"Aaaahhhhh!!!" Link hollered in pain, he couldn't even move a muscle. He was so drenched in sweat he could feel the fire walking his skin.
The door to Link's bedroom bolted open, it was his mom rushing towards him.
"Link! Wake up!" Link's mother rapidly shook him to open his eyes.
Finally, Link woke up panting, got up, looked around and saw his mom by his side. He was so relieved to know that he was just dreaming. He sat up and double checked if he really was in his bedroom.
"Bad dream? Why did you stay up late last night playing video games again?" His mom said slyly.
"No mom, I think I just had too many snacks last night." Link appeased his mother.
"Well, I guess you learned your lesson. Get ready now, Alex is waiting for you downstairs." His mother continued.
Link remembered that he's going to help Alex tend the store today because Alex's father was away for business. He hurriedly took a shower and went downstairs.
"What took you so long?" Alex asked Link as he was descending from the stairs.
"Took a shower. What's for breakfast?" Link asked as his mother let Alex in to have some breakfast.
"Pancakes, cereals and some brownies. Take your pick." Alex enumerated the food on the table to Link while munching on the pancakes.
After having breakfast, both of them said their goodbyes to Link's mom and went to the store.
"Link, what happened to you last Friday? Alex said to Link curiously.
Link literally stopped walking, that question triggered something in him. He thought it's just an ordinary day for him until Alex popped the question.
"Last Friday?" Link asked.
"Yes! You bolted out of the door so quickly, you didn't even say goodbye." Alex continued.
Link thought hard and with all the things that had happened, he felt something was missing.
"Link? You're spacing out again." Alex tried to get Link's attention.
"The Mecum." Link whispered.
"The what?" Alex said confusedly.
"You go ahead, I just forgot something." Link dashed back to his house as he couldn't believe that he forgot about the Mecum.
Alex was then left alone, scratching his head, as Link said he continued to walk to the store.
"How silly am I?" Link thought to himself.
He ran as fast as he could to get home. His mother might discover the Mecum in his bedroom and find it strange and call the police. Link started overthinking.
When he got to the house, Link was relieved to find out that there were no police on sight and it seemed quiet and peaceful. He went straight to his bedroom and found nothing.
Link looked everywhere and still nothing.
"What? Is that still part of the dream?" Link stopped and questioned himself.
He extended his search around the house, every corner and every possible hiding place, but still the same result, the Mecum was nowhere to be seen.
"You're back? Forgot something?" Link's mother asked.
Link was startled as his attention was focused on finding the Mecum.
"Yes mom." Link answered.
"What is it? Maybe I can help you find it." His mom replied.
"No need mom, I know where to find it. Thanks anyway!" Link said for his mom to stop any more inquiries.
He went to his bedroom again to think things through. He can't quite grasp the idea that the Mecum was just part of the dream, for him that was so real.
Link decided to follow Alex to the store and just move on from the fact that what happened last night didn't take place in his waking life.
"It was just a dream, it was not real." Link said convincing himself.
For the second time, he went downstairs, got his backpack and bid his mother goodbye. When Link got to the store, it was now open. He felt guilty leaving Alex alone to open the store as he saw hordes of customers waiting in line to pay for their purchases.
"What took you so long?" Alex felt relieved upon seeing Link come through the door and settled beside him.
"I'll tell you later, let's just finish this first. You do the cash register and I'll bag." Link stated.
"I'm fine with that!" Alex agreed with Link's plan.
After hours of working at the store, the two boys felt very exhausted. They closed at around 5 o'clock in the afternoon as what Alex's father instructed. He doesn't want his son to be at the store alone at night.
"All the windows secured, Alex." Link said.
"Ready to go home? You sure you don't want to bring along some chips home?" Alex asked.
"I'm good, Alex. Thanks!" Link reassured Alex.
While Alex locked the main door to the store, Link saw a blinking light underneath the back door office.
"Hey wait, you forgot to turn the light off in the back door office." Link pointed out to Alex.
"Huh, I never did go in there." Alex said, confused.
Alex looked closer in the window to check what Link told him. He too saw the blinking light underneath that back door office.
"I never did go in there. Did you?" Alex repeated himself then asked Link.
"No." Link replied.
The boys stared at each other, frightened. Alex glanced at the streets to check if there's anyone they can reach in case they needed help. There was none.
"What are you waiting for? Unlock the door and check it!" Link demanded.
"Huh, let's check it together." Alex pleaded.
Link knew his friend was now scared, as the good friend he is he got the keys from Alex and opened the main door to the store. He has to show a brave front to his friend even though he was starting to get nervous himself.
Link stepped inside the store first and waited for Alex to follow. When both of them were inside, Link locked the main door to the store again for safety. Alex turned the lights on.
Link walked slowly towards the back door office. Alex followed, he grabbed Link's backpack as he's feeling creeped out. Link didn't even mind the added weight.
The boys saw a broomstick leaning at the wall, their eyes met and without uttering a single word understood each other. Link got the broomstick and wielded it like a sword. Alex on the other hand got a shopping basket, he held it up high above his head, ready to pounce any threat that was on the other side of that door.
After slowly pacing from the main door of the store to the back door office, Link was now holding the doorknob. Before turning it to open, he first pressed his ears and listened. Alex was just observing but deep inside his nervousness meter was off the charts, grasping the shopping basket tighter and ready to smash it whenever necessary.
Link stared intently into Alex's eyes, indicating that he's ready to open the door and find out what's behind it. Alex just nodded in agreement letting Link know that he's prepared.
Link did not hesitate, he unlocked the door and swung it open really fast that it landed on the wall with a large bang. They were both dumbfounded. They found nothing, total complete darkness. The boys looked at each other rather confused, they were sure of what they saw earlier. Link then turned the lights on.
"Hey! Look, did you eat all of those?" Alex said pointing at the left side corner of the room.
Link marched ahead and inspected the ripped bags of chips, half-eaten chocolates and opened bottles of sodas that were scattered on the floor.
"You saw that too right, there was a blinking light here a while ago." Link needed a confirmation from Alex that they are on the same page.
"Yes! Yes!" Alex said euphorically.
"Then who made this mess or was it you? Come on Alex, you can tell me the truth." Link said, hoping Alex would say that he did.
"No! We were together at all times. I never went out of your sight!" Alex sternly replied.
As the two boys were wondering who did the mess, Alex started to clean up, then Link followed.
Out of nowhere a guttural sound reverbated to the whole room. The boys were like cemented on their position as they heard the lower register of a voice most likely coming from a gigantic creature. Their eyes widened, heart heavily pulsated and sweat started to wash them down.
Link reached out for the broomstick and Alex, without looking, just scrambled for anything that he can hold on to as a weapon.
"On the count of three…" Link said.
"1…2…3…" Alex counted.