Divine Metal

June 12, 2017

New Port Richey, Florida

Chapter 1: Kalen Jackson

"10:32 to be exact" Daniel wrote the time down on his note pad and began brainstorming for a new idea of what to do until 4:30 Which is when we planned to go to my house for lunch. We'd been trying to keep ourselves busy until June 15th which is when our favorite game was planned to be released. We'd known each other for about 3 years now and became close not because our personality merged but well because we just had interest in almost the same things.

"Ok we could go get Sean but I'm guessing he's probably out" Daniel said writing it down

"What makes you say that?" He pointed to Sean's mother pass by in her car with Sean in the back seat.

"That" I got up and looked at the sky, it was a cloudy day and i could instantly tell it was going to rain soon but now that i think about it...i don't exactly remember what the weather was like yesterday or even the day before that. I wasn't complaining the air felt cool and the breeze felt calming.

"Well we could go to Nichole's house?" I said as Daniel got up in excitement, he admitted he had or always had a crush on her to be honest i...kinda do but we were best friends so i didn't want to ruin that by making things awkward between us.

"Yes!...i mean if you want to sure" I snickered as we headed to her house which wasn't far, all 4 of us lived close to each other which entitled us to always going on adventures and constantly getting in trouble with our parents. We didn't mind it though it was worth it as long as no one got hurt we thought of the adventure as a success. I was the newcomer, i had moved from my old home for...reasons and ended up here. The group didn't really know each other, Sean was a wannabe rapper, Daniel kept to himself and Nicole well...she never changed she always was different from the rest of the girls that went to our school. I met all of them in school and we all got along well and formed our group. Since then we have become like the 4 musketeers always together and almost never apart, i cherished it...even now id never give them up for anything. We've had ups and downs and I've been the cause of most of those but here we are still intact. Im the problem solver, the laid back but kinda protective one. I'm also the most athletic and 2nd tallest behind Daniel. Speaking of Daniel is more on the gaming side, I'm a gamer too but not as much as he is. When it comes to outgoing and crazy plans and thoughts...he's the guy you want in your team. Sean well...he's an odd ball. Quite to most people but we all know him as the loud one, funny as hell too. But also the hot head, he doesn't have anger issues but when he's pissed off id rather let him take it out on somebody else. Then Nicole...she's the creative one more on the excitement side definitely doesn't like showing her emotions but she's also caring...maybe even to caring at times. To be honest i trust her the most when it comes to how i feel or any issues that might have effected me...but she's always there for me so i really cant complain if she's a little to over protective. All in all we were the best of friends and while we weren't the perfect group of friends...i never took them for granted.

"Kalen! we're here" I looked up and saw Nicole's house, i was confused...how did we get here so fast...was i thinking for that long?

"Well shit then i'll knock" Daniel walked up her porch which was covered in leaves and dirt but beneath it all looked beautiful. He knocked and we heard footsteps approaching, the door knop wiggled before the door opened to reveal her mother.

"Good morning Ms. Rose" I smiled and waved as Daniel was zoned out looking for Nicole behind her.

"Hello Kalen come inside" I walked in and took my shoes off at the entrance, Ms. Rose was a clean freak and wanted the house spotless 24/7.

"Thank you for the birthday gift Kalen" Ms. Rose said as she side hugged me, she was a huge cooker and loved to cook so for her birthday i got her a cooking book and ear plugs so she could cook without having to hear Nicole yell when she dies in Halo.

"Of course Ms. Rose, i know how loud she can be" She giggled and rubbed my nappy curly hair before returning to the kitchen.

"Kalen how do you like your eggs!?"

"Uh Sunny side up! Thank you miss Rose!" i said as Daniel walked past me looking for Nicole

"Daniel sweaty how about you!?" Daniel broke his trance hearing his name

Uh uh Sunny side up please!" he yelled back. Her house was huge so yelling was accustom here.

"HOLY CRAP I SHOT YOU THE HEAD LIKE 20 TIMES!" Me and Daniel looked at each other and snickered and followed the yelling to the living room. Nicole was sitting down wearing tank top and shorts with her headphones on playing Halo, i thought of the best idea to jump on the couch and scare the living crap out of her. I nodded at Daniel and jumped on the couch making a huge blop! noise

"HOLY SHIT!" She grabbed the pillow and smacked me in the face with it causing Daniel to begin rolling on the floor in laughter. She glared at me on the floor with a huge red mark on my face.

"KALEN WHAT THE HECK!" She picked me up and punched me on the shoulder, she looked at Daniel who was still rolling on the floor.

"Agh Good Morning to you too" I said rubbing my face, Daniel got up and plopped on the couch

"That...was...hilarious" He said regaining his breathe. Nicole plopped down the couch putting the headphones back on.

"So you guys want next?"

"What happened to your other controller?" Daniel asked looking for it on the floor

"She broke it!" Mr. Rose yelled across the house

"MOM i didn't break it, it fell out of my hand!"

"Yea and right into the wall!" Mr. Rose busted out laughing. Nicole crossed her arms and rolled her eyes.

