Annoying like a Curse

The impact was loud and brutal. The car continued with a loud rumble, and the driver braked only late, realizing what had just happened. Lenny lay motionless on the ground as Schäfer, shock still in his eyes, slowly approached him.

"Lenny! Lenny!" he cried desperately, but it was too late. Lenny was dead.

The pain, grief, and anger spread through Schäfer, but all he could do was stand there and stare as the sirens of police cars approached.

Aurora and the children rushed into the parking lot, their heavy footsteps echoing in the silence. Their eyes searched frantically for Lenny, but when they saw the scene, their hearts stopped. Lenny lay motionless on the asphalt, while Schäfer knelt beside him, his head buried in his hands. The children stood frozen, staring at what was in front of them.

"Lenny!" Aurora cried, her voice almost breaking. She ran toward him, the children behind her. Her heart raced when she saw that he showed no reaction.

Schäfer stood up, staggering, tears streaming down his face. "He... he threw himself for me. A car was trying to run me over... he saved me..."

"What? What did you just say?" Aurora stammered, kneeling in front of Lenny and gently touching his body. "Lenny! Lenny!"

The children stood silently by, their eyes filling with tears as they watched the scene. It was as if time stood still. In that moment, there was only pain and the terrible loss they were experiencing.

"Why?" Lukas asked, his voice trembling. "Why did he do that?"

Aurora held the note in her hand that had earlier fallen from Lenny's pocket. It was an invitation. "Surprise party from Lenny for all of you," she read aloud, "today, on his birthday." Her heart skipped a beat. "It was his birthday today. He wanted to surprise us, to make us happy... and now..."

The tears flowed freely. It was as if they couldn't believe what had just happened. Lenny, who had done so much for them, who had helped them, who had always been there for them, now lay lifeless before them.

"He never complained, never expected anything," Aurora whispered, her voice broken. "He never wanted to be a burden to us, always just to be there for us..."

"We wanted to surprise him," Max said quietly. "We wanted to show him how much he meant to us..."

"But now..." Lukas sobbed. "Now he's gone, and we never said so."

The silence in the parking lot was unbearable. It was a moment of complete shock, of loss, and they didn't know how to handle it. They had lost a friend, a mentor, someone who had changed their lives in so many ways. And now he was gone, without them ever truly telling him how much he meant to them.

Schäfer, still overcome with grief, slowly walked over to Aurora and the children. "I'm sorry," he said, "I'm sorry I never realized. He saved me, and I never showed him enough how much that meant to me."

Aurora just nodded silently as she gently took Lenny by the arm. "He saved us, and now we must remember him forever. We must give him the honor he deserves."

The children still stood by in silence, tears in their eyes, as the rain began to patter softly on the pavement. It was a painful moment that would remain in their hearts forever.

The ambulance arrived, and two paramedics carefully lifted Lenny's body onto a stretcher. It was as if every movement only made the weight of loss heavier. Aurora stood at the side and watched silently as they loaded the body into the vehicle. The children stood behind her, silent and broken, while Schäfer took a step back, still overcome by grief.

"He saved us all," murmured Max, his voice trembling. "He was always there for us..."

"We must give him the honor he deserves," Aurora said, her voice husky. "He was more than just a friend to us. He was part of our family."

When the ambulance finally crept away, everyone climbed into the car in silence. The atmosphere was heavy; no one knew quite what to say. It was as if words couldn't ease the pain. The car drove through the streets, and the children's and Aurora's thoughts revolved around only one thing: Lenny.

"We need to organize a big funeral," Aurora said after a long silence. "Something that does him justice. We have to give him everything he deserves."

"Yes, he was the best person we ever met," Lukas added. "He never let us down. We have to show him that we will never forget him."

"It'll be hard to go on without him," Max said quietly, staring out the window. "But we have to do it for him. He wanted us to be happy."

Once home, they walked into the house in silence. The children went to their rooms while Aurora sat on the sofa, deep in thought. The responsibility for the funeral weighed heavily on her shoulders, but she knew it was the only thing they could do for Lenny right now.

"We'll take care of everything," Aurora said finally, looking over at the children. "We'll give him the best funeral he would have wanted."

The children nodded, even though they weren't quite able to grasp the full implications. They soon went to bed, each lost in their own thoughts, the pain of loss gnawing at their hearts. The night stretched into a gloomy silence, broken only by occasional sobs.

And so ended the day they lost their beloved friend. It was the beginning of a long, painful journey, but they knew they would always remember him—and that they would pay him the honor he deserved.

