15 KiB
Chapter 28
When Abraham awoke the next morning, he awoke to see that the sun was shining in. Glancing around the room, Abraham saw the rest of the club all fast asleep but…one was missing. “Katie?” Abraham sat up and easily moved Annie out from under him so she could sleep still. He stood up and began scanning the room for the snake girl. After a few moments he turned and saw her, resting by glass door, still broken from last night. She was gazing out at the sun shining, casting a glow upon her soft scales. Her hair caught the rays and it seemed to illuminate every ray. Her eyes, reptilian as they were, were so hauntingly exotic that Abraham could not get them out of his thoughts. What a beautiful girl she was. “Katie?” Abraham asked again. “Good morning.” She whispered. “You’re up early.” Abraham muttered. “I’m worried about Asher.” She said. “The sun is coming up and he’s not back yet.” She said darkly. “When did Asher leave? Abraham asked in shock. Katie laughed. “Night time is the only time when Asher can go out in the open…he went out around 3 o’ clock last night to get a ‘bite to drink.’” Katie giggled. Abraham shuddered at the way she put that, getting the mental image of Asher, dressed as Count Dracula and biting the neck of some defenseless person. “Yeah, I’ll bet…but I’m sure he’s fine.” Abraham sighed. “Maybe, but he’s cutting it way too close.” Katie growled. She paused a moment and then looked to Abraham. “Abraham…I want to apologize to you.” “For what?” “It’s no secret that I…didn’t really like you at first.” Katie smirked. “Didn’t like me? You tried to kill me once!” Abraham laughed. “Yes, I did.” Katie admitted. “But…I was wrong, Abraham. You’re a good human, one of the few I know. I was wrong to pass judgement without knowing you better first.” “If you don’t mind my asking,” Abraham dared to question, “could you tell me why you dislike humans?” Katie didn’t answer but just stared out at the horizon, a definite rage and pain in her eyes. “Sorry, I…I probably shouldn’t ask. That was wr-” “I was betrayed by the only human I ever truly loved and admired.” Katie hissed darkly. “I’d like to just leave it at that, Abraham.” “Right, sorry.” Abraham moaned. “I really didn’t mean to prod at old scars, you know?” “I know.” Katie moaned. “I know you didn’t mean to offend…you’re too kind for that.” Katie gave a quick smile. “Just make me a promise, Abraham.” “Sure, what is it?” Abraham asked. “Promise me…that you won’t hurt this club…” Katie muttered. “Of course I promise! I would never hurt any one of you!” Abraham cried. Katie glanced at him a moment. “I want so badly to believe you…but I fear to trust another human man with that kind of faith.” It was the pain in Katie’s voice that fully made him realize just how deep the wounds she had went. The betrayal at the hands of humans was far worse than he’d thought. The way her voice cracked was like that of a child who had done nothing wrong but felt that a spanking waited for her all the same. He felt pity for her, though he knew that was the last thing she wanted from him.
“Asher!” Before Abraham knew what to say, Katie had spotted a figure running to them smoldering under the rising sun. Asher threw himself inside to hide from the sunlight and gasped in exhaustion. “Asher, are you-” “I’m fine.” Asher wheezed. “Give me a moment.” Asher leaned against the wall and clutched his chest as it heaved in and out. His skin looked slightly burned, but it would heal with time. His hands were dirty and his boots stained with mud, clay, and what looked suspiciously like blood. “Why were you gone so long?” Katie demanded. “I took a side route to throw the Dawnbringers off of our trail.” Asher chuckled between breaths. “It was tricky, but it bought us some time before they find out the truth, plus since its daylight, they can’t use my father to track us anymore.” Katie helped Asher up and looked around at the others. “Then it’s time we moved out, right?” Abraham asked. “Wake them up.” Katie encouraged. Abraham hurried around and got to work waking the club. Like zombies, the gang all rose to their feet, rubbing their eyes and yawning. The events of last night had left them all exhausted. Michelle was the first to rise though and she began taking in the group around her and what needed to be done to get things moving. “We leave in 20 minutes!” She announced. “Everyone get some food, gear, and whatever else you need to move out. Asher, turn yourself into Ashley and get under an umbrella. Sarah, I need you and Katie to be the first ones on the bus so that we don’t draw too much attention with you two. Calypso, help Tamil get some fresh water in a cooler. Abraham, you and Annie grab some first aid equipment from the back so we can restock. Let’s move people.” The entire gang began moving together. Abraham lead Annie over to the back of the desk and began hunting for first aid boxes and bandages. After some searching, Annie pulled out a small blue box with a red cross on it and grinned. “Think this is it?” She asked. “I’d bet money on it.” Abraham laughed. “Go take it to Michelle…there’s something I need to do real quick.” “Okay, sure.” Annie climbed to her feet and scurried away from the desk to deliver her find to Michelle while Abraham turned and gazed at the rest of the group. Asher was already in his Ashley form and standing under an umbrella that was red and blue in color. Katie and Sarah were packing materials to carry to the bus, and Calypso was helping Tamil to the hose outside. The group was mending from the last few nights. The battle with Michelle and then the arrival of Annie had all been surprising and frustrating in their own right, but to then be faced with the threat of Asher’s father…it was like Abraham’s arrival had caused a strange sequence of events like dominos crashing into each other. For good or bad, these things were going to play out, and Abraham feared what might happen if he was no prepared.
