Hi guys. Just wanted to upload this chapter in honor of Spider-Man: Far From Home. I was surprised by the less reviews from last chapter. Not to worry. Enjoy the chapter and Happy early Fourth of July.
Chapter 4: An Unexpected Gift
Monday morning came. Rita Loud scream at her kids, "Everyone, out of bed!"
The Loud daughters groan in response. Each sibling step out of bed with hair frizzing and tried eyes. Lori, like always, step inside the bathroom while the rest wait in line.
Luan commented with a whine, "Just two more weeks and it's summer."
"Why couldn't summer arrived early?" Lola cried, not liking her hair frizz out. "Hey Lisa, couldn't you build a machine that can accelerate to summer vacation?"
"My apologizes, Lola, but I received several complaints, including our parent units, not to tamper with the laws of nature," Lisa said. Her eyes narrow to her left side and mutter, "All were from our local neighborhood."
No one heard her except for Lynn, who cursed under her breath, "Damn hippies."
Leni then notices Lincoln wasn't in the line. She said, "Someone should wake up Linky."
"Not it!" All of them cry, except Leni and Luna.
Luan giggle, "You two wake the Linc!"
"I'll do it," Luna raise her hand. "Watch my spot, Leni," Luna got out of the line and march to Lincoln's door. She knocks on the door, "Dude, it's time for school!" The door knock more. "Lincoln!"
"Hey Stickcon, wake up!" Lynn shouted rudely.
"Give him a break, Lynn," Luan said, glaring a little at her. "Lincoln's still asleep from all the exercise you gave him."
"I concur, Luan. What Lincoln is experiencing is DOMS, stands for Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness. Studies show for people with DOMS takes two to four days of relaxation. However, our brother hasn't cease his exercise for the entire weekend. Other faster way of getting rid of DOMS is massage or wearing compression garments. If he doesn't slow down or prevent his muscle soreness, it'll never go away."
"Sore-y I ask. Hahaha! Get it?"
Lucy warned, "Sigh. Don't."
"Luna, wake Lincoln up before he makes us late!" Lola ordered, her mood further by the wait than her hair.
The knocking made Charles woke up. He stretched his little body before hopping on the white haired boy's bed. His tongue made contact with Lincoln.
"Morning buddy," Ha pat Charles. Lincoln got to his feet and stretch his body.
"Dude, are you awake?!" Luna called from outside. She was getting a little annoyed.
"Yes Luna!" Lincoln call back.
"Get your clothes and get in line quick!"
"Leni, move ahead!"
"But I'm watching Luna's line before she comes back, Lynn!"
"Then I'll go around her!"
"Back at the line, Lola!"
Lincoln sigh as another bathroom brawl have erupted. He quickly got his regular scheduled clothes and left the room. Luna made it back in line just as Lori left the bathroom. He got in line behind Lisa.
"It's about time you woke up, Lincoln," The four year old said. "I hope you haven't forgotten using the salve Lynn gave you for your Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness," She got no answer from Lincoln. "The ointment for your muscle soreness."
Lincoln forgotten to put the ointment before leaving his room. Lincoln lied, "No, I haven't."
"Quite so. You spend six consecutive days training. You should've feel several muscle spasms from your dangerous task in physical activity."
"Lay off Lincoln, Lisa," Lynn spoke with a smug grin. "Lincoln just taken an interest in learning how to be buff like me! Heck, I got more muscle spasms often but I grow out of it! Maybe he can learn you a thing or two instead of working in your lab. Hey bro, after this, make sure to put the Ben Gay in my sport's bag."
Lincoln said yes and waited in line. The boy wonder back where he woke up to feel the painful muscle spasms from six days of training. But he felt nothing. Maybe he was still tired from working his body. Lincoln ignore it. He hopes it doesn't happen at school.
The Loud siblings, now in their day clothes, ate breakfast. Lynn Sr. and Rita enter the kitchen. "Kids, we got some news. Lori, your mom is going to take you, Leni, Luna, Luan, and Lynn to school."
"Why?" Lori asked.
"I accidentally double book on two clients today for a check-up," Rita explained. "Your father have to arrive at his restaurant for the Early Bird special."
Leni said, "Birds are coming to eat at your restaurant?"
"No, Leni," Lori roll her eyes. "Early Bird is what Pop-Pop calls it in the retirement home."
"Oh, is Pop-Pop and Myrtle coming?"
"Probably not, thought they do love my food. It's better than what they're serving at the retirement home," Lynn Sr. reply. "Anyways, Lincoln, you and the rest of your sisters have to take the bus to school."
Lola whine, "Do I have to, daddy?"
