We Shall Be Monsters

by Ryan Decaria

  “Good, you’re awake.” Margery’s southern drawl seemed heavier than yesterday, which usually happened when she got nervous.

  Anika’s throat burned. “What happened?”

  “You passed out at school. I’m running some tests, but it seems like you might have had some food poisoning.” Margery slid over on her office stool and shined a light in her eyes.

  Anika felt around, grateful to still have her clothes on instead of a hospital gown. She tried to remember the last thing that happened before she woke up here. Something important. Her stomach threatened evacuation. A figure beckoned. A door ajar.

  “It was Pankina.” Anika shouted. She tried to sit up, but the pain in her gut flared up, and she let out a slow moan.

  “Who?” Margery felt Anika’s stomach.

  “The new principal. She was luring me into a pinch point.”

  Margery grabbed her clipboard and made a few notations. “Anika, she’s the one who called us. She helped you.”

  Anika tried to remember what had happened in the hallway, but the fussiness made any conclusions impossible. “Are you sure?”

  “How long have you been experiencing stomach pain?” Margery asked. “I’ve noticed you grabbing your stomach.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Either you have a gastrointestinal issue,” Margery said, “or you’re pregnant.”

  “No.” Anika forced herself upright. “I’m definitely not pregnant.”

  Margery’s eyebrow rose an inch.

  “I’m not.” Anika yanked at the collar of her shirt. “Am I?”

  “Relax,” Margery said. “If you have no reason to suspect pregnancy, then you’re not pregnant.”

  Anika took a deep breath. She’d thought she’d imagined the worst of all possible scenarios that could happen to her in this crappy town, but she’d missed that one. More reason for her stomach to hurt.

  “Can I go home?” Anika asked.

  “After you tell me about the stomach aches.”

  Anika studied Macy entangled in a dozen wires. The worry about her sister waking up, the internal conflict about finishing the job, and the guilt of causing it in the first place were half the stress that was likely causing the pain. “I have an ulcer or something. I’m fine.”

  Margery leaned closer. “You don’t think an ulcer is a problem? You should have told me. There is plenty we could have done to help. Adolescence is stressful enough. I don’t envy you.”

  “Well, are you going to give me medication?”

  “I’m not convinced it’s an ulcer. I’m going to run some more tests.”

  “I wasn’t intentionally poisoned?”

  Margery patted her knee. “No. You weren’t poisoned. Perhaps you ate something that aggravated whatever is going on. We’ll get to the bottom of it.”

  Anika didn’t have time for tests. Her phone rested on the edge of the hospital tray table. Plans. She needed plans. “How long is this going to take?”

  “I’d like to keep you overnight.”

  “That’s not going to work.” Anika swung her legs off the bed. “I have to study tonight. Tests. Big tests.”

  Margery smiled. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to insist. I don’t want you to be alone. If something happened, no one would know.”

  This was bad. How was Anika going to orchestrate capturing not one, but two monsters from inside a hospital room in the laboratory that created them? “Fine.”

  Not fine.

  “I’ll be back in a few minutes.” Margery headed for the door. “I’ll let your father know you’re awake.”

  She left Anika alone with Miss Comatose. Macy looked so small as the machines kept her alive and breathing. The bandages over the stump of her arm had a few tiny specks of blood. Anika couldn’t shake the guilt, even though the incident with the alligator covered their escape from the lab.

  Anika slipped off the bed and pulled on her shoes. She stood, wary not to fall over, and tiptoed to the door, snagging her phone on the way. She peeked into the hallway.

  The coast was clear. Anika didn’t think she’d make it out of the infirmary, so she crossed the hall into Blake’s room. He was awake. A huge grin formed on his thinning cheeks. His matted hair stuck straight up in the back. He was a little pale and his eyes flickered in the light from the hallway, like an insect.

  “Anika,” he said. “You’re okay.”

  Anika sat on the edge of his bed and took his hand. She couldn’t help but smile. “You’re awake!”

  Blake’s smile faded. “I heard them bring you in. How are you feeling?”

