't work. He wasn't surprised or scared by the image, as he had already experienced it several times before. Yes, everything started after his 18th birthday.

FEDRICK BROWN'S POV: "I use to question myself about this. What is happening? Why do I feel strange sometimes? who is that? Is he a real person or an illusion? why is he keep on following me? I have so so many questions like this. Who can answer these questions? Can anyone? I think no one, no one can answer. I even tried my best to find an answer but I failed. Everything started after my 18th birthday. I began to see these things more often and I haven't discussed this with anyone, not even with my parents. I think I am stuck in a maze, I need to come out of it."

"Fedrick!!....Fedrick, what happened?..... Fedrick, are you ok?", Mark asked with concern.

He proceeded, "What happened? What were you seeing for so long? We were calling you for the past few minutes, but you didn't turn by our side and you were busy concentrating on something else. Is everything fine?"

"Yeah, nothing. There isn't any problem, I am fine. Umm, I was just seeing those trees and birds, that's it. You guys don't need to worry about anything and I am completely alright.", Fedrick said half-heartedly.

"If you are fine then it's ok, if you are not please share with us. We are there for you, we will help you no matter what.", Felix said in a humble way.

Then Max came up with a question, "Do any of you know about the 'lake of the woods?"

"'Lake of the woods'?? Yeah, I think I have heard about that but I don't know much.", Mark replied.

"Hey, Felix!!...Don't you know about that? We three are new to the city, so we have no idea..... but you are residing here for ten years right, I am pretty sure you know about the story.", Max questioned Felix by placing him in a fix.

Felix answered with an unclear mind, "Yeah I know about it but I don't know whether it's true."

He began to explain, "People around this locality used to say, it is a cursed area. Many were scared to enter the lake zone. Even parents won't allow their kids to go around that zone. It all started some 35 years back, I think. In the early days, the lake park was so popular and lots of people use to spend time with their family there. But everything changed after that day. It was a tragic day. I don't know much about what happened on that day, but I have heard some rumors. Like, some have said they use to see a human figure near the lake at noon and suddenly it disappears. Some people say it is a cursed zone and whoever enters it can't escape from the curse. They also say the curse affects the entire family and everyone would die or lose their wealth gradually. Some have even tried to enter...but haven't returned till now after doing so, I don't know why."

FEDRICK : *Focused*

MARK : *Completely focused*

MAX : *Hypnotized by the story*

FELIX : *exe. stopped working*

Max screamed at Felix, "Hey!!!! you, Who are you waiting for? Why aren't you completing it? You ruined the flow man, uhh!!."

Felix got bounced by the scream and he said, "Oh!! Sorry..... I'll continue, then...I remember this rumor gradually developed and earned the spotlight. This became the headlines of every news channel. And then the police started the investigation, but.... they couldn't find anything about that incident. Then one-day government officials announced it as a zoned area that belongs to the government and they also said no one should enter the lake area. Then investigations were also closed. But people still have fear in them. That's it."

"Wow!! It's really scary and mysterious too.", Mark said while thinking about it.

Max followed, "Yeah, it's like a horror scene. Really scary. I think I should not take the short-cut route from tomorrow onwards."

Mark and Felix began to laugh hard at Max and same time agreed with him too. But what about Fedrick ??

FEDRICK: "..." *TRYING TO FIGURE OUT*

After a while sky was ablaze with the fire of the setting sun. It was nearly night and the sky was picturesque. Everyone started to move to their place of stay after the discussion around 7 pm. Fedrick was curious about the mystery of the lake of woods and wanted to learn more about its back story. So he began to search for clues using the web on his way back home, sadly it didn't work. A while after reaching his house Fedrick got a voice note from Felix's phone.

VOICE NOTE: "I have nothing else to live for. I can't go on. Sorry Fedrick... sorry for everything I have done to you. I can't live anymore...". Then there was the sound of a gunshot.

**DUMB** **DUMB**

There were little things that Fedrick simply could not stand. The sound of someone tapping their nails on the table. A person chewing with their mouth open. He could not stand any of these things, but none of them compared to the number one thing he couldn't stand which topped all of them combined. And that is the sound of an explosion.

Fedrick panicked and called Felix, but he didn't answer the call...

/ DO READ CHAPTER 3 MAIN AND SIDE STORY FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING /