Annoying like a Curse

Chapter 19: CHAPTER 16: Joshua



Max ran down the street and finally caught up with the boys he was supposed to hang out with that evening. "Hey," he called when he saw them near the old school. "I told you, my parents are crazy. They want to move because they say we're being followed."

"What?" One of the boys looked at him, confused. "Really?"

"Yeah," Max agreed with a bitter smile. "They say they're being followed. But believe me, it's just some story."

"Sounds weird," said the other boy. "Maybe we should try the abandoned hospital. Who knows, maybe we'll find out what's behind it."

Max stared at her, his eyes wide with surprise. "This... this is crazy!"

Aurora stood in the kitchen, the smell of freshly baked bread filling the air. She turned as the shrill sound of the alarm clock rang in her ears, and the day officially began. Like every morning. But today, somehow, it felt different. The alarm clock rang again, three times. She heard the slight tiredness in Max's voice as he tried to fight the urge to get up. "Max! Hurry, get up, school's about to start!"

Aurora was patient. She'd said it so many times, but she still had to repeat it over and over again. "I'm calling you three times now!"

Another sigh. Max's footsteps slowly drew closer. Aurora turned back to the stove as she heard him slipping into his clothes, the day beginning to move into its usual rhythm. She knew it always took him a little longer to accept the day.

"Max, hurry up! You don't have much time left!" Her voice was calm, but also a little urgent. She knew this moment, the hectic morning rush, and knew full well that the bus had no patience.

Max called out something she didn't quite understand as he ran upstairs to brush his teeth. A smile crossed Aurora's face, though she couldn't show it, as she heard him hurrying through the house.

When he was almost out, she called after him, "Max, you forgot your lunch!" She could see him almost slam the door behind him and shout, "Thanks, Mom!"

A brief moment of reflection—she wanted to say more, perhaps give him more advice, but he was already on his way. Time was ticking, and she knew this day would be another one of many. But it was this moment, this feeling that overcame her. A strange, inexplicable feeling. Something wasn't right, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

She looked at the clock and sighed softly. How quickly everything always passed.

Aurora stood in the kitchen, stirring the pan with a large wooden spoon while the bacon crackled in the hot butter. The aroma of roasted meat and fresh eggs filled the room and made her heart beat a little lighter. It was a moment of normalcy, one of those rare, simple moments she'd longed for to forget the day. She was completely absorbed in her work as the fried egg in the pan reached the perfect golden color and the mashed potatoes slowly reached the right consistency.

She had prepared a selection for everyone on the table. Spinach, fresh rolls, and a few fruit juices were ready. It was to be the last dinner in this house before they had to move. Thoughts of the impending change hovered like a dark shadow in the room, but she tried to focus on the meal.

It was quiet, only the sound of food, the frying in the pan, and the occasional clinking of dishes broke the calm. Aurora thought about the next steps, what lay ahead, what she would have to leave behind. And yet, amidst all these thoughts, she took a moment to savor what she had prepared for her family.

Around 5 p.m., she heard the door open, and then it was Lukas, who entered the apartment with quick steps. He simply dropped his bag on the floor and was already halfway out the door, calling out: "I'm going to study with friends!"

She nodded without saying much. It was one of those moments when she just had to accept everything. She couldn't have known that Max had much more planned that evening than simply studying with friends. He then turned around, looked at her briefly, and disappeared from the kitchen.

Aurora stood silently for a moment, staring into the empty kitchen. The day took its own twists and turns, and she had no idea how everything would change. The last look at the room that demanded everything from her, but had also allowed her to live in silence.

Aurora sat at the dining table, her fork still in her hand, when the room suddenly felt like a dark hole. The moment created by the silence was abruptly shattered as the memory burst into her mind like a violent storm. The day it was all supposed to happen was suddenly here, but in a way she couldn't comprehend.

"When is Max coming?" she asked hastily, her voice shaky. The look she shot at her husband reflected a panicked anxiety.

"He'll be here soon," he replied, but his words suddenly sounded hollow, as if he, too, was unsure.

Aurora stared at the clock. 8 p.m. But something was wrong. She felt it deep inside, that tingling sensation that awoke the memory of impending disaster. She raised her eyebrows and asked, almost reflexively, "What day is it?"

"September 24, 2022," her husband answered, but immediately he paused. As the words left his mouth, the puzzle pieces suddenly fell into place.

