# Chapter 31

“We can’t just up and leave!” Katie cried.
“And we can’t just stay here either!” Asher argued. The two had been arguing for about 5 minutes now. Solomon was long gone and everyone was still feeling the pain of his passing. The sun was out now and the clouds left a shade overhead that made things feel even more gloomy. The club all sat around the remains of their home. They were divided now about what to do…stay or go.
“This is our home, Asher!” Katie argued.
“WHAT HOME!?” Asher snapped. “You mean this pile of rock and wood?”
“We can rebuild it!”
“With what tools and what supplies?” Asher asked, motioning to the land around him.
“We’ll get the tools and supplies!” Katie begged. “We’ll go and….and….”
“And what, Katie? We don’t have jobs. We don’t go to school. We don’t own anything. We’re MONSTERS!”
“Stop it!” Michelle growled. Her voice was low and furious like a growling dog as she shoved Katie and Asher apart. “Do you hear what you’re saying Asher? We’re not monsters. We built this club to prove to the world we aren’t monsters…so watch your mouth.” Asher stepped back and grumbled, nodding.
“Yeah…sorry about that.”
“Now as for whether we stay or go…” Michelle spoke up, causing all to turn and listen, “I understand both points. Katie is right, this is our house. It’s where we all came together and where we all belong…but Asher is right too. We can’t use this place anymore as a house. It’s too destroyed, and it will take supplies and equipment that we simply don’t have to rebuild it.”
“What do you propose then?” Sarah asked.
“We’ll leave here.” Michelle announced. “We’ll go and stay somewhere else. But we will come back and rebuild this place. We’ll find a contractor if we have to…but we will come back here.” No one spoke but a silent nod went up from the club. Everyone agreed. There was no disagreements or any misgivings, and if there were any, they were not heard or spoken.
“What now, Michelle?” Calypso whispered, not lifting her head up to gaze upon the stubborn glare that Michelle was giving them all.
“Pack what you can…and gather your personal belongings if you can find them…we leave in exactly two hours.”

It didn’t take anyone long to pack, because there was little left to scavenge or find. Most of their belongings were still in that bus that they’d come in…from their trip to the beach. However, despite being packed in less than half an hour, no one was ready to leave. Each of the club merely stared and walked around as if caught in a trance. Asher walked in and out of the rubble, grumbling and baring his fangs, mumbling about being too weak…too slow…and pathetic. Michelle said no words, and while her eyes shed no tears, pain was etched upon her like chalk on a board. Her hair was a mess and more than once she would stop and rub her eyes. Was she trying to wake up from a nightmare she thought she was having?
Calypso stood at the shoreline of the lake and watched the water, filled with debris and trash from the explosion. It was dark and murky and her hair kept blowing against her shoulders and neck. Ripples from teardrops stained the dirt at her feet and kept hitting the water like rain. Tamil though…he never stopped walking. He moved along the edge of where the house once was with his arms outstretched, as if longing to clutch the walls that stood there before. A sense of familiarity or understanding. When he would find something, his face would light up and he would feel that hunk of wall or furniture until he couldn’t touch it anymore…and when he found the destroyed and broken pieces his face would sink like a stone in water. The home he knew was gone.
Sarah was not near the house. Rather she’d built up a small web near the woods on the west side of the destruction. It was high off the ground as she looked out at the land around her. The light patches of smoke that rose up were like eels rising from the earth and reaching to the sky. She would look at them…then to the sky…and then hide her face again. Katie merely coiled under a tree, hugging herself in agony. She coughed several times, but it was not from smoke or suffocation, but rather just from crying too much.
“This house…” Abraham looked down at Annie who was sitting in his lap. He hadn’t moved from the steps of brick that once lead up to the front door of the house. Annie had been hugging her stuffed cat to her chest and staring off into space for a long time. “…it meant a lot to you guys, huh?”
“Yeah…” Abraham sighed. “They’re all just trying to cope with this.”
“You not crying like them though…did you not like this house?” She asked.
