# Chapter 49

Night had fallen and everyone was gathered around inside the tire warehouse. In the middle of the circle of freaks was a small fire that Annie had started for them. She now sat in Abraham’s lap, sleeping silently. He looked around at the others who sat in awkward silence.
“Okay so…I think it’s time I fessed up.” He sighed. “There are a few things ya’ll should know…” The entire room was now eyes on Abraham. “Firstly…I’m Solomon’s grandson. Some of you already know this, because I told you earlier but…there it is.”
“Did Solomon know?” Tamil asked, genuine surprise on his face.
“I don’t know if he did or not…but it really doesn’t matter right now.” Abraham grumbled. “What does matter is that…well….I’m not good at this leadering thing. We need Michelle and Asher back. Since none of us know how to do that, I’ve brought in the group from the farm to help.” Christina and Alex both gave nods. “So, what we need to do now is…figure out how to save Michelle and Asher.”
“We know where they’re at.” Katie pointed out. “There’s an old insane asylum west of here…about 15 or so miles away. It’s where they kept me for a while, and I’m pretty certain that’s where they’re held up.”
“Well there’s a problem…insane asylums, by their very nature, are designed to keep things out, right?” Christina muttered.
“Not necessarily,” Pen acknowledged, sitting on Alex’s shoulder. “Asylums are designed like prisons. They keep inmates IN…I doubt the Dawn Bringers would expect a monster assault on their base.”
“You’re suggesting we just run up and attack it?” Calypso asked, shocked. “That’s insane!”
“I’m with the fish on this one.” David nodded. “We don’t have weapons or armor or anything to help us beat them…and even if we did, we’d never get inside.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.” Pen growled.
“Maybe…we don’t need to.” Sarah spoke up, looking to Abraham. “What if you turned one of us in?”
“What?”
“Tie one of us up and take us to them. They’ll let us inside, and then when the doors are open, we storm the place.” Sarah offered.
“They might be expect’n a trap.” Alex shook his head.
“Not likely.” Katie huffed. “The Dawn Bringers treat us like animals…barely capable of human intelligence. I doubt they’d foresee a Trojan Horse strategy like that.”
“The bait would have to be good though…plus it would have to be someone who could cause a sincere amount of damage once they were inside.”
“Ya could take me.” Alex offered. “I ain’t no stranger to a brawl.”
“No way!” Tori cried, waving her arms angrily. “You’re the second in command!”
“Who decided that?” Sarah giggled.
“….I mean…he is, isn’t he? I kind of guessed he was.”
“It doesn’t matter who’s second in command. No one is really in command as it is, right?” Pen asked.
“ABRAHAM is in command.” Katie snapped.
“Why? He admitted himself he wasn’t good at it.” David growled.
“Watch it or I’ll make glue out of you.” Katie hissed.
“Katie, calm down!” Sarah whispered.
“David, would ya stop bein a pain in the ass!?” Alex snarled.
“ALL OF YOU STOP!” Abraham shouted, waking up Annie with a fright. “Just stop, I can’t think with all this arguing.”  The room fell silent and Abraham rubbed his aching forehead. “I don’t want to put anyone in danger with this plan. Just one mess up and everyone could be killed or worse.”
“…Abraham, risk is part of leadership. We’re ready to take the risk…we don’t have a choice.” Sarah explained.
“Well said.” Christina smiled. “Besides, we’re all ready to do our part. You’re not alone on this.” Abraham looked around at everyone and, with the exception of Annie, who was still groggily trying to stir herself, they were all looking at him smiling. Abraham smiled back and looked at them all.
“Then…you’ll back me up with what I decide to do?” He asked.
“Within reason, o’ course.” Alex laughed. “But yeah. Ye got us.” Abraham nodded and looked down at Annie, rubbing her head.
“Then I have a plan…it’s a bit complicated…but it might work.” He explained. “I’ll take Sarah and Christina with me, to deliver you to the Dawn Bringers.”
“Why us?” Christina asked.
“Sarah looks the scariest out of all of us….no offense, Sarah.”
“Hehehe, none taken. I’m used to it.” Sarah giggled.
