“I don’t understand why do we have to wear these silly pointy hats,” Malik said as he tried to set his hat correctly on his head.
“It is Friday the 13th, that’s why.” Sarah walked ahead of Ethan and Malik.
“It is supposed to keep away the bad luck.” Ethan said as he hurried to catch up to Sarah.
The three friends walked towards the fountain in steady steps, the keeper was supposed to make an announcment.
When they finally reached the fountain, hundreds of other students stood in waiting, so they joined their ranks and waited for Master Dalmatius to make his announcment.
Another five minutes passed, then Master Dalmatius walked through the throngs of the children, reached the fountain and started to talk.
“Today is a sepcial day,” his voice boomed, silencing the murmurs running between the students.
“It is not a day that comes every year, yet we have our traditions for Friday the 13th.” The keeper, Master Dalmatius, paused for moment. “I can see that all of you are wearing your hats, which is good.”
“The teachers will pass to you a special charm that deters the goblins of bad luck, keep them on you at all times through the day. Keep safe.” Master Dalmatius finished his little speech and stepped away, as the school staff started to give out a small bracelet to each student, and they had each an engraved four clover leaf on it.
Ethan and Sarah put their bracelets immediately while Malik fiddled with his.
“Put it on, and stop fiddling with it.” Sarah snapped at Malik.
“You really believe in this nonsense?” Malik laughed as he twirled the bracelet around his index finger.
“If Master Dalmatius said it is real, then it is.” Sarah tried to snatch the bracelet from Malik’s hand, and as a result, it broke.
“Look what you have done!” Malik shouted at her.
“It is not a big deal,” Ethan picked the broken bracelet from the ground, “I can fix it.”
“Keep it,” Malik shouted as he stormed away, “I wasn’t going to wear it anyway.”
Ethan looked at the pouting Sarah and said, “We should follow him.”
“Why should we, he was very rude.” Sarah blew off a long breath.
“Because he might get in trouble, you know Malik.” Ethan talked softly.
Sarah sighed and looked in the general direction where Malik went for a moment, “Ok, let’s follow him.”
As it was winter, the night was closing on them fast, and part of the added precautions advised by their teachers was to stay indoors once the night came.
Sarah and Ethan searched for some time, but as the school and its grounds were immense, it was not an easy job trying to find somebody if didn’t want to be found.
Beside that, the school had its own forest within the walls, and it was at least ten times the size of the school itself.
But the two friends didn’t quit, and continued their search, even after night already closed in.
Soon, there were almost nobody around, and the two friends didn’t have any light source on them, they only had the moon’s light to guide their search.
“I think we should search near the forest.” Ethan looked back and forth from Sarah to the dark forest ahead.
“I am not sure this is a good decision.” Sarah looked at the forest while her voice faltered.
“It is the only place we didn’t search in yet.” Ethan started to move towards the forest, and a moment later, Sarah followed.
Just a few yards inside the dark forest, they heard the sounds of some people talking.
They tiptoed the distance to the source of the voices.
“Me say, we eat it, Friday the 13th is ours.” A goblin about the size of an eight years child addressed a group of four other goblins.
“Me say, we can’t, the keeper punish.” Another goblin shook its head vehemently.
“Bad punish, the keeper powerful, much so.” A third goblin concurred the sentiment of the earlier one.
“But it soft, young, plenty of luck and meat.” The fourth goblin eyed something hidden from the eyes of Sarah and Ethan.
Sarah concentrated on whatever the goblins were discussing, there was a mound of leafs covering something, and suddenly, it kicked out.
“Those are the shoes of Malik,” Sarah whispered urgently to Ethan.
Ethan nodded and signaled her to follow.
Ethan and Sarah rounded the spot where the goblins gathered to the other end where Malik was.
When they finally reached there, they found him gagged and tied with vines, and covered by a whole mound of leafs and decaying plants.
Ethan signaled Malik to keep silent as he worked fast on the tie on his hands.
Sarah knelt to do the same to Malik’s feet, but she tripped over a hidden wire and a loud clang could be heard.
“Who goes?” The first goblin jumped almost at the face of Sarah.
“We eat you.” Another goblin brushed the shoulder of Ethan.
Sarah was completely silent with shock, but Ethan whispered to her, “I don’t think they can see us,” then he pointed to the bracelet on his wrist.
Sarah nodded and continued to untie Malik.
A goblin waved a knife in the air near her hands, which she withdrew just in time.
“Magic.” The third goblin screamed.
“No, Others.” The second goblin cried in fear.
Ethan caught on their fear and threw a rock at the first goblin, then another, and another.
“Others haunting us.” The third goblin screamed and ran, soon he was followed by the other four as they ran deep into the forest screaming.
Ethan and Sarah managed to free Malik within minutes.
Before Malik could thank them, Sarah clasped the bracelet on his wrist and said, “Never, ever, doubt Master Dalmatius.”
“From now on, I will heed his every word.” Malik said softly.
Ethan stood and pulled Malik up, “We should hurry, the goblins might wake up to our trickery soon.”
As the three finally reached their dorm, Sarah said, “Now, I have new respect for Friday the 13th.”
Life in Agartha.
If you want to read more stories revolving around this trio of friends enjoying special days in Nafoura, just like Friday the 13th go HERE, HERE, or HERE.
Also be sure to check their stories in our book, The Green Boy, HERE. Now, number 1 in new releases of fairy tales and folk tales. Read it TODAY!
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