Three Friends and a Curse

Peter skated up to an abandoned apartment building. His friends, Tommy and Cook, looked up and spotted him.

�Sup?� Peter greeted them.

�Not much,� Cook replied. They all had been close ever since back in the day. Preschool to be exact. They all knew each other well. The boys slacked off, caused trouble, and got high. Tommy waved at his skater pal.

�Hey,� he said. Peter looked at his childhood pals.

�So, what are we doing today?� he asked.

�Chasing the dragon, the usual,� Cook replied.

�Ah,� Peter said with a nod. �The Saturday Special?�

�Yeah!� Tommy said. The skater nodded. He looked at the building behind them.

�Here?� he asked.

�Yeah!� Tommy said with a grin. �They�re tearing it down today, so I figured that we celebrate here!�

�Good enough,� Peter said with a nod. The boys walked into the dying building.

She watched from above. These were the last three to be branded. She had the other thirty-four in her palm. These boys would finish her game perfectly.

Namie timed her attack.

The boys walked to the back end of the lobby. Peter looked around.

�Think this place is haunter?� he asked. The other boys laughed.

�Who cares?� Cook asked. �I want to get high! I didn�t cut class for nothing!�

�You didn�t cut class for anything?� Tommy corrected.

�Whatever!� the leader snapped. �Let�s just get high!� The boys walked over to a dusty, taped up window and sat under it. Cook reached into his book bag and pulled out the weed and a bong. The boys watched as the weed was distributed to them. They loaded up the bongs and lit up. The case began from there. Typical of them, right? That�s where things get� oh, I don�t know� abnormal.

First came the drums. Soft at first, then pounding loudly in their heads. The clattering of hooves followed next. The boys looked up lost within nowhere. The sight of stars exploded in their faces.

�I will claim your lives on the Fire Festival next year!� she declared in the high haze. There was an all-mighty blaze. And then, nothing.

Peter, Cook, and Tommy awoke hours later. They all looked at each other.

�Was that all a hallucination?� Tommy asked. The other two said nothing at first.

�It felt too real�� Peter mumbled. They heard Cook hissing in pain. His pals whipped around to him. He was grabbing on his right shoulder.

�Cook, what�s wrong?� Peter asked.

�Something bit me!� the leader barked. The boys became serious.

�Let me see,� Peter spoke up. Cook turned around and lowered his shirt. His friends� eyes widened in shock. Cook�s number?

�Twenty-six?� Tommy asked. �What is that?�

�How the fuck should I know?� the leader asked. Suddenly, Peter felt the pain as well.

�I think something bit me too!� he yelped.

�Show us,� Cook said. Peter complied.

�What does it say?� he asked.

�Thirty-three,� Tommy read aloud. Peter and Cook looked at him.

�What number do you have?� Peter asked. Tommy looked lost.

�I� I� I don�t know,� he stammered.

�Show us!� Cook demanded. The boy hesitated at first. His friends stared at him, intently. Tommy swallowed tightly, turned his back, and lowered his shirt. His friends took a look.

�One,� Cook said. Tommy turned back to them.

�Why do we have these?� he asked. The other two were silent.

Above, Namie smiled at her work. The game could now start. The flock was now complete.