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Upon hearing the news, panic arose within the Blacksmith family. Their fathers all went inside the house to confirm what the kids said while their mothers huddled the kids together.
“Cedric, I already checked the river behind the house, there’s no sign of ‘em.” John, the third brother said after a few moments of catching his breath.
True enough, the back of Grandma Isadora’s house lay a beautiful river that stretched on for miles. They’d sometimes spend time there in picnics when the older kids were still pretty young, riding canoes and playing tag along the other side of the river but not furthering near the forest—never venturing inside the forest. Hurricane could still remember their grandmother telling them stories about the creatures of the forest. All scary creatures that loved to hobble children for dinner were her favorite topics, she is fascinated with them that whenever granny Isadora tells them stories, she always listens with rapt attention. As she grew older, and their grandma shared those stories again—but this time with the younger ones, she believed it was just the old woman’s way of stopping them from ever stepping inside the forest. But now she’s starting to doubt her beliefs. Something doesn’t feel right. She thought.
“But this is strange, I called Mit yesterday and confirmed the time of our arrival today. He was even pretty jovial in telling me the rooms and beds are already clean and ready for our arrival.” Cedric, hers, and Cyclone’s father informed them, his face contorted with frustration and stress building up inside him. Mit, the man her father called is her grandma’s right-hand man at the house, an all-around servant along with those other two.
“This is really getting way out of hand. That’s it let’s go to the authorities.” Aunt Esther, Emman and Lucy’s mother, the ever sensible one among the group, said.
That statement seemed to have awoken some sense within the elders for after a few thrown agreements, they all set out to go to the authorities and report the situation and find witnesses—while leaving the older kids in charge of the younger ones at their grandmother’s spooky old home in-case any of the missing people decide to come back.
As their parents left, Hurricane—as the older one in the group at 21, assumed the role of being in charge and asked everybody to stay at the lounge where their grandma always had her coffee.
“Ok, everyone. I’ll have to ask all of you to stay here okay? Jade, Mint? Would you help me make snacks for everybody?” Hurricane asked. After reminding the remaining kids to refrain from being reckless, she, along with Jade and Mint went to the kitchen to prepare the snacks.
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After eating the prepared snacks, the kids were back to huddling in silence as if wary of the tension surrounding them. Nobody tried to start a conversation, in fear of being snapped at. Mint or mostly called ‘Cricket’ at school, could tell Hurricane is feeling cranky because of the situation. As the eldest among the cousins, Hurricane held the most responsibility for them-and Mint could understand that.
The twins were also silent, which is quite rare since they are the rowdiest amongst the group. Anyone could tell that their grandmother’s sudden disappearance is putting everyone on edge, and it’s not good. Something is really up. Mint thought.
Among the cousins, Hurricane (20) and her brother Cyclone (14), were known to keep mostly to themselves and don’t like to interact with the others unless necessary. However, the somewhat taciturn siblings with their brilliant heads, always have the solution that saves all of them whenever they landed themselves in trouble before.
Contrary to the calamity siblings, the twins-Jethro and Jullian (both 19) are the storms that usually the cause why all of them is in trouble. The double menace, with their unrivaled prank,s is a hazard to those who are at the receiving end of their attention.
Then comes the youngest of the group, Emmanuel (10) and his little sister Lucy (8), which could only be described as opposites. Emmanuel with his sweet, naïve & nerdy nature-is often the subject of the twin’s special attention. However, Lucy on the other hand could only be described as sarcastic and always seem to sport a devil may care attitude that is often displayed on her face. Though opposites, Lucy is always at her brother’s side and usually save him from getting caught up in unnecessary troubles.