“You okay, Abraham?” Michelle asked, putting her hand on his shoulder and snapping out of his trance. “Wha? Oh right, yeah.” Abraham said quickly. Michelle grinned and tussled his hair. “Let’s move daydreamer. Help lift Sarah and Katie into the bus.” Abraham hurried to the bus with Michelle behind him. “You get in the bus and pull them in while I go from behind and push, okay?” “Sure.” The two were hiding behind the bus so passing traffic couldn’t see them. When Abraham climbed on the bus, he opened the rear door and knelt down, waiting for the first one. First was Katie as she held up her hands. Abraham grabbed hold tight and pulled up, allowing Katie to get her upper body into the bus. Michelle came from behind and lifted up the coils of Katie’s body and pushing her inside carefully. Katie continued to hold onto Abraham until she was fully in the car. Sarah came next and was far more difficult as her large abdomen got caught in the doorway. “Ow!” Sarah cried as she felt Abraham and Katie both pulling on her arms. “I’m just not getting through! It’s a miracle I fit in last time.” “Hold on Sarah, I’m gonna pull you out okay?” Michelle asked. Michelle pulled back on Sarah’s abdomen and helped her back out of the bus. “Let me open this a bit.” Michelle climbed up to the door and placed her hands on the sides of the doorway.
“RAAAAAAAAAHHHH!” Michelle’s roar changed from human to an animalistic howl…which sounded frighteningly like her werewolf voice. Abraham leaped back in surprise as she pushed opened up the doorway further by spreading the doorway apart! The bus might as well have been made of cardboard! “How did you do that!?” Abraham cried. “I’ve never seen you show THAT much strength before!” “It’s my werewolf blood.” Michelle explained. “I have a small portion of that extra strength and stamina while human…I just have to tap into it from time to time. It’s always greater the closer it is to a full moon. Since we only had one a few nights ago, I still have some of that excess stamina.” “Yeah, but I never like when you do that.” Sarah said firmly, lifting up her body to get back into the bus. “When you tap into that power, you act a bit too harsh.” “Yes, I know. That’s why I try not to, but this is much easier for you to get in now.” Michelle shoved Sarah upwards so Katie and Abraham could pull her back in again, and as Michelle said, it was far easier to pull her inside this time. However, the rear of the bus wasn’t going to be able to close now. Michelle shrugged that off. “Don’t worry about the door, just don’t let anyone sit near it, okay?” Abraham shook his head at her stubbornness and also at his new discovery. It felt like the more he learned and revealed about the Monster Club, the more things he didn’t understand…and the more things seemed to shock him. Would he ever grow used to his family?
