by Andrew Lynch
Upstairs. Come on!
I looked up the stairwell and saw Ariel’s blonde-framed face hanging over the edge. We smiled and waved at each other and I went up to meet her. Erin was there too, leaning on the balcony rail and watching the flow of students up and down the stairs.
“Hey guys! Good weekend?”
Great weekend! After the bunker, and the hunt, I decided to practice a bit more in my backyard.
“Oh cool, and…?”
Ariel shrugged. Nothing else. It was just great. Good weather, busy, having fun, parents are away for the week so I’m living the free life. You know.
I laughed and gave her a hug. With all that had happened to me, I’d almost forgotten how unswervingly happy she could be.
What have you been up to?
“That is a very loaded question,” I admitted.
“Well before you unload on us, you should ask me what I’ve been up to first.”
I laughed. “All right. Hey, Erin, what have you been up to over the weekend?”
“Oh, thank you for asking, Rel. I have been up to a boy this weekend!”
Been up to a boy? Do tell!
“He asked me out on a date, and I said yes!”
“You wild thing, Erin! Well, who is it? What did you do?” I hadn’t realized how fun such simple distractions as friends talking about nothing relevant could be. And how much they’d help me. The three of us linked arms and started off down the corridor towards our English class.
“It’s Mike. He’s in my math class. I don’t think you know him?” We both shook our heads. “Well, he’s pretty amazing, and he took me to The Grind on Fifth, and we had a latte, and we just, you know, talked.”
“Talked?! So, when’s the wedding?”
“Don’t do this guys,” Erin groaned.
I’m thinking a June wedding, right?
“That’s a given!” I shouted. “What’s the color scheme?”
Honestly, without seeing him I couldn’t say! I wouldn’t want to clash with his eyes or skin tone!
“Let’s be adventurous. I’m going to say… underwater wedding. How are you with scuba diving, Erin?”
“Really, Rel? A ghost and a siren right next to you, and you suggest the ghost does the underwater wedding? How would that even work? I can’t cross running water, so is he going to be in the sea and I’ll be on the beach?”
She makes a fair point. Beach volleyball weddings are very in this year.
“Are they?” Erin asked skeptically. “Where? Where are beach volleyball weddings ‘in’?”
You know, beaches. I guess.
“Anyway, Mike is awesome, much cooler than both of you, and he definitely wouldn’t ever annoy me this much. I’ll keep you updated. Now, what about you, Rel? Is cheerleading everything you dreamed of and Rick has swept you off your feet and had his way with you?”
Or did you unleash your wild side and have your way with him? I mean, as long as someone ended up thoroughly swept, I’m happy.
“Umm, yeah. One of us ended up off our feet, all right.” Before their shocked faces could rattle off a thousand questions in half a second, I continued. “He fell over, and he’s in hospital. He’s okay though. I went to visit him with Johnny.”
They both stopped walking.
Erin looked to Ariel. “Would you like to?”
Ariel nodded and thumbed her phone. What the actual fudge??
Sorry. Autocorrect.
“Elaborate,” Erin said. “Hospital? Johnny?”
“Well yeah, he fell and cut his neck or something.”
We were just in front of the classroom, but they pushed me to the side of the corridor and huddled around me.
“A neck wound? Right after a very hungry supe was hanging around him?”
I thought back to what my mom would have to do if I told her the truth. The Masquerade. “Check with the hospital, guys. He fell on a knife. Nasty.”
They looked at each other through lidded eyes, and shrugged before allowing me to continue.
“And I went to see him with Johnny because… Well, there’s something you need to know about Mr. Anderton. He’s a hunter.”
Those are real? Huh, I figured they were made up boogeymen.
“And Mr. Anderton is one? No! Surely not! How did you find out?” Erin sounded thrilled and shocked at the same time.
“Apparently they’re not made up. And Johnny’s dad is the liaison to SCIM, so my dad was talking to him, and Johnny tagged along, and apparently the whole football team knew already.”
“Uh huh. So you decided to hang out with him for the entire day then? With Johnny?”
