While waiting at the bus stop, Isabelle sat on a bench and checked her laptop, attempting to do research on the monster world and their schools ahead of time. She glanced up from her computer as Benjamin and Sebastian walked over to the bus stop. Isabelle closed her laptop and waved, motioning for them to sit beside her. The two waved back as they took their seat next to her.
“So, is this where we’re supposed to meet and wait?” Benjamin asked.
“Obviously.” Sebastian scoffed, rolling his eyes. “You did check the details last night, right?”
“Well, duh, I wanted to make sure!”
Isabelle cocked her head as she watched the two get into another argument.
“I’m guessing this is common for you to fight over trivial things?”
“Why yes,” Sebastian replied. Calming down, he directed his attention to her. “You’re pretty observant, aren’t you?” He glanced at Benjamin, keeping a smug smile. “Why are you working for Benjamin instead of the other way around?”
It was Benjamin’s turn to roll his eyes. “Oh please, anyone can spot that easily. That doesn’t mean she’d be the better fit for—”
“Guys, let’s not start this,” Isabelle interrupted. “Have you got everything you need? Didn’t forget anything before we left? We won’t be back for quite a long time.”
Benjamin and Sebastian turned their gaze towards Isabelle and nodded with confidence.
“What about you?” They both asked.
“I got everything taken care of.”
The wind picked up as it brushed against the group's skins. Faint but soft ringing echoed through their ears as they shifted their focus of attention toward the horizon. Where did that come from?
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Just then, a portal emerged from the ground as mist appeared in its wake, surrounding the vehicle as it made its slow ascent onto the concrete pavement.
It was a black bus with bright windows and dark red streaks. Isabelle nearly lost her footing upon its arrival. Upon closer inspection, she adjusted her glasses, taking in how ordinary the bus looked on the outside. Sebastian explained to her how they had to disguise and obscure the vehicle from the human eye, so her kind wouldn’t get suspicious.
The doors opened as the driver greeted them, motioning the group to enter. Benjamin, Sebastian, and Isabelle gathered their stuff and headed inside. The interior had an eerie feeling: grey walls, black seats, dark brown flooring. Even the stench of fog lingered in the air. The smell didn’t bother any of them, however, not even Isabelle, to her surprise.
Isabelle and Benjamin sat near the back while Sebastian sat behind them. Once everyone got comfortable, their bus driver closed the doors and turned on the signal, prompting the students to put on their seatbelts.
“Alright, everyone, get ready and hang on tight.” He instructed them as he turned on the ignition.
The driver got the bus working, as the red streaks on the sides transformed into red bat-like wings while the wheels turned into chimera legs. Another portal appeared in front of the bus as it prepared for takeoff.
Meanwhile, from a distance, Harry and Chi-Chi ran as fast as their little legs could take them. As they hurried to the bus stop, the hologram orb told them to meet last night.
“I can’t believe we overslept!” Harry exclaimed. “How did we not wake up during the alarm?”
“What time is it? Are we too late?” Chi-Chi questioned in a frantic panic. “Why didn’t Master wake us?”
“Hang on, maybe the master’s waiting for us at the station?”
Once the two reached the bus stop, they peeked their heads out. They gasped when they noticed the monster bus about to leave through the portal. Seeing this made their hearts sink into a bottomless dark pit.
“Master?” Chi-Chi asked, her eyes watering. “Did he forget about us?”
Harry gritted his teeth and shook his head in denial. “No, there’s no way. What about his plan? What about our plan?”
Chi-Chi seemed perplexed. She couldn’t remember the last time her brother acted like this, but she didn’t blame him, either. They needed to hurry to the bus, or at least, go through the portal. Otherwise, they’d be stuck in the human realm, with no way to contact the others. The bus took off, and the familiars chased after it before the portal vanished.