"So you just, what? Laid there until the police showed up?" Kamilla managed to ask, struggling for words. Rebecca tried to focus on the traffic flow she was maneuvering through, but with her friend's onslaught of questions from the passenger seat, she felt her attention shifting.
"No, I had to call the police first," Rebecca explained, and Kamilla snorted.
"Yeah, whatever. Still, weird ass mechanical creatures coming out of a forest to beat you up and inject mercury into Travis? Back to you for the weather, Janice," Kamilla said. Rebecca managed to lift the corner of her mouth upwards. It wasn't as if Rebecca was annoyed by Kamilla's behavior, because when her friend was loud and obnoxious in ridiculously serious times she was simply expressing fear in her own strange little werewolf way. It was just that Rebecca was still shaken, and she found Kamilla's overprotective nature more stifling than usual.
"They looked less like creatures and more like weird ass mechanical beings in doctors masks," Rebecca corrected. She took a right, and their school was only a few blocks ahead of them.
"I would say spare me the details, but," Kamilla said. "How the hell did they manage to kick your ass so brutally? Are you even recovered? And before I forget, is Mieko okay?"
Rebecca, choosing to ignore everything but the last question, sighed slightly. "Mieko's not taking it very well. I don't think Ren is either."
For the first time all morning, Kamilla gave Rebecca a moment of silence.
"You think he blames you." It was less of a question and more of a statement, but Rebecca gave a quick nod as a response regardless. "If Ren blames you for defending yourself and not being able to fend off metal doctor things, then he needs to schedule a checkup with his family doctor to make sure his head's on right, because that's just plain stupid."
"I don't know," Rebecca replied, finding an empty parking space and pulling into it. In a matter of minutes they were out of the car and walking through the front door of their school together. Rebecca gripped her bag tightly, the other hand rubbing up and down the strap as her mind spun.
Kamilla placed her hand on Rebecca's shoulder to get her attention. Rebecca blinked, waiting for some hard-crushing news, but realized her friend was just saying goodbye. "Theo's meeting me at my locker, then we're going to head down to the computer lab so we can print off our essays. I better get going-"
"Why do you hang around him?" Rebecca asked, her voice dripping with contempt. Kamilla removed her hand from her friend's shoulder, as if seeing her in a new light.
"Because he's actually a pretty nice guy, Becks," Kamilla explained. She sounded irritable, as if what she was saying was common sense. "Don't tell me you've bought into Ren's bullshit."
"I don't trust him, Kamilla," Rebecca admitted. "And I don't want him knowing anything about me."
Kamilla's face soured. "Why not? Because of Ren's gut feeling? Since when do Satori's get premonitions? He hasn't read Theo yet."
"Please Kamilla," Rebecca pleaded, suddenly desperate. Kamilla had been subconsciously leaning away from her friend, but Rebecca tilted closer to display the earnesty in her expression. "I don't want him knowing anything about me, about what I am."
Kamilla was taken aback slightly. She also looked disappointed, as if Rebecca had just sunk to a new low. "Fine. Whatever. I don't see how it matters-"
A large gust of air traveled down the hall and took the words right out of Kamilla's mouth. The doors to the emergency exit had flung open, letting in a torrent of wind that send papers and books flying.
"A storm's coming, I think," Rebecca said. Kamilla gave Rebecca a strange look. Before they knew it, they had reached Kamilla's locker, and a third party was waiting for them.
Rebecca stopped abruptly, giving Theo a nasty look. Kamilla, noticing the tension, didn't bother trying to stop Rebecca from walking away. Theo, however, inhaled a slow breath to calm his temper.
"If you don't have the decency to be polite, the least you could do is listen to my side of the story," said Theo, turning to face Rebecca. She spun around, an odious look on her face.
"I don't have to do a damn thing," Rebecca snarled. As soon as she let out her anger in that simple statement, she instantly regretted her words. He blinked and took a half step back. She tried to relish in his shocked expression, but all she felt was guilt.
"Rebecca, what's this about?" Kamilla asked, unable to remain a bystander for a second longer. She looked at Theo, as if he was someone she suddenly didn't recognize. She looked back to Rebecca, who struggled to find a response.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, Theo spoke. "It's just this thing we had been arguing about."
