Luke wasn't even sure how he returned home. He just kept on walking in a daze and somehow found himself back in his bedroom.
“Hey honey” Andrea Wyatt popped into his room, wide eyed and jittery. “Do you wanna like, play some board games, or watcha movie together or... something?” Andrea was having a hard time with her newfound sobriety and was looking for ways to distract herself.
“A girl kissed me today” Luke declared out of the blue.
“What?” All thoughts about drinking went right out of her mind “tell me more!” She sat down on Luke bed right in front of him.
“Well, we were studying” Luke explained “and then she said she had many talents; and then she kissed me”
“And?” Andrea leaned in close
“And what?” Luke looked up at her
“Did you just get up and come home after that?” His mom's face fell
“Umm...”
“Luke!” She smacked the back of his head “What is wrong with you?!”
“I don't know!” He was way out of his depth here “it's not like girls come up and kiss me every day!”
“She kissed you?” Luke's mom stared at him “and you didn't even ask her out?”
“Should I have?”
“YES!” His mom practically screamed “yes you should have asked out the only girl willing to kiss you”
“Well, it's too late now” Luke fell back against the wall “I blew my chance”
“Not yet” Andrea declared “you have a chance to make this right”
“How do you figure?”
“You go up to her tomorrow” she told him “You apologize for being an idiot, for not seeing her hints and running away when she kissed you”
“There were no hints” the redhead protested
“Of course, there were” Andrea waved him off “you were just too stupid to see them”
“Rude!” Luke thought to himself but stayed quiet
“And then you ask for a chance to make it right” Andrea nodded in satisfaction “this Saturday”
“You really think this will work?” Luke wasn't sure there was any coming back from his colossal fuck up
“What have you got to lose?”
“My dignity?” Luke looked affronted
“Son, a girl kissed you and you ran away, you got nothing” Andrea pointed out in a matter-of-fact manner while Luke could only grumble in agreement. The two of them spent the rest of the evening eating Chinese, brainstorming what Luke would say exactly, and date ideas.
“This is fun, son” Andrea chuckled “we should do this more often”
“Sure” Luke couldn’t stop fidgeting, equal parts anxious and excited about talking to Jules tomorrow. Returning to his room, Luke’s grin faded when he saw what was on his bed.
“Hey!” Obie gave his friend a wry smile “you free tonight? I got a monster I wanna hunt”
XXXXXXX
“Can you tell me why we’re here again?” Luke asked his friend as they approached the Solwood Museum
“Like I said” Obie sighed “Last night a trucker had a gigantic hole torn in his body and similar cases have been recorded all the way to an archaeological dig in Mexico, and just yesterday morning the trucker had delivered some packages from the dig to the museum”
“No, I got that” the two boys crouched low as the got closer to the museum “What I wanna know is why haven’t we gotten the girls?”
“I told you” Obie spoke through gritted teeth “Phoebe told me off for trying to do research on supernatural killings”
“And why can’t we just fight with her about it instead of going off on our own?”
“Because I’d much rather shove a successful mission in her face” Obie didn’t miss a beat. “Now come on” the two hid behind a bench in front of the museum.
“So, our plan is really to just wait outside for the monster to come?”
“what’s with the twenty questions?” Obie gave Luke an Irritated look just as a scream came from inside the museum.
“Okay new plan!” Obie and Jax ran straight to the front door of the museum; without hesitation, Luke ran straight through the glass door, ignoring the cuts that were already rapidly healing.
“This way” Obie knew where the Incan civilization exhibition was and led Luke through the halls as they heard another shout and the sound of running.
“Heads up” Obie called out as they saw lights in the distance as the night guards ran towards them.
“wha-” one guard paused when he saw the two kids and the other, female guard ran right into him; sending them both tumbling down.
“behind them” Obie noticed the large menacing figure and Luke immediately tackled it without hesitation.
Driving his shoulder into the torso of the monster, the creature stumbled a couple of steps back but didn’t fall and instead backhanded Luke to the side.
“shit” Obie helped up the two guards and slowly backed up as the creature came closer. It was large, humanoid in shape, tall and broad like a powerlifter, glowing blue eyes, and most importantly was made of stone.
“who is this guy?” the older male guard asked as all three of them slowly stepped back as the monster slowly came close, afraid that any sudden movement might trigger it.
“I don’t know” Obie admitted “and I don’t wanna find out” at once the three turned and ran, as the stone monster continued to lumber right behind them, while Luke who had hit a wall hard tried to slowly get back up on his feet.
“Why is it after us?” the female guard asked Obie “and who are you? Why are you here?”
“less questions, more running” Obie declared glancing back and not seeing the creature behind them.
“FUCK!” thee male guard screamed and Obie turned to see the stone monster standing in front of them, waiting as they ran towards him.
The three slowed down to a halt but were already within the reach of the monsters gigantic arm.
“Hey” a ball of shadows slammed right into the face of the stone monster “hey stone for brains” Luke screamed “you’re even uglier than the turds I happen to flush down my toilet every day!” Luke shouted at the stone monster “come at me if you’ve got the guts for it”
The stone monster looked at Luke and then looked down on Obie and the two guards who were too afraid to move. Its glowing blue eyes turned even more bright, shining like blue torchlights at the three of them.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
“HEY!” Luke threw two more shadow balls, one hit the monster on its chest and didn’t even phase it, and the other hit it in the face, breaking of the glowing blue light shining on Obie and the guards.
Luke ran towards them as the stone monster stared at them once again and jumped to punch it; but he missed as the stone monster was now a foot shorter than three seconds ago.
The four stared in astonishment as the stone monster kept shrinking until it turned into a marble sized stone orb and kept staring as it rolled away and disappeared into the darkness.
“…” all the four could do was stare in silence until they heard the sirens.
“Okay bye” before the guards could say or do anything Luke grabbed Obie and ran for their life, only one destination in mind.
XXXXXXX
Luke fidgeted under the piercing gaze of Phoebe and Daphne, but Obie didn’t seem too uncomfortable.
“What were you guys thinking?” Phoebe finally broke the silence, Luke and Obie had directly come to her house from the museum and she had called Daphne over to discuss what to do.
“Trying to stop people from dying” Obie shot back “which you didn’t seem too keen to do this morning”
Luke and Daphne awkwardly glanced between them
“Oh, I was keen” Phoebe snarled “I just didn’t want you to be there”
“I thought you were going to apologize” Daphne mouthed to her friend, making sure the boys didn’t see it
“he’s pissing me off” Phoebe mouthed back, while on the other side, Luke pinched Obie to say ‘calm down’ but the other boy was furious. “Well sorry, next time some chimera queens attack you I’ll make sure that I’m not there in the middle”
“EXACTLY!” Phoebe nearly howled. Both her and Obie were staring at each other silently, panting heavily.
“… what?”
“You shouldn’t have been hurt protecting me in the first place” Phoebe declared “you could’ve died”
They were interrupted by a knock on the door “hey!” Ms. Anne Vesper entered the room with a tray “I had baked some cookies this morning, if any of you kids want some”
“I’d love some” Luke declared, seeing that Obie and Phoebe were staring at each other intently, unaware of their surroundings “Do you have any milk? I’d love to take some milk with my cookies, Daphne?”
“What? Daphne took a moment to realise “oh yes! Me too” the two hurried out of the room, dragging the confused Ms. Vesper with them.