  “Better than you.” Anika smiled. “Are you ready to get out this place?”

  “Seriously, Anika. They were panicking, everyone was shouting.”

  “I’m fine now. I can’t prove it, yet, but I think Pankina poisoned me.”

  “The History teacher?”

  “She’s the least of my problems.” Anika squeezed his fingers. “Think you could help me with a few of my others, you know, on the down-low?”

  “Always.”

  He squeezed back, and Anika felt relief wash over her. He was regaining strength. Hopefully he could get out of there soon. She felt a little rush of heat in her cheeks as they sat there holding hands, until his skin got a little prickly.

  “I don’t have much time,” Anika said. “I’m trying to save your dad, but I don’t know how to lure him away from my dad’s goons. They think he’s headed to a baseball stadium, and he’ll get there tomorrow night during the game.”

  “What stadium?”

  Anika pulled the notes Coralynn gave her out of her back pocket. “Tropicana Field.”

  “The Rays?” Blake shook his head. “No. He won’t go there.”

  “What? Your mom said he took you to games there all the time.”

  “Yeah, he did, but that’s not where he’ll go.” Blake sat up, more energetic than she’d seen him since his bug days. “Growing up, his dad would take him to see the Tampa Tarpons. His fondest memory was watching Pete Rose hit his thirtieth triple.”

  “Wait.” Anika let go of his hand. “You’re from Tampa?”

  “My dad grew up here. Who do you think convinced Dravovitch to build his lab in the middle of a swamp?”

  Anika nodded. “My dad is going to the wrong stadium.”

  “Right. The Tarbons played at Al Lopez Field in Tampa.”

  “Got it.”

  “But they tore it down in the 80s.”

  “Great.” Anika grinned. “Fewer people will be in danger.”

  “They built Ray Jay there. The Bucc’s stadium.” Blake grabbed her arm. “When will he get there?”

  “Tomorrow night.” Anika said. “Football is played in the fall, though.”

  “It’s a huge stadium. They hold events there all the time.”

  Anika pulled out her phone and searched for the Bucc’s stadium. “Monster truck rally?”

  “I know my dad. If he’s after baseball, that’s where he’ll go.”

  “Brilliant.” Anika had a location—one step closer to a plan. “The labcoats are going to lure your dad in by spraying your mother’s perfume into the air.”

  “No way. My dad hates her.”

  “What?” Anika scratched that off her mental checklist. Back to square one on the bait.

  “That scent will send him running the other way.” Blake put his hand on her knee. “You should use a combination of leather oil and popcorn.”

  “Popcorn?” Under other circumstances, she’d have gotten flustered from being so close to him, but his fingers were a little green, scaly, and rough. Kind of ruined the mood.

  “And mustard,” he said. “Yellow mustard. Loved a good hot dog.”

  “Okay.” She took notes on her phone. “Now I need a way to sedate him.”

  Blake tilted his head back and forth. “Caffeine! Puts him right to sleep.”

  “That works?”

  “For him.” Blake grinned. “ADHD. Caffeine has the opposite effe
ct on my dad.”

  Anika smiled. Clever boy. “Thanks.”

  “Why not go to Dravovitch?”

  She didn’t want to stress him out, but she wasn’t going to lie to him. “Dravovitch is ready to destroy him. At least that’s what your mom told me. She promised me information that could save my life if I bring your father back alive.”

  “You can’t trust her,” Blake said. “Classmates used to call her Corky in college. She hated it. After she started working for Dravovitch, she systematically destroyed each of their lives, one at a time, to get back at them.”

  Well, crap. Anika had everything she needed and every reason not to go through with it. “What do I do?”

  Blake stared at her with puppy-dog eyes. “Will you save my dad anyway?”

  “Yes.” Just like that, it was back on the table. “I’ll try. I have to break out of here first.”

  “What?” He grabbed the hospital sheets like he was ready to leap out of bed. “Why?”

  “It’s nothing.” Anika took his scaly hand. “They want to run some tests, but as long as I stay away from Pankina, I’ll be fine.