A week had passed since they lost Lenny. The day of the funeral had arrived, and the car carrying Aurora, Schäfer, and the children drove slowly along the streets. The sky was overcast, and the rain had just stopped as they approached the cemetery. The children sat in the back, staring out the window, their faces sad as they kept thinking about Lenny.

Max, who had barely spoken a word all week, looked over at Lukas. "Why... why did he have to die, Lukas?" he asked quietly, his voice broken.

Lukas knew there were no easy answers, so he simply said, "It was his fate, Max. Sometimes we don't understand why things happen. But Lenny taught us a lot."

Aurora, who was sitting in the driver's seat, turned around and looked at her children with tear-filled eyes. "Lenny was a very special person. And I think he wanted us to always stick together, no matter what. Even though he's no longer with us, he'll always be a part of us."

"Why didn't he ever tell us it was his birthday?" Max asked again, his voice almost accusing as he looked at his mother.

"Because he wanted us to just love him for who he was," Aurora answered gently. "He didn't want big celebrations, no attention. He was happy to be with us, and that meant more to him than anything else."

Schäfer, who was sitting in the front seat with the steering wheel firmly in his hands, took a deep breath as he turned to them. "There are people who never care about fame, only about doing good. Lenny was one of them. And even though he's gone, we must carry on his legacy."

They slowly approached the cemetery, and the silence in the car was oppressive. Not another word was spoken as they parked the cars at the entrance and got out. The rain had stopped, but the sky was still gray and oppressive as they made their way to the grave.

As the priest stood in front of the mourners, he lowered his gaze to the grave and took a deep breath before he began to speak. The silence in the cemetery was overwhelming, with only the faint rustling of the leaves to be heard. "We are gathered here today to say goodbye to Lenny," the priest began in a calm, dignified voice. "To say goodbye to a person who, in his own way, left a deep impression. We don't always know why life imposes such harsh trials on us, but we know there is always a meaning, even if we may never fully understand it."

He paused to let the words sink in as the mourners looked down at the ground, each with their own thoughts.

"Lenny was a man who taught us many things—about courage, about friendship, about the love he felt for his fellow human beings. It is difficult to find words in such a moment that can ease the pain each of us feels right now. But in this moment, it is important to remember the good he left behind. The smiles, the friendships he made in his short life."

The priest paused, and it was clear how difficult the moment was for him. The grief was in the air, almost tangible. "Lenny, you will never be forgotten. Your memory will live on in our hearts. May your soul find peace."

With these final words, the priest stepped aside, and the relatives began to share their thoughts.

Aurora stepped forward first, her eyes still blurred by tears, but her voice was steady as she stepped into the center of the circle with trembling hands. "Lenny..." Her voice almost broke, but she continued. "You weren't just a friend to me, you were a light in dark times. I knew you didn't always take the easier path. You had it tough, and yet you never gave up. You showed us all what it means to truly live, to love, and to fight for what's important to you. I never thought I'd lose you so quickly."

She paused, looking at the grave as if saying goodbye. "I know you were always there for all of us, even when you had a lot to bear yourself. You were a person who deserved to be remembered. For everything you taught us and everything you gave us—thank you, Lenny."

Aurora stepped back and turned to the others with a deep breath. The wind blew through the trees, but grief was still the dominant force in the moment. You could feel everyone present trying to comprehend the gravity of the loss.

Schäfer stepped forward next. His posture was erect, but his eyes betrayed the burden he carried. "Lenny... I can hardly believe you're no longer here. You were never just a..." He paused briefly and rubbed his face. "You were more than just a friend. You taught me what it meant to truly trust, what it meant to not give up, even in the most difficult moments. Even if I never really told you, I appreciated you, more than you may have ever known."

He took a deep breath. "You gave us all so much. Even if you didn't always believe in good, you showed us how to recognize it, how to live it. You taught me more than I could ever thank you for. And for that, I will be eternally grateful. You will always be a part of me, Lenny. You will not be forgotten."

Schäfer stepped back, and now it was Max's turn to share his thoughts. The young man stood hesitantly, his voice uncertain as he began. "Lenny, you were the best I've ever known. You showed us that there is still hope, even when everything around us is falling apart. You gave your best in every moment, even if you didn't always get the recognition you deserved."

Max wiped away his tears and looked down at the floor. "You weren't just a friend, you were a brother. And I... I never thought you'd leave so soon. But I will never forget you, Lenny. Your words, your actions—they will always stay with me. And I'll make sure they stay with everyone else, too. You meant so much to us."

With these words, Max stepped back, and there was silence. The mourners stood there for a long while, each lost in their own thoughts. The priest looked at the grave once more, then closed his eyes and quietly murmured a prayer.