Lastly, the only group with four offspring, has hues of green as names—which was mean to be an inside joke within the family since their mother’s maiden name is Greene. Jade (19), the eldest of the four, is usually commended for her kind understanding nature which would rapidly change to 360 if it concerns her friends and family. Next is Aquamarine (13), the third one. At first glance, you would dismiss her as a shy girl—just wait till she gets comfortable with you and all shit goes down the drain faster than you could say Fetty Wap. Then comes Yellow (11) who’s as sunny as her namesake. She’s a master at annoying people—with her loud singing, haphazard motions she calls dancing, and her persistent nature that drove most people cray-cray…
And then there’s me… Mint thought with amusement. Aside from Yellow and the twins, Mint (17) is the energy powerhouse of the bunch. With her ridiculous food intake that contradicts her slim body size and her general love for anything food, she also loves to worry people by her impulsive nature.
“So what?” Mint asked the bunch just to break the deafening silence. Most of them, apart from Emmanuel and Lucy, shrugged as if at lost with ideas.
“We wait, I guess? We don’t have any ideas where grandma is, and she could be anywhere.” Jullian replied nonchalantly.
“True.” Jade seconded the statement.
Mint was about to open her phone and call her mother for news about their grandmother, when Lucy cried out—throwing everyone in a state of surprise and panic.
The child was crying, she was mouthing words as if telling them something, but the words were muffled by her sob. Emmanuel and Cyclone immediately went beside her to comfort her and ask her what happened.
“What is she saying? What’s happening?” Hurricane asked, her expression etched with worry.
“Aaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!” Jullian suddenly shouted. She too was on the brink of crying her eyes out.
Both her hands flew to cover her ears—as if wanting to block something out.
Everyone was thrown into a state of distress and chaos—not knowing what to do, and what exactly is happening. Jethro, Aqua, and Yellow went to aid the wailing Jullian, while Mint went to get water for everyone.
“Dead man? Orc?” Cyclone muttered in confusion. Emmanuel nodded confirming Cyclone’s words were indeed correct. Both he and Lucy’s brother-Emman were the ones who went to Lucy’s rescue.
“What???” Hurricane almost shouted. It was obvious that the situation is driving all of them into frustration.
“Sorry, I could only comprehend a few words. She’s talking about an Orc and a dead man.” Cyclone answered.
“What in hell is a bloody Orc?” Hurricane asked again. By this time, Jade was beside Hurricane—torn between calming her and trying to perceive the words and how it connects to the situation.
“Don’t know what exactly, but it is a mythical monster of some sort.” Cyclone answered.
“What are you trying to imply?” Jade asked, still confused.
“Will everybody please stop talking for a moment?” Jethro shouted in frustration. Everybody but Jullian and Lucy was still for a moment.
“I’d like to know what’s happening, please. I don’t know what’s going on with her.” Jethro said in a pleading voice, gesturing to the agonized-looking Jullian. He looks like he’s about to pass out with worry.
“That’s what we’re trying to know too… but we’re still trying to figure out if whatever it is that Lucy’s been muttering has any connection to our current situation or if it’s just a silly hallucination. Which is downright ridiculous I know, but I’m throwing all common sense out of the window right now.” Hurricane replied. Jethro seemed to comprehend the statement and went back to comforting his sister.
“I think this is some sort of a premonition or something.” Cyclone said.
“Premonition? About what?” Jade asked this time.
But the question was left unanswered when a deafening sound of breaking glass was heard before Mint let out an agonizing cry as she ran to them while pointing at something behind her. What they saw almost made them cry…
Running toward them was a very horrifyingly huge muscle-y monster with white tribal tattoo covering almost all its face. Its lower canines were protruding and elongated making the monster look more intimidating and all the more dangerous while giving them a murderous glare as if assessing which one of them looked tastier. But as to what the monster was holding in its bloodied hand, frightened them more…
It was Mit. Hurricane almost hurled as recognition slapped her. She would never forget the man who served their grandmother for a very long time now. The man was almost unrecognizable with his mangled body covered with grime and blood. Too much blood. Hurricane thought with dread.
Mit stared at them with alarm. He was shouting something, but they couldn’t hear it over the monsters’ loud growls. Cyclone threw a knowing look at Jethro before ushering their cousins together at the center of the room and positioning themselves in a protective stance. The monster saw this and sniggered vehemently.