"It's only for a day, Lola," Rita pat the diva's princess head, making her pout more. "The bus is coming here at five minutes. Get your teeth brush," As she ended her sentence, Lana and Lola both got out of their chairs and fought up stairs in a cloud of dust. Lucy and Lisa went, followed by Lincoln.
Vanzilla left the house. Lincoln and his four sisters wait for the bus. The yellow bus arrive. It open the doors to let them in. Lola and Lana both sat to the empty seat with the diva getting the window. Lucy sat next to Haiku while Lisa sat with her best friend Darcy. Lincoln found a seat at the back. He saw Clyde and the rest of the gang were there.
"Morning Lincoln," Clyde waved.
"Morning Clyde. Had a good weekend?"
"None of us had a good weekend, dude," Rusty spoke, rubbing his head. "I've been preparing to get much information before the test. My head is killing me!"
Sitting next to him, Stella pat him in sympany, "You do fine, Rusty."
"Let's face it. It's summer school for me!"
"Quit your whining, Spokes!" The voice next to them was Mollie, who is sitting next to Girl Jordan, with a firm expression. "You think you're crying about the test? I'm trying not to let my brain from overthinking!"
Tabby from the back pop off her head with earphones and scold, "Oy! I'm trying to get some relaxation!"
Mollie point her finger at the culprit, "Blame him for getting my worked up on the test!"
Girl Jordan reassure Mollie, "Relax. It's just two more weeks. You can make it."
From a few seats above, Haiku and Lucy overheard the conversation. The goth with the long black hair spoke monotonous, "I'm glad you don't you have to endure the soul crushing agony of end of the year exams, Lucy."
"My condolences."
A static came from the bus's radio. The bus driver snap out of his focus and grab the handle. "Yes?" He called.
"Pat, I received word from Route 25. There's been an accident. Head to another direction."
Pat's face form in disbelieve. "Are you serious?"
"Hey, I'm just a messenger."
The call is off. Pat sigh, shaking his head. The bus drive further.
Lincoln asked, "Hey Girl Jordan? What are your plans for the summer?"
A grin form at the girl's face, "My family is planning to take a trip to Italy. It's going to be great."
"Lucky for you," Zack nod.
"What about you, Lincoln?"
Mollie smile sarcastically, "It better not be reading comics in your undies all day."
Lincoln's face turn mild red as his gang, minus Clyde, laugh. He spoke bravely, "No. I'm doing something different."
"Does it happen to be your sudden interest in training?" A voice spoke, starling Lincoln, his friends, Mollie, Girl Jordan, and Tabby. The voice was Haiku.
Mollie calm her heart while glaring at her, "Gave me a heart attack, why don't you?"
"What's this I hear about training?" Liam spoke, a little freak out.
"Lucy told me Lincoln have been working out for six straight days," Haiku revealed, drawing surprise looks from Mollie, Girl Jordan, and Tabby.
The short British girl look at Lincoln and his appearances, "You know, I think Haiku is right. Lincoln does look beefy."
Girl Jordan extend her hand and felt Lincoln's biceps, making her gasp. "Damn Lincoln!" She exclaimed. "When did you become the tough one?"
"I decided to make a change to myself," Lincoln answer. He didn't saw Clyde's eyes growing wide and his tone worrying.
"Please tell me you're not going through another change like last time!"
"Relax, Clyde. I'm still gonna be me," Lincoln blink his eyes to feel Haiku's hands feeling his muscles. A slight blush appear in the goth's face. Lincoln wave her hand and call her name.
"Haiku?" Lincoln's face increase its blush. Molie and Girl Jordan teases him with grins. The gang look in surprise.
Tabby chuckle, "Yo, I think Lincoln can take your hint!" Haiku pull back to give a low glare at the girl, who is still laughing. Before Haiku can response, the bus driver's voice boomed through the intercom.
"You, girl in the funeral dress! Return to your seat!"
"Sigh. See you at school. Pardon me," The gang watch Haiku leave them. Lincoln was odd of Haiku's small behavior.
Tabby remark, "And the first girl is noticed by your muscle, mate!" Lincoln gave her a dry laugh.
Stella look out the window to see the unfamiliar road. She checks the time on her phone. It was already nine. The bus should've dropped them off at school one minute ago.
Lisa took notice as well. "Strange. It's nine. We could've reach our destination," Then her answers have been given by the intercom.
"Everyone, we're going to be a little late. I've contacted the school. Hang tight."
