The little girl, ten years old, was sleeping soundly in her bed when midnight struck. She was just so darn tired that she conked out instantly after being tucked in. It looked like she was still. Dead, even.
Well…she would be. It had plans…
"Little child…" The voice growled in the closet. She didn't hear it, for she was out like a light. "Tucked safely in your warm bed. Where is it? Are you too tired to be scared? You are so deep in your slumber that you do not scream. Soon…you will sleep…and you will dream…forever…"
The house settled as it eyed the girl, covered completely in darkness as she was in her blankets. She even looked so adorable like that. And far more delicious…
"What was that?" It asked, after making a knocking noise. "Was it the vent creaking open? Or your closet door slightly ajar? Or maybe it came from under your bed?"
It moved as a shadow from the open closet door. The shadow slicked like a ghost until it took shelter below her bed. It could even be in the walls. Getting stuck was impossible. From the floor, glowing red eyes staring at the bottom of the bed, seeing the girl that would be its next meal through it.
"Too tired to move. Too tired to grab your flashlight. Too tired to open those heavy eyes. No matter. When the light dies, you…will be victimized. You…will be in pain. You…will…die…"
As it spoke, it flashed its long sharp teeth before smiling like a nightmare before melting out and rising up like a shadow cast on a wall, at the end of her bed. It wanted her to get a good look if she ever woke up from that death-like slumber.
"You are not the first. And you will not be the last. I am…eternal. You know, I was watching from the shadows, as your parents tucked you in. And dug your grave…"
It eyed the plump juicy flesh with a hungering lust. And leaned in closer…
"So…sweet. All the while, I was reveling in our glorious cities, in the relishing fact, that they will never see you again."
It grinned with an insane smile. It came closer.
"You will be torn from your safe warm bed, and tossed into an icy hell, from which I came. A place where all light is absent, a place where love and compassion have been replaced with pain and suffering."
Closer…
"Don't fight it, child. Just keep your eyes closed. And accept it."
Finally, it leaned into her face with that wicked smile.
"Never leave…" The Boogeyman whispered. "Always here…"
And then, it opened its jaws and teeth superhumanly wide…
And lunged.
…
Lucy was asleep with her beloved wife when she heard it. That high-pitched girly scream. A wail. As if someone was being murdered.
Had she been an ordinary mother of the daughter Dina gave birth to, she would've dismissed it as nothing and would tell her she just had a nightmare that wasn't real. And she was too tired to be intimate with her wife anyway.
But Lucy Dark was no ordinary person. Her daughter had hatched from an egg. That was the first step of knowing she was special.
This kind of life was dangerous. That scream meant…something was wrong.
"Max?! MAX!"
Lucy rushed out of bed and out of the room. Rushing down the hallway, she threw open the door and gasped, her eyes wide with shock and horror at what she saw.
Blood. Blood the color of shadows. Everywhere.
A shadowy and demonic head lay still on the messy floor, the red eyes fading away like lights. Lucy saw it for only a moment…but it was there.
The ghost, the Fallen One, and the Shadow Demon that was Brandon Plush. The Boogeyman. As long as the very concept of fear existed, he could never die.
But…what HAPPENED?!
Lucy turned to her daughter, who only yawned and rubbed her eyes.
"Maxie, are you okay?!" Lucy asked concerned. "I…I heard you scream…"
"Huh?" She only moaned tiredly. "I…I didn't scream."
"What?"
Lucy turned back to the head of the Boogeyman. She could see black blood, inky guts, shadowy limbs, and all kinds of grotesque body parts the color of the pitch blackness of the night itself. Max was…okay. She was fine. So…why…?
She can't see it. Lucy realized. She can't see the blood. Or the corpse! Or the organs! How…?
"Are you acting funny, Mom? Mommy will be mad if you are…"
"I, uh, t-that's not…" She didn't even TASTE alcohol! EVER!
"Maybe you're just seeing things. Can you please let me sleep now?"
"Uh…you sure you don't want your night light on?"
"It's too bright. No thanks."
Lucy only took a deep breath. Max was just a few years away from turning 12. Around either that or her 13th birthday, her true self would emerge. Still, she couldn't fathom what just killed the Boogeyman. For now.
Lucy had been preparing herself for the talk for a long time. Played the scene over and over again in her mind.
"Okay…good night, Maxie…"
She kissed her sweet baby girl on the forehead and headed out, closing the door behind her. Strangely, as Max drifted to sleep again, she heard something. Voices.
"Mmm…what's your problem, Luc? A woman needs her rest, you know."
"It's nothing, Dee-Dee. Come here."
A quick smooch. And some rustling. Someone climbing into bed and falling asleep.
The house was still and silent afterwards. However…Max didn't see her large shadow, cast upon the wall, slowly sit up and turn its head, purple lights staring at her as she rested…
…
DYLAN
I sit alone at one of the back tables of the cafeteria. I dial Cory's number and hold the phone to my ear. After only one ring, he answers.
"What have you learned?" He asked.
"I've spent the last three days undercover at Robert Lawrence Middle School." I answer. "I've begun sensing a powerful magical source as well. Akin to those of the Cataluna Clan."
"You're thinking this source is some kind of threat?"
"That clan hasn't been well known for being at peace with humans. Besides, the magic I've been sensing nearly matches that of Christine's very first student: Sarabeth Curry."
"The one who created the Monster Blood? She's dead."
"I didn't say it was her. But I could sense that the blood was the same. So it must be a relative of some kind. This must be the last of the witch clan."
"Did you learn anything about this 'relative'?"
"Veruca Curry. Sarabeth's granddaughter. Remember how Abe adapted to the modern day to get his family accustomed to it? Well, she has too. She's taken up residence in the old Whaley House."
"The most haunted house in America, let alone California? Isn't that supposed to be in San Diego?"
"That's a DIFFERENT Whaley House. Still, this one looks to have witnessed more history than any other building in this town as well. I attended the welcome party where she used a coin to brainwash all the adults. Thanks to my magic, I was unaffected. Only three other kids were left unaffected thanks to their view being blocked: Rosie, Carlos, and Becca Hill."
"What about Lucy and her family?"
"They didn't go. They were the only ones not to."
"Avoiding attention. At least Max has ONE friend. You babysat her, right?"
"Yeah. Back on topic, I've been spying on Veruca. The three kids I mentioned earlier have begun suspecting something. If they interfere, I'll have no choice but to reveal we're on the same boat."
That's when I hear the bell ring.
"Lunch is over. I gotta go."
I hang up and gather my stuff. Okay, Dylan. Find out Veruca's plan and figure out how to stop her. No pressure…
…
Once the night falls, my work REALLY begins. Donning my white Monster Armor by saying the incantation on my Arcane Amulet, I fly off into the night. My magic has been sensing all kinds of enchanted signatures tonight.
That's when I notice something. The gargoyle statue on the roof of the town hall. It's gone.
This COULD be a regular gargoyle, though. I should be careful. Its saliva can turn things to stone.
Hold on…footprints. Three people were here. Kids. And there's a faint magical signature too. This must've been just an enchanted statue. The magic itself is recognizable. Cataluna Clan dark magic. Much like Belladonna, Forster, Dahlia, and a bit like Clarrissa. She is the sister of the founder, after all.
I follow the magical energy trail all the way back to the Whaley House. It's almost like an evil Dead House. I perch on the roof and listen to the voice that's speaking. Veruca…
"Who IS Veruca Curry?" She speaks in the third person. "It's a simple question, with a complex answer. But please allow me to try."
She's monologuing. Lisa would hate this and get straight to the point. But I hang back. Watch from the shadows.
"Veruca Curry is a thoroughly modern witch. A witch on her way up."
I crawl to a window to peek through. Behind the Gargoyle, I see she's holding Rosie, Carlos, and Becca hostage. All in a…TED Talk?
"Why is she talking about herself like that?" Carlos whispers as a picture of Veruca changes to Sarabeth.
"She's not obsessed with obsolete tradition like her dearly departed grandmother Sarabeth." Veruca continued. "Ugh, that choker is so dated. Veruca isn't just out to scare a few kids and steal some babies."
A picture of Whaley House is presented next.
"No, she's channeling the magical energy from Whaley House's foundation to amplify a very powerful spell. And, to think, that spell is stored right here on her electronic grimoire. Just a swipe away. A spell that will give Veruca control over the rest of the town! And soon enough, the whole world will see things her way!"
Magical energy? No wonder my senses were going off around this place.
Still…with Slappy dead for the time being, she must be seeing her chance to take the throne he seeks for herself.
"Tonight, the renovations will be complete, and the spell will be cast. All with the help of a living source of powerful dark magic to help channel and harness the magic needed for the spell…"
Living source? What living source?
"But Veruca doesn't have to rule alone over the mindless drones. She could use some friends that see things her way."
She turns to the trio as I silently drop down in front of the window
"Wouldn't it be great to never have to listen to grownups again?" Veruca continues. "To do whatever you want, whenever you want? Isn't it always better when you have friends that understand you? That give you a sense of belonging? Being part of something bigger than yourself?"
"Yeah. It is."
With that epic one-liner, I burst through the window, kicking the gargoyle in the back!
"What?!"
I blast Veruca with a green magic orb, hitting her in the face and making her drop that grimoire. I dodge a downwards punch from the gargoyle and conjure up a scarf, wrapping it around the gargoyle's face and slamming it to the ground!
"Quickly! This way!"
I rush outside, and the three kids follow me.
"W-Who ARE you?!" Rosie asks.
"A friend." I say, dematerializing my helmet to reveal my face.
"Hang on, you're one of the middle school students, aren't you?!" Becca adds.
"Long story." I say. "I'm here to stop Veruca!"
"So…where do we go?" Carlos asks as we rush off.
"Town Hall?" Becca guesses. "The police can stop her!"
"What?! No they can't!" I argue.
"Why not?"
Suddenly, we skidded to a stop once we reached downtown. Where a whole mob of townsfolk is waiting for us.
"That's why." I armor up again. "She's brainwashed everyone but us!"
"Everyone?!" Rosie asks.
"Well…maybe not everyone…"
My senses don't fail me. A humanoid vampire bat and lizard land nearby, with a supersonic bat cry stunning the mob! The lizard manages to disarm the mob as the bat enters a demonic form, any torches being useless against her.
"Go! They're on our side!"
I lead the kids through the town, eventually ducking down an alleyway. After a while, the Darks land once the mob is stunned.
"Max is gone." Lucy says angrily.
"W-What ARE those?!" Becca stammers. "W-Who's Max?"
"A friend. And these are her mothers. Good monsters." I answer before turning to them. "Veruca mentioned she needed some kind of magical power source. It had to be something that was alive."
"Veruca…" Dina growls. "If she has my baby girl, she's gonna pay…"
"How?!" Rosie asks. "Adults are no help. Most of them are already under Veruca's control, right?"
"Which means it's up to us." I answer. "Don't worry. We've dealt with witches before. We go back, defeat Veruca, destroy that grimoire, and rescue Max. The Darks and I will deal with her. Think you can keep her gargoyle guard busy?"
"Uh…"
"It's okay." Rosie says. "I have a plan. No more running."
Yes. No more running indeed. We listen in on how she, Carlos, and Becca plan to deal with the gargoyle while we take on Veruca…
…
MAX
My eyes shoot open faster than they ever have before. The last thing I remember is a massive dark green cloud of darkness blocking my entire vision and covering me completely. And then nothing.
Where…Where am I?
My heart freezes. I'm bound in ropes and hanging from a large chain. Below me is a bubbling cauldron!
I scream. I try to squirm and kick, but it's no use! My head flails about, but my arms are tied behind my back!
"MOM! MOMMY! WHERE ARE YOU?!" I scream in a panic. "HELP! HELP ME! I'M SCA-!"
I feel myself choke. I cry out again…but nothing comes out!
I…I can't speak! I can't hear myself scream!
"Oh, good. You're finally awake."
A creepy old woman makes her way down the steps, her fingernails seeming like claws. I'm in some kind of creepy basement. With no hope of escape.
"You must be wondering why you're here, and what I will do to you?" She chuckles. "Oh, but where are my manners, you know not to trust strangers. My name is Veruca Curry. I am a special person. Just like you."
I feel myself become paralyzed. With a wave of her finger, I begin coughing.
"How?" She asks. "That's easy. Did your mothers ever tell you who you REALLY are?"
"M…Mom always told me scary stories when I was going to bed. I wasn't scared because I didn't believe her. I…I thought they weren't real…"
"So you thought that this strange magical energy I'm sensing from you wasn't real? Oh, but if it wasn't, we wouldn't be here. You see…you're going to help me, Maxie."