The air was heavy, and time seemed to stand still. It wasn't the moment for hectic movement or quick decisions. Everyone had to come to terms with the loss, in their own way. And so the family stood in the cemetery for a long time without saying a word. The silence was their only connection to what they had all lost.

The group slowly began to move, but Schäfer and Aurora remained at the grave site. The others, some of Lenny's distant relatives, began to leave the cemetery to get some fresh air.

Schäfer looked at the children, who were still standing at the edge, unable to fully process the situation. "Please go to the playground," he said in a raspy voice. "We need to be alone here for a while. You can distract yourselves there."

Aurora also nodded. "You don't have to stay here. Go play for a bit, it will do you good."

Max and Lukas looked at each other uncertainly, but then nodded and set off with slow steps toward the playground, which was located a little way off the cemetery. The silence of the cemetery weighed heavily on their shoulders, but the thought of distracting themselves for a moment was tempting. So they started walking, but their thoughts remained on what had just happened.

The adults stayed behind, and it was clear that they needed some time to say goodbye to Lenny in peace. The sound of the children moving away seemed to only intensify the silence of the cemetery as everything was enveloped in a moment of contemplation.

The children were still playing in the playground next to the cemetery's old trees. They spoke quietly to each other, as if grief for Lenny suppressed any loud voice. The sun was slowly setting, and the shadows of the trees were lengthening.

A man approached them. He was tall, with dark, slightly wavy hair and a face that seemed somehow familiar, even though they had never seen him before. He wore a simple coat and moved with a calm confidence that both reassured the children and made them uneasy.

"Hello," the man said in a deep, friendly voice. "You must be Max and Lukas."

The two children looked at him in surprise. Max was the first to answer, "Yes, but... who are you?"

The man smiled slightly and said, "I'm your uncle. Your mother's brother."

"Aurora's brother?" Lukas frowned. "We've never heard of an uncle."

The man nodded calmly. "That's not surprising. I haven't spoken to your mother in a long time. But after what happened..." He paused, as if choosing his words carefully. "I wanted to make sure you were okay. That's why I'm here to take you home."

Max and Lukas exchanged a suspicious look. Something about the situation felt odd. But then Max said quietly, "He looks a bit like Lenny."

Lukas stared at the man and nodded slowly. "Yes, kind of. But..."

"But what?" Max asked.

"But we've never seen Lenny's face. We can see it in his." Lukas' voice sounded hesitant, but he didn't want to voice the thought that, despite the resemblance, this man could also seem completely different.

The man laughed softly. "Lenny was a good boy. You were important to him. I just want to make sure you're safe. Your parents are probably worried."

The words seemed to reassure the children, even though a shred of doubt remained. Finally, Max nodded. "Okay. But why did you only show up now?"

"It was complicated," the man answered evasively. "Let's just go, okay? Your parents are waiting for you."

The children hesitated for a moment, but then agreed. They followed the man to his car, which was parked inconspicuously at the edge of the cemetery. He opened the doors for them, and the children climbed in.

"You're really taking us home, aren't you?" Lukas asked as the man started the engine.

"Of course," the man said with a slight smile. "I'll look after you."

But as the car drove through the increasingly dark streets, the children noticed that the route seemed strange. It didn't lead in the direction of their house, but somewhere they'd never been before.

The children sat silently in the car as the forest outside grew increasingly dense. The man behind the wheel barely spoke, and the tension in the car was palpable. Max and Lukas exchanged fleeting glances, each with the same thought: Something was wrong.

Max finally broke the silence, his voice quiet and hesitant. "Lukas... why would Mom and Dad worry if they... if they're at the cemetery?"

Lukas's eyes narrowed, and he nodded slowly. "Right... that doesn't make sense. They know we're safe."

The silence was broken by a slight rumble of tires on the uneven road. The man said nothing, just stared straight ahead, but his posture seemed almost tense.

Max whispered, "And why... why would we even be taken to their home? They're not even there."

Lukas opened his mouth to say something, but his voice trailed off when he caught the man's gaze in the rearview mirror. For a moment, his eyes seemed to glow strangely in the dim light, almost like a predator watching its prey.

"Why are we driving so far away?" Max murmured.

"We'll be there soon," the man said suddenly, his voice calm, but with something eerie about it.

The children looked at each other, an unspoken understanding hanging between them. The car stopped briefly in a clearing, the engine still running, but the man seemed to hesitate for a moment.

Max slowly turned to Lukas and whispered, his voice barely audible: "Lukas... something's not right here."

