by Deanna Chase
In the distance, a crowd gathered around the deputies. I had no doubt that dozens of video clips of the naked men and their bizarre chicken behavior would soon be going viral.
Chapter 6
My eyes happily took in all of the sights of the old mill house. I especially enjoyed finding the most familiar things, like the stone porch where I first met Gabe. Before long, I was flooded with memories of my dramatic and fun summer in Caldron Falls. Then, very unexpectedly, I became terribly sad. I wished I could go back to summer’s warm days and hot nights with Gabe.
Morgan met us on the porch, throwing her arms around me. “Kelly! It’s great to see you!” When she stepped back and saw our gloomy expressions, her mood sobered. “What happened? I can’t decide if you’re sad or just really pissed off.”
“Both. It turns out I freed some evil witch’s circus of cursed werebears. Not only did I free them, I brought them here. I put a dozen confused grizzly bears right in the town square. Gabe got shot with a tranquilizer gun…by some bitch named Candy. I got arrested for punching a cop and was forced to put up with Deputy Jack Hoff and his friend. To top it off, Doctor Frankenbear had Gabe hauled away to some research lab.” Saying it out loud only made it worse. All I could do was close my eyes and rub my temples for a bit until the smartass in me woke up. “Okay, I sound just straight up crazy now that I’ve heard myself say it.”
“Oh my God! What do we do? Can I help?”
“I hope so. I told Kelly that you might have an idea who the scientist is that’s been researching bears in the area.”
“I know exactly who you’re talking about. He came into the diner once, and only once. Some of the men, who are bear hunters, really gave him a hard time when they realized who he was. I don’t know his name, but I do remember them asking about what the researcher was doing with the bears up at the institute.”
“The institute? What the hell is that? Sounds horrible!”
“But appropriate, all things considered,” Ezzy added.
“The institute is what everyone calls the old University of Wisconsin’s Forestry Research Institute. It’s been closed down for years, but I think UW still owns it.”
“That has to be it. You’ll have to come with us, Morgan. You know the area.”
Morgan pulled at her top. “Of course. Sorry, but I was lounging around today. Let me just change out of my pajamas.” She turned around and headed out of the living room, stopping to pick up a black two-piece teddy from the back of a chair. She held up a piece in each hand. “What should I wear for later tonight, Esmeralda? The top or bottom?”
“Hmm.” Ezzy held her finger to her lip and actually gave it some thought. “Top.”
“Yes, Esmeralda.” Morgan trotted off and disappeared into the master bedroom.
“You naughty old witch.” I winked and smiled at Ezzy. “So that’s how it is for you two?”
“Nah. Just playing a little game for a couple days, then we’ll go back to our adorable selves. Oh, and if you stick around for a couple days, Luke will be coming for a little slumber party. In case you’re interested.”
“Oh no. Just no. Thank you.”
“You sure? Gabe is welcome, too, of course...provided this all works out okay.”
Morgan returned dressed in jeans, a t-shirt, and a fleece jacket. “Ready!” Ezzy took out her broom and we gathered together when Esmeralda recited the transportation spell. Morgan added the location. The crack of thunder and flash of lightning still made me jump. When the mist cleared, we stood in front of a sprawling one level wooden building. Unlike the horror movie of an abandoned asylum for the criminally insane that I truly expected, this place was actually nice. The fresh, bright white paint on the siding made it look clean and the red shingled roof was in good shape. Behind the main building, rows of greenhouses formed a square. The welcoming appearance set me at ease.
“Morgan, do you know the deputy who tranqed Gabe?”
“Candy? Yeah, I know her. She grew up in Caldron Falls. She graduated high school with Gabe, as a matter of fact. But I wouldn’t worry. There’s nothing going on between those two anymore…”
“Uh? Anymore? Ugh. I’m just not good with the ex-girlfriend that lives in the same town as Gabe, with me in Chicago. As it has been said, shit happens. And it’ll suck for me if it does.”
“Hey, I don’t really know the story there. As a matter of fact, I only heard something about how at one time those two might have had a thing. I’ve never seen them together. Actually until you came along, I’ve never known Gabe to have a steady girlfriend.”
