Chapter 3_Bought!

" Do you know of anyone who would want you dead or maybe injured?" Detective Cabal presented the question to him.

Anyone who would want him dead?

Or injured?

He knew of none like that.

He brought his face to his big brother instead, as if he was expecting him to explain on his behalf but when Zakariah said nothing… " I.. there is no one I could think of. I am an easygoing person with no enemies. At least none that would go as far as wanting to kill me. Zak can testify to it, I barely brawl with anyone" he managed to say.

" So you mean you have enemies but you do not think they would go as far as killing you?" Detective Dante pointed out and he shook his head.

These detectives were misquoting him.

He tried to raise his hand up but when Zakariah motioned for him to keep it low, he dropped it. " Not like ..enemies" he stammered, finding it hard to pronounce the last words " I mean, there are these boys in the neighborhood that picks on Duncan, body shaming him and all of that. We usually brush them off without saying anything before but I couldn't take it the last time and we got into…" he paused.

Detective Cabal tilted his head. He was jotting down the statement but LSR had not completed his sentence. " Into..?" The detective inquired.

" A fight" LSR said meekly, he knew Zakariah would be vexed and surprised to hear he got into a fight. He had managed to hide it away from him but these detectives made him let it out. If there was Miss Piggy's Pauni around, he would hit it on both their heads simultaneously until they roll and tumble and peed their pants.

He was right, Zakariah was surprised and vexed but he managed to keep himself at bay. He shot LSR a dimmed eye and raised brow but it disappeared almost immediately it came.

Maybe his brother was trying to be considerate given his condition.

The detectives seemed interested in the littlest of the little informations " Give me their names " Detective Cabal ordered LSR and after a few seconds of hesitation, he gave out the names which the detective jotted down with rapt seriousness.

Just when he thought he was done answering their questions, and he could rest…

" What were you doing sawing off the chains of the gate of the building opposite yours?" Detective Dante inquired and he heard the suspicious tone in his voice. He knew the detective must have thought he had a bad underlying motive for trying to get in the burnt haven but how was he going to clear off whatever suspicion the detectives must have towards him?

He was only trying to get the strange figure he saw in the house on camera!

Zakariah's countenance also changed on the mention of that, LSR knew everyone wanted to know and he was not going to lie. He would tell them why and it was up to them to believe him or not. " I.. I saw something.." he stammered, unable to finish again.

The impatient detective wasted no time to ask rather softly contradicting his suspicious beliefs " You saw something?"

LSR nodded swiftly.

" And what might that be?" The detective tilted his head while Detective Cabal stood with his pen and note, ready to jot the informations as they pour out of his mouth.

He sighed at first then, this time he looked Detective Dante in the eyes " A figure, it moved about. I was not sure what it was but I thought it was a ghost or something. You know, the burnt haven is rumored to be haunted so.. I .. I thought maybe I just caught in action a supernatural force and my curiosity got the better of me" he explained, stammering all the way.

" So, you wanted to break in someone else's property?" Detective Cabal was the one who threw the bomb at him. It was true what the man said, what he did was punishable by the law but at that moment, he was not thinking straight nor did he reason the weight of his action but now he knew.

And he was sorry.

Well, he was paying now.

Could the burnt haven be really hunted?

What if it was the one punishing him for trying to break into it?

He never knew Zakariah would be this restless to see him in serious trouble as his brother barked at the detective " You don't understand, we have been living opposite that house since forever and we have not seen any movements whatsoever in it. It is relatable if he was unable to put his curiosity at bay and went to pry. I assure you Asher meant no harm"

LSR gulped silently where he lay on the bed, Zakariah standing up for him was almost unbelievable.

He saw the two detectives exchange silent glances which definitely held meaning and nodded at one another. " Are you sure you are telling us the complete truth Asher?" Detective Dante asked, ignoring his brother's protest and also not getting vexed by it.

" I am, I do not understand why I got hit though. I am not involved in any shady deals I promise" he rushed his words as if they held flames that were burning his poor tongue.

Detective Cabal set aside his pen and note " Please, do not hide any information from us to ensure the success of this investigation. We are working towards getting the culprit and we need your total cooperation. In case you remember anything.." he brought out a card from his pocket and dropped it on the sheet that was covering LSR's other healthy leg. " Call us immediately and let us know. Quick recovery champ " he raised his fist up and LSR nodded at him, forcing a smile.

"Bye detectives, thanks. We will contact you" Zakariah saw them off with his words. It was obvious he was in hurry to see the detectives out of the hospital room.

LSR knew his brother must have been irritated by the two men. Zakariah was the type to dislike people who tried to get their nose in their businesses.

LSR watched the two men open the door until one of them stopped. " One more thing" Detective Cabal raised his index finger up " I think the figure you saw must be the new occupants of the burnt haven. We heard the house has been sold and the new owners would be moving in soon. So put your mind at rest and be matured enough to know that there is nothing like ghosts " he smirked and walked out with his partner.

LSR heard and was sure Zakariah saw the mockery tone in the detective's voice when he said his last words.

He probably thought he was being a baby for believing what he saw in the burnt haven was ghosts or something supernatural. Well, he could not blame the man. He felt stupid too, ghosts?

He knew better than that.

But, someone bought burnt haven and was moving in soon?!

Who the hell could be so foolish and fearless to buy the old house?!

.

As soon as the detectives were out of sight, Zakariah turned to him immediately " Asher, I am surprised at the discoveries I made today about you. You got into a fight? You tried breaking in the burnt haven because of a ghost?" He threw his hand listlessly into the air " Ghosts?! You see what I have been saying about growing up and doing the needful? I am going home now, burning all your drawing toys! I thought I only needed to give you time to chicken around and when you got tired, you would realize I have only been trying to do what's best for you. First, you get up on your feet once again and it's either you listen to me or you go fare for yourself and that would be out of my house" he fumed and was about to storm out of the ward when LSR called behind him.

" Zak?" He called and his brother turned, his hands on his waist pocket. " Burnt haven is sold ?" He asked and he saw Zakariah's eyelids blinked.

His brother probably thought he was a stupid goofer now but he could not help it. All Zakariah had been saying did not get in his head except for the fact that burnt haven now had occupants who would be moving in soon and he does not know why.

Zakariah gritted his teeth then pressed his lips into a thin line. He was definitely trying to suppress his anger, LSR noted.

Without saying a word, his brother opened the door and stormed out like he originally wanted to.

The moment Zakariah also stormed out, LSR sighed feeling so alone and like the most miserable person in the world.

Everyone seemed to be mad at him.

His brother was mad at him.

Some unknown people whom he does not even know wanted him dead too.

Life in general was playing against him.

However, during this turmoil his life just landed in and the obvious lurking danger he was in, all his mind seemed to wanted to think about was the new people who would come to the neighborhood soon.

He was sure he was not alone though, everyone in Orange City would be awaiting the strange people who bought burnt haven, an abandoned haunted building which had an ugly history behind it.