“No. We just went to see Rick. Oh, and I’m meeting him tonight for… stuff.” Oh yeah, making a great impression on my friends right now.
Stuff? Yeah, and Erin sees Mike for the talking…
“No, it’s… hunting stuff. We’re going to look for that thing again. And, I dunno, he’s not as terrible as I first thought he was.”
“The horrible thing that kills people, or Johnny? Because I’m finding it hard to believe that Johnny isn’t as terrible as we thought.”
“Along with Gareth.”
Who?
“That wide guy from last time. He’s a gargoyle, apparently.”
“Hmm,” Erin thought about it. “You know, he did seem dependable. Solid as a rock…”
But he didn’t talk much. He could have been a bit boulder.
“He was very cautious. He took nothing for granite!”
At least he seemed gneiss!
I looked up from my phone and rolled my eyes. “Guys, we’re not doing rock puns. I’m pretty sure that’s racist, so shame on you.” They both nodded, conceding the point. I dragged the conversation back to what I felt was the most important issue. “Are you not at all concerned about Mr. Anderton being a hunter? You know, someone that will literally kill us.”
“We’ve got exams coming up that will literally end our lives. At least he’s being straightforward about it.”
“It’s not quite the same,” I said through gritted teeth.
Okay, okay. So he wants to kill all of us, but we’re going to his class?
“Well, no. I mean, yes, but he only knows about me.”
And how did that happen?
“Next question,” I said.
“Okay, so he wants to kill you, and you’re still going to his class?”
I grabbed the crumpled up scrap of notebook paper from my purse and held it up like a trophy. “I’ve written a note that will fix everything.”
Now, I haven’t ever met a hunter, but from the stories I’ve heard, I get the impression that a strongly worded letter isn’t going to sort things out.
“Well obviously he wouldn’t dare to attack me here in school. I guess. I mean, that sounds like a thing, right?”
An oldish, frazzled looking woman carrying a stack of books started making her way towards us from the stairs. I noticed her, because she had all the hallmarks of a substitute teacher. She looked about as prepared for this class as we were.
Her teacher instincts must have kicked in suddenly. She began shouting for everyone between the stairs and her assigned classroom to get to class, with a stern, “Move along ladies!” as she passed us.
“That’s lucky,” Erin said. “I guess the scary hunter confrontation can wait a bit longer.”
“Probably for the best,” I said. “That penmanship wasn’t convincing anyone.”
English class, and then off to hunt monsters. An idea hit me. I should visit with Rick again before I went hunting. Seeing him last night had reminded me how much I liked him. And how guilty I felt for putting him into hospital. I made a conscious effort to not swoon. Hey, I had enough time to squeeze that in before meeting Johnny and Gareth, so why not treat myself. Who knew, maybe I’d even get a good luck kiss!
Chapter 25
Mr. Anderton
I tapped my fingers on the receptionist’s desk. I wasn’t waiting for anything. I knew which ro
om Richard was in. I just didn’t want to see it and be forced to accept what had happened.
‘As long as I don’t see it, then it’s not real, right?’ I asked Claire.
She frowned. ‘That’s not really how this works. As someone who knows monsters exist, I think you know that already.’
I nodded. ‘You should go home. Thank you for keeping an eye on him for so long.’
‘And the hour I’ve been prodding you to go in and see him?’
I smiled, but more to release my nerves. ‘Thank you for that too.’
She placed her hand on my forearm and squeezed. ‘If you need anything, call me.’
‘I will. Thank you.’
She headed towards the elevators, leaving me to myself. And Richard, in a room just around the corner barely twenty steps from me.
My phone buzzed and I checked it. My ex. “Sanctuary? How odd, I just bought a flight to there for next month. If he’s okay now, I’ll wait till then.”
That was about the level of compassion she usually showed, but I had to tell her. She was his mother after all. But why had she already booked a flight to Sanctuary? Maybe Richard had talked to her and not told me. Not usual for him, but possible. I tapped in my response, trying to leave out as much scathing sarcasm and bitterness as possible, and put my phone back in my pocket.