  Blake’s eyes warbled into a dozen compound parts as his expression grew dower. “Doctor Soren keeps asking me about my dad’s formula. I told her it was gone. I don’t think they should have it. It’s too dangerous.”

  “I agree.” Anika felt the urge to check in the hiding spot under Blake’s bed for the satchel with the medicine. No. If they’d found it, they wouldn’t keep asking. Better if Blake didn’t know it was there.

  They sat in silence, except for the stupid beeping from the equipment. Anika didn’t have much more time. She texted Boulsour for a quick exit, ignoring a dozen texts from her friends. At least this time, it wasn’t her fault.

  Blake’s face tensed, his lips pursing. “Anika?”

  “Yeah?”

  His eyes refocused, returning to normal. “What aren’t they telling me?”

  Anika was dreading this conversation. “What do you mean?”

  “They told me you were the one who brought me back. And you took out Victor. I hear it was a ballsy move. But I don’t get it. I killed Victor. How did I revert back? No one will tell me.”

  Anika grabbed his shoulder. What was worse, knowing or not knowing? If Anika were in his place, she’d never stop searching until she knew the truth. “Maybe that’s for the best.”

  “No.” He shook her hand of his shoulder. “Not you too. Don’t lie to me.”

  Anika flashed a toothy smile. “You ate him.”

  His eyes got wide, and his face turned a shade greener. But then he laughed. “Serves him right, no?”

  Anika exhaled, relieved he wasn’t angry or gagging. Of course, he’d find it funny. “It was the only thing I could think of.”

  “Bit of brilliance.” He grinned. “I knew I liked you.”

  Anika got all enamored again. She had to find a way to take the rest of the bug out of him and then kiss him some more. “I’ve got to go.”

  “Thanks.” He held her hand as she got off the bed and didn’t let go. “Save my dad, okay? He’s not perfect, but I still love him.”

  “Get better.” Anika leaned in and kissed him on his mostly fleshy cheek. He’d given her the information she needed because he loved his dad. How would that be?

  His huge smile was heartening. “I will.”

  Anika took a quick peek down the hall. “I need a distraction.”

  “Anytime.” He punched the call-nurse button. “I’ll keep them busy.”

  Anika waved and let her awkward hand fall to her side. She left his door open and crossed the hall to Macy’s room. Without looking at Macy, Anika waited behind the door. Her stomach felt great now. If something was wrong with her, she could deal with it later.

  As Margery and the nurse ran into Blake’s room, Anika slipped out and headed toward the lobby.

  Anika ignored Tony’s pleas for her to stop as she rushed through the lobby doors into the muggy night. The parking lot was mostly empty. Anika checked her phone. Boulsour was late.

  A mid-sized, dull-green sedan lurched into the parking lot and swerved around a lamppost before slamming to a halt a few feet in front of her, the engine still running. The driver’s side door popped open. Anika walked around and peeked in. Boulsour was in the rear passenger side seat attempting to pull the length of his left leg out of the driver’s side floor. He’d removed the front passenger seat completely. He stared at her with his blank eyes and straight gray lips. An unopened pack of car air fresheners lay on the dash.

  “Are you going to teach me how to drive?” Anika grinned.

  Boulsour’s eyes brightened a smidge.

  Anika got in and slammed the door. “Let’s get this party started.”

  She angled the rear-view mirror, so she could see into Boulsour’s eyes, which drooped.

  “What?”

  Nothing.

  Anika sighed. Her mother had tried to teach her to drive an old truck a few years ago when she could barely reach the pedals. Hadn’t gone well, and her mom quickly gave up on that exit strategy. Anika knew this would be challenging, but she trusted the lumbering speedster. Someday, she’d learn his backstory and help him in whatever way she could.

  “I’ll talk you through everything I know, and you tell me when I’m wrong.”

  Anika explained basic car operating procedures, her eyes glued to Boulsour’s through the mirror. Foot on the brake. Put it in drive. Ease off brake. Ease on gas. Each time she was correct, his eyes brightened a tiny bit. Each time she wasn’t quite on, they would droop a millimeter, and she would adjust until they brightened.