"H…How do you know my name?"
"Call me a witch. I know a lot of things. Including how MONSTROUS you can REALLY become."
"You wicked freak!" I scream. "I-I don't know what you're talking about!"
"Not yet. But you will."
She turned away and pulled out an electronic tablet.
"I…I'm NOT going to help you! I'll tell my mom about you!"
"Oh? I don't think you have a choice…"
Suddenly, a blowtorch flew up, holding itself next to the chain! I gasp in terror at this and look down. That yucky green liquid is bubbling like acid. As if to demonstrate, Veruca throws a steak into the cauldron. There's a loud hissing and sizzling noise as the cauldron shakes and bubbles, and soon, all that's left is the T-shaped bone before THAT dissolves as well.
"Now…be a good girl and play along." Veruca says. "One more thing like that, and I'll have a little kid for dinner…"
I'm too terrified to speak any further. Besides lit melted candles, Veruca swipes away at her tablet.
"Now that the essential renovations are done, let's look into the crystal ball." She swipes again, seeing a picture of a black cat. "Awww, grandmother when she was young…"
She thinks a CAT is her grandma?! She really IS crazy!
"Hashtag coven goals!"
My mind races as I watch helplessly. It feels like the chain holding is slowly lowering me into the pit. I end up so terrified that I end up crying, my tears sizzling in the acid below!
"Ah, here we are!"
Suddenly, that tablet begins to float in the air, and my eyes widen when I see the spell's name: Imperium Cursus!
I remember some of my grandmother's books. This was in one of them, and it's Latin for Control Course! Just what does she want to control?!
"Abracadabra, give me the power I seek…" She chants. "I will create as I speak…"
There's some more Latin chanting. And suddenly…
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!"
I scream in both fear AND pain, as a strange green fire begins burning me and a strange purple light bursts from my chest! All the while, I can't stop screaming!
What's happening to me?!
…
DYLAN
"Hurry up!" Rosie huffs and puffs. "I hear something happening in the basement!"
"Doing…the best…I can…here…" Becca groans, lifting Carlos into an open window.
"Oh god…" Lucy gasps, her enhanced hearing picking it up clearly. "MAX!"
We don't have time! With my Monster Armor's increased strength, I kick down the locked door. Just as Carlos falls on his front onto the floor.
"Oof!" Becca follows shortly after, landing directly on him.
"Get off!" He groans as Rosie struggles to enter the window.
"A little…help…?" She groans. Once Becca helps her in, they notice the route we took.
"Oh. You can do that?"
"We got company…" I only reply.
From the nearby door, the gargoyle stomps forth and roars!
"It's guarding the basement door! You guys keep it busy and distract it while we go to Veruca!"
"Yoink!" Becca yanks off a curtain, and since the gargoyle's not getting out of the way, Carlos distracts it as Becca and Rosie rush behind it.
"Have you considered an exfoliant to improve your rocky complexion?" He taunts. "I can recommend several brands.."
With a snag, the curtain is tossed over the stone beast's eyes, making it roar!
"Or how about some concealer?!" Rosie adds. "Becca, now!"
"Time to drop the hammer!" Becca grabs a dropped hammer and leaps forward! "Robert Lawrence Middle Track and Field RULES!"
She begins hammering heavily at the beast as it staggers around, the other kids doing whatever they can to keep it busy!
"And she's safe at home!" Becca slides underneath the beast once it's lured away from the basement entrance! "Outta the way, blockhead!"
Lucy and Dina rush downstairs, and I follow. There, we see it.
"I'll show Grandma Sarabeth!" Veruca cackles as Max screams in fear and pain. "I'll show all those old hags who wouldn't update their magic-based applications and evolve their magic strategies! THEY CAN'T EVEN USE SMARTPHONES!"
"HEY YOU! JACKASS!"
She turns to see a small kid in white armor holding a green greatsword, a demonic humanoid bat, and a lizard monster at the bottom of the stairs with serious intent.
"LET. HER. GO." Lucy snarls. "NOW."
"Hang in there, baby!" Dina yells. "Mommy will save you!"
"Oh look, little girl." Veruca chuckles. "Someone's come to pay you a visit."
