Ted sniffed around and growled. He had already shifted into his werewolf form again, but his mind was on his prey.
"So, you're going to drive eh? No problem cause I'll be caught up within the night."
He had just passed the apartment building Theo once resided in when his wolf ears picked up something that made him pause.
"It's okay Thor. Quinten will be back."
"Get some rest Miss Stephanie. I'm overdue for the report I have to follow."
Ted's animal instincts kicked in as he crouched on all fours and had just dashed a few blocks away when another voice rang out in his head.
"What are you doing?!"
Ted growled again.
"I'm hunting.", he thought knowing by now that the other side would hear him, "Looks like your replacement for me failed also."
"A mere setback to me. Now that Theo has discovered two of the seven dice he's looking for, I'm willing to let you provide a little murder and mayhem if you're up for it."
Ted's sneer only darkened.
"As long as no other creature intervenes.", he thought, "And you can provide transportation."
"Normally I'd oblige, but I'm thinking a run will work better on your behalf. Besides, I have someone else to meet up with."
Ted felt the presence leave his mind, but he wasn't feeling too thrilled.
"Another one to meet eh? Not if I get there first."
He dashed off into the shadows just as Grillo came out of the apartment building looking a bit curious.
"That's odd, thought I heard some kind of animal out here.", he said to himself before shrugging, "Must have been a stray dog or something. I'm probably just imagining things after that spider fiasco just a while ago."
He had just gotten to his cruiser when a growl caught his ears. Not wanting to wait to find out where or from what it came from, Grillo got in his car and hit the gas.
"That was close."
Ted came out and saw Grillo's car round the corner and growled fiercely.
"Darn it.", he thought bitterly, "I was hoping for a second helping since I ate my ride here, but it matters not. I have a meal to catch."
He dashed off in the opposite direction Grillo went with his heightened senses leading. He had found Theo's trail and he was once again eager to sink his fangs into Theo's flesh which he swore he'd savor to the last bite.
/
Theo observed the two creature cards he had and the two dice glittering in the moonlight.
"So, I got a mermaid princess and a spider mutant to call upon in times of need along with a dice of transfiguration and a dice of explosions.", he recalled as he closed the box and slid the cards into the slot in the box's side, "Well, on to the next adventure."
That was when a strong wind picked up and the road got a bit bumpy to the point Theo had to hold on the side of the truck's back to keep himself from falling out as he observed the now woodland area with many trees reminding him of the outdoor areas where he once lived.
"You okay back there?", he heard the driver ask.
"Just holding on.", Theo answered, "When will we get there?"
"Should be there by morning.", the driver replied, "There's a pillow and blanket in the back if you'd like to catch up on some sleep."
Theo didn't need to be told twice. Luckily the back was mostly empty so Theo could lay out and see the night sky without much to disturb him. After tonight's events, he was feeling more than a bit on edge, but then a flash caught the corner of his eye.
"Must have been lightning or something.", he decided.
He then flipped the cards and Princess and Quinten both appeared in front of him. There was room in the back and the driver didn't seem to notice.
"Why did you call us?", Princess asked a bit curiously.
"I just thought I'd introduce you."
Quinten pulled his mask off and looked in awe at Princess.
"What are you?", he asked as he observed Princess' seashell bra and skirt.
"I'm a mermaid.", Princess said firmly, "And what are you?"
Quinten tensed.
"I'm Quinten or Arachnid Avenger. But I prefer Quinten when we're not fighting ok?"
Princess looked amused and nodded. Theo then noticed that four of Quinten's arms weren't in costume like his original arms so he took out the four-sided dice and tossed it. Luckily it landed on a four which made Quinten's other arms get covered with red fabric while gaining a black glove on each hand.
"Thanks.", Quinten said as he admired each of his six costumed arms, "So, where are we heading?"
"No idea.", Theo answered, "Quinten, would you mind spinning up a blanket or something?"
Quinten flexed his chest muscles and spider webs began to shoot out. Using his arms, Quinten wove the webbing into a covering which he handed over to Theo.
"It's waterproof in case it rains.", he said.
Princess waved her finger and a few drops of water appeared and fell on the covering. Sure enough, it was waterproof. Theo felt warm and dry as Quinten and Princess returned to their cards and soon was asleep.
/
The night passed on uneventfully and as the rays of sunlight hit Theo's face, he stirred and soon was awake. He had just risen when the truck stopped at a stop sign and he noticed some kids crossing the street. Most looked normal, but one kid stopped and seemed to stare at the car next to him. The boy had brown hair and brown eyes while wearing a brown coat, jeans and sneakers. He had a comic book in his hands and clearly he was reading it cause it was open, but then Theo heard a car radio from the car next to him start acting up like it was being inside an electromagnetic field. The sounds stopped and the boy moved along while looking back at his comic, but Theo was a bit curious.
"That was odd.", he thought as the truck started moving again, "Wonder what that boy's story is."
He then felt his stomach growl and decided he'd catch up with the boy later. The driver went up a little further until it stopped in front of a diner that looked old fashioned. Theo got out and the driver leaned out of his window.
"Good luck out there.", he said smiling.
"I'll try.", Theo answered as the driver drove off.
Theo walked up to the diner doors, but noticed that people outside were looking his way funny like he was some kind of alien that had crash landed on Earth.
"Strange people.", