even up to this date, the brick has been kept there, unmoved. My grandmother had told me this story when I was
younger.
“
No! That’s the legend, I mean; do you know the real reason why he spoke of a supernatural being?”He
enquired. I didn’t know what he meant.
Then, it struck me. He must be hiding something there. “Exactly!” said Tristan. So we had to find out
what it was. “Right, we already know where it is. So let’s go now!” “Before that, I really need to tell you
something” Tristan said. But I seemed too anxious to get there before those men find us. I told him it could wait,
this was more important.
It took us a while, and after about twenty questions to the local people there and a wild chicken chase
(
that’s a story for another time) we saw one single brick jutting out of the back of a gate. The place was deserted.
I stood there staring at it. “What do you expect me to do?” Tristan cried out. I realised I had been
staring at him for a while. “Umm…” I mumbled something even I didn’t understand and before I could try to
understand, he pulled it out. Behind it was a white crystal, clear as ever. The most beautiful accessory I’ve ever
seen before. Tristan frowned “I think it’s a spirit” I didn’t think I heard him right.
Just then, my necklace started heating up again. I looked around and found those people wandering
round. Before I could even think of ‘hide’ they spotted me. What’s more? I could still see myself. “Perfect” I
thought “Most harm” I was on my own. They approached us. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Tristan look
surprised and pick up the crystal. One of the men grabbed hold of his arm and yanked really hard.
“
Give the real one to me” I was confused. I glanced in his hands and saw he was holding two crystals.
They seemed identical. Tristan shot me a pleading look. He clearly didn’t know where the other crystal came
from. Sooner than I could utter a word in his aid, that man snatched one of the crystals.
That was astonishing. No, not him snatching it away, but that Tristan appeared to let go of crystal
almost as though he wanted to let that goon have it. After all we’ve been through; trust a boy to spoil everything.
Okay, so out of the four who will betray me, Tristan is one.
“
We are calling the cops!” he threatened. “Yeah right, and they will believe that we stole a crystal from
behind the Great Wall of China!” one goon mocked.
Just like that, they left. I guess we really couldn’t do anything about it. “Still, how did we get two
crystals?” he asked. Obviously, my necklace had done that. Being invisible in this case wasn’t going to help if
the crystal still could be seen.
“
Tristan! How could you?” I wailed. He clearly let them have the crystal to sell and earn a quick buck.
“
I’m… sorry… it’s about this Chinese horoscope”
“
What? You too?” I asked.
He looked confused but got over it quickly, like he understood the situation. He explained that his
horoscope mentioned that his right hand shall save a soul. He thought it meant that his righteousness would save
someone but I guess it had a double meaning.
Captured in the crystal was a soul, one of a person who is still alive but only remains so because
somebody locked it in there for safe-keeping. So no harm will approach that person. So, by letting the goons
take the crystal in his left hand, he managed to keep the one with the soul in it. He thus saved a life.
That’s it! This is getting way too stressful, what he did clearly does not make him a betrayer. So who will betray
me? He did help, will he betray?
“
Are you okay?”
“
Huh?”
“
Um you seemed dazed… I asked if you were okay”
“
Yeah sure…” okay, awkward. Moving on.
* * *