“Ah, a man-slut. Is that right?” Ezzy quizzed Morgan, but she was actually trying to get under my skin. When it comes to men, Esmeralda always makes a point to sow a few seeds of doubt. She just doesn’t trust them, and she thinks only a fool would.
“Doesn’t matter. Really. Everyone has a life. I only concern myself with today and the future.” Who was I kidding? I saw Candy’s concern for Gabe. I also saw how beautiful she was. A fact I’d never admit to anyone. I pointed toward the green metal gate sealing off the entrance to the complex. “Let’s get moving. We need to find a way inside to see if we can locate Gabe.”
“The place looks deserted.” Morgan nodded at the late afternoon sun. “It won’t be long before the sun sets.”
Morgan pointed to a large metal building connected to the back of the main building. “I think we should go in there first. I don’t see a door, though.”
“Let’s go! Right through the front door of the first building.” Now I had the opportunity to use the one spell I’d mastered. By the way, I use that term loosely. My specialty is shooting a flaming ball from my wand like it is a steroid-fueled, fastball pitch gone wild. I’ve caused considerable property damage with that little charmer, and I hoped blasting the door open to save Gabe would offer some redemption.
Ezzy handed me the wand and nodded. I jabbed the point of the wand in the direction of the door, shouting the magic words, “Ignis impetum!” A cannon ball of blazing fire burst from the tip of my wand. The blast nearly knocked us down.
Having been reduced to a useless lump of glowing metal, the lock fell free from the door and tumbled off the cement steps. I kicked the door open, then stepped carefully into the building. My hand eagerly swept the wall in search of a light switch. When the rows of long fluorescent tubes finally flickered to life, the institute surprised me once again.
Chapter 7
The inviting, neatly kept exterior was nothing but a façade. Morgan leaned over my shoulder and agreed with my unspoken observation. “Dirty pale-green walls, grimy terrazzo floor, and discarded metal lab carts. Yep, just the look you want for your spooky, abandoned asylum. They really nailed it with this place.”
Esmeralda kicked an empty cardboard box out of her path, walking ahead of us. “Charming little place. All we need now are rats. I’m sure there are at least a few descendants of escaped mutant lab rats scurrying around this dump.”
“We need to find Gabe, fast. I think we should split up so we can quickly cover more territory.”
“Do you think there’s a chance he might have already shifted and made an escape?” Morgan asked.
“It depends. From what I know, he can’t change if he’s unconscious, so he won’t change until the drugs wear off. Even then, changing back to human form takes a while. I’m pretty sure he’s still a bear.”
“Bad idea to split up, Kelly. Don’t forget that magic is involved. This is all just another repercussion from the spell you cast. We have no idea what we could run into. Morgan and I will stay with you.”
We marched ahead down the corridor, through swinging doors, and into the adjoining building. It was an open space that reminded me of an airplane hangar. A bright overhead light illuminated a huge cage with a giant bear asleep inside. I knew Gabe would be fine as long as he hadn’t shifted. A hastily erected wire fence formed a perimeter around the cage.
A series of metallic clunks and clanks echoed through the
sprawling empty space. It startled me and when I heard the telltale sound of footsteps, I quickly warned Ezzy and Morgan. “Someone’s coming. Go back around the corner.”
A shadowy figure emerged, making his way toward the cage. “It’s the bear research guy,” Morgan whispered. “What’s that he’s carrying?”
Even when I squinted my eyes, I couldn’t tell what it was. “Looks like a bowling ball bag to me. No, maybe it looks more like one of those old doctor’s bags.”
“Witch rule number one, never be a wimp. Always project power. Let me show you how to handle this pinhead.” Esmeralda smoothed down her skin tight, black leather outfit and tossed her long red hair back. Looking both sexy and intimidating came natural to Esmeralda. “Stay here until I call for you.” She strolled out boldly, wand in hand.
“Good evening. Quite a bear you have there.”
