Codes

The walk home was unusually long today. If it was the thoughts running through my head, or the anger boiling through my veins.

I didn't know.

I stood face to face with the door of my house. Inhaling deeply, I push the door open. I find my grandpa sitting on his rocking chair, staring blankly into space.

"you're late." he said, more to himself than me. I pull down the cap which had been over my hair, revealing my black hair with traces of blue hair.

"you dyed your hair?" he asks, arcing a brow. "no, water caused this." I say, still holding on to my bag. I make my way to my room upstairs.

Before opening the door, I realize that grandfather was deep in his thoughts. Deeper than he was before.

*****

I had finished taking a bath over ten minutes ago. And yet, here I was, with my black hair with fading traces of blue in it.

Searching frantically through my wardrobe, for a textbook.

An important one which I needed for my homework.

I was going through my wardrobe, even going as far as to search amongst my clothes. I was so engrossed in searching for the damn text book, when I hear a thud. It nearly startles the hell out of me.

I snap my eyes to the direction of the sound on instincts. There, on the floor was a worn out book. It looked more like a diary.

Wait, a diary?

What was written in it?

I subconsciously find my way to my bed. Sitting on it with legs crossed until I'm opening the diary and going through it.

I read;

'Dear diary,

Its Jonathan. There are some creatures I've been hearing about. I've been curious about these creatures since young. The information and news about them never ends, it's worse now. Dad doesn't support it, but I'm persistent about this.

I'm going to the beach in Petra, to find out more about these creatures.'

I tear my eyes from the diary in my hands. This had belonged to my father. And he seemed to have left against grandfather's wishes to find out about some creatures.

Which means grandfather does know the reason for the disappearance of my father. I thought, getting to my feet.

But why would anyone want to go to the beach?

What is, so fascinating on the beach?

I ask myself, pacing my room. I stop abruptly and my eyes widen.

What if these creatures had to do with the ocean?

*****

The next day, I make my way to the library as early as possible. I search until I find a book of the history of Petra.

I open it, and scan the book for any information or news of whatsoever. As I read on, I discover that; 'there was chaos during a particular time.

Strange creatures were discovered and they were rumored to have a tail and to be half human.

Many have been curious to find out more on these strange creatures and how they can be stopped. The most dangerous of them were rumored to have the fangs of a vampire.

But people didn't believe these rumors. Until the day came, when an eighteen old man is taken mysteriously by one of these creatures.'

I stop reading and look up for a while. I attempt to close the book when a heading stops me.

I look closer and then it dawn's on me.

The heading said; 'coding language of the Petra's.'

Coding language?

****

After classes, I'm searching for someone. I even go as far as to cross over to the art classes. The only place where I could find him. The place of the historian students.

I scan the crowd, until I finally spot his brown hair.

"Holden!" I call, making my way to him.

"Holden, I need to talk to you. It's urgent." I say panting when I finally reach him. He looks at me like I've lost my mind for a second, but he eventually takes me out to talk to me.

"what are you doing here?" he asks, voice high in a whisper tone.

Whatever that is.

"Do you know how difficult it was for me to find you? I had to ask people which class you were, and locating it was not easy." I say, not sure why I was blabbering right now.

He just stared at me like I had two heads or something. And then a small stupid smile makes its way to his face.

I had to admit it was kind of cute.

"why are you smiling?" I ask, my voice surprisingly low.

He blinks, as though he were snapping out of a trance.

"nothing," he says shaking his head.

"you said you needed my help?" he asks, voice calm.

"yes I did. I need your help with something important." I say, pulling his hand.

"and what is that?' he asks, involuntarily following me.

"I need your help with some codes." I say, as we make our way to the library.

He doesn't say anything after that.

He helps teach me the coding language of the Petra's. I'm so happy when I finally get it, that I hug him.

When I realize, I pull away. "thank you." I say, "you're welcome." he says, voice barely a whisper and before he can say anything more, I grab my bag.

"gotta go, bye." I say, rushing out of the library.

I could have sworn, I caught a glimpse of his smile before I left.

Was he just smiling?

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