“You could’ve died from the goddamn hyena’s attack” Phoebe reiterated “and it would’ve been all my fault” her voice quivered but she remained steadfast
“It would’ve been the fault of the Hyena and no one else” Obie refuted her “and I didn’t”
“But what if next time we’re not so lucky?” Phoebe stepped right up to him, having to look up to see him directly in his eyes
“What if next time it’s you who is unlucky?” Obie didn’t flinch or step back “then we would be worst for it”
“I am a witch Obie” Phoebe sighed “it’s my job-”
“And I’m making it my job to help you” Obie cut her off “I can’t suddenly unsee what I have seen, I can’t go back to just playing videogames and messing around with Luke” he let out a sharp breath “I can’t be just a regular guy anymore”
“I’m sorry” Phoebe hadn’t realised the true effect of just openly telling Luke and Obie about the world of magic; at that time, it felt natural as he was one of the few who could see beyond the veil, but now it just seemed a burden; to see this world and not be a part of it.
“I’m not” Obie smiled softly and gave her a hug, which she returned fiercely.
XXXXXXX
“These cookies are delicious!” Luke exclaimed happily as he picked up another one “you’re an amazing baker Ms. Vesper”
“Thank you” the middle aged woman smiled softly as she handed him his glass of cold milk “Glad to see someone appreciate my cooking” the two had just given her the basic explanation that Phoebe and Obie were fighting and the two wanted to camp out away from them so they could talk amongst themselves.
“I appreciate your cooking!” Daphne was affronted
“… I was thinking of Phoebe” Ms. Vesper grinned “but you qualify too, the way you’ve disappeared lately”
“y’know what’s it like with school” Daphne shrugged “study, study, study”
“How long have you and Phoebe known each other?” Luke questioned the Eurasian girl
“Since grade school” Daphne shrugged “We both moved here at the same time, it was easy becoming friends when we were both outsiders”
“a sleepover every other week” Ms. Vesper looked upwards in nostalgia “Jesse could never say no to her”
“Your mom?”
“One of my dads” Daphne replied, making Luke pause for a moment before nodding nonchalantly, while Daphne and Ms. Vesper shared a look.
“Hey guys” it was this moment that Phoebe came down to the living room, followed by Obie
“you two done being di- blockheads” Daphne changed her words mid-sentence
“yes” was all Obie deigned to reply
“All right” Luke straightened up from the wall he was leaning on, as Daphne and Ms. Vesper too got up from their seats “It was nice to meet you” he told Phoebe’s mom who replied in the same way
“See you in school tomorrow” Daphne added as well as she, Obie, and Luke exited the house.
XXXXXXX
The next morning, the four met directly in Chang’s house; going through his books to find out more about the stone monster that Luke and Obie had faced.
“Never played hooky before” Phoebe muttered from her chair, and louder asked Luke “you’re sure they won’t call our parents?”
“yes” Luke chuckled “have you really never ditched school before?”
“She scared about committing jaywalking” Daphne didn’t look up from the book she was perusing “cause a felony would look bad in her college application” Luke sniggered while all the pouting Phoebe did was go back to her book.
“Here!” Phoebe suddenly showed her book to Luke and Obie “is this the creature that you fought?”
The two boys peered into the book to see the illustration of a large man of stone with a completely plain face, devoid of any expression
“Yeah, yeah that's it!” Luke nodded his assent
“It's a Chaneque” Phoebe turned the book back to her and summarised the passage about it “it's a stone puppet, a protector of sorts created by ancient Aztec mages to protect powerful and dangerous places, and objects”
“Everyone who was attacked was related in some way to the shipment of Aztec artifacts from central Mexico” Obie pointed out
“And the Chaneque didn't attack the guards because the guards didn't actually have a hand in moving the artefacts” Luke realised
“But it didn't try and go to the Aztec display either” Daphne reminded the others “didn't try and retrieve the artefact”
Obie hummed as he headed to Chang's computer
“We don't have his password” Phoebe pointed out
“Like that'll stop him” Luke scoffed, and sure enough the girls saw Obie open Chang's desktop in 5 minutes.
“So, he can just... hack into anything?” Daphne felt a bit unnerved seeing the unusual look of complete seriousness on Obie's face.