“So they’ll have a harder time looking past her scariness when we get there.” Abraham added. “Christina, I want you with us because they might not know you’re a gorgon. If you can pass yourself off as human, then they may let their guard down around you, which would be helpful. If they do know you’re a gorgon, then the worst they’ll do is restrain you.”
“There are worse things.” She shrugged. “While wear a hoodie to hide my hair.”
“What about us?” Katie asked.
“Pen is going to ride in my shirt.” Abraham answered. “Once we’re inside, he’s going to find out where they’re keeping Asher and Michelle and let us know.”
“Can do, sir!” Pen saluted.
“Tori will remain in the air and provide reconnaissance from above. Alex, Katie, and David will…um…” Abraham sighed, rubbing his head. “Damn…I’m not sure there will be any openings for you to get inside.”
“What we need is some plastic explosives.” David laughed.
“To do what?” Tori asked.
“Keep up, bird brain. He wants us to blow a hole in the wall and run in guns blazing.” David scoffed. “Problem is, that we can’t…without a way in, there won’t be any cavalry coming in to save you.”
“That could dampen our plans a little.” Calypso giggled sadly. “Alright so-”
“I could do it.”
Everyone paused a moment and looked down at Annie who had her hand up like a child wanting to answer a question in class.
“Could do what?” Abraham asked.
“I could make a spell that blows up the wall.”
“You can!?” Tamil gasped.
“Why didn’t you tell us before?!” Katie demanded.
“….I didn’t know you needed it.” Annie replied. “It is easy.”
“Well there’s our answer to that problem.” Alex laughed. “Annie blows a hole in the side of the wall and we enter through that.”
“How far do you need to be to cast the spell, Annie?” Abraham asked.
“…Um…about from here to those tires.” She pointed across the room to a stack of tires.
“That’s about 15 yards.” Abraham grumbled. “Won’t you get hurt?”  
“I…I want to save Michelle and Asher. I don’t mind a few bruises.”
“No, I’m not putting you in harms way t-”
“I’ll cover her.” Alex answered. “Minotaur skin is tough, and I endure enough doin’ yard work, I think I can take a few rocks to the back.”
“I don’t want you getting hurt either!” Abraham argued.
“Trust me. A few rocks aren’t going to crack that thick skull.” Pen teased.
“But what if you get knocked out? You’re probably our best chance at overpowering the Dawn Bringers.” Alex and Christina both looked at each other in surprise and then they all began to laugh. Pen and David just shook their heads snickering, much to everyone elses confusion.
“Kid, if ya think I’M yer best chance, yer sadly mistaken.”
“No, when they bust through that wall, the one you want as the vanguard is her.” Christina pointed across the circle to Jelly, who was busy drinking a bottle of water and making noises by squeezing the plastic bottle, and giggling at the crackling noise.
“Jelly?” Abraham asked.
“Jelly is here!” Jelly called out, hearing her name.
“She’s a REAL monster.” David snickered. “Those losers won’t know what hit’m.”
“But…will she know what she needs to do?” Katie asked, concerned. “I mean…no offense to her or anything but…I’m not sure she’s…”
“Oh she knows it. Jelly, would you say you’re intelligent?” Pen asked.
“Nope! Jelly still learning things!” Jelly noted.
“But how do you feel about fighting?” David followed up.
“Jelly not afraid!” Jelly giggled excitedly. “Jelly protect family!”
“And there’s your answer.” Alex shrugged. “Trust me, you can’t go wrong with us.” Abraham looked to Sarah and Katie and smiled as they all shared a shrug.
“Okay then…” Abraham agreed. “When Sarah, Christina, and myself are all inside and Pen finds where our friends are, we’ll try to get word to you somehow to blow the wall.”
“If they throw the alarm, that’d be a great signal.” Katie explained. “If a monster ever tried to escape, they’d throw an alarm for all the guards to rush in and restrain them…happened the first time I tried escaping.”
“If there’s an alarm system, I can probably trigger it.” Pen answered. “I’ll trip the system and give the signal after I find the vampire and werewolf friend of yours.”
