Chapter Nine: Love and War and Freakazoid
Harry Connick High was closed for reservations the rest of the week. Authorities were questioned for simply letting Freakazoid walk away from the scene without interrogating him in the slightest. Everything they knew about the blue skinned boy was in Veronica's brief interview. But, no one was reprimanded for malpractice considering he had over a hundred eye witnesses willing to vouch for him, including one in particular that he directly saved.
Steff couldn't stop talking or thinking about him. Whenever she began to move onto something else her mind would go back to their moment together on the veranda. It was unusual for her to want to kiss someone she barely knew, but something about him was just so familiar. The comparison couldn't be connected but she knew in the back of her mind that face of his reminded her of somebody. Somebody she'd known for a long time even.
Opening her temporary home school packet Steff tried her best to focus on her work. Everyone was going to the drive-in tonight and she desperately wanted to indulge her current infatuated state with the newly released romance film. But, it was hard to follow the photocopied notes for the math. Steff was a clever girl, but math had never been her best subject; sometimes she would call in a favor from Dexter to sit with her in the library and help her out, but that was hardly an option now. Oh well, she'd have to figure it out on her own.
Dexter flipped his packet for the week closed; he'd been working on it to keep his mind busy. The news kept showing the interview with Freakazoid and Dexter inwardly cursed himself for not being able to control him in the slightest. How was it Freakazoid could play Dexter like a puppet, but he could barely verbalize warnings? How was that fair?
His head fell heavily into his hands as a fuzzy memory kept breaking into his thoughts. Bits and pieces came out clearly to Dexter, mostly just the part where Steff kissed him. No, she kissed Freakazoid. What hurt the most was that Freakazoid had chased after her affection. It seemed to fit Dexter's bio that even his own self betrayed him. He'd loved Steff his whole life and in the matter of a day she was in love with his alter ego.
But she was a teenage girl and Dexter clung to the hope that it was just a teenage girl's crush. Her infatuation with Freakazoid would hopefully prove to be fleeting; if she spent an entire day with him he'd probably drive her crazy anyway. Dexter slouched in his chair trying to ignore his headache. Freakazoid was dreaming.
Closing his eyes Dexter found he could make out bits and pieces. However, the dream was less innocent than the ice cream and cotton candy clouds Dexter had suspected. Red came to his face in a mixed bout of jealousy and anger as Dexter realized he was dreaming of Steff.
Now Steff was by no means Dexter's girlfriend or the hanging out type of friend, but he loved her. Freakazoid was just absorbing what he felt, his mind twisting it and making the feeling his own. He didn't love Steff; he just wanted her impulsively like he wanted everything else. In that perspective Freakazoid was such a kid.
It seemed that even when it came to getting superpowers Dexter found himself on the short end of the stick. Freakazoid adored him, he didn't doubt that, but when they switched it was like everything went dark; the place Dexter found himself was a state of being between awake and asleep. Somehow he felt like Freakazoid didn't suffer the same way when Dexter was in charge. This worried him. It left Dexter with a frightening question.
Was Freakazoid becoming the dominant personality?
…
"He's stronger than I suspected…" Gutierrez stroked his chin as he leaned back thoughtfully in his swivel chair. "But he cannot be invincible. Every man has his kryptonite"
The lights flickered as shadows formed beneath his eyes. He wanted to harness that power at any cost. Gutierrez was certain he would find a way because he always got what he wanted.
"Apparently he doesn't like negatively charged graphite bars", Audrey sighed.
"How do you know that?" Longhorn growled.
"He told me. Guy's an open book once you get him talking"
Gutierrez nodded with a sinister smile. She was proving her worth after all. He got up and strolled across the small darkly lit room, his steps slow and filled with purpose.
"Our foe is unwise, but strong…therefore we must lure him to us", he chuckled darkly as he clenched his fist; his eyes falling on Deadpan. "Have you any good news for me my darling?"
"Fascinating details, yes", she flatly stated. "After the incident Freakazoid seamed rather engaged in a conversation", her body shifted as she spoke till she resembled an exact duplicate of Steff. "Lovely, isn't she?"