“He can't break into some CIA or NSA database if that's what you're wondering” Luke chuckled “but most computers in our little Solwood are fair game”
“Got it!” Obie declared for their benefit “there were a set of bones that had come to the museum and then sent directly to University of Solwood to A Dr. Emily Huffman for study”
“So, the Chaneque tracked the bones to the museum” Phoebe realised “but since the guards had never physically held the bones they didn't register as needing to be killed”
“All those people dead for a bunch of bones?” Obie wasn't sold
“A mages bones most probably” Daphne corrected him “a powerful source of magic, and very deadly in the wrong hands”
“Whatever the reasoning” Obie interrupted “the threat is very real”
“Agreed” Phoebe nodded “let's go”
XXXXXXX
The four were able to enter the University of Solwood's History department with any trouble; easily blending in with the freshmen
“I hope we're not too late” Phoebe's worry was evident as they rushed to the office of Dr. Emily Huffman.
“… There’s no one here!” Daphne chose to state the obvious when they found the office completely empty.
“Well where could she be?” the door to the office burst open as a middle aged woman holding a skull rushed in.
“Run” the woman whispered as the seven foot stone Chaneque burst into the room behind her.
“Guys!” Phoebe screamed as she waved a hand and created a barrier behind the presumed Dr. Huffman that stopped the Chaneque from wrapping its large hand around her throat.
Luke and Daphne immediately sprang into action and grabbed the crouching Chaneque by both sides, holding it in place while Phoebe started to chant.
“Where are the bones that you got from the Aztec dig in Mexico?” Obie stepped beside Dr. Huffman
“T-that thing c-crushed all of them” the doctor sputtered as the Chaneque overpowered Luke and Daphne and pushed them away.
“it destroyed them?!” Phoebe’s spell was complete now and she splayed out her hands. The air shimmered as the Chaneque suddenly slowed down.
“y-yes” the lady hadn’t taken her eyes off the Chaneque, even for a moment “T-this skull is the only thing that’s left. What is it? And why is it targeting me?”
At that moment the Chaneque’s glowing blue eyes started to shine like torches and broke down Phoebe’s spell.
“Shit!” Daphne slashed at it, but the sword sparked harmlessly against its stone body, Luke too threw balls of shadow against its face but to no avail. The Chaneque threw out both it’s arms and punched Luke and Daphne to opposite walls of the office.
Phoebe wordlessly raised her blue light barrier again but the Chaneque ignored her and instead turned to where Obie and Dr. Huffman was standing
“Guys! Run!” Phoebe shouted at them; and Obie did; but he ran straight to a wall and started to slam the Aztec mage’s skull against it.
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” Phoebe and Dr. Huffman screamed at the same time, but Obie ignored them as it repeatedly slammed the skull against the wall, speeding up as the skull started to crack.
Obie knew the Chaneque was close, he could hear it’s lumbering foot stomps; but he didn’t slow down.
CRACK
Finally the skull shattered, not leaving behind a single piece larger than a thumb.
“haah!” Obie turned around and leaned against the wall as the others came close, with Phoebe picking up the small stone that stood where the Chaneque had been.
“Saved… the day!” Obie panted out grinning ear to ear
XXXXXXX
“A gunman?” Luke asked Daphne as she handed him a wooden sword
“told you” Daphne raised an eyebrow “the veil will hide everything magical about today”
“Still…” Luke murmured “what about Dr. Huffman? And the guards from last night?”
“they’ll think their minds played a trick on them by tonight, remember it as something mundane in a couple of days, and forget it ever happened in a fortnight” Daphne pulled her hair into a ponytail. “Now enough chitchat, you’re here to learn how to swordfight”
“Right!” Luke nodded as Daphne raised her own Wooden sword
“Ready?” Daphne and Luke stared into one another’s eyes
“Ready!” Luke wasn’t backing down, he wanted to get stronger and he was ready to put in the work.
“Good!” Daphne grinned ferociously; this was going to be fun.