I huffed and puffed before finally standing up. I had to get this done. What kind of a father wasn’t around for his son just because they were in pain? Time to stop running. I slipped my hand into my jacket pocket and made sure the pen was still there. With that confirmed, I pushed off from the receptionist’s desk.
I turned the corner and was about to step into the room I knew was his, but someone else was there, talking to Richard with their back to me. I didn’t need to double check the room number. I knew who it was. What it was.
Instinctively I reached for the compact pistol I kept in my underarm holster, but before I managed to draw it, Richard saw me. His face lit up.
‘Dad! You came!’
I saw the muscles under Rel’s clothing tense. She froze. I could finish drawing my pistol and blow her brains out all over this room. Finish it here and now. I wanted to, but Richard’s excitement at seeing me, finally, melted my anger into sadness. I couldn’t pull him any further into this life. I let my hand drop to my side.
‘Sorry it took so long. Hello, Reliquiae.’
The monster didn’t move. It stayed looming over my son. What was it doing? Trying to turn him into some undead monstrosity? I walked slowly around the hospital bed, until I could see its face. Far from the bloody mess it was last time, fangs bared, eyes black as coal, it was just a little girl. As she looked up to meet my eyes, I saw the perfect imitation of a scared little girl.
‘Hello,’ she whispered, barely able to get the words out.
‘It’s been two days,’ Richard said. ‘Work got so busy you couldn’t… see me?’ He was clearly upset and hurt, and of course I understood why.
I took Richard’s hand and squeezed it. ‘I’m so sorry. I would have come sooner if I could have.’ I meant it. I couldn’t bring myself to face my dying son. I had to wait till he was better. Feeling his pulse slow and his breathing stop two nights ago had scared me more than any monster. I’d needed time. And I couldn’t tell him any of this. ‘But I’m here now, and your mother is coming soon.’
‘Mum’s coming? Huh.’ He summed that complicated situation up very succinctly.
‘Reliquiae, I think you should leave.’
It took a shuffling step away from the bed, not turning its back on me.
‘No, it’s okay dad, she can stay. Maybe we can order some pizza and all eat together?’ He looked over to it. ‘Pizza seems traditionally American enough to celebrate my not dying, right, Rel?’
‘I think Reliquiae has eaten enough already,’ I said.
‘Yeah. I should get going anyway.’
‘But you only just arrived,’ Richard said.
‘I just wanted to…’ her eyes flicked to me as she paused, then back to Richard. My son, her meal. ‘Say hi without Johnny here. Finally get around to thank you for tutoring me. Or… well, running away just before you tutored me, at least. And maybe I can see you when you’re out–’
‘I don’t think so,’ I interrupted.
Richard assumed I was joking. ‘Yeah, definitely! I’ll text you. They said it shouldn’t be long as I’ve made an amazing recovery so far. Maybe our next lesson can be American food… I’ll take you to a restaurant?’
If only he knew what he was really asking. She started to say something, but I walked round the bed to put myself in between them, and talked over her. ‘Goodbye.’
It scuttled back and clinged to the door frame, continuing its imitation of a helpless human. ‘Sir… uhh, Mr. Anderton, sir, umm… could I.’ It squeaked. ‘Could I speak to you outside quickly?’
I didn’t take my eyes off it, as I considered my best course of action. Maybe it was trying to lure me away from my son? But if that was all it wanted, then it could have struck before I arrived. Maybe it wanted to kill me, but I didn’t think it would do anything in a hospital, not after the troubles it had been through to stay concealed as a student and establish itself in a human household. I extended my arm to indicate it should lead the way and I followed. I wasn’t going to let it get behind me.
It walked past the big window looking into Richard’s room, and turned to face me. ‘I know you’re a hunter, and I know what happened was bad, but please don’t…’ It was good at looking innocent. Almost harmless. ‘I didn’t mean to. I’m just a kid and I can’t–’
‘I know what you are. I’ve killed monsters like you before. Draugr are a plague upon this world, and I’m the surgeon.’