Gutierrez rested his hand on Deadpan's shoulder, giving her a gentle pat of approval; his fingers reached up to idly play with the silky blonde hair that fell about the girl's shoulders. She was lovely; exactly what he'd been hoping for. He began building a slow chuckle.
"Yes, I will have you in my grasp very soon Freakazoid", he laughed louder; briefly stopping to slam his fist onto the table shouting angrily. "Laugh with me!"
His accomplices laughed lightly alongside him to appease his anger.
…
At the dinner table Dexter said very little. He just sat hunched over his food nibbling on his mother's dry meatloaf and poking the limp side salad. Nobody really noticed. A car horn sounded from the driveway; Duncan instantaneously stood and punched Dexter in the shoulder on his way out of the kitchen.
"Aren't you going to finish your food?" Mrs. Douglas called after her son.
"I'll fill up on popcorn and snacks at the drive-in", he replied as he slammed the front door shut.
Dexter rubbed his arm as he listened to the car pull out of the driveway. Sometimes he wondered if his parents just completely ignored what Duncan did or just didn't care enough to say anything. Well, no sense going to that dark place. Still, Dexter wasn't really that hungry so he put his fork down and focused on the point of impact.
'See? You should have let me beat him up'
"Yeah, cause you always have my back"
"Excuse me?" Mrs. Douglas questioned as she turned to her son. "Dexter dear…did you say something?"
He felt his face turn red so Dexter hid as much of it as he could with his hair. People were going to start thinking he was crazy if he kept talking to himself all the time. His mother reached over and rested her slender hand on his wrist.
"Could you uh, pass the mac?" Dexter's meek rebuttal barely reached his mother's ears.
"You seem upset", she looked concerned as she handed him the bowl. "Still feeling sick?"
"Yeah", he replied morbidly while excusing himself. "I think I'll go to bed"
"Okay dear", she set the bowl down looking a little confused.
His reply had been enough to appease her. She went back to eating as Dexter left the kitchen, his hand sluggishly dragging along the rail as he went. Dexter locked his door and went to his bed. At first he just sat there starring into nothing. Then he heard the meek chatter of his inner self.
"I don't feel good", he lied. "No…it's not because of Duncan…it's not…no. No. No!"
Dexter screamed as he smacked his pillow to the floor. Rage bubbled inside of him where the one person he wanted to keep in the dark would see, but he couldn't help himself. It was all too much; the powers, the secrets, the bad guys and the whole thing with Steff. He was used to a mundane life where nothing ever happened, not this new existence where everything happened at once every two minutes.
Right now he just wanted to be alone. "Just drop it! I don't want to talk about it!"
'Why so mad Huggbee?' Freakazoid mumbled pathetically. 'Did I do something?'
Really? Dexter nearly erupted right then and there, but with the sacrifice of some enamel he pulled back. His teeth were grinding with such force that for a moment he really thought he might chip a tooth. Freakazoid retreated further into his subconscious; apparently he didn't like the feeling being directed at him.
'Dexter…Dexter I…'
"Shut up for once will ya?" he snapped. "I don't want to talk to you right now! Not a word, just let me sleep and think and not talk to myself for five minutes"
Dexter felt his other half shrivel into the furthest reaches of his mind. For just a moment the emptiness inside him left Dexter a little lonely, a little regretful. He considered sitting down at his computer, but he'd had enough of the internet at the moment. Maybe he'd just lay down for awhile.
…
Dexter found himself at the threshold of Harry Connick Highschool. The double doors creaked open, beckoning him. With caution Dexter ventured forwards into the empty hallway shaded in grey. As he made his way further into the school things began to change, blank faced figures appeared at the lockers in color. They all turned to him as he passed by.
Every step was silent. Dexter could hear nearly nothing, just the feint white noise in the distance that somewhat resembled the hum of his computer. Everything grew cold. He saw his meek breath solidify into feint clouds.
Thwack!
The sudden booming sound startled Dexter, made him turn around. Looking down the hallway he saw them. All of them were looking with their faceless countenance. The crowd blocked the hallway leading to the now closed entrance. His heart began to race. The sound of it filled the air.
Da-dum…Da-dum…Da-dum…Da-dum
The faceless people walked forwards and Dexter did the first thing that came to mind. He ran. He ran as fast as his twiggy awkward years legs would carry him. They pursued in a silent fashion, the whole crowd moving as one. No matter how hard Dexter ran they moved closer, even at their slow walking pace.