Max notices her parents, and when her eyes widen, theirs do too.
The following scream tells me all I need to know. She has never seen them like this!
"No, wait! It's me! Your mom!"
Lucy tries to change back, but Veruca's magic prevents her from proving it.
"NO! YOU'RE LYING! YOU'RE NOT MY MOM!" She screams. "MOMMY! HELP ME! MOMMY!"
This must be so painful for Lucy. What Max is seeing are no longer her parents. It's a haunting reminder of a memory. Max keeps screaming for her real parents, all while Veruca grins.
"She would NEVER believe you for telling her the truth." She smirks. "Can you blame her? Having to live the rest of your life…as a freak? A monster? Because that's exactly what you are to her. Right…now…"
Dina can't take it anymore. With a primal screech of rage, she lunges!
Veruca only blasts her into a wall with her dark magic, and easily casts a forcefield to block Lucy's hellfire! I only use magic of my own to blast Veruca and strike with my sword! She ended up teleporting it out of my grip and zapping me with green lightning before slashing her claws against Lucy's face!
Lucy roars like a true monster and delivers a powerful blow. Veruca slides back and telekinetically throws stuff at us! Lucy and Dina dodge it with flying swoops and leaps, but I slice through some and blast her.
We seem evenly matched in magic. Veruca only summons more stone gargoyles to fight for her, but we smash them like rubble. But a barrier prevents my blows and hits from landing, and Veruca uses her magic to choke and slam me to the ground again and again!
"You may have had more experience, but that body of yours is STILL a child." She taunts. "It's less developed than mine."
"Yeah? Well..I'M not the half-demon hybrid who's the Queen of Hell!"
Lucy summons up several pillars of hellfire to try and scorch the sinner's soul, but green fireballs force her to block with her wings. She screeches from the pain (wildfire?!), and when Dina lunges in for a venomous bite, Veruca only teleports a cinderblock in the jaws, making the lizard roar as she holds her aching teeth in pain.
We strike as one next time, but Veruca's hair stands on edge and she unleashes a powerful blast of dark green magic, which feels like both electric scorching, fiery burning, acidic sizzling, and a freezing chill. I scream before tumbling to the ground. That magic…it completely surpassed my armor! And from the looks of it, the Darks' forms as well! Just how strong and wicked IS this woman?!
"Yes, yes, I know." She taunts. "I am one cruel son of a witch."
I cough as I try to get back up again.
"The spell is almost complete. But enough monologuing. I'll get you and your little kids, too…"
With a snap of her fingers, she begins burning us with green fire! It takes all my magic to block and power through, but the barrier is born in seconds!
As the monsters roar in pain and anger, I spot a tortured and tormented Max continue to cry…
Wait…no…not crying…chuckling! GIGGLING!
I gasp. Her shadow! She's not casting a shadow!
Suddenly, Max lifts her head up…and her eyes are as pitch black as SHADOWS!
The inky black tears leave marks as they roll down the 10-year-old girl's face as her laughter becomes loud and insane! And suddenly…
There's an insane yell and more laughter as black-purple fire engulfs her, with an EXPLOSION of dark magic destroying the rope and chain holding her! The acid in the cauldron evaporates, and the cauldron itself shatters to pieces!
"WHAT?!" Veruca turns.
Finally, something lands on the floor! I look on in shock. Dina holds her hands over her mouth as Lucy's eyes widen.
"M…Max…?"
The large shadowy figure unfurls wings as a dark purple pentagram is engraved into her chest. She…she looks…OLDER! Like…6 years older!
Hands uncurl from fists to reveal purple electric claws. Black horns are light with purple flame. And finally, a row of sharp teeth open, letting out a breath of dark black magic.
And then, her eyes open as a purple-fiery glow. Max Dark, now looking like a female fusion of the Boogeyman, her mom's Monster Queen form, and a Shadow Demon, looks at herself and grins.
"FREE. FINALLY!" She declares. "I'M FINALLY FREE! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Oh god…I think I know why she's a living source of powerful dark magic! She's the daughter of the most powerful hybrid and monster that's ever lived!
Max Dark is pretty much Maximum Darkness now! She tackles Veruca and flies into the room up the stairs! I'm sensing wicked amounts of evil in her…but can I even SEAL it?!
