The morning sun peaked in the curtains. On top of the circular couch in the middle of a flower printed decorated room sat a slouching shadow with long gray hair. Hugging the blue pillow in my arms, I poke the rectangular marble box with a long slender finger protected by a slightly yellow nail.

It’s been 24 hours since I met with Aditya and I still can’t figure out the purpose of this gift. Although it’s in a box shape, the thin rectangular item refuses to open up. I searched the sides for a lock or some type of opening device, but it was all to no avail. There was nothing extraordinary except for its durability.

No, its durability itself is extraordinary.

So far I have tried smashing it with a hammer, sawing it, melting it and dropping it from the roof of a three story house. The box always survived unscratched and dustless.

Feeling the pain burning in my body, I sighed.

Looks like it’s time for my medications, I thought lazily as I got off the couch.

In the kitchen, I picked up multiple ugly looking jars from the cabinet, I opened the cap and sniffed it before scooping out some of the powder and pouring it into a clean, empty bowl. After repeating this a few more times with the other jars, I poured in hot water and it turned into a dark, murky solution. Wrinkling my nose at the bitter scent, I hold my breath as I chug down the bitter drink in one gulp. Gagging, I speedily grabbed a handful of colorful hard candies from the glass bowl and hastily ripped the wrapper off.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Ahhh, much better.

“Riing!”

“Riing!”

“Riing!”

“Du!”

“This is Kailyn Fae,” I answered in a tired voice.

“Hello Kay Kay!,” an annoyingly cheerful voice blasted out of the speakers, “I see you're still as weak as always!”

I massaged the bridge of my nose, it was the nuisance.

“Harry,” I said.

“Hahaha, ok I’ll get to business,” the man’s voice turned serious, “I found some info on your brother, you know the rules, the deal is only done when I see the money.”

“You’ll get the money,” I reassured, “and I’ll get the information. At the old place for lunch?”

“Who’s paying?” Harry joked, returning to his usual casualness.

“What,” I said as I put on my red glasses, “you want a broke highschooler to pay for your meals? Have some shame Harry.”

“Broke,” Harry snorted, “Jared would cry if he heard you say that. I remember he-”

“Duuu…”

I ended the call.

I checked myself in the mirror. Black eye, black hair, no weird protruding extra limbs… All ready to go, I thought in satisfaction.

I was about to step out of the door frame until I thought of something and went back to fetch the weird marble box. If I couldn’t figure this thing out, then I should find someone who can. Although I hate to admit it, as an often collaborator for most of Jared’s expeditions, Harry was more sensitive to such things than I am. He was also an excellent information dealer, or I wouldn’t have looked for him to find my brother.