After about 10 minutes, Calypso and Tamil were helping each other carry a cooler to the bus. With Calypso leading, Tamil hobbled after her, holding onto the cooler with all his strength. His teeth were gritted in pain as he fought to hold up the heavy, water filled chest. Abraham hopped out of the bus and helped him by grabbing his end and lifting it into the back of the bus. “Thank you, Abraham.” Tamil sighed clutching his fingers. “Go ahead and get on man.” Abraham laughed. “Show me way please?” Tamil held out his hand and Abraham took it, escorting him to the stairs of the bus so he could climb on. When Abraham had seen Michelle display another one of her abilities, it made him all the more curious about Tamil, someone he knew very little about. “Hey, Tamil…being a mummy…does that give you any abilities?” Abraham asked. “Abilities?” Tamil asked questioningly, stopping at the steps. “Well yeah…like summon plagues of locusts?” Abraham asked, in a joking voice…but Tamil’s face remained rigged. “I hope you joking, Abraham.” He said grimly. “There no such thing as ‘mummy curse.’” Shocked by Tamil’s stern response, Abraham backed down and flushed shamefully. He had no idea that Tamil would take the question so harshly. “Wow…sorry, Tamil. I didn’t mean to offend you, really. I j-” “HA! Got you!” Tamil laughed, shoving Abraham a little with a big playful smile. “I just fool with you bit.” Tamil chuckled and shook his head. Abraham stared and blinked a moment. He’d been playing a joke with that serious and offended response? Truly, Tamil’s sense of humor was completely unpredictable…or perhaps Abraham just had no sense of humor? “Man, I can never read you.” “And I cannot read anything.” Tamil laughed, using the bus railing to help him up the steps. “But do have few skills as undead.” Tamil admitted. “Can detach limbs and reattach.” “Wow!” Abraham cried. “That…that’s amazing, Tamil! Can you show me?” “Can…but won’t.” Tamil snickered. “It very painful…and limbs only reattach if Sarah sew them back on.” He pointed to his finger which Abraham could just barely see some faint scarring where it looked like his finger had been sewn back on some time in the past. “Oh…so you can lose limbs, just not die?” “Right!” Tamil smiled. “Not so fun be dead.” “I could’ve told you that.” Ashley said, as she climbed on after Abraham. She was holding her umbrella over here to hide from the sun, but she was still sweating heavily to the point her clothes were getting wet. “Just get me out of this sunshine, please?” “Remind me again why you needed to be Ashley for this trip?” Abraham asked. “It’s because Ashley is smaller and can hide from the sun much easier than Asher can. Right, Ashley?” Michelle snapped. “Yeah, yeah, I got it.” Ashley grumbled climbing into a seat and laying down, trying to cool off. “Good, everyone’s here other than Annie and Calypso then?” Michelle asked. “I think Calypso going bathroom before leaving…Annie maybe with her?” Tamil offered. Abraham stood up and headed to the door. “I’ll check it out.” Michelle said. “No,” Abraham spoke up, standing, “I’ll do it.” “You’re going to go heck a girls bathroom?” Michelle giggled. “No!” Abraham snapped. “I’m just going to see if they’re in there or not.” Abraham hurried off the bus and ran inside before Michelle could object. As he walked in he saw the light to the bathroom was on, sneaking through the crack of the door. “Anyone in there?” Abraham called. “Yes, give us a moment!” Calypso cried back. “Is Annie in there too?” “Yes, I am washing my hands.” Annie responded. “Well hurry up, we’re getting ready to lea-AAAVE!!!” The bathroom door flew open as Calypso stumbled out and crashed into Abraham. “OW!” Calypso and Abraham crashed to the floor as Abraham rubbed his head where he’d fallen. “Oh I’m so sorry!” Calypso cried. “What’s wron-oh no!” Abraham looked and saw that Calypso’s legs had turned back into a long fish tail! Annie must have splashed her accidentally while washing her hands. She was a in her mermaid form! “Calypso!? What happen!?” Annie cried, running out with wet hands. “Don’t panic, okay?” Abraham said as Calypso struggled to get up on her arms. “Annie…um…go back to the bus. I’ll take care of Calypso.” Annie nodded and grabbed Mr. Blacky in her arms and rushed to the bus. Once she was out, Calypso rolled over on her back for Abraham to lift her up. He scooped her up and grunted as he felt her weight on his arms and back. “Oh dang…” Abraham groaned. “You…you’re heavier than I thought.” “Don’t be rude!” Calypso squeaked, blushing heavily. “It’s not polite to pick on a girl about her weight.” After adjusting her in his arms, he walked quickly to the bus where everyone was waiting. “I hope Asher doesn’t mind this.” Abraham whimpered. “Asher will understand.” Calypso nodded. “We’re all family here…we understand one another.” As he helped Calypso onto the bus and everyone began patting her dry, Abraham thought about all that he’d learned today. Katie’s history with men, Tamil’s strange ability to lose limbs and then have them sewn on, Michelle being able to tap her werewolf strength…all of it was new to him, despite him being with them for so long. He was beginning to understand them….but would he ever fully understand them like they did each other. “Don’t just stand there,” Michelle snapped, “get us moving, Abraham. Solomon is waiting for us!” “Oh, sure.” Abraham climbed into the seat of the bus and Annie ran up to the dashboard, placing her hands on it. “Beongae.” The bus engine roared to life and Abraham put his foot on the gas, startling Annie that she fell against Abraham and leaned on his arm. “Watch yourself.” Abraham laughed. Annie giggled and looked back at the group. “These guys are so weird…but they’re all so nice!” Annie noted. “Yeah. They really are.” Abraham smirked, leading the bus back towards home.