“No it’s not that, Annie.” Abraham replied, placing a hand on her head. “I loved this house, and everyone in it. But I guess…this is just something I’m used to.”
“Used to?”
“Losing homes, I mean.” Abraham answered. “I’ve gone from home to home…family to family…and each time it’s the same. Bad luck follows me like my own shadow. It just sticks to my feet. Now I’ve ruined the only really amazing family I’ve ever had.” Annie just looked up at Abraham and she saw that while he wasn’t bawling his eyes out, the way his eyes brimmed over with tears was nothing short of agonizing.
“I kind of understand.” Annie responded. “I move from home to home too…no one wants me around.”
“We want you around, Annie. I promise.” Abraham assured her.
“No promise.” Annie growled sadly. “Promises hurt…” Abraham didn’t know how to respond to that. He merely sat with her rubbing her head.

“It’s time to go everyone.” Michelle announced. Everyone dragged their feet as they moved to the bus. It was their only means of transportation at this point to go anywhere. The gang packed up and all got onboard as Abraham took the drivers seat again.
“Wanna get on the interstate?” Abraham asked.
“No. We stole this bus so it’s likely that it’s being searched for. We’ll stick to the highways and off road maps for the time being.” Michelle told him. Abraham agreed and fired up the bus. The gang remained silent for a long time as the bus drove down the street.
“Before we get too far, let’s stop at he grocery store for some supplies.”
“The store is almost closed though.” Asher argued.
“Yeah, but Abbey usually does lock up. She might be willing to let us slip inside if she understands the circumstances.”
“Abbey?” Annie asked.
“A friend of ours who works at the store.” Calypso spoke up. “I hope she’s there…I’d rather not have to pull anymore stunts tonight.”
“Guys, Abbey has never met the likes of us before!” Katie argued. “She’s fine around you normal looking members like Abraham and Michelle, but what about when she gets a load of me and Sarah!?” The group all looked at each other with worried expressions and concern. This was certainly a true fear that Katie had brought to light. Abbey certainly wouldn’t help any of them if she thought they were monsters.
“We’ll make it work out.” Michelle responded. “Sure she’s never met you, but that doesn’t mean too much considering that she knows us.” As they drew closer to the grocery store, Michelle put her hand on Abraham’s shoulder, squeezing it encouragingly. “Park on the side of the road here…we’ll go the rest of the way on foot.” With a nod, Abraham parked the bus and opened the doors. Michelle stepped off first and was followed by Asher.
“Who else wants to come?” Asher called.
“I’ll come.” Sarah replied, hurrying out of the bus.
“I meet Abbey too!” Annie called, running to the doorway.
“In that case I better come along to keep an eye on Annie.” Abraham offered.
“Gosh, what are you her big brother?” Michelle teased.
“Shut it.” Abraham laughed.
“Alright, this group is big enough. The rest of you wait here and stay out of sight.” Michelle ordered. The entire group nodded and as they walked into the parking lot, Michelle shot a cautious look up at the moon. It was only a crescent moon…not a full one.
“Calm down,” Asher whispered, “the full moon isn’t for a few weeks, why so jumpy?”
“I have a bad feeling.” Michelle replied. “Like something is going to go very wrong.”
“That seems to happen a lot to us.” Asher snarled.
“Hey guys, stop being so negative! Look on the bright side.” Sarah offered, giving a small smile. Asher turned and gave her a cold stare. It wasn’t angry…but it was very matter of fact.
“Sarah, after losing Solomon, I’m not sure if there even is a bright side at this point.” Sarah wanted to answer him, but thought better of it and just hung her head a little. She said nothing and followed in silence. Abraham smiled kindly and touched Sarah’s hand gently, causing her to turn and face him.
