Rain poured down, splashing on Ringo's unprotected head as he rushed from the car into John's house, where the band had met up. He opened the ran to the door and pulled it open, stepping into the warm. He shook his head like a puppy, trying to get some of the rainwater off.

After quietly taking off his damp boots, he opened the door into the living room.

He could hear the sound of guitar playing - it was the unique fingerpicking style of George. Ringo would recognise his bandmate's playing anywhere.

"Hello, lads!" Smiled Ringo, as he entered the room.

"Gosh Ringo!" Paul got up hurriedly from the piano, almost knocking John over in the process. "What on Earth happened to your hair?" Fussily, he investigated Ringo's damp mop-top.

"Oh leave off him Paul," scolded John, "Come on and finish this piano thing with me... Ringo, do dry up. You're getting my carpet all damp."

"Yeah... it was raining a bit and I just popped into Charming Charms to see if they had anything I could spend my birthday money on. I got a bit wet." Explained Ringo, as water dripped from his soaking head onto the floor. He didn't mention the shadowy figure he had seen on the way back.

George looked up eagerly from his guitar. "Did you buy anything with the money I gave you?"

"As a matter of fact, I did." Ringo held out his hand to show his bandmates the ring. Paul immediately grabbed his hand so he could have a closer look. "Nice little thing." He commented. "I like the way it catches the light."

Ringo smiled at the praise, but John soon butted in with "That's hideous." Paul shot him an irritated look but he carried on anyway, "It looks evil - red and black. Devilish."

"That's good, coming from you, Mr Not-At-All-Devilish-Lennon." Paul nudged John playfully, and soon they were rolling around on the floor, play fighting like puppies.

"Don't listen to John." George rolled his eyes. "It's fine as long as you got something you like with the money. Doesn't matter what he thinks, it's your cash at the end of the day."

Ringo smiled at George's kind words, but something John had said was playing on his mind. The rhythm-guitarist had noticed that the ring looked "evil". Was that just a coincidence after what the shopkeeper had said?

Contemplating this, he walked absentmindedly into the kitchen to pour himself a drink of water. He heard George say from the other room "That's enough practice for today. I think that cooking programme we saw last week is on the telly at about this time."

"Turn it on then! John certainly needs to watch it - he can't even make toast!" Giggled Paul, and Ringo heard a cheeky remark from John before some more laughing and thuds as they carried on hitting each other playfully.

The television started to blare loudly. "BREAKING NEWS! A DEAD BODY HAS JUST BEEN FOUND ON A LIVERPUDLIAN STREET..."

"Ah, enough of that miserable ruddy murder and stuff." Grumbled George, who just wanted to watch his beloved cooking programme.

Ringo rushed into the room, suddenly forgetting his drink of water and called to George, who was just changing the channel. "No! Wait!" The others turned to look at him curiously. He blushed. "I want to watch this." He explained, flustered.

"A dead body was discovered on Lime Street at around 9:00 pm today. He has been identified as Arthur Green, owner of Charming Charms, a reputable local jewellery store. Officials have announced that he died from blood loss after being stabbed several times, but at the moment the authorities are clueless as to who his murderer was."

George turned the TV to its lowest volume, startled, and gave Ringo a concerned look. Paul and John were also horrified, but John hid it with a well-practised neutral face.

"I... I don't understand." Stuttered Ringo. "I just saw him at about 8 o' clock, h... he was alive! H... he sold me the ring..." Paul put a comforting arm around the smallest Beatle.

"Ringo, it's okay. Sometimes... sometimes things like this happen. People die, y' know."

"It's that ring, that's what it is." Joked John, unconsciously hitting the nail on the head. "It's probably haunted." He smiled, trying to lighten the atmosphere.

"Don't tease the poor lad!" Exclaimed Paul to John, trying to comfort the shivering Ringo. "He's in a state of shock, can't you see?"

George was staring, transfixed, at the television screen, looking for an announcement that explained Green's murder. Then, without warning, he gave a cry of alarm and turned the volume up suddenly.

The calm presenter's voice spoke seriously, "The authorities are asking to speak to a man recognised as Richard Starkey, now known to be the last one to see Arthur Green before his tragic murder. If you know where to find this man, please let the authorities know immediately."

An unflattering image of Ringo was unnecessarily displayed on the TV screen, which John found irritating. "They don't need to put a bloody picture of him on there! Everyone knows who Ringo Starr is."

George had turned the television off completely now. "Now come on Ringo." He said, gently taking the drummer from Paul. "We can all see you're in a bit of a shock, so let's take you up to bed now, yeah?"

Ringo nodded pathetically. Paul gave George a thumbs up. "Good idea, Geo. Make sure he gets to sleep, the poor lad."

Ringo and George quietly made their way up the stairs. "Uh, 'scuse me." Called John, sounding a little bit annoyed. "You aren't just gonna barge in here and take one of my bedrooms are you?"

"Yes, they are." Replied Paul sternly. "You have plenty, John. Anyway, can't you see Ringo needs a rest? It would be cruel sending him home after all this."

"True. Now, least get on with this piano thingumabob, shall we Paul?"

George and Ringo could hear them testing a few chords as they made their way into the bedroom. Terrifying thoughts were flying around Ringo's head like a hurricane... and he couldn't find a way to express them.

It was all that bloody ring. He shouldn't have bought it. He needed to get rid of it.

"Oh, George!" Ringo suddenly burst into tears and threw himself at his friend, burying his head in his chest. "I... I..." He couldn't get the words out.

"Ringo, what is it?"

"It's... it's... it's this ring, Geo! He... Arthur Green... he told me it was ruddy cursed! I didn't listen, I thought he was trying to scam me! And now... now all this!" Ringo's tears dampened George's shirt, as well as all the water from his soaking hair.

"Wow, wow, calm it." Soothed George. "If it's just the ring... we'll get rid of it, simple! Here..." George's strong hands tugged the devilish little piece of jewellery off Ringo.

"Come here," George said. "And watch this." He leant over and opened the bedroom window, then launched the ring into the darkness of the night. He threw the jewellery so far that Ringo didn't hear it hit the ground, despite the silence of the night.

"There." Smiled George, satisfied. Ringo gave his friend a hug. It was wonderful to have someone like George - somebody who would help you see the calm in the most violent storm. Even though he was slightly sceptical of the "curse", he could see that getting rid of the ring would make Ringo happier.

Ringo yawned loudly, trying not to show how afraid he was. "Okay. Well. I'm off to bed now." And he ambled along the corridor, shaking slightly. He didn't notice George was following him until he was already in the bedroom.

Before Ringo could say anything, George explained "There is no way I would leave you alone tonight Ringo. Not when you're so upset." Then he grabbed a few pillows and a thin blanket, which he arranged on the floor next to the small single bed that Ringo had chosen.

"I really 'preciate this Geo." Murmured the drummer as he drifted off. "I... I'm scared of what's gonna happen. I mean, what if something awful happens to you... or John and Paul..."

George looked up and his deep hazel eyes met Ringo's blue ones. "Trust me. You'll be fine and so will we. I'm right here for you." He was always there to support his friend, through the good and the bad. And he wasn't going to stop because of a haunted bit of metal.

He didn't realise quite how much he was underestimating the ring.