Dad would be leaving if he found out I was fine, and I would be trapped to face the Batterwitch on my own again. Couldn't leave, couldn't tell, and hiding was probably useless as well. I had to stay though, I had to find a way to get my friends out even if it killed me. Each step down the hall just made my stomach drop lower and lower.
"John is healed up." The Batterwitch cheerful told my dad. Dad hugged me even though I was still in the Batterwitch's arms. "He healed up quite quickly."
"I'm just glad he is in the clear now."
"I am too." This woman was too excited to rip apart her nephew.
"Guess this will be my last day here then, huh son?"
"Yeah."
"Cheer up John, I'll visit you over the summer. Promise."
"Really?"
"Really."
"I'm looking forward to it."
"John, what's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong."
"You're hiding something. Please just tell me what's wrong." I manage to wiggle from the Batterwitch's grip, landing hard. I scramble to my feet and away from them both. I squeeze my eyes shut, opening them to see that I'm else where. I had no clue where, but the place I'm in is dark, cold, and small. Was it just me or... is the room... spinning...
"-an you hear me? Hello?" A guy with a long scar down his face was standing over me. I tried moving back only to bump into the wall. "Calm down, I'm not trying to hurt you." The man took two steps back before sitting down. I looked around, noticing I was still in the same room as before, but it didn't seem as dark now. I quickly realized the extra light is the glow of my wings against the surfaces of the room.
"Hey, it's alright. No need to work yourself up."
"Who are you?"
"My name is faded away, much like my accent and my knowledge of my own native tongue. I'm called Goat, which doesn't really make sense. Most of us are named after something the Batterwitch could find, so I ended up with the name Goat. Better than Crab, Ram, or Paint."
I froze. "Paint? So your a... a dead walker?"
"You know about dead walkers?"
"You guys are the dead brought back. I know of Miss Paint and Slick, but how many more?"
"Fifteen more. Slick's buddies, Droog, Deuce and Boxcars, are also part of the group. There were three others that she tried with that it didn't work on. I'm not sure where in the world she got them from, but she wasn't happy with their failure."
"Where in the world are you from."
"France. I used to live on the beach with my son. I think. I can't remember much about him, or really much of anything anymore."
"Oh." I look around and spot the edges of a door. At this point my dad might already be gone and it would be no use heading back.
"Hey, what's wrong? You don't need to cry." Goat got up and sat down next me. He gave me a hug, but I just ended up feeling even more uncomfortable. "How'd you get down here anyway? Maybe I can help you find a way back?"
A loud knock on the door was quickly followed by the door being tossed open. The woman looked less than pleased. "Goat we need to f- and you already found him. Condie wants him back to the main before his dad leaves."
"Is that why you're sad little buddy? Come on, let's get you back to see your dad." He stood up, helping me up along the way. "I think he's a little scared."
"Hm? You alright there kid?"
"I'm fine, miss?"
"Everyone calls me Spider." I step out of the room, seeing the woman much better. She looked a lot like Vriska with her blond hair, blue eyes, and the look of her face. "You sure you're alright there kid?"
"I'm fine, you just reminded me of a friend of mine."
"Alright. Let's go already." Spider grabbed my wrist before rushing down the hall. I eventually get back by a transportalizer, which are still weird to me, to find Miss Paint.
"You feeling better? Heard that things became a bit much for you."
"How long ago was that?"
"About five hours."
"Five hours? Dad's leaving after today and I spent it sleeping in some stranger's room." I realize my wings are still showing and will them away. I didn't want dad to leave, but if he stayed he might be killed and definitely captured. "Why do I have to be an angel?"
"I don't know sweetie." Miss Paint gave me a quick hug before starting to lead me down the hall to where my dad must be. "If I knew I would tell you, but I don't have the answers."
"Sorry."
"Don't worry, it's fine. I understand you're a little frustrated and upset with things, but you need to keep going for those who love you and care about you. And as it turns out, just hold on for two more months."
"Really?"
"It's working out better than I had thought. I really hope it continues like this." She smiled before taking a turn down the next hall. She opened a door wide, and I spotted my dad.
"Dad!" I hugged him, burying my head in his chest.
"John. You feeling alright?"
"Yeah, I just was upset you would be leaving."
"I'm sorry son, but I really need to go. If I could stay I would, you know that right?"
"Yes I know. I'm going to miss you."
"I'm going to miss you too. I'll call every night, alright?"
"Alright." My grip tightened as I heard the door open and the click of heels along the floor.
"John?"
"What's wrong? Is he alright?"
"Sorry Condie, he just acted like he was scared of you. Isn't that odd."
"It is."
"Care to explain?"
"Excuse me?"
"Why is John scared of you?"
"Dad it's fine-"
"That's why. John, what did she do? What's going on?"
"N-nothing!" With that he held me back to his chest. I was terrified. "No! Dad no! Drop it!" I tried getting him to drop it, but my words were muffled by his shirt.
"What did you do?"
"Are you implying what I think?"
"The way you're acting is suspicious. If nothing is wrong here why has John been acting strange? Why does he freak out every time I ask what's wrong?" Anger was snaking its way into his voice. Not up in your face anger, but the cold anger you hear just before someone snaps from their usual niceness. Nothing was scarier than seeing someone sweet and gentle start a fight, and nothing could scare me more. The room was in complete silence.
"He just doesn't like me."
"I don't believe you."
"I don't think you know what you're saying."
"I will ask one more time. What did you do?"
"Should I tell him John?" I kept trying to say no, to leave the topic alone, to forget this happened, but all it seemed to do was make the situation worse.
"He didn't have an accident, did he?"
"Quite the guesser aren't you?"
"And you're deranged. Now I know why I was told to limit our interaction, and as I can see will have to do so again."
"You're leaving? You have one last chance to leave, but I'm afraid you can't take John with you."
"He's coming with me."
