--==Chapter 12: No Capes.--==

Apparently, I'd underestimated my own menace. I mean, what could someone even make of a glowing blue werewolf? As a rule, people don't like things that shatter their worldview, nor do they like strange predators. I was both.

I sighed and leaned back as much as I could in the seat. Maybe waiting out the rest loop in the car wouldn't be that bad. I had snacks. If the radio worked, I'd have music. When Nia ran, she didn't bring Maebe with her, but Maebe was fine where she was. I wondered what would happen if I set her spawn point right where she was. Would the chair's spawn point change too, or would she end up sprawled on the blacktop when the day reset? If I survived for more than a few hours, I might actually find out when exactly the day looped,

I turned the radio on and flipped between stations for a bit but only picked up a soft humming static. Still, the white noise was calming to listen to; the static was quiet, even with the volume all the way up. It also sounded almost like the ocean; its volume and pitch ebbed and flowed slowly like tidal waves washing up on the beach.

It was relaxing, and I really was considering spending the rest of the day right where I was. I pulled out a bag of chips and was about to open it when I saw Nia had returned and was hesitating a few feet from the car.

She walked quickly up to the closed door and pressed her hands against the glass as though she would try to hold it closed if I tried to jump out.

"I need to go in the hospital. My mom and sister are inside. I saw the other monster in there. Did you kill it too?"

I looked over at the vortex barrier on my right, wondering if anyone else in the hospital had actually stayed on this side of the vortex.

"My mom is stupid religious. She thinks this is the rapture… is she right?"

I went ahead and opened the bag of chips. I ate a couple before offering the bag to Nia through the glass.

Her voice was quiet and still hoarse from screaming earlier, but I heard her. "If you're really good, will you come with me?"

She made it sound like I wouldn't be good if I didn't. If I let a kid go into a monster-infested hospital alone, I wouldn't be, so that was fair.

Of course, I couldn't very well help her if she was too scared to even let me open the door. So I rolled down the window with her hands still pressed against the glass. If it were possible, I would have laughed at her look of astonishment.

She didn't run, only retreated a few steps. I held the bag of chips out to her again, licking my flat tongue over my teeth to dislodge some crumbs. Chips were not designed for canine teeth.

Nia inched herself forward a little at a time until she could reach into the bag. She broke eye contact briefly and grabbed a chip before retreating away. She didn't eat it immediately, instead watching me to see what I'd do next. I pulled out another chip, raised it to her like I was toasting her, and popped it into my mouth.

She followed my lead, saluting me and eating the chip. Well, I supposed that counted as communication.

I opened the car door but didn't immediately step out.

I wouldn't prevent her from going inside to search for her family, which left me trying to protect her inside. Things were chaotic, and the hospital wasn't safe, but I doubted it was safe anywhere. I also knew I'd be lying if I thought I didn't need her help as well; no amount of guilt or rationalization would change that.

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Like Dumbledore before me, I was stuck having to put too much responsibility on a kid I didn't know.

I sighed and started to pull myself from the car. The sigh almost surprised me at how normal it sounded. Things like sighs and confused head tilts seemed to be within my communication repertoire.

Maybe I'll learn to wag my tail next, really complete the doggy combo. I thought to myself sarcastically.

Nia was rocking from foot to foot and didn't look entirely sure she wanted to stick around. I stopped, turned so my legs were out of the car, and waited on her reaction.

She backed away a few more steps but stopped and bit her lip before asking, "Can… can I call you Oberon? I don't know- I know you're not him. I just- he was a good dog, and I think it would help."

I wasn't up for trying a tail wag. But I opened my mouth and let my tongue loll out in my doggy grin and was almost delighted when it worked—or at least the intent seemed to come across. Still, I'd need more ways to respond, which meant I needed to get more memory crystals.

That thought gave me pause. This was a survival situation, and I wasn't ready to just give up, but memory crystals came from living beings that seemed to feel pain and fear. There was a need, but there was also a cost. I wouldn't lie to myself about treating the creatures as resources. For now, at least, they were vital. I could feel bad about it later if I needed to.