"Oh my God," Aurora whispered, a cold shiver running down her spine. September 24. It was the day the tragedy occurred in the hospital—the day she lost Max, the day all those children were murdered. And now, at this moment, she was back here, in the past, as if time were shifting and the misfortune was coming for her again.

"What's wrong? What's wrong with you?" her husband asked, seeing the change in her face. He stood up and went to her, but she was paralyzed, unable to move.

"It's... it's the day," she stammered, slumping back into the chair. "The day it happened. Max, he... he'll disappear. What was supposed to happen in the future is happening right now. Lukas will..."

Her voice broke off as she turned to him. Her husband, Inspector Schäfer, looked at her with wide eyes. The realization hit him like a blow. He understood. "Oh my God," he murmured, finally grasping the truth. "This... this can't be happening."

"Yes," Aurora said, her voice trembling. "We're in the past, but what's happening in the future is happening now. Lukas will... he'll kill all the children. And he'll lie. We have to stop him before it's too late."

The look in Inspector Schäfer's eyes changed. The anger he could no longer contain came just as quickly as the realization that they were fighting against time. The images of the future he had repeatedly imagined were now catching up with him. "We must act immediately," he finally said, his words firm and unmistakable. "We must find Lukas before he does it again. We cannot lose any more lives."

Aurora nodded, feeling the chill spreading within her. She knew they had now begun a race against time.

The door burst open before Aurora and Schäfer could rush out. Two police officers stood before them, solemn expressions and bowed heads. One of the officers raised a hand as if to reassure her, but his tone left no room for comfort.

"Mrs. Stein, Mr. Schäfer..." he began hesitantly. "We are sorry to inform you that your son Max has disappeared."

Aurora's eyes widened, her hands instinctively grasping the doorframe to steady herself. "What... what do you mean, disappeared?" Her voice was hoarse, almost a whisper.

The police officer began: "A boy named Lukas—the only survivor—told us about a gruesome act that took place in the hospital. He claims a homeless man forced them to kill each other. I'm sorry, but we haven't found any trace of Max yet."

Aurora staggered back a step, her face turning ashen. "Lukas..." she whispered, staring at Schäfer, who seemed petrified. His jaw was tense, his hands clenched into fists.

"It was him," Schäfer finally blurted out. "It was Lukas."

"We have to go!" Aurora suddenly screamed, her voice trembling with panic. She pushed the police officers aside and ran to the car. "He's there, I know it! We have to get to that damn hospital!"

Schäfer didn't hesitate, ran after her and got into the car. The tires squealed as he drove off, while Aurora sat beside him, trying to collect her thoughts.

By the time they reached the old hospital, it was already shrouded in darkness. The once-white walls were covered in moss, the windows shattered, the entrance half-collapsed.

Aurora jumped out of the car, ran across the overgrown courtyard, and stopped abruptly when she saw the open door. She gasped and turned to Schäfer, who was only slowly approaching.

"He's gone..." she whispered, looking inside the building. It was empty. No Max. No Lukas. Only silence.

Schäfer stepped beside her, his gaze as cold as the night air. "He's always one step ahead of us."

Aurora put her hands over her face, her body trembling. "We should have known... We should have suspected."

Schäfer placed a hand on her shoulder, his voice full of determination: "We'll get him. And this time he won't escape us."

The dark shadows of the hallway seemed to thicken as Lukas' footsteps drew closer. His smile was cold, almost triumphant, as he faced Aurora and Schäfer.

"Hmm, interesting to see you again," he began, a hint of mockery in his voice.

Aurora stared at him, her eyes wide with shock. "Lukas..." she whispered. Schäfer instinctively drew his weapon, pointing it shakily at the man in front of them.

"Where's Max?" Schäfer asked sharply, his tone full of anger and urgency.

Lukas tilted his head slightly to the side, as if amused by the question. "Max... Max... oh, yes, your little darling." He shook his head slowly, a soft laugh escaping his throat.

"Where is he?!" Aurora cried, taking a step forward.

Lukas raised a finger as if admonishing her. "Aurora, Aurora... so impatient. Why should I tell you anything? You have no idea what this is about anyway."

"I swear, Lukas," Schäfer hissed, tightening his grip on the gun in his hand, "if you've done anything to my son, I'll kill you myself."

Lukas laughed loudly, a deep, cold sound that echoed through the hallway. "You? Kill me? Schäfer, you're even more ridiculous than I thought."

"Where is Max?" Aurora cried again, her voice cracking, desperation written all over her face.

"You really want to know where he is?" Lukas asked in an almost teasing tone. His eyes flashed with malice as he leaned a little closer to them.

