There was an unusual silence inside of The Hideout. Since it was summer nearly all the monsters retreated to their caves. The Monster Hunters taking advantage of this fact took their possessions and went back to visit their family while leaving their weapons behind but there was one room in which a particular pair of twins were arguing.
“You don’t need fourteen pairs of shoes!” Rachel Oliviero yelled at her twin brother: Ace.
“What in the world is going on here?” Hazel Abernathy asked as she and her friend Gabriel Pasi entered their friends’ bedroom with her pet red for Phoenix behind them.
The Oliviero twins’ faces turned from irritated to confused. When their friends left a few minutes ago they were practically dragging two massive bags, now however the only bags near them was the two small pouches on their belts.
“Where’s your luggage?” Gabriel asked looking for the twins’ bags.
“We should be asking you two the same thing.” Ace replied.
“All we need are in these.” Hazel said pointing to the pouch on their belts.
“And you certainly don’t need fourteen pairs, it’s only two weeks.” Gabriel said looking at the boxes of shoes that Ace attempted to pack.
“Hey sis, you ready to go?” Hazel’s older sister Eliza Abernathy asked peeking through the door.
“Gab and I are, the twins may need some more time though.” Hazel explained.
“Better hurry, we’re leaving at 5:00 am sharp tomorrow.” Eliza said before leaving and closing the door behind her.
“We’ll help you pack.” Gabriel said while getting two duffel bags from one of the twins’ gear cupboards.
Two hours of arguing over what to bring passed by when the Oliviero twins’ bags were ready for the long journey ahead.
“Thank God, we’re finally done.” Hazel said while collapsing on Rachel’s bed.
“Tell me about it.” Rachel said mopping away the sweat from her forehead.
“Incoming call.” A voice said.
The four hunters looked at each other before running to Hazel and Gabriel’s room before Hazel retrieved the music box her friends had given her for her previous birthday.
“You’re full name please.” The dragon’s voice said after a musical number that played while Hazel and her friends made a circle on the floor.
“Hazel Amore Abernathy.” Hazel said smiling.
“Access granted.” The dragon’s voice said as the dragon’s eyes grew brighter.
“Nice seeing you four again.” Dave Pasi said as he Lila, Pasi, John Abernathy, and Rose Abernathy appeared.
“Hi, Mom and Dad.” Hazel greeted, smiling at her parents.
“Nice seeing you two again.” Gabriel said smiling at his own parents.
“How are you Sweetie?” Rose Abernathy asked smiling at her youngest daughter.
“She’s been playing Satan’s daughter again.” Eliza said opening the door and entering the room.
“There’s my little Sunflower.” John Abernathy said smiling as Eliza sat on her sister’s bed.
“So, when are the six of you planning to go?” Lila Pasi asked.
“Tomorrow, 5:00.” The twins said in unison.
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“Perfect time for monster hunting.” David said smiling.
A soft smile crept its way towards Hazel’s face as a small giggle wiggled its way out of her mouth.
“You okay Gab?” Ace asked whispering to the boy next to him.
“Y-yeah, completely fine.” Gabriel said stuttering a little.
Eliza’s ears perked up once hearing Gabriel’s stutter.
“Do you mind not staring at my little sister Gabriel?” Eliza said almost teasing.
Hazel’s face turned bright red as Gabriel whipped his head in another direction.
“Our baby’s growing up so fast.” Lila said as the twins smirked at the two brunettes.
“Lord help me!” Gabriel exclaimed as Hazel blushed even redder.
“But you two looked so cute together.” Rachel complained as Ace showed the two of them a picture.
Both Gabriel and Hazel blushed at the picture Ace showed them. The time when the two pretended to be a couple to get revenge on the twins for purposely making them kiss.
“What did I do to deserve this!?” Hazel exclaimed in annoyance.
“Alright Hazel, calm down.” John Abernathy said smiling as his youngest daughter.
“Anyway, the four of us better get going.” David said.
“Bye mom, bye Dad.” Eliza, Gabriel, and Hazel said.
“Take care of my daughter Gabriel.” John Abernathy said before he and the other adults disappeared.
“I’ll see you, tomorrow Sis!” Eliza said before leaving the room.
“I’m going for a walk.” Gabriel said shortly after, before going out, ‘What’s happening for me.’
Once Gabriel entered the library, he quickly made his way to the ‘Fictional’ section. Gabriel was reading the spines while walking until his eyes landed on a particular black and white book.
‘Hazel has been looking for you for weeks.’ Gabriel thought sighing as he retrieved the book, “What is that girl doing to me?”
Twenty minutes later after Gabriel gave Hazel her book they were sitting down on their beds.
“Do you think the Council will want our parents back?” Hazel asked quietly as Phoenix fell asleep on the floor.
“Where’d that come from?” Gabriel asked leaning forward and looking at the girl on the upper bunk.
Hazel looked around before dropping to a low whisper, “About Max Dark.”
Gabriel furrowed his brows in thought before sighing, “All we can do now is hope.”
Hazel sighed before she rested her head on her pillow and looked at the skylight in the middle of the ceiling, “Tell me again how we can see the sky through the skylight even when we’re literally underground.”
“It’s a spell called ‘Safe Mind’ that you can only cast on windows. It shows you a scenery that gives you a sense of protection depending on where the window is placed.” Gabriel explained, “And don’t try and change the subject with me, Missy.”
Hazel gave a weak chuckle as she smiled.
“World works in weird ways.” Hazel said eyes going down to the floor where Phoenix was peacefully sleeping.
Gabriel gave a slight smile before they bid each other goodnight, turned the lights off, and fell asleep. The next morning Gabriel found himself being licked by Phoenix and Hazel sitting on the side of his bed.
“It’s like a hundred degrees outside.” Hazel explained, “Anyway, breakfast is ready so you might want to get dressed.”
He nodded before getting out of bed and walking to the showers.
“Morning Gab.” Ace said as he bumped into him and Rachel.
He waved at them before entering the boys’ shower room.
Twenty minutes later he joined the others before helping himself to some toast.
“Had a good sleep?” Eliza asked.
Gabriel nodded before a yawn slipped out of his mouth.
“Here.” Hazel said before she gave him a cup of extra strong coffee.
“Thanks.” Gabriel mumbled before taking a sip, “Woah, I really needed that.”
Hazel laughed lightly before a light blush appeared on Gabriel’s face.
“They’d make a great couple.” Carla whispered into Eliza’s ear.
Eliza smiled as the twins smirked at each other. Ten minutes later they were standing outside the white door. They were deeply conversing about what monsters they would be fighting as Hazel opened the white door with her brand-new black key.
“My God, I love this thing.” Hazel said as she pocketed it.
Gabriel and the others smiled as they climbed the stairs and stopped at the familiar stone wall.
“Leave this to me.” Eliza said inserting the lower part of her scythe’s handle in the crack, “Mahan jvalamukhi main tumase poochaton hoon mere liye apne rahasyan ko kholane kay liye.”