The Narratives of Kaos: Book 1: Chapter 2: Kevin

Chapter 2

Kevin

Meanwhile, in another reality, the boy dashed through the baron streets of Arizona. The wind caught his golden hair as he ran. His hand was firmly planted within his pocket, to make sure the picture wouldn’t fly out. It was, after all his last true possession besides the clothes he donned.

    This was the first time in his thirteen years of life that Kevin Anderson had been on his own. And he truly hated it.

    It had been two weeks since his mother died. Two weeks, one day, six hours, and twenty-seven seconds to be exact. And he had barely slept a wink since. He had watched her go, peacefully into her rest. He supposed that was the most he could have asked for.

    Now he was running, right toward the abandoned hospital at the edge of town.

    Five disappearances had taken place there, with none of them solved. Five people, vanishing without a trace. His father was one of those people.

    It had been four years since Kevin had last seen his father. He remembered his father’s dirty blonde hair coming down past his shoulder. His calming voice that never seemed to raise. His toned cheekbones that Kevin’s mother loved so much.

    Now they’re both gone. She shook his head, his blue eyes stinging. He wouldn’t let himself think like that.

    The building was tall, and sat alone on the other side of a wide and dilapidated street. He stopped only a moment to observe it.

It was not the first time he had came looking for answers, but his mother had strictly forbade him from inspecting the building.

She was afraid of it, he realised. It had taken the love of her love, and she wasn’t going to let it take her son either. It seemed wrong going there back then, and even more so now. But he had to, if there was any chance at finding his father.

    The old hospital loomed over him, each window broken and boarded. With his heart nearly bursting out of his chest, Kevin ran up to the window he used to climb into.

    Upon inspection, however, he realised it had been some time since he had last wiggled through the boards. There was no way we was going to fit inside now, as a grown thirteen year old boy.

He grabbed one of the boards and pulled, surprised at how well it was hammered to the wall. His hands burned but he continued to pull. Nothing’s going to stop me. The board sprung free.

    Stepping inside, he rubbed his hands together. The floor consisted of baby blue titles covered in dust and cobwebs. In the far corner, a rat scurried behind a desk that held a typewriter and some faded papers stuffed into it.

    From this room, three hallways branched from it, one leading to a pair of elevators Kevin was not inclined to try, one barred off by a set of gigantic heavy doors, and the other leading to a cafeteria and gift shop. At least, that was what the sign read.

    With no real direction in mind, Kevin began to wonder. He had looked through every room before, and now doubt started to set in.

    You’re never going to find anything, he told himself.

    His eyebrows drew together. “Yes I am!”

    With this in mind, he searched, not knowing what he was looking for. He searched every room, knowing what he would find in each. Empty beds, old cots, I.D.s that hung from lanyards.

    None of the rooms were locked. He had already unlocked them in previous encounters, whether by key or by pick.

    Finally, his frustrations rose, he let out a yell and slumped against the wall.

I don’t understand. How can a man disappear without a trace. Maybe he was in another…

Before he finished the thought, his eyes locked on a door. The door to the basement.

His gut tugged, telling him to go down.

He had only been down there twice, both times fleeing from it when got scared. That was then. Now he needed to find his father, whatever it took.

When he opened the door, a gust of freezing air hit his face. He shivered before heading down the narrow staircase. The walls that flanked him were cool to the touch.

    He began to chew at the inside of his lip. Something he did when he was in deep thought.

    The cement floor seemed to emit its own low temperature. Pipes scattered around the room like a miniature maze. Cardboard boxes were stacked in the corners, each sporting a grand collection of grime. A boiler sat in the back, likewise engaged.

    Just then, something caught Kevin’s ear. He turned to see a black orb, sitting on a table at the far end of the room, surrounded by more damaged boxes. He wouldn’t have noticed it if it were not emitting a low sound. It was the only thing in the room not covered in dust.

    It was calling to him.

    Kevin… Kevin…

    His heart jumped into his throat.

    Kevin… Kevin…

    No, it wasn’t calling him, it was his mother calling him.

Kevin…

He inched forward, reaching out his hand.

    A million thoughts swarmed within his subconscious, or perhaps he thought of nothing. Nothing but the obsidian orb that sat before him.

Finally, he grasped it. It was warm, yet cool at the same time. Rough yet smooth, light yet heavy.

The voice was gone, but Kevin felt like he was no longer alone.

Suddenly, a bright blue light flashed in his face. Then, just like that, he was gone. And the orb floated right back to where it had been.