Running
Chapter 4: Thoughts
I rub my eyes tiredly, peering over Insectosaurus' side. We were definitely in California by now, rolling hills of land, filled with various agricultural products below us. I feel like I'm about ready to curl up and fall asleep, but all of us promised to stay awake, seeing as Insectosaurus has to as well, carrying the three of us. Needless to say, BOB ended up breaking the promise, falling asleep within two minutes of making the pact, but Link and I have managed.
Glancing over my shoulder, I see Link on the giant butterfly's nose, talking to him and keeping him company. Crawling carefully closer to one of Insectosaurus' wings, I try to figure out exactly where in California we are. Judging by the amount of forest area, I'd have to guess someone in the High Sierra region. By flight, it should only be another half hour or so.
I curl my fingers tighter in Insectosaurus' fur as he rumbles with speech. Link turns his eyes to me, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah Doc, why're you getting so anxious? Sit back, enjoy the breeze."
"I'm not anxious," I respond, sending him a dirty look, despite the fact that he's right.
"Yeah," Link rolls his eyes a little, "Right. That's why you're antennae are going crazy over there."
Blinking, I look up at the thin organs, forcing them to still their treacherous twitching. Link snorts out a laugh and when I send him another dirty look, he simply puts on one of those frustratingly smug looks of his. It begins to worry me again. Am I really that obvious? Had he and Insectosaurus figured it out?
I cringe a little at the thought, turning my attention elsewhere.
It's, as a predicted, about half an hour before we reach the city of Modesto.
"Make sure you land in the street, Insectosaurus," I tell him. "We don't want to end up crushing someone's yard." Or possibly even their pet.
He rumbles in response, pulling up just a little bit before carefully floating down into a landing, directly in front of Susan's house. I carefully slide down on of his wings, stumbling a little on my landing, but managing to catch myself. The lights all don't the street are off, which is probably for the better. The people here like us even now -- at least I think they still do -- but its best not to attract too much attention.
Link pushed BOB down, causing him to splat against the ground and effectively waking him. "Wha-?" he asks blankly, taking in everything before grinning widely. "Hey, we're here!"
"Try to keep your voice to a minimum, BOB," I sigh, Link sliding down beside me.
"So... should we, like... knock?"
I frown at the thought. While I'm sure Susan will be happy to see us, it seems awfully rude to wake her family. "Wait here," I respond, and hurry off, climbing over her fence to her backyard. I peer up at the windows, trying to remember which one is Susan's. Finally, I decide on the one farthest to the left. Crawling up the wall, I peer inside. It's difficult to tell, the lights ar off, but with the help of the moonlight, I make out the unmistakable locks of white hair, the only lasting effect of the quantonium.
I rap lightly on the window, and I can see her stir, but she doesn't wake. Knocking a little louder, I see her roll over and open her eyes.
It takes her a second to register, but soon I see her scramble out of bed to the window, sliding it open. "Dr. Cockroach?" she asked, seeming both astounded and excited.
"Good evening, my dear."
"What are you doing here?" she asks, stepping aside to allow me to crawl in.
"Well," I laugh a little awkwardly, straightening my coat carefully. "We were just in the neighborhood and thought we'd drop by for a little," I clear my throat, "unauthorized visit?"
"You broke out?" Susan shook her head, smiling widely at me. "How?"
"With a little help from the quantonium," I raise my hands to show her the gloves, though they no longer glowed with the energy.
"General Monger is going to kill you if he catches you," she points out, but even as she does this, she steps forward, wrapping her arms around me in a tight hug. "I can't believe you managed to get out of there!"
"Yes, well..." I find myself smiling, pleased that she seems so happy to see me.
"So the others are here?" she releases me again, stepping to the window to lean out a little, peering around.
Clearing my throat again, I quickly collect myself. "Yes, they're around the front. I just thought I'd come get you so we don't have to wake your parents."
"Hold on, just let me get my robe and slippers."
Her slippers are shaped like kittens. I chuckle a little and she senses me a half-hearted glare. "Say what you want, they're comfortable."
"I'm sure they are, my dear."
We sneak quietly through the house to the front, though I did manage to hit my shin against the coffee table between that time. The moment she opens the door, "Susan!"
BOB slides up to her, but before he can hug her she backs away, not wanting to get pulled into his gelatinous form again, and who can really blame her? "BOB, hi," she laughs quietly, holding a finger up to her lips. I close the door quietly behind me, stepping out after her. "It's so good to see you guys."
I watch as she greets each of the others, feeling more calm than I have since I first removed the quantonium from her, although I find myself in thought yet again. What now? Monger knows we'd come here after escaping, say hello to our friend. We have two options, really. Wait here, enjoy it while we can until Monger shows up and drags us back to prison, or leave soon and remain on the run.
Something tells me my fellow monsters are leaning toward the second idea.