“After that, Annie will blow the wall. Jelly will go in first and get the guards attention. Alex, would you mind helping?”
“No problem.”
“David, I need your help too. I need you to carry Calypso on your back and get her to where Asher and Michelle are. If they’re injured, they’ll need medical treatment, and Calypso is an expert.”
“Aww, don’t make me blush.” Calypso giggled.
“What about us?” Tamil asked, waving. “Katie and I not have job to do too? We wanting to help.”
“While we’re inside, Sarah will try to leave some silk behind to mark where we’ve been. Katie, you and Tamil will slip inside. Find the silk and it will lead you to us. Once we’re reunited, we’ll all work together to get Asher and Michelle out.”
“Great!” Katie nodded. “I’ve been itching for a chance to get back at those assholes.”
“When you’re all inside, can I do anything then?” Tori asked.
“Whatever you can do would be appreciated.” Sarah smiled.
“When do we get started?” David asked.
“Tomorrow.” Abraham answered. “Tomorrow…”
“Alright, then let’s get some sleep gang.” Christina called out. “David, I need you to give me a lift to the store so I can buy a nice hoodie for tomorrow.”
“Sure thing.” David and Christina got up to leave while the others turned to find a place to rest. Abraham watched them all go and looked to Annie and Katie.
“Mind getting everyone in bed for me?” He asked.
“What’re you going to do?” Annie asked.
“I need some air.” He carefully lifted Annie off of his lap and stood up as Katie helped Tamil and Calypso to go find a place to rest. Abraham stood up again and walked away to the stairs to go stand on the roof for a while. He needed to get away from it all for a second…to catch his breath.

Out on the roof, Abraham leaned on the railing and stared at the stars as they began to appear in the sky, twinkling merrily down at him. He shook his head and silently groaned to himself. Was this how it felt for Michelle and Asher all the time? Coming up with ideas and plans and leading everything?
“You okay?” Abraham spun around to see Sarah standing there, her deep red eyes gazing at me concerned. “You ran out of there like a bat out of hell.”
“…I didn’t want this, Sarah. I thought moving in with everyone…becoming part of the Monster Club…I didn’t know it would…”
“No one should ever be asked to do this kind of thing.” Sarah admitted. “But sometimes we have to. And everyone here believes in you.”
“…I’m scared, Sarah.”
“I am too.” Sarah agreed, walking closer and wrapping an arm around Abraham comfortingly. She gently pulled him into a hug and smiled. “But it’s going to be okay. I promise.” As he was hugged, there was a moment that Abraham felt…his whole body going weak as he leaned into her. Did she bite him? No…his knees were just giving out from exhaustion.
“It’s okay.” Sarah assured him.
“I don’t want this to end, Sarah…I don’t want to lose my family.” Abraham whispered. “I always dreamed of having a family…and now that I have it…I can’t lose it…I WON’T let it go.”
“I know, Abraham…I know.” Sarah smiled. Abraham and Sarah stayed like that for a long time, nearly falling asleep under the stars. Until Abraham realized that Sarah’s grip was tightening.
“What’s wrong?” Abraham asked.
“Nothing…nothing just…” Sarah wasn’t speaking clearly now…she was crying. “I don’t want to be alone again…I love everyone in this family too.”
“We love you too Sarah.”
“But what you said back there was true…I really am the scariest one here…if I’m alone again…I’ll be feared again…I’ll end up back at that freakshow…back in…a cage.” She began to cry harder and sniffing loudly. “I can’t…I can’t, Abraham. Please…”
“No! Don’t think that way!” Abraham demanded. “You’re not scary at all. Sarah, you’re beautiful! You’re the sweetest and the most kind one out of all of us. You were the one who vouched for me when I joined and stood up for Annie too! You’re…you’re…” He held her tighter, not knowing the right words to tell her. “You mean everything to us. And if the world can’t see that, then you really are too good for it.” Sarah didn’t answer but just hiccupped and hugged Abraham tighter, the two both lamenting the pain of solitude.
“We’ll save them, Abraham. We need them back…we need our family back.”