The students murmur, wondering if this was their lucky day to catch up on homework they didn't finish or worse day when their teacher wonder why they're late. The twins say in union that this was their lucky day. Darcy shown Lisa her stuffed giraffe and played. The gang is expressing in surprise. Lincoln couldn't help but feel something was off. He can feel it in his gut that something doom is ahead.
The bus follow another direction of the school. Pat murmur under his throat as he though the other way is long. At this rate, the students will be ten to fifteen minutes late. He pressed his foot at the gas pedal. From the road, a tunnel is underneath the road. Cars passed by in an instinct. A tunnel that have a nine mile distance and it's under a road where hundreds of cars and trucks are using. The bus slowly decrease its speed before entering the bridge.
The students were encased in darkness, followed by multiple rows of lights. Liam remark, slightly scared, "Never knew this area exits."
Lisa recognizes where the bus is and her tone is with alarm. "Don't tell me we're under the tunnel at Jackman 127? Is our designated driver insane?!"
Darcy hug her stuffed animal in fear, "Lisa, I'm scared."
Stella could hear several of the kids, mostly the kindergarders and pre-kinder graders, crying by the scary tunnel. "Where are we?" The Filipina girl spoke.
Girl Jordan answer, "I think this is the tunnel my dad told me about."
The sound of cars and trucks honking from above surface is making the bus shaking. Debris fall down at the roof. But that wasn't the worst part. A ten-wheel truck driving at hundred and ten miles per hour. The ties hitting against the hard road created cracks than they already are. It passed. But the driver failed to notice the cracks increasing.
Then the inevitable happened.
The road broke. The first three cars dove inside the tunnel.
Pat stop the bus in shock after seeing the car from behind. More cars stopped at the edge of the hole along with the rest. But it wasn't enough. The cracks continue to take more cars, making the passengers leaving in fear. Several cars saw the destruction and instead of stopping, they make an illegal U-turn on the other side of the road. It attracted the attention of another truck. The driver move the wheel and allowing the vehicle to break through the wall that separates both road. It took the empty cars and dive off the road. The truck crashes on the ground, right at the entrance of the tunnel. The cracks made its way on the second road, completely destroying it. Poor cars fall in the tunnel.
The bus driver didn't stop for the several cars entering above. The bus clash at it. Students' bodies were sent out of their seat from the impact. Lincoln got up from the ground as being one of the victims that was sent to the ground. The driver is slumped against the wheel. Lincoln move passed the students who were getting up. Pat's nose is bruised with the right nostril dripping blood. A gap is open at his forehead. He placed two fingers at his pulse. He's still breathing. The students were curious in shock and screaming for their parents.
Lincoln called out, "Is everyone ok?!" He got some responses with the additional got minor injuries from the crash.
Meanwhile, the driver whose truck went off the road got out. The truck is on it's left side. He got out, holding his left arm from several open wounds from his windshield. Then the truck started making a noise like lots of water entering the sewer drain. He inspect to see the bottom engine is leaking oil. The steam is entering the tunnel. He looks to his left and saw two known wires that was used on both paddles were waving around. Both tips were producing small static. His breath grew heavy. The driver remember there was bystanders on the road. He made his way on top.
"Help! Someone help!" A random kindergarten cry.
"Quick! The exit!" Clyde pointed the emergency exit on top of the roof. Girl Jordan grabbed Mollie by the waist to open the hatch door. She pulled open with her might. Her appearances got one of the people's attention from above.
"Oh my god! There's kids in there!" A man cry, alarming the rest.
"Get outta here!" The truck driver scream louder. "My truck is leaking oil! It's entering inside! It's gonna blow!"
"There's kids down here!"
"Get them out! Hurry!"
The students pile on to get out of the tunnel. Clyde spoke in panic "Single file! Single file!"
Lincoln saw the twins hugging each other in fright. Brotherly instinct rising. Lisa is being hugged a shivering and crying Darcy while clutching Rafo. He guild them, "Come on," The twins latch onto their big brother and Lisa did the same.
"We don't wanna die!" Lana and Lola cried.
"You're not gonna die! Just stay with me! Lucy, where are you?!"
"Here," Lucy appear behind Lisa and Darcy, who hadn't started. They were too busy trying to get out.
"Take Lisa and Darcy!"
The students got out safety. Now they climb up with the help of the people. Time was running out. The oil is moving closer, passing the damage cars. Lincoln leans the twins while Lucy guild Lisa and Darcy to safety on a sloppy twins were closing their eyes under the protection of Lincoln. The boy couldn't ponder than getting his sisters to safety. His heart beat faster. Eyes shaking. This all happen to fast. Lincoln felt his stomach moving again. His eyes dart to see a car moving closer to the edge. Someone forgot to leave the emergency brake off. The car is dangerous close to hitting Haiku, and if it's lucky, his sisters and Darcy. She didn't seem to notice.