“Hey, keep your chin up, Sarah…things just look bad now right? We’ll bring them all around.” Abraham whispered encouragingly. Abraham couldn’t stand to see her like this. Sarah was the heart of the club…the happiness. No matter how bad things got, Sarah was always there to brighten everyone up. If she was brought down, then the club would surely start to feel the depression even longer. If Abraham was to keep his promise and hold the club together, he had to make sure that didn’t happen. Annie was holding his hand and smiling up at Sarah too.
“Everything going to be fine.” Annie smiled.
“Not necessarily.” Abraham suddenly came to a stop as Asher glared into the store. “Something is wrong…the store is closed but I sense something nearby.”
“The Dawn Bringers!?” Sarah gasped.
“Drake!?” Annie cried.
“No…I’m going to look around, you all stay put.” Asher took off into the store to find the source of the problem while Abraham reminded beside Annie and Sarah.
“What do you suppose Asher senses?” Sarah asked.
“I don’t know.” Michelle growled, glancing back at them. “But I don’t think Asher is wrong here. I smell something too. Funny though…it smells almost like a bear.”
“A bear?” Annie asked.
“You know what a bear is right?” Sarah laughed, leaning down towards Annie. “It’s a really big hairy animal.”
“Yes I know.” Annie pouted. “I just not know there were any.”
“There shouldn’t be.” Michelle muttered. “But I-“

“MICHELLE LOOK OUT!” No sooner had Sarah screamed than Michelle turned to see a hulking monster rushing towards her! The bear was enormous, easily twice her height and three times her weight. With dark brown fur like a grizzly, the beast roared furiously and swung down with its massive paw to crush Michelle. Michelle leaped aside just in time as Abraham grabbed Annie and yanked her out of harms way. The bear didn’t seem interested in them however and turned once more towards Michelle.
“WHAT THE HELL!?” Michelle roared. “Why’s a bear here!?”
“GET OUT OF THERE!” Abraham shouted. “ASHER COME QUICK!” Michelle pulled herself together and readied herself, snarling at the bear as it reared up at her.
“MA’IITSOH”
The entire group all froze in shock! The bear had spoken! It spoke with a low and furious growling voice but it had spoken! It roared again and slammed its body into the stunned Michelle.
“YOU CAN TALK!? Then you’re no ordinary Yogi bear, are you!?” Michelle snapped, kicking the bear away from her with her immense strength. As the bear rolled away from her it began to shrink and lose its fur. It took on a more human appearance as if merely shedding skin until what stood in its place was a young man wearing a coat and torn jeans. He had long and dirty brown hair like the bear had and his eyes were the same vicious and cold color. His teeth were bared and his finger nails sharp like claws. His skin was dark and tan, and his face was chizled to make him look almost like an Indian. Who was this stranger who could somehow become a bear!?
“So that’s it! He’s a Skin Walker!” Sarah cried.
“A skin what!?” Abraham asked.
“A Navajo legend. Naaldlooshii or skin walkers are men who have learned to transform themselves into a certain animal of their choosing…much like Michelle. The only difference is that Michelle only transforms into a wolf on the full moon. Naaldlooshii an transform whenever they please, but only for a certain amount of time.” Sarah explained.
“DIE MA’IITSOH!” He roared, running for Michelle again. Michelle readied herself to fight. Abraham watched the two clash and felt his heart tear in two. He was watching it happen again…it was going to happen all over again. He was watching one of his friends fight for her life…his family was fighting! And he could only stand back and watch.
“I’M GOING TO HELP HER!” Abraham shouted.
“I’m coming too!” Sarah hissed, taking Abraham’s hand and pulling him with her. Annie ran alongside them as well.
“I don’t know what to do…but I’ll do it!” Annie screamed. Her passion was there, even if she was a little lost. Abraham didn’t know what he could do either. Without Asher or Michelle’s wolf form, what chance did any of them have against this Skin Walker? Whatever it was, whatever he was…it didn’t matter. He didn’t know why this bear boy wanted to kill Michelle and he didn’t know if they even knew each other, but there was one thing he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt: He had to fight. He couldn’t watch another member of his family die. Not this time! He would hold this club together.
No matter what.