Way to be vague ,Rebecca thought bitterly. Kamilla gave her a pointed look.
"Arguing about what?" Kamilla demanded, becoming more and more frustrated as the seconds ticked by. Theo and Kamilla were looking at her, and suddenly Rebecca felt another swell of anger course through her. Theo made it seem like she was the one that caused their 'argument' as he had called it. It sure wasn't her fault that he was a lying son of a bitch. "Well?"
"Well nothing," Rebecca replied, giving her friend an unreadable expression. Her eyes flit over to Theo for a millisecond, enough for him to catch the movement and narrow his eyes. "I need to get to class, I'll talk to you later."
She turned fully and forced her way through the crowd of people still trying to recover from the massive gust of air that had thrown the hallway into temporary chaos. She heard Kamilla calling out her name, and she could hear the vexation in her friend's voice, but she didn't turn around.
Hours later, long after school had ended, Rebecca stood anxiously on a porch, knuckles grazing a familiar wooden door, but not having the strength to knock. Normally she barely processed it, but that day, the maroon colour, circular window, and brass handle were foreboding.
Rebecca hesitated one last time before stiffening her resolve and offering a firm rap of her knuckles. She stepped away quickly, suddenly ashamed. Rubbing the back of her neck, she had to wait only seconds before the door flew open.
"Hi," Rebecca greeted, cowed. She kicked the floor halfheartedly.
"Hey," Ren responded, mouth tilting up slightly. Rebecca's anxiety melted off of her when recognition lit up his expression. "I'm really glad you came. She's upstairs."
Rebecca only nodded, worry once again gnawing at her insides, but not as vigorously. Her hand dropped by her side as she entered his house. She didn't bother studying the living room she walked into, knowing that the same dark tan wash adorned the walls. Her favourite brown suede boots blended in with the coffee-coloured floorboards, but stood out when she crossed an über fancy asian rug.
It's not as if Ren's family were rich, but it helped that Ren's mother was a fantastic interior designer.
"Hello Rebecca," a voice called from deeper within the house. Her arrival was expected, but the fact that Ren had informed presumably his entire family just made her stomach squeeze in guilt.
Mr. Otsuka appeared in the doorway that lead to the kitchen. He was wiping his hands on a spare rag as he offered Rebecca a pursed-lip smile. Rebecca stopped walking even though she wanted to turn around and sprint for her life. Judging by the smell that wafted from the room Mr. Otsuka had just come from, he was in the middle of cooking dinner.
"Hi," Rebecca managed to choke out, then cleared her throat. Ren's father creased his eyebrows in concern. Rebecca swore at herself inwardly.
When Ren, who had skipped school to spend time with his sister, texted her asking her to come over and talk to Mieko, she panicked. The entire day she had been playing the previous night's events in her head. She could have done more for Travis, she could have fought harder against the doctor things...
Plus, standing in a house with two Satoris who could read her mind, memories, emotions, and practically everything else she could ever possibly hide did nothing to help calm her nerves.
"Are you feeling alright?" Mr. Otsuka asked Rebecca, who took a steadying breath, looking at the man as if trying to communicate without words. Ren's father, unlike Ren himself, had been a practicing Satori for almost forty years, and Rebecca knew from experience she couldn't hide much from him. Fortunately, boundaries were something Mr. Otsuka placed a heavy emphasis on. He gave Rebecca, then Ren a nod. "We're all very thankful that you called us personally last night to tell us what happened."
Rebecca shrugged, rubbing her arm. "It was the least I could do."
The better thing to do would have been to stop Travis from getting murdered, but she bit her tongue. Mr. Otsuka nodded once more, a empathetic expression on his face. He gave Rebecca one last smile, wishing her luck, before he disappeared into the kitchen.
Rebecca, with rejuvenated confidence, turned to Ren, asking for permission to continue. He nodded.
Rebecca knew Ren's house like the back of her hand, and once she ascended up the stairs, she had no trouble finding Mieko's door. It was closed, and Rebecca gave Ren one last nervous look over her shoulder before she knocked.