“Christ!” The man was so startled by Ezzy’s entrance that he dropped his black leather bag. As he came into the light, I got a better look at him. He was a good looking, mature man with a full head of graying hair. His white, unbuttoned lab coat was so predictable it was comical. “What in the hell are you doing in here? Do you realize you’re trespassing? I could have you arrested. Did you think of that?”
“So many questions for such a smart man. My name is Esmeralda, I’m curious about this bear. Doctor, or should I call you professor?”
“Professor. Professor Bologna.”
“Bologna? Does Professor Bologna have a first name?”
“Oscar.”
Morgan and I completely lost it. Our whooping and snort filled laughs were amplified by the empty space and sheet metal walls.
“Remind me to tell you about the spell we cast on Gertie’s hot fireman, Brad.” I giggled even more, remembering the horrible pickup lines Brad was hexed to recite in public.
“Who else is here? What the devil is going on?”
“Just a couple of friends. They’re just amused that my Bologna has a first name. It’s O S C A R.”
“Like I’ve never heard that before.” The professor shouted into the dark corners of the building, “Okay, you imbeciles have had your laughs. Come out in the open!”
“You two really suck at being stealthy,” Esmeralda said as we joined her. “All right, Professor Bologna. I’m going to level with you. We came for the bear. I’m going to be kind and give you to the count of ten. More than enough time to get out of our way.” Ezzy slapped the wand in the palm of her hand.
“Wait! Is that supposed to be a magic wand? You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“I kid you not, Oscar.” Ezzy leveled the wand at an old folding chair and blasted it into a pile of smoking scrap metal.
“What are you people? Faeries?”
“Please. Another insult like that and you’re next. We’re witches.”
“Hold on, Ezzy. I’ve got a question for the professor before he leaves, or you incinerate him. Professor, why do you have this bear caged? What were you planning to do with him?”
Professor Bologna took slow backwards steps. “Witches. What a coincidence. It’s a rather long story. Suffice it to say, I’ve been hunting for a bear like this all of my life. He’s actually a werebear. Considering your interest in him, you are already aware of that.”
“How did you know?”
“Contrary to the belief of the local idiots, I am not a biologist. I’m actually a professor of European folklore. Thirty years ago, I came upon the legend about a clan of werebears that were captured by a witch and cursed to live as circus bears for all eternity. I went looking for those bears, and I’ve tracked down every myth, every campfire story, and every tabloid headline…if there was even a hint about a werebear. Finally, I came upon them in a small village in Romania. I set out to capture just one and get blood samples.”
“Blood samples?” I asked.
“Yes. I wanted the samples so I could have them analyzed. That was just a start. I also wanted to observe them, study them…I wanted to know their secrets. I had to know if they still had the ability to shift. Centuries of circus travel must have driven them all mad. I was the one who ended up captured.” The professor paused as if he was suddenly being tortured by an awful memory. “That bitch…”
“Let me guess, Ursula?”
“Yes! She was the one who locked me in the dungeon of an abandoned castle. Then came the bears. They taunted me, day and night. I lived off the scraps of food that was thrown down to us. The day finally came when Ursula decided to move us to a new location. Perhaps she was worried the locals were getting suspicious of her and the bears. Anyway, that’s when I made my escape. Eighteen months I lived in that hell hole.”
“So, why are you here? And why are you still hunting for werebears?”
“Good question, Kelly. One would think the man would want nothing more to do with bears.”
The distinctive sound of a metal door slammed shut behind us. “Nice, Dad. Why didn’t you tell them about Mom? Or me?” We all turned around to see who was speaking.
Chapter 8
“Candy!” Morgan shouted.
Esmeralda yelped. “What?” That was all she got out before Candy fired Gabe’s tranquilizer rifle. The dart struck Ezzy’s thigh and she collapsed. The wand rolled to Professor Bologna, and he stopped it with his shoe.
“I didn’t tell them everything. I was trying to protect you and your mother.”
“Pfff. Mom can take care of herself. You see, ladies, Dad here was quite the player back in his day. Truth is, he tried to seduce my mom in order to get closer to her circus bears.”
“Your Ursula’s daughter?”