Dexter tripped over his own feet trying to look over his shoulder. Suddenly they were all around him, just hovering, looking down with their blank faces. He watched the emptiness change to computer screens. A sequence Dexter did not recognize was typed onto the screen. One of them reached down to grab him, but Dexter swatted their hand away.
He saw that his hand was gloved in white fabric and followed it to his chest where he saw something more familiar; Freakazoid's symbol. Looking up he saw that the sequence on their faces were slowly being deleted. With every symbol's disappearance a little more of himself faded away, replaced by red.
When Dexter tried to scream nothing came out. He just heard pounding; constant pounding from all around him. It was like an inescapable pressure binding his body immovable. Wires sprung from the floor and coiled around his body, tightened around his frail neck. The pounding grew louder. And louder. AND LOUDER.
Then nothing.
…
A loud gasp escaped Dexter as he awoke. To his relief there was no one trying to kick his door down. Wiping his damp face Dexter tried to calm down and still his sporadic heart. He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and took a moment's pause before he stood. Dexter clambered over to the door and sloppily undid the lock.
His heart was beating so fast, Dexter figured something must be wrong with him. He stumbled into the bathroom and locked the door. Dexter tried to splash some water on his face, wash off the sweat. The counter felt nice against his skin, its cool temperature easing his burning flesh.
"Please let there be something in here", he muttered while rummaging through the cabinet for medicine; Dexter removed a bottle of aspirin. "Well, a couple of these are better than nothing"
After taking the pills Dexter returned to his room. The pace of his heart started to slow as he sat in his chair to relax. As Dexter exhaled a soothing breathe, he felt the gentle tickle of intrusion. Freakazoid was peeking around the corners of his mind, trying to watch him. It was oddly comforting knowing he was there.
"Freakazoid", he muttered softly. "Freakazoid I know you're there"
There was nothing at first, then a soft 'Oh'
"I…" Dexter wasn't sure what to say, he wanted to make amends without bringing up why he was upset in the first place. "Um"
'Are you still mad?' Freakazoid whimpered softly, sounding pathetically like a kicked puppy.
Dexter rubbed the bridge of his nose wondering himself if he was still mad or not. "I…um, well…a little…" it felt wrong to lie. "Just a little…"
Dexter heard the front door open and slam downstairs. Duncan was home. As he heard his older brother's heavy steps up the stairs Dexter rushed to his bedroom door and turned the lock just as he began to turn the handle. The doorknob jiggled somewhat violently as Duncan tried to force it open. Wearily Dexter backed away from the door and sat quietly on his bed hoping Duncan would give up.
"Hey ya little twink!" Duncan growled, his words slightly slurring together. "C'mon out here!"
Not making a peep Dexter watched the handle slowly stop moving; Duncan had given up. His older brother muttered something under his breath and lumbered away. A soft sigh of relief left the meek teen as he let himself fall back onto his bed. That would have been the last thing he needed atop everything else.
'I don't like you brother' Freakazoid grumbled, his words leaving him like a low growl. 'Someone should teach him a little humility'
"Not you", Dexter whispered as if Duncan were listening at his door. "You'd probably kill him"
'Heroes don't kill' Freakazoid was so serious it made Dexter smile and forget for a moment he was upset.
"No they don't", he replied softly.
It felt nice Dexter realized, to have someone who was there for him when nobody else could be. Freakazoid could smooth out the bumps in the road of Dexter's life as easily as he could make them. Though to be fair when Freakazoid made bumps they were more like ramps. Not that a few bumps or ramps mattered much, Dexter's life had always been a road filled with potholes.
"Wow…" Dexter mumbled. "That train of thought made no sense"
'Made sense to me'
"Pfft", Dexter scoffed jokingly. "You'll make sense of anything"
'Guilty!'
There was a pause where the two felt each other slowly build a smile. It was the closest thing to a true brotherly bond Dexter had ever felt. They were no longer arguing, but enjoying each other's company. The boys laughed together for the first time.
((Author's Note))
About time those boys got along, eh? Only a few chapters left and the first book of the Glitch series will be complete!