"So you found a job yet Kalen?" Nicole asked as i sat next to her on the couch.

"No not yet" I sighed. My mom wanted me to look for a job to keep me busy this summer, i was in 10th grade so i was able to get a job but i just couldn't find one that interested me. I saw a newspaper on the counter next to the TV and thought maybe i could find something there.

"Nicole can you get that newspaper for me, maybe there's something there for me" She got up, got the newspaper and fell back first on me laughing.

"Here you go lazy" I laughed as Daniel looked at us and what we were doing

"Be gone mortal!" I said as i pushed her off of me, she plopped down on her spot and started laughing as she grabbed her controller and started playing again. I looked at and admired her, her skin, hair, voice. I shook my head and began looking for anything of interest while Daniel and Nicole talked. I came across a picture that caught my eye almost instantly...it was an ad for a job...for Freddy Fazebear's Pizza. I threw the newspaper down and got up looking at that ad as if it was taunting me. Nicole got up and looked at me worried.

"Kalen you good" Daniel asked, i looked at him, but was unable to respond.

"Kalen" I turned towards Nicole who was looking at me, Daniel picked up the paper and saw what i was looking at

"Pftt oh its just that pizza restaurant with those weird animatronics that everyone says are haunted and stuff" Nicole looked at him and saw it.

"That's not why i...i did that" Nicole walked towards me. She...was the only one that knew some of my past...my connection to that place. My dad used to co own the restaurant with a man named Devin Hall. My dad made the animatronics and Devin was the business side...but...once Devin died and my dad went missing after...my sister died...the restaurant went to another company known as "3Parts Inc."

"Kalen I'm sorry you saw that, i had no idea that was there" Nicole shook her head trying to calm me down

"Its fine Nicole i know you didn't mean any harm..." I looked at my phone, it read 10:53.

"Ill be back i just...ill be back" I ran to the front put on my shoes and sprinted home as fast as i could, i didn't feel tired or worn out while i was running, i felt determined and angry like an outside force gave me a sudden burst of energy that caused me to run as fast as possible. I arrived home and looked up gasping for air. I saw my mom on the porch knitting...like she always does.

"Hey sweetie back early" she said not taking an eye off of her blanket. I walked up and sat on the chair next to her, she had a picture of me, my sister, dad, her and...my older brother LeShane who had gone missing almost 2 years ago. The lost of them is what slowly broke my mom slowly, first her daughter, the her husband...now her son. I looked at that picture and remembered that day, we were visiting my grandma's house for her birthday and she wanted all of us to huddle up for a picture, we'd all been playing while my mom and dad were baking cake in the kitchen. Mom and dad were madly in love and loved each other to pieces, the only thing they loved more was us me, LeShane, and Brooklyn. That day all of out family was over and all the cousins played football and messed around for hours until the day was over. I practically grew up there, my mom was always working and my dad was off as well. All the cousins lived on the same block and we all used to play together everyday at school and after. I always told my mom that when i die...that would be my heaven at my grandmas house...that's only place where there was peace and happiness.

"What's wrong baby?" My mom rubbed my hand and looked at, it hurt looking at her in the eyes...cause you can see all the pain and suffering that laid beneath her rough exterior.

"I saw the ad for restaurant dad used to own and i just...came here" She smiled and kissed my hand

"I know it must've been hard seeing that, you dad had that restaurant since he was a teenager...god...there're still days where i cant believe our family is gone" I grabbed her hand holding back tears.

"No mom...LeShane is still out there and Dad...just give him time he'll turn up soon" She looked out upon the neighborhood and sighed.

"it was a job listing and i might take it" She looked at me

"I wanna make sure they're taking care of his creations...yknow...he at least deserves that much" I said tears coming down, she smiled and hugged me tight

"Ok sweetie...they need to make sure an adult approves so ill give them a call and tell you how it checks out ok?" I nodded and closed my eyes picturing the good days...the old days. I could hear my mom's heart thumping and just the sound of it brought me peace...just knowing i still have her here. I looked up and saw Daniel and Nicole walking up, i got up and Nicole hugged me

"I'm sorry you saw that"

"its ok Nicole" She looked at my mom

"I'm sorry Ms. Jackson i really didn't know that ad was there i would've thrown it out if i knew it was there"

"Its fine sweetie"

"I'm going to call, see if they'll let me work there" Nicole widened her eyes

"You serious but-"

"I wanna take care of my father's creations...its the least i can do" Nicole and Daniel looked at each other

"Hey maybe we can all sign up?" Daniel asked, i could tell Nicole didn't want to but she ultimately agreed with him.

"You sure, its dealing with animatronics...Nicole i know you hate robots"

"I hate robots but i want to make sure you'll be ok, plus we get paid so its a win-win-lose" i snickered, she handed me the paper and i gave it to my mom as she called them. I didn't want the job because of the money or the free pizza or the drinks...i wanted it because this is what my dad would've wanted me to do...watch over his business he spent his entire life creating and if he is really gone...then this is my job...as his son.