“You must be the smart one,” Candy sneered. “Of course I am. My name is Candy Bear. Dad didn’t escape. Mom kicked him out. When I was old enough to start school, my mom sent me to live with him. She didn’t think I’d have a healthy, normal childhood roaming around Eastern Europe with her circus. So she sent me to Wisconsin of all places. It’s a circus all its own.”
“Why here? Caldron Falls? And I still don’t know why you captured this bear.”
“This bear? You mean Gabe? Ha! Didn’t think I knew about him, did you? Dad came here to follow up on some Ojibwe legends about shape shifters: werebears to be exact. Gabe and I got to be really close friends…if you know what I mean.” Candy winked at me. “Oh yeah, I know who you are, Kelly. You’re Gabe’s summer fling. But you can’t have him. Nobody can. See, he brushed me off after high school. I gave him everything…including my virginity.”
“Candy! Get ahold of yourself!”
“Shut up, Dad!”
“I had no idea he was a werebear until I saw him change, with you, this summer. Then I knew why he pushed me away. It wasn’t because he didn’t love me, it was because he could only stay in a permanent relationship with another werebear. Today was my lucky day. When I saw him shift in the town square, I realized a golden opportunity had been handed to me. I made it sound like Gabe had been eaten by bears so I could knock his ass out and bring him here. Now, my Dad is going to find out what makes him a werebear. Once he figures it out, I’ll become one. Then Gabe and I can live together forever. He’s all mine.”
“Candy, do you realize how crazy this sounds? You sound just like your mother.”
“What? What! What did you just say?” As any fool knows, you never tell a woman on a rant that she sounds crazy. And you most certainly never, ever, double down on asking for death by saying she sounds just like her crazy mother—who happens to be a witch with a track record of sadistic eternal cursing.
“Candy, just listen to me, sweetie. I had no idea Gabe was a werebear until you told me this earlier today. To be honest, we don’t even know for sure if it is Gabe until it changes, if it changes.
“Err..owwl!” Candy stomped her foot and actually jumped up and down in a childish tantrum. “Mom won’t let me be a witch and you won’t let me be a werebear. This is bullshit! Of course this is Gabe. How can you be so stupid? His slut, the witch, wouldn’t be
here if it wasn’t. You are going to take his blood and you are going to give me a transfusion until I AM A FUCKING WEREBEAR! Got it? And you witches…I am going to fix you. Dad, give me that wand.”
“No. Candy, I can’t let you do this.”
“Then I’ll just take it.” When Candy bent down to grab the wand, Morgan shoved her from behind. The dart gun hit the cement floor as Candy fell. Professor Bologna quickly snagged the wand before his uncontrollable daughter could get her hands on it.
“Just don’t hurt her, please.” He handed me the wand as Candy rose back up. I aimed the wand at her.
“Candy, don’t try anything. You have no right to kidnap Gabe like this. Whatever you had with Gabe is in the past. It sounds like he broke up with you, and I’m sorry, but that’s life. You can’t just tranquilize people, put them in a cage, and make them love you.”
Candy growled, her eyes scanned the room, looking for the tranquilizer gun. The whole time Candy had been talking, Gabe had apparently shook off the effects of the drug and started to shift. By the time I got a look at him, he was back in human form. It must have been one hell of a shock to get knocked out and wake up in a cage, with no clue as to what had happened.
Morgan crawled under the wire fence and lifted the latch in the cage door. Gabe was stark naked and quite confused when he walked out. “What? Where are the bears?” He shielded his eyes from the floodlight and squinted. “What’s going on? Candy? Oh shit! What are you doing here?” Gabe did his best to cover himself with his hands as he jogged over to me. “Kelly, only you and the witches know I’m a werebear! Now two more people do.” He added in a whisper, “You’ve probably already figured this out about Candy, but…”
“The wheel is spinning but the hamster’s asleep? A few fries short of a Happy Meal? Yeah, I got that. After listening to her talk about it, you loved her but couldn’t divulge your werebear secret, so you broke up. She thinks if she becomes a werebear, you’ll suddenly love her forever.”
“What? How was she trying to become a werebear?”