Lincoln push the twins and Lucy with the girls before shouting "Haiku, watch out!" The goth and her fellow classmates lean up to see the car. Haiku froze like a statue. Lincoln ran to drag Haiku out. But the car ended up hitting him. It sent him to the roof of the bus.
Lucy, Lana, Lola, and Lisa shouted in shock "LINCOLN!"
Clyde and his gang heard Lincoln's sisters crying his name. They saw the car in the bus's roof and Lincoln wasn't with them. Fear change their expression. Wasting no time, the people helped the Loud sisters, Darcy, and Haiku. However, the Loud sisters refuse to leave their big brother, shouting his name more.
Lincoln lies on his back. His head dizzy for a bit. He gets back on his feet. A look of curiosity washed in his face. He felt no injury from the car. The car that hit him and it's blocking the only exit out. He waste no time to answer. Pat is still unconscious. Lincoln wanted to go back to get him once everyone was off. Lincoln grabbed his shoulders. His body weight is bend his knees downward. Lincoln grit his teeth and carry him on his back. The car is too small for Pat's body to fit in. Lincoln then felt something strange in him. He should be scared. Trapped on a bus in a tunnel with a bus driver and no way out. Death was knocking on his door.
But he's not. Lincoln wasn't going to give up that easy. He's not going to waste his only life in front of his little sisters and friends. He placed Pat down. He climbed one of the seats. A small open of the roof is bending down. He looked at his hand, his once skinny hand. An idea came to him. But was it worth it? Six days of training. Will he survive?
His hands entered the gap. Lincoln's hands put pressure on metal. It bend more and more like ripping a bandage. He extends the hole more.
Tabby looked at Pat's body being fit in the hole. "Look!" She alarm the rest. Lincoln climb out and carry the man's body on his back. People saw the boy jumping out of the bus with Pat. Several bystanders grab the man.
A man asked, "Is that all?"
"Yes," Lincoln reply.
"Hey!" A female driver was waving her hand. "My kids are locked in the car!"
Lincoln run back to the tunnel, alarming everyone. His classmates and sisters yell at him to come back. The woman guild him to the car. Two brothers were crying, one was seven and the other was four. The youngest was pounding on the window.
"The door is jammed!" She screams, mascara is ruin.
The steam of oil have reached her high heels. Lincoln felt it from moving his shoes. He placed his hand on the surface. His fingers crush it. He pulled back his right arm and the door is ripped off. The women is awe-struck for a short while. The boys were released and run into their mothers arms.
"We need to leave!" Lincoln shout. The four ran by the time the fire from the truck ignited the oil in flame. They ran to climb above. The bystanders yell to hurry. The seven year old boy holding her mother felt his fingers slipping. His foot trip on a rock.
His mother shout, "Tommy!"
The fire made its way in the tunnel. By the time the fire rose up, it made contact on the two wires. It trigger an explosion. The sudden shock of it sent shockwaves. Lincoln can feel the explosion coming here. The kid was barely at his feet. But it send him falling back to the tunnel. Lincoln jump and cover the little boy's body with his own. Everyone watch as the fire engulfed around them. The audiences step back in horror. Lincoln's friends reacted in anguish while Lucy, Lana, Lola, and Lisa cry out after witnessing the death of their big brother. The mother and her son were crying as well for the second son.
But, in an unexpected outcome, the white haired boy ran from the fire with his arms around his side. He opens his arms to release the younger brother, alive by his shield. "Mommy!" He cried and hugging his mama.
The boy took a breath. He collapses on his knees as his friends and sisters went to him. Burned and torn by the fire.
"Lincoln!" His youngest sisters cry in happiness as they gave Lincoln a group hug. Lincoln hug them back, his expression spelled relief that they were safe.
But their reunion is cut short by the sound of police sirens. Lincoln's sisters pull back as Clyde asked in fright, "Dude, are you alright?!"
Lincoln didn't choose to answer to his best friend. He saw everyone faces looking at him. There was bewildered expressions. His sisters had dry tears and aweing expressions. His friends are silenced. The white haired boy sat in the ground as he saw his two hands. His hands, the very same hands to ripped open the roof and the door handle. Not only that he survived from a huge explosion that could've whip him and the little boy he was protecting out. Just what was that?
So Lincoln saved a few people by his new superhuman abilities. By now, you all know what his powers are. The scene of the accident was based from the movie Unbreakable, the part of the train crash. What are his family's reaction about his new ability? Find out on the next chapter. NiteOwl18 out.