Her parents and I rush back up, and see that Max had thrown Veruca into a wall. The gargoyle only growls at this, and she giggles menacingly.
"Oh boy…" Becca gulps. "Looks like I've reached the finish line…"
It roars, and Max roars back, charging like a maniac. She dodges a punch and delivers one of her own, shattering the gargoyle's leg! It topples, and Max begins laughing like a maniac as she begins pummeling it mercilessly at superhuman speed!
"Max!" Lucy cries. "MAX, STOP!"
She does stop. But only when all that's left of the gargoyle is a massive pile of rocky rubble. I hold out my hands to seal her evil away…and I gasp.
"I-It's not working!" I yell. "Somehow my magic's picking hers up as GOOD energy! Even though I can clearly sense that it's EVIL!"
Max turns back to Veruca with a giggle. And suddenly, she makes a supernatural dash towards her…
And she's not a bloody stain on the wall.
Veruca gasps and sees that her hands are empty. Max is only holding that electronic grimoire tablet over a bucket of water that Rosie must've prepared to stop her.
"Oops."
She drops it. There's a snap. A crackle. A pop. And a fizzle. And the screen goes black.
"It's BRICKED!" Veruca screams. "You brat!"
She starts towards the bucket to fetch the tablet, making Max giggle again.
"You want it back? Okay!"
That's when she grabs the bucket…and chucks it right at Veruca!
"NO!"
She braces herself as it's coming too fast to dodge. The short-circuited tablet slams her in the face as she's doused with the water, the bucket clanging to the ground.
Then, green gas begins to form from the puddle! Oh my god…Veruca's melting!
"AAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
"OH, WHAT A WORLD! WHAT A WORLD! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Rosie watches in horror as the witch agonizingly melts into nothing as she struggles and screams. All while Lucy watches in horror as the monster, her own daughter, continues to laugh maniacally.
Eventually, I force myself to look away. Once the screams stop, I slowly turn back. Veruca's hand is all that dips in, and as the laughter dies down, the shadow surrounding Max begins to fade…
And she falls onto her back as her normal self, unconscious and having fainted.
Ding dong. The witch is dead.
"Well…she may have ditched the broom and the green skin…" Becca states. "She forgot something else."
"Yeah." Rosie adds. "Turns out old defenses still work on modern witches."
"You kids head back home." I say. "Your parents must be snapping out of it by now…"
They do so without question. Meanwhile, Lucy heads over and kneels down, picking her daughter up. And then, she hugs her with tears in her eyes. Dina only hugs both of them.
"You HAVE to tell her." I say. "This can't be kept hidden anymore."
"I know." Lucy says. "But the true form usually comes out when the Blender's twelve or thirteen. She was ten. It happened a lot sooner."
"I don't think she could control it either." Dina adds. "As in...it wasn't Max that did…this."
I let out a long sigh as the helmet dematerialized. "I gotta tell Cory about this. You're HER parents. You tell her."
"I…I knew this day would come." Lucy sighs. "Just…I thought it would be later. And I'm still not ready…"
I only leave them be, walking off as I dial Cory's number.
The ringtone continues for a while as I continue back to my base. Eventually, he picks up.
"Hey Twist. You're not going to believe this."
I freeze.
"I…was about to say the same." I say. "You go first. I'm listening…"
…
MAX
I wake up with a scream. I…I'm back in my room. With my moms. They…have worried looks on their faces.
"S-Sorry, I…I just had a horrible nightmare." I say. "There was this witch…a-and two monsters, and it all felt so real, and-."
"Maxie…"
"Huh?" I look up.
"We have to tell you something. Something we should've done from the start…"
And suddenly, before my very eyes…they begin to change.
Fur. Scales. Fangs. Claws. Wings. Even a tail! I'm too stunned to move…
"You come from a long line of supernatural beings." The humanoid vampire bat that used to be my mom says. "We hide in the darkness and keep the humans safe from ourselves. The Dark family is well known as hunters. And tonight…that was no nightmare."
"W…What?!" I stammer, terrified. "I-I…I'm a…a…"
"Yes." The blue lizard that used to be the mom who gave birth to me. "You weren't both like most others. You were hatched. We're so sorry for keeping this from you."