“What are you trying to do child? You are nothing against Karo. Karo is a big strong orc. Karo will kill all of you. All of you are dinner to Karo.” The monster, which Cyclone later understood—was talking about himself in another person’s point of view, bellowed in a loud scratchy voice. Cyclone only replied a shrewd smile as he assessed the profile of the monster, his smile turning into a big full out grin as he noticed that it only brought one weapon… a dagger, which would soon be in his possession given the right precise moves and distraction. He later relayed his plans to Jethro in hushed tones in which the latter agreed to cooperate with.
“The book! Get the book from inside that chest. Open it!” Mit shouted the moment the orc’s attention was diverted elsewhere, his mangled hands pointed at the antique-looking chest at the side corner. Sensing the urgency of the moment, Jade jumped into action, her eyes zoning in her target. But the Orc, though as stupid as he may be, knew the book should not be in their hands.
He dropped Mit’s body and let out a loud strangled cry before making a dash to the far-left corner of the room where Jade was aiming for the chest.
At that precise moment, Jethro and Cyclone decided to enact their plan. With Jethro in charge of distracting the orc, and Cyclone in seizing the dagger from the orc.
The remaining children, including Jullian who’s now quietened-though, still shaking, and the passed-out Lucy were ushered to the opposite corner by Mint (She had Lucy in a piggy-back).
Hurricane directly dove in front of the orc—linking her arms with Jade’s waist to yank the latter away from getting hit by the dagger. The orc swung his dagger recklessly in an attempt to stop her from getting to the chest first.

Karo, the orc, was momentarily held immobile when Jethro covered his face with their grandmother’s old dusty quilt which was, fortunately, lying in one of the couches. The monster’s hands immediately flew to the entrapment to free himself from it—his dagger temporarily forgotten as it dropped to the floor.
Strike one.
Seizing the moment, Cyclone instantly took hold of the dagger—and with a force he didn’t know he had, he plunged the dagger inside the orc’s chest. With an agonized cry, the orc went in for Cyclone with a killing intent, not minding his foot as Jethro jerked his own and tripped the beast—the dagger, further lodging itself inside his chest as he hit the solid ground with a big loud thud.
Strike two.
Jethro kicked the unmoving monster to see if there are signs of life left, but the orc remained still for an indefinite time. “It’s dead.” Jethro announced with a grin. With the threat indisposed of, Jade proceeded to the chest and collected the said book. Like the chest, the book also looked antique. The monster didn’t even last for the third strike before it died.
“Mit’s also dead,” Hurricane announced sadly after checking the unmoving body—or what’s left of it, that is.
“So… what now?” Cyclone asked. All of them immediately gathered around where Mint and all their other cousins huddled together.
“We open the book. That’s what old man Mit said right?” Jethro supplied.
Hurricane and the others all turned their attention towards Jade who was currently holding the book in her arms.
“What?” Jade asked, confused as to why her cousins stared at her.
“Open it.” Mint urged further.
“What? I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Jade replied in an alarmed tone.
“Why?” Yellow asked.
“What if it’s a trap?” Jade reasoned out. Everyone seems to be considering the possibility.
“And what if it’s not? This might be the answer to all this crazy situation that led us here. I mean, we just killed an Orc—which by definition is a MYTHICAL creature till 10 minutes ago.” Jethro argued back.
“I don’t know… I just have apprehensions about this. How about you guys do it?” Jade.
“Um… Can I do it?” Emmanuel broke his silence unconfidently. He only wanted to show them he’s tough enough to do it. The older kids seem to be having qualms about letting him but Hurricane spoke.
“Okay.” Hurricane voiced her agreement before gesturing to Jade to hand over the book to Emman.
Emman accepted the book and took a deep breath before slowly lifting the cover of the book.
Everyone was holding their breaths—all anticipating something to happen.
One. Two. Three. Four. Five…
“Nothing happened?” Jethro voiced out before everything went pitch black...