"Yes!" Aurora cried. "Tell us!"

Lukas just shook his head, slowly and with obvious satisfaction. "Oh, I think I'll keep that to myself."

"Why?!" Schäfer yelled, the gun still pointed at him. "What did you do to him?"

"Did to him?" Lukas raised his eyebrows as if the question were absurd. "I merely did what was necessary. Maybe he's alive, maybe not. Maybe he's out there somewhere... or maybe right in front of your eyes."

"What do you mean?" Aurora cried, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Naive as ever," Lukas murmured with a disparaging look. Then he spread his arms as if inviting them to think. "But you know, I really don't have time for your little games right now."

"Lukas!" Schäfer called, but the man just laughed again.

"You're so... predictable," he said, taking a step back into the shadows. "Maybe one day you'll find the answers you're looking for. Or maybe not."

Before they could do anything, he vanished into the darkness as if he'd never been there. Only his mocking laughter echoed through the halls, while Aurora and Schäfer remained, torn between anger, fear, and despair.

Aurora and Schäfer stood in the empty, sterile hallway of the hospital. The hum of the neon lights above them reinforced the oppressive silence, broken only by their heavy breathing. Aurora was pale, her hands shaking slightly as she leaned against the wall.

"This..." she began, then stopped immediately. Her gaze wandered over the stained tiles and the closed doors. "This was the place. This is where it all began."

Schäfer nodded curtly, his eyes scanning the surroundings like those of a hunter expecting movement at any moment. "If Lukas was here, he left traces. But he's not alone. There's something behind him. He's not just a boy, Aurora."

Aurora clenched her fists. "I know. But we have to find out how deep this goes. And we can't do it alone."

Schäfer pulled out his cell phone. His thumb hovered over the screen before dialing a number. He raised the phone to his ear and waited while Aurora looked at him questioningly.

"Who are you calling?"

"Someone who can help us. Joshua Alexander Steinborn. He used to work in behavior analysis. But this," he made a vague gesture at the space around them, "this is more than just behavior. And Joshua knows how to handle cases like this."

Aurora raised an eyebrow, her skepticism clearly evident. "And he's just going to show up and believe us?"

Schäfer gave her a sharp look. "He knows more about Lukas than we do. Believe me, he'll come."

After a few seconds, Schäfer heard a click on the line. A deep, smoky voice answered. "Schäfer. This is a surprise. I thought you'd never call again."

"Joshua," Schäfer began bluntly, "I need your help. It's about Lukas."

There was a brief, oppressive silence on the other end of the line before Joshua answered, "Lukas... I knew that name would come up again. It's a curse, Schäfer. A damned curse of something we can barely comprehend."

Aurora froze at these words while Schäfer rubbed her forehead. "We're at the hospital where it all began. Lukas has struck again, and we need answers."

Joshua laughed softly, but without any joy. "Answers? Schäfer, you're looking for answers in a game whose rules you don't know. But I'm coming. Give me an hour."

Before Schäfer could answer, Joshua hung up. Schäfer put the phone away and looked at Aurora, who was staring at him with wide eyes.

"What did he mean by curse?" she asked quietly.

Schäfer shook his head. "We'll find out soon enough. But if Joshua says he's coming, then he means it. And if he thinks Lukas is a curse... then we're facing something neither of us understands."

Aurora nodded slowly, her gaze wandering back over the deserted hallway. "If that's true... then Max might still have a chance. We have to do everything, Schäfer."

"We will," he replied, drawing his weapon as if to encourage himself. "But if Joshua is right, we could be fighting more than just one boy."

Aurora took a deep breath, and together they began searching the hospital, certain that their next meeting with Lukas would change everything.

Aurora and Schäfer waited in the hospital lobby, the oppressive silence broken only by the occasional clatter of a dripping faucet. Schäfer stood with her arms crossed, her jaw tense, while Aurora stared nervously into the hallway.

The door creaked open, and an old man entered. Joshua Alexander Steinborn. His stooped gait was supported by a worn cane, but his presence filled the room. The deep furrows in his face testified to a past of struggle, and his pale, piercing eyes radiated an intelligence undeterred by age.

"Schäfer," he croaked, his voice soft but with a sharpness that immediately captured everyone's attention. "You're calling me, after all these years? That means you have a problem bigger than you."

Schäfer stepped forward and gave a curt nod. "Lukas. We need your help, Joshua. There's no one who understands him better than you."


Tip: You can use left, right, A and D keyboard keys to browse between chapters.