She looked shocked, but not aggressive. Of course with its speed, it didn’t need to look aggressive until it snapped. ‘You know I’m a Draugr? What else do you know about them?’
‘I don’t have time for your games. I thought I was just after a Fiend, but is this your territory? Is that why I found you attacking it?’
‘What? Umm, I don’t have territory, I think. Should I? And the monster was hurting people, so I tried to stop it.’
I leaned in and said through gritted teeth, ‘And you hurt Richard. Mark my words, Draugr, the next time I see you, I’m going to shoot you. Do you understand me?’ I pulled back my jacket just enough for it to see the gun. Of course a bullet wouldn’t kill a Draugr, but one in the brain would leave it stunned for long enough to allow me to decapitate it.
‘No, please, listen! I didn’t want to hurt him. Just believe me, please!’ Why was it pleading with me? ‘It was all a mistake. I got hurt, and I don’t remember anything. I don’t remember what I did. Hate me for what I did, but please believe that I didn’t mean to! If I could have stopped myself I would have. I’d never hurt him.’
‘But you did.’ I remembered my son’s blood spilling over my clothes. ‘I don’t know what sick game you’re playing, Draugr, but if you really want me to believe your innocent little girl act, then surely you should agree that you deserve to die. You should understand that the danger you pose is unacceptable. How long till you do it again? And what if I’m not there to stop you?’
Her face scrunched up, and her eyes watered. ‘Please. I’m learning to control it. I just need more time...’
I felt… sorry for it. I pitied it. I leaned forward to whisper in its ear. ‘I’m going to shoot you.’
It turned and ran away.
Very, very different from the last Draugr I’d seen. And killed. Of course, I’d had other Scions backing me up then, and we hadn’t stopped to chat with it. But Rel - was definitely convincing. I turned back into Richard’s room, and braced myself for an unwelcome conversation.
‘Dad! So many questions. But first, why have both you and Claire been so weird to Rel when she’s visited?’
Oh great. I really had no answer for this. She called him some bad names in my class? No, they obviously ha
d a crush on each other, that wouldn’t be enough.
‘Actually, no. First, why has it taken you two days to come and see me?’
I walked to his side and sat at the foot of his bed. ‘Can I be honest with you?’
He looked confused. ‘Of course.’
‘I’m sorry for taking so long, but… I was scared. I found you almost dead. From the knife you fell on. I didn’t know if you were going to make it, and… I was scared.’
‘And you told mum?’
‘I did.’
He sighed. ‘I mean, yeah, I get it. Of course I do. But… you can’t run because you’re scared.’
I smiled at him. He remembered how I dealt with his mother leaving me. ‘I know. We all have our flaws. Mine is being unable to face my fears, and being a little bit crazy when I do try to tackle them head on. Yours is clearly a magnetic-like attraction to sharp objects.’ I patted his hand. ‘We both have things to work on.’
‘Uh huh. I’ll get right on that, but perhaps yours are more pressing. Really, dad. I felt so alone without you here.’
‘I’m sorry,’ was all I could say.
‘But then Rel came along, and I didn’t feel quite so lonely. But then she gets chased out. Twice. Dad, I really like her. She’s cute and funny and a bit of a geek, but also amazing and have you noticed how the room lights up when she walks in? She’s the kind of girl you read about in books or see in movies. I’m still trying to fit in at school, but I already fit with her. You know?’
What does a father say to that? I wished there was a class to take. “What to do when your child falls in love with the apex predator of monsters, and how to convince him he’s a mouse being toyed with by a cat”.
‘I know. I know she’s special to you. And from what I’ve seen, she likes you back.’ Damn it. His smile was enough to tell me how much of a thrill that was for him to hear, but I could also see the heart rate monitor by his bed shoot up. I wanted him to be happy, but safe. Rel made him happy, happier than I’d seen him in a long time, but she was also his biggest threat. ‘I’ll tell you what. When you’re out of hospital and recovered, we’ll invite her and her parents round for a dinner. We can all get to know each other a bit better. Once you’ve caught up with all your homework, of course. Sound good?’