I needed at least two or three more memory crystals. I had several spawn points to set, including my own, and needed one to let Jon know what happened to me. Once I got the spawn points set, I'd only need one, though; fewer if I found someone else who was a rememberer like myself.

Nia saw my doggy grin and smiled uncertainly in return. It was small, but still, progress was progress.

"Umm, ok, Oberon. Will you come with me inside to look for my mom?"

I pulled myself up from the car, and she almost took another step back before firming her resolve and planting her feet. The noble thing held out the back of her closed hand and presented it to me like she would a strange dog.

I chuffed. I came closer and played along with the game. I gently took Nia's hand in my paw and sniffed at it, deciding that playing into her expectations might relax her a bit. She flinched but let me gently pat her head with my other hand.

Grabbing my backpack, I took a few steps and hung the bag on Maebe's chair before pushing it in front of Nia. She seemed to understand what I wanted and stepped in to push Maebe as I took the lead going back to the hospital.

I hoped this wasn't a terrible idea.

This time, there wasn't much disarray from killing Slender Hopper, apart from a black gore pile in one corner. Nia looked at it and quickly glanced away. "Did a monster hurt Maebe?" she asked.

I didn't have a great way to answer or offer encouragement.

Nia let go of the chair to get a closer look at the goo, and I didn't try to stop her. "It smells bad. What is it?"

I looked back at the lobby. I had my backpack, but I was tempted to bring one of the lobby's chairs, even if they were a little heavy.

Fuck it. I was bringing the chair. Rather than despoil a clean one, I walked toward the chair I'd used against Slender Hopper. As I picked it up from where I'd left it, I looked down the cursed hallway.

"No, not that way." Nia said, "My sister has a break room over here. I want to see if she's there." That was fine with me; there was nothing worthwhile in that direction. Hefting the heavy chair to my shoulder, I followed Nia left down the longer of the two hallways.

Nia scooted to one side to give me room to take the lead, but she seemed to be getting more comfortable. There were several doors on either side of the hall, and Nia didn't mind asking me to peek in each one.

"I don't remember which one is hers," she explained. "It's not like we hang out or anything. I mean, she seems cool. Like, she's a surgeon and she saves lives and I like her style, but she's always busy, and I don't know if she really thinks of me as her sister even. Anyway, I don't remember which room it is. Besides, what if someone needs help in here?"

We checked the rooms.

The doors all opened in, so she would grab that handle and throw open the door, and I would stand in the doorway ready to swing, sure I was about to get shot.

We eventually found a break room with furniture, a fridge, and a few desks. We didn't find Nia's sister, but I did find a bag of golf clubs.

Now we're getting somewhere. I thought, putting down the chair and picking up the golf bag. I considered my cape. The golf bag interfered with the cape more than the backpack had.

'No capes.' Edna Mole said in my head.

Then I saw something that made losing the cape even less of a question. A plaid golfing hat that closely matched my mask was stuffed into the bag. I was pretty sure it was called a Tam O'Shanter, but whatever it was called, it would go a long way to anthropomorphize me.

After wheeling Maebe into the room, Nia left her to look around; I wasn't sure what for. I undid my cape and decided to drape it over Maebe's lap. I doubted she was cold, but then again, I was covered in fur; how would I know?

I kept the mask, though; it was utilitarian, after all. Also, it matched the Tam, and I liked how both looked against my glowing blue fur. I wasn't Scottish, so hopefully, no one would mind the appropriation. Then again, I was also committing outright theft, so I supposed it was mute.

I heard Nia giggle behind me as I placed the Tam O'Shanter on my head.

"You're weird," she said with an actual smile.

I looked in a mirror on the wall; it was the clearest reflection I'd seen of myself. I was covered head to toe in fur, but looking at me was like looking at a black-light painting. My brilliant blue coat covered an inky blackness that showed here and there, such as the tips of my eyelids, inner ears, and portions of my lips and jowls. It was a good look, a look that brought smiles.

Feeling slightly less like a monster, I pulled a club from the golf bag before hoisting the rest on my shoulder and walked back out of the room.