Lukas nodded almost imperceptibly. His gaze wandered out into the murky forest; the shadows seemed alive. "Wait a minute," he finally whispered, his voice trembling slightly.

"What?" Max looked at him questioningly.

Lukas took a deep breath, his fingers gripping the seat. "Why... why would we even follow them? Why would they worry when we..."

Max stared at him, his eyes widening as the realization slowly dawned on him. "Lukas..."

They looked at each other, the unrest in their eyes reflected in each other's. They whispered simultaneously, the words barely more than a breath:

"Our parents' family... was murdered. All of them."

The air seemed to stand still, and for a moment there was only the rustling of the trees and the dull hum of the engine. The man turned slightly toward them, his face in shadow.

"Are you okay, kids?" he asked with a smile that made them shiver.

Max and Lukas stared at each other, their hearts beating so loudly they drowned out the rustling of the forest. Neither of them dared to speak aloud the thought that pounded inescapably in their heads.

"Max... I think... I think we're being kidnapped," Lukas finally whispered, his voice shaky.

Max's eyes widened, and his hands clenched into fists. "This man... he doesn't even know us. He knows nothing about us. How... how can he be our uncle?"

They looked around in panic, the dark forest seeming to grow around them like an impenetrable wall. Max glanced quickly ahead, where the man continued driving with a blank expression, his hands gripping the steering wheel.

"Lukas... we have to get out of here," Max whispered, his voice trembling with fear.

"But how?" Lukas' voice sounded just as desperate. "The nearest house is miles away. If we jump out of the car..."

Before he could finish, the man suddenly moved. With an incredibly quick move, he pulled the car to a stop in a clearing, the engine still roaring as the doors were flung open.

"What—!" Max screamed, but the man had already grabbed him, his hands like vices around Max's arms. Lukas tried to escape, but a strong hand yanked him out of the car.

"Stop screaming!" the man hissed, his voice ice-cold. The children continued to scream, their cries echoing through the empty forest, but the silence quickly swallowed them up.

"It's no use," the man said, dragging them both toward a gloomy, abandoned house hidden among the trees. "No one can hear you out here."

"Let us go!" Max kicked desperately, but the man didn't let up.

"They don't even know us! They're lying!" Lukas yelled, but the man didn't react.

The doors of the house were flung open with a hard shove, and the man pulled the children inside. The musty smell and the darkness took their breath away.

"Help! Help!" Max screamed again as they were dragged into the gloomy interior.

"Stop screaming!" thundered the man's voice, and the walls of the house seemed to carry the echo.

The children felt the cold surrounding them, and the darkness seemed to swallow them whole as the man slammed the door behind them with a loud bang.

The man dropped the children hard onto the cold wooden floor. Max and Lukas gasped, their hands desperately groping for a foothold in the darkness.

"Welcome to your new home," the man said in an eerily calm tone as he lit a flickering lantern. The light cast long, ghostly shadows on the shabby walls of the house.

"What... what do you want from us?" asked Lukas, his voice trembling with fear.

The man smiled. It was a smile that carried no warmth. "I want to help you. You've lived in a world that doesn't understand you. But that's about to change. I'll show you who you really are."

Max and Lukas exchanged uncertain glances. The man nodded toward an old table covered with books and strange objects. Beneath lay small figures, strange masks, and a dusty mirror.

"What is all this?" asked Max, his voice thick with suspicion.

"Tools," the man said simply. "Aids to strengthen you. You are not ordinary children. There is a potential within you that you don't yet understand. I will help you unleash it."

He reached for one of the books and opened it with a solemn gesture. The pages were filled with strange symbols and drawings that glowed a deep red, as if they were coming to life.

"That's nonsense!" protested Lukas, but his voice sounded weak.

"Is it?" The man stepped closer, his figure appearing even more threatening in the flickering light. "You've sensed that you're different, haven't you? The way you see the world, the way you understand it... deep down, you know I'm right."

Max and Lukas were silent, the man's words echoing in their heads.

"It won't hurt," the man said gently as he picked up two of the masks from the table. They were made of dark wood, with bizarre, engraved patterns. "Put them on, and you'll see."

Max shook his head. "We're not going along with this! Let's go!"

The man grinned, as if he'd been expecting exactly this reaction. "You have no choice."

With a quick movement, he pulled the two masks over their faces. A sudden pain shot through the children, their screams echoing in the empty house. But then... silence.

The darkness seemed to merge with them, their thoughts became clouded, and a strange feeling of power began to simmer within them.

"You'll see," the man whispered as he watched them. "You'll see the world through my eyes. And then you'll thank me."

The children sank to their knees, their bodies trembling as they slowly began to change.