𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐢𝐥𝐛𝐨𝐠 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞

'~•.•°•-11. A Chat Gone Wrong-•°•.•~'

I was so invested and also a little freaked out that I just have this strong urge to want to show my brother. So I immediately hopped off the bed, took quick strides out of my guest room and made it to my brother's guest room door. 

I didn't hesitate to knock on the door "Johnny may I come in for a minute?" I asked while my heart was pounding against my chest. I could feel the adrenaline rush through me due to what I found in the book. 

"Ohh my god. Whyy?" Johnny groaned in annoyance. 

I rolled my eyes and responded "Because I need to show you something! Now open up!" 

I stand by the door, waiting for a moment until the door opens, revealing my brother who looks to be exhausted. "What is it? I was just about to go to sleep...." He spoke in a hoarse tone then yawned. 

Straight away, I opened up the book to reveal the picture to him.

Johnny didn't seem to understand as he furrowed his brows in confusion and squinted his eyes some. Then lifted his gaze to me "So.....Let me get this straight.....I'm over here wasting my bedtime just for you to show me some random picture?...."

"Actually, I was hoping you would tell me what you think this is a picture of?" 

Johnny would lean in a bit to have a better look at the photo then replied with not much interest. "I dunno....Herpes?" 

"Seriously??..."

"Hey, you asked! Well if it's not herpes then it's psoriasis, I don't know what else to tell you....." Johnny replied then rubbed his eye.

"Well that's not what it is!" 

"Okay so if YOU know what this actually is then why bother asking me??" 

"Because I wanted to see if you recognized it!" I blurted out. 

Johnny sighed as he went to cross his arms in front while leaning on his side against the doorway. "And what makes you think that I'll recognize this?....."

I felt myself getting a little aggravated, feeling that my brother isn't taking me seriously as usual. 

"Don't you see?? When we first arrived in Nilbog, I saw the exact same mark on the hands of the locals! It's on every single one of them!" I said then pointed under the picture. 

"Look! It says here that these leaf clover shaped moles are the mark of the goblins! It can either be on their hand or on their body where it can't be seen! There's even this fucked up story about a man who got killed by these creatures because he's been deceived! And-" 

"Olivia....." Johnny sighed while he shut his eyes and briefly pinched the bridge of his nose. Then he gazed at me with a tired expression "You've been under a lot of stress since nothing turned out the way it planned....I get it. But this is getting a little out of hand.....You're allowing these fairy tales to get into your head and honestly this isn't helping you......I strongly suggest you get some sleep..." He said composed as if he was trying to put up with me. The tone of his voice laced with a hint of weariness.

"But Johnny, you still can't deny that something strange is going on! How do you explain the clover marks!?" I asked.

Johnny grumbled a bit, sounding a bit irritable then skeptically said. "Olivia, just listen to yourself!.....You're literally freaking out over something that's made up! You're reading a FAIRY TALE book! Goblins are not real! Seriously......Get some sleep. I beg you...."