"W…We're ALL freaks?!" I ask. "Grandma Lynne? Grandma Ellie? Grunkle Larry? E…Even Uncle Randy?!"
Mother sighs. And nods.
"You were going to shapeshift into your true form when you reached twelve or thirteen." She says. "But you ended up doing just that earlier. We were gonna tell you then so you wouldn't freak out, but…look what happened."
"It…it really happened? I…I really did…I…"
I end up crying. Either from denial that I'm an ugly freak who will never have friends or that I killed that woman.
"You may look and act human like us, but you're not." Mommy adds. "You have monster blood. And…your mother…she's half monster and half Makai."
"Ma…Makai? You…you mean?"
"Yeah." Mom says. "I'm a hybrid. Half monster…and half demon."
I gasp. D…Demon?! L-Like…the Exorcist?!
"Don't worry. We're not evil. At least…not entirely." She continues. "I…I actually saw this earlier. When I heard a scream last night. When I went into your room, there was black blood and guts everywhere. I…I think you killed the Boogeyman."
"I…I did?! H…How?!"
"The same way you…melted her. I think. You were super tired, so you didn't see the blood or mess. It must've evaporated away into nothingness when the sun came up. Otherwise you'd be freaking earlier…"
"W…Why didn't you tell me?"
Mom sighs again.
"When I was a kid, I had a habit of being nothing but a big fat liar." She says. "When I told my moms that there was a monster in the town library, they didn't believe me. No one did. Not even my little brother. Eventually, I found out that I came from a family of freaks as well. Shortly after that library monster died, just a few weeks later, my powers and form came out. I lost control. We had to move."
"A…Are WE going to move?"
"No. No one knows what happened tonight. Those who do are keeping their lips sealed. But you've even got more of a lack of control than I did when I was around your age. I'm not sure who can help. We've never had a Shadow Demon like you as one of us."
I'm only silent. This is a lot to take in…
"Well, at least tomorrow's Saturday. Get some rest, sweetie. We'll figure all this out tomorrow…"
They change back into the faces I've known my whole life. Mom kisses my forehead and they head out. Closing the door behind me.
But no matter how hard I try…I just can't sleep. My head's spinning from this revelation.
I only head out myself and head downstairs. There, on a shelf in the living room, I found one of our photo albums. They seem pretty normal. But the more monstrous pictures are more hidden. They must've planned to show me when I was older. Or maybe they meant to burn them.
I only sit down with a tear in my eye. I can't believe it. People are gonna think I'm a freak. My life has been crumpled up like a piece of paper and thrown in the trash can. I can't POSSIBLY go back to school like this. It's all over…
"OW!"
Stupid book! I throw it away with a yell and it hits the wall before dropping. I look back at the finger I got a papercut on. The blood…is black.
A sickening, mirky, yucky, inky black. But I'm all out of panic energy to cry. It's just a painful reminder.
I'm a freak. I'll never be a normal girl. I'll always be an ugly monster…
"Knock Knock."
I scream and fall from the leather chair, scrambling against the corner of the wall.
"W…W-Who's there?!" I ask.
"Boo."
That's when I see it. My shadow. My own large shadow, looming over me like a long sleek ghostly figure. The purple lights stare at me from the wall.
I bury my head in my arms as I tuck in. I can't hold back the sobs any longer as my world crumbles around me.
"Aww, don't cry. It's only me."
"J…Just leave me alone…"
"Sorry. But I'm your shadow. Part of you." The voice says as the shadow's large mouth moves, floating to be next to me. I feel a chill raise the hair on my skin. "Let's face it, it was only a matter of time before I broke free of that cocoon."
I only stare back at my shadow. It only tilts its head. It NEVER copies any of my movements. It has a mind of its own.
"Max Dark. Maybe I can expand on that a bit." She says. "Hmmm…how about…Maximum Darkness? Yeah. I like that."
"Was it you? Who killed that Veruca woman?"
"She HURT me!" Maximum roars. "She was mean and deserved every last piece of agony that I gave her."
"Why didn't you kill everyone else that was there?"
"I don't wanna hurt my mommies. I'm not a MONSTER monster, you know. And you're stuck with me, whether you like it or not."
"I hate you…"
"I hate you too, freak. Great minds think alike, you know. We're one in the same."