"Mieko?" Rebecca called, her ears straining to hear any sounds of movement on the other side. She nervously tapped her foot on the floor. She looked back at Ren, worried that something was wrong.
The door opened a crack, and Rebecca turned back around. Mieko opened the door even wider. Her eyes, which were naturally thin to begin with, were red and puffy. Rebecca swallowed hard when Mieko sniffled and gestured for them to enter.
Mieko's room was an average size and dark green. The curtains for both of her windows were closed, making the room resemble the velvet blackness of the inside of a coffin. She hastily fixed this, tugging on the thick fabric and breaking the gloomy spell. The afternoon sun temporarily blinded Ren and Rebecca.
"Take a seat," Mieko offered as she moved over to her next window. Rebecca, after a quick glance around the slightly disorganised room, sat down on Mieko's bed beside Ren. His sister sat down at her desk, swiveling the chair to face them.
Rebecca played with her own fingers, using every ounce of willpower she had to force herself to hold Mieko's unwavering gaze.
There was an awkward moment of hesitation, where all three of them didn't know who was going to speak first. Mieko, who's slender fingers clenched a tissue in her left hand, broke the silence by clearing her throat.
"So," she began. Rebecca sat up a little more. "How did you find him?"
Rebecca spread her fingers across her leg. Ren nudged her with his shoulder.
"Well," Rebecca started, her voice low. "I had just dropped Ren off. Then my car broke down right near the bridge. I saw Travis go into the woods, and I followed him."
"Did you see it?" Mieko asked, her voice hoarse. Rebecca flinched at how broken she sounded. "Did you see him ... you know ..."
Rebecca nodded. She wasn't sure if Mieko wanted an explanation, but she couldn't stop herself from babbling anyway. "I tried to stop him, to take him out of the forest, but he didn't even seem like himself anymore. Then these people just came out of nowhere, and ... and I couldn't save him, I'm sorry..."
Mieko nodded, blinking and letting her gaze drop. As far as Ren's parents and Rebecca knew, Mieko was not a Satori like her brother and her father. But when she looked at Rebecca again, the glint in her eyes could have fooled anyone. "Thank you."
"What?" Rebecca whispered, swallowing the lump in her throat. She felt stupid just sitting there uselessly, being able to give only bad news and worsen Mieko's pain. She fought back tears.
"For …" Mieko's voice cracked. "Coming. Thank you."
Rebecca smiled and her vision blurred as she looked at the carpeted floor of Mieko's room. She felt Ren's hand rub her back soothingly.
"Are you staying for dinner?" Mieko asked. Rebecca, for the second time in five minutes, was surprised by the younger girl across from her. It was obvious her boyfriend's death weighed heavily on her, but still she managed to put on a brave front. "I think Ren needs to catch up on his homework."
Ren chuckled slightly. "Don't expose me like this. Dad's making a lot. Plus, Mom would love to see you, Becks. What do you say?"
Rebecca nodded, a small smile on her lips. Mieko grinned and stood, saying she needed to call back a friend who wanted to give her sympathies. Rebecca immediately stood, making her way to the door while wiping her eyes hastily. She gave Mieko one last departing smile before reaching out to the handle. Ren hung back, asking who Mieko was calling. Rebecca froze at Mieko's doorway, let her eyes scan the wallpaper, then the bookshelf. A blue picture frame that stood out against the brown wood snagged her attention.
Rebecca squinted, looking at the picture. She let go lf the door handle, stepping closer to the picture and exmaining it more thoroughly.
It was Mieko hugging a boy Rebecca recognized as Travis DeClair. She winced at how happy they looked. The camera pointed down at their pleasant faces, Travis' arm raised, his hand disappearing beyond the lens. The two of them were in a room with a bed in the background, though it obviously wasn't Mieko's room.
It must have been Travis'. Rebecca scanned the picture again, melancholy encouraging sad smile to grow on her face.
Then, she saw something on the ground just behind Mieko. Panic tore through Rebecca, washing away any other emotion. Rebecca picked up the picture frame and held it inches away from her face. The more she examined the book cover in the photo, the more shallow her breaths became.
On the cover of the book was a masked person with little red pieces of glass where the eyes should have been. It was the exact same face as the thing that had murdered Travis. Rebecca finally dragged her eyes away to read the title of the book: "The Dread Doctors".
"Rebecca?" Ren's voice pulled her out of her thoughts that were going a million miles an hour. Her head snapped up and she practically slammed the picture frame back on Mieko's shelf. Ren flinched at the sudden noise, and Mieko turned, a questioning look on her face.
"Yeah?" Rebecca asked, trying to sound casual as she backed up towards the door, never breaking eye contact with Ren. She instinctively covered her hands with her sleeves, hiding any exposed skin.
"Are you feeling alright?" Ren asked, taking another step closer to her. Rebecca shrugged, desperately trying to stay cool as her hand groped around for the door handle.
"Yeah, definitely. Hey, listen, we got a lot of English homework to do. We're supposed to have our essay rough copy due by tomorrow, and I'll give you the topics we can chose from," Rebecca said hurriedly, flinging open the door and escaping into the hall once she finished. Half way to Ren's room, he grabbed her arm and forced her to turn and face him.
"Rebecca, what's wrong?" Ren demanded. Rebecca pursed her lips as a response. The truth was too terrifying for her to explain, but she definitely didn't want Ren to see first hand what had happened with her and Travis. He no doubt would beeline to that memory if he looked into her mind.
"I'll explain..." Rebecca started.
Luckily, Mr. Otsuka called up the stairwell that dinner was ready and Rebecca wasted no time shaking off Ren's grip and practically flying down the stairs. Rebecca was jittery and even though she inconspicuously tried to shake out her limbs, her anxiousness remained.
She finally had a lead. She was one step closer to stopping the murderer. To catching these ... Dread Doctors.
Rebecca didn't know whether to puke or pump her fists in the air.
Rebecca decided to stop on her way home to refill her gas tank. There were a few other people there that gave her more than just a passing glance, but she didn't bother to even look up from her phone.
She was in the middle of texting Kamilla about course changes or something. Rebecca wasn't entirely involved in the conversation, but it beat just hanging around hoping that no one spoke to her. All she wanted to do was track down her mother, find out where Travis lived, and rip apart his house until she found the book that was permanently stamped in her minds eye.
Her phone vibrated and Rebecca blinked at the incoming call. Swiping to accept it then putting her phone to her ear, she waited for the other person, who owned the blocked number, to speak first.
"Hello?" Rebecca knew that voice. She shook her head at how paranoid she was.
"Hey, Gus," Rebecca greeted. She stopped the steady flow of gas entering her car and hooked it back up to its machine. "What's up?"
"The body of the victim - Travis DeClair, I believe his name was - is gone," Gus blurted. Rebecca blinked, almost dropping her wallet after pulling it out of her pocket.
"What?" Rebecca demanded, tilting her head to avoid the wary glares of the people in the pumps next to her. "What do you mean, 'gone'?"
"Look, your mother would have a fit if she found out I was calling you, but even she doesn't know what to do," Gus rasped, obviously intensely whispering into the phone. "Me and Myriam - gah, your mother, whatever - went in to properly examine Travis to see what kind of creature he was, and to see if he was a hybrid. When we got there, somehow someone had broken into the morgue, and now there's blood everywhere. There's a few pieces of flesh, and the detectives think that someone ... ate Travis."
"Ate?" Rebecca echoed, her voice louder than she expected. She gave a half hearted smile to a guy standing across from her before looking away and dropping her voice to a whisper. "Someone ate Travis? Wait, you're not calling me because you think-"
"Because I think you may know someone who could have eaten this poor kid?" Gus cut her off, slight disgust in his tone. "Yeah, actually. That's exactly what I think."
Rebecca suddenly clenched her jaw. She thought of the previous day. She thought of pure white eyes, sharp spikes, and a yawning void. She knew someone - or more accurately, something - that could have done this.
"I think I do," Rebecca said. She could feel Gus tense on the other end, waiting for her to spill the name. "I think you should go and arrest Connor MonHeim. Right now."
