Chapter 20

Melvin stumbled over the flower pot in the hallway as he was unknotting his tie. It toppled, hitting his bare foot.

"Oops." He bent his body to put it back.

But while he was doing so, his arms paused. His pupils shrank at the sight of the plant crawling onto his hand. It was emitting mysterious silver smoke. Cold sweat rolled down his cheeks, forming a patch of tinge on his white shirt.

"This is just a decoration, Melvin," he mumbled, squeezing his eyes shut and shaking his head. "It's not moving, nor is it breathing out smoke. Just a fake plant."

"Melvin?"

A tap on his tensed shoulder pulled him back to reality as if it was another dream he woke up to.

"What's the matter?" Hayden asked.

"N-Nothing."

He glanced at the peculiar flower pot once more. Only when he made sure that it was still the decorative plant that he was told of did he look away and join the rest for lunch.

Hayden took the scoop and began dishing up the seaweed soup for his children. Waiting for a bowl of th