"Just stay in my head where you belong…" I say. "I hope the light burns you away…"
"House lights didn't stop me back there. And bad news: I'll never leave. I'm always here…"
The shadowy image on the wall only morphs back into my own. The lights fade.
I head back upstairs, still a mess of emotions. Great. Now I'm haunted. Forever…
…
"Maxie? Breakfast is ready."
My eyes slowly open. The tiredness begins to fade. The sunlight pours in. And my shadow winks at me. I only get out of bed and get dressed.
11:00. I overslept. That's never happened before. Once I head downstairs, I see my moms and…
"Dylan?"
"You forgot to tell her there was a visitor?" He asks them.
"Yeah, sorry. We're all kinda tired."
"How long did you know?" I ask Dylan. "About my moms? And me?"
"Ever since I was 8." He asks. "Sorry if this is another bomb drop, but I'm actually 22."
"TWENTY TWO?!" I gasp. "HOW?!"
"Got sucked into a magic book. Now I'm cursed to look like a 12-year-old kid for the rest of my life." He answers. "Beats having carrots, though."
"So…why did you stop by?" Lucy asks. This 's the first time I've ever begun seeing them by name and not just Mom…
"Cory gave me an update yesterday." Dylan says. "Something's begun happening to him and Lisa. They've begun undergoing a transformation of sorts."
"Transformation?" Dina asks.
"Remember when Dracula bit Cory and wounded Lisa? I'm thinking that's it."
"Wait, Dracula?!" I ask. "But he's just a fictional character!"
"Yeah, I thought the same." Lucy says. "This happened around the Eternal Night one Halloween. You were born a few months after that."
The Eternal Night. That used to be my favorite story. But now that I know it happened for real…
"So…why am I ten and not nine? Is this because I'm not human?"
"Kinda." Dina states. "So…are the twins becoming…you know…?"
"The Ultimate? Cory fears so." Dylan says, having his coffee. "But it's only him. His magic seems to be slowing the transformation, but it's only a matter of time before he loses himself. Our best bet is…at least a year."
"What about the other one?" I ask, having a pancake.
"Lisa? Well, she ended up getting immense PTSD from all those monster encounters she threw herself into. The Eternal Night was the breaking point. She didn't even realize she had it because it was all bottled up. Now she's begun hallucinating and seeing things."
"PTSD?"
"Post Traumatic Stress Disorder." Lucy answers me. "Believe me, I've had some myself. Such as the training I went through. If I wasn't half-demon, I wouldn't have survived. Makai can easily shrug off fatal wounds and injuries. To them, an impalement is like a bruise."
"So, there's this incredibly powerful chaos god called Fier." Dylan tells me. "He's the one that made the Moonstones. He has several heralds, and Dracula used to be one of them. Lisa's thinking that Fier's trying to possess her. Like a vessel. Or maybe mutate her into another herald."
"Ew!" I gag.
"So, what's Cory's first form of the Ultimate?" Lucy asks.
"A mix. Half werewolf-half vampire. He can become a werewolf at night, and he gains bat-like wings and vampire fangs as well. There's only one place he can learn to control that werewolf form of his."
"Fever Swamp…"
"But that's all the way in Florida!" Dina says. "What about Max and school?"
"It's gonna get risky." Lucy says. "Maybe we can take her to control her form, too. Just for a weekend. Paying for a transfer would just be a waste."
"Mom…?" I ask. "Last night…I heard the monster inside me…speak to me."
They only look at me like I'm crazy. Even I don't believe myself. But it's true.
"She called herself Maximum Darkness. She said she was my living shadow. She's always gonna be a part of me. I…I think she came out to attack Veruca last night. Because she was hurt."
Suddenly, my shadow ends up waving. Dylan's eyes widened.
"Well…just like Jekyll and Hyde." He says. "I'm sure we can deal."
"So…" Lucy asks. "When are we leaving?"
"When they arrive." Dylan looks at a watch. "Which should be any second now."
"Any SECOND?!" I ask. "They live all the way in Ohio! It's gonna take HOURS!"
Suddenly, there's a green flash outside. And a car pulls up in our driveway. Is that…a portal?! I only watch in shock and awe as it closes behind the car. Dylan only smirks.
"Welcome to the weird world, kid." He says. "I think you're gonna like it here…"