  Tony knocked on the window. Anika locked the door, smiling as she shook her head.

  Margery pushed through the lobby doors and darted for them. Anika released the brake and slammed on the gas. As the car lurched forward, Boulsour’s eyes opened, his pupils widening.

  Anika swerved onto the street, flicking her eyes between the road and Boulsour in the mirror. She made subtle motions, declaring her intention and in a split second, Boulsour’s eyes would react. Her hands fought each other on the steering wheel, jerking the car back and forth.

  Boulsour raised his shoulders an inch. What did that mean? Her shoulders were tense. Relax Anika.

  He inhaled. She’d never seen him do that. Breathe dummy.

  As Anika slowly inhaled and relaxed her shoulders, she steadied her grip on the wheel and her driving smoothed out.

  His eyes drifted to the right. Anika was driving down the center of the road and eased the car into the right lane.

  They barreled onward, flying past a cop car while going fifty in a thirty-five. “Crap.”

  The cop flicked on his lights and pulled into the street behind her. Boulsour looked more alive than she’d ever seen him.

  “Should I stop?”

  Boulsour’s eyes lowered to the floor. Anika slammed on the gas. No reason to disappoint the man. She sped up to eighty and Boulsour’s eyes stared ahead. A smile threatened to form on his lips. He held his chin up.

  The siren blared as the police car chased after them.

  Anika hooted, her hands clenched to the steering wheel.

  They were hurtling toward an intersection. Anika flicked the blinker left. No! Right. Yes.

  She lifted her left foot. No! Right foot. Yes. She took her foot off the gas before they entered the intersection and—Yes!—slammed it on the brake, yanking the wheel to the right. The car whipped around the corner, crossing lanes, almost barreling into the post of the streetlight. Boulsour’s hand shot out, helping pull the wheel just in time.

  His eyes dropped.

  She pulled her foot off the brake. Yes!

  She slammed in on the gas. Yes. Yes. Yes.

  They sped onward. The cop took the corner easily, but lost ground as Anika pushed the gas pedal to the floor.

  “Turn here?” No. “Here?” Yes. “Left?” Yes.

  Anika took the corner with a squeal of tires a
nd brakes and gunned it forward, checking Boulsour’s eyes with each movement. His reaction time was instant, and she reacted in kind.

  They were a perfect team as they sped onward.

  The cop failed to make up the distance between them.

  Boulsour’s face drooped as they neared the high school.

  “Turn into the school.”

  Yes.

  “Should I slow down?”

  No. Major droop—maybe three millimeters. Duh!

  She turned right, swerving out of view of the officer behind, and yanked the steering wheel to the right, pulling her foot off the gas, the car spun into the parking lot. Anika’s gut lurched to her throat as the force pulled her toward the door. She yanked the wheel as hard as she could to the left.

  Anika howled.

  Boulsour’s mouth opened, and he gasped.

  Anika flinched her legs.

  Yes!

  She slammed on the brake. Boulsour pushed the wheel to the left, and the car spun, threatening to flip as the right wheels left the ground for a moment. They spun to a halt between the gym wall and the dumpster, hidden from view as the cop sped past them, chasing shadows caused by his own lights.

  Anika screamed. “That was the stupidest, best thing I’ve ever done!”

  Boulsour agreed. He released the wheel and the sliver of excitement drained from his face. In moments, he was as stoic and blah as ever.

  Anika tried to catch her breath. First, she’d led the elaborate heist of breaking into her father’s lab, and now she’d had her first high-speed car chase. She was becoming quite the gentleman rapscallion.

  “Thanks.”

  Boulsour barely nodded, which was everything. She was welcome.

  Anika scanned the parking lot to see if anyone had seen them. All was empty and quiet until two men dragged something from the side door in a black plastic garbage bag and crossed the field.

  One was portly. The other was skinny and wore a bowler hat.

  “I knew it. Those guys are working with Pankina. I think they poisoned me today and tried to kidnap me. We have to find out what they are up to.”