Chapter: Seven.

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The boy had turned five yesterday yet no one wished him a happy birthday. Jameson always remembered it's his birthday whenever the weather got so cold and the raindrops wouldn't stop coming down on his roof. His birthdays always bring the worst kind of weather.

Jameson rests both hands on his window as he stares out into the blurry sky as drops after drops of rain descend from above as if it was the tears of a thousand lost souls.

He wasn't sure if they forgot his birthdays or they just don't care about him anymore. The last time he heard happy birthday from his mother and father was when he turned two years old and Jennifer had been born. Things changed drastically for him after the birth of his baby sister. He loved the little girl so much but of late his mother and father have restricted the girl from coming into his room and from playing with him.

His little mind would never understand what he's done to his family to make them hate him so much. Sometimes when his father would beat him and kick him about and around he would wonder if they truly were his real parents.

They never treat Jennifer like they did him.

Maybe she alone was their real child.

Jameson was forced to learn to be on his own from an early age. He didn't get much to eat from his family and they wouldn't offer. If he went into the kitchen to find food he'd be beaten so much that he'll be bruised and hurting all over.

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Two days ago they had gone to church for an evening service. Jameson was sat at the back with an older woman. The little boy smiled up at the lady and she blinked her eyes away from him as if he hadn't just smiled at her.

Jameson thought her cute with all the hairs on her head-turning white.

"I like your hair." Jameson had told her but the woman simply ignored him and rather moved away from him to go seat on the row in front of him. Jameson didn't bother with the woman, he paid attention to what the preacher man was saying and listened carefully so he will be able to answer any questions his father would ask him when they get home.

Jameson has also not seen his friends in two days and he had wondered where they went if they were alright. He had gone into the woods on Friday after school and had visited the tree he met them in. He touched, tapped and whispered for them to come out but nothing happened. So he's been waiting patiently for them to return, they always tell him where they went and what they did.

"Hey!" Jameson turned to find a boy next to him. He recognized the boy from school, but they weren't friends so he just frowned and faced the pulpit once again. "I'm kelvin." The boy went on but Jameson ignored him still.

Besides, it wasn't as if they were of the same age so why was he talking to him.

"You are Jameson right?" The boy asked and smiled when Jameson stare back at him.

"You know my name?" Jameson could hear his heart beating loudly in his ears.

"Yes I do, I see you in school all the time." The boy answered cheerfully.

"What do you want with me?" Jameson didn't understand the boy.

"You're pretty." The boy smiled and touched Jameson's face softly. The younger boy felt his face heating up and he quickly pushed the boy's hand away from his face.

"I'm a boy," Jameson replied with a frown.

"Boys can be pretty too,"

"Really?"

"Yes, silly."

"Thanks," Jameson whispered, his eyes glued on his shoes.

"That's my Dad over there." Jameson traced his fingers until they fell on the preacher man.

"The pastor?!" Jameson asked surprised.

"Yes, dummy." The boy rolled his eyes. "Didn't you know?"

Jameson shook his head and returned his eyes on his shoes once again.

"How old are you?"

Jameson smiled and locked gaze with the boy. "I'll be five in two days." Jameson was happy he's growing up.

"I'm twelve." The boy replied.

They didn't speak again until the church dismissed. Then Kelvin ran off with some boys Jameson assumed were friends with him and he sat back down where he was waiting for his family to call him so they'll go home.

Just a few minutes of sitting alone, Jameson heard someone call his name and he looked up in time to find his parents, the old lady from earlier and the pastor beckoning him to come forward.

Jameson slowly got up and went over to them. He didn't know why they had called him. He made sure he didn't get in any trouble. The only people he's spoken to today were just the old lady and Kelvin the preacher's son.

"Yes, pastor," Jameson answered as soon as he reached the adults.

"Do you know this woman." His father's angry tone voiced.

Jameson shrinks back into himself on hearing the man's voice. The pastor touched his father's shoulder and whispered into his hearings alone. Then the pastor pulled Jameson to himself.

"What happened with you and this lady?" The pastor asked more gently than his father had done.

"N-n-nothing." Jameson stuttered in fear. What did she tell them? He didn't do anything.

"She told us something very unpleasant about you Jameson." The pastor spoke again.

Jameson could feel tears burning at the back of his eyes. "I-I only told h-her that I liked her hair." Jameson cried, staring at his father. As if on cue the man slapped him and his left cheek stung with pain. Jameson didn't rub at the burning cheek, he only cried silently.

"What were you doing with Kelvin?" His father yelled.

Jameson's heart was about flying off his chest, it was beating so fast that he grabbed onto his chest.

"We'll settle this at home!" The angry man said and then watched as Jameson stumbled on his feet as he walked back to his seat.

"What's wrong?" Jameson's eyes met with those of Kelvin's and he ran from the boy and went back to his seat.

Kelvin made to follow when his father ushered him back.

Jameson sat terrified. He has no idea what he's done.

"She told them you are possessed." Jameson's eyes shot up in time to meet Lilia's own.

Out of excitement Jameson ran into their embrace and hugged all three of them.

"I missed you all so much." The boy cried into their hugs.

"We missed you too." They told him as they wipe tears off his eyes.

Jameson forgot he was in public and went on chattering with his friends.

"I told you he's possessed." Jameson looked up in time to see his mother, father, the old lady, Kelvin and the pastor all staring at him.

"Who are you talking to?" Kelvin asked.

Jameson wanted to tell them but remembered they couldn't see his friends. He lowered his head and whispered. "No one."

"Take him home for now. I'll visit your house later for questionings and then we can prepare for cleansing." The pastor told them and that was how they had gone home and Jameson has been restricted from doing a lot of things around the house even playing with his baby sister.

And also why he couldn't go out into the rain but stare out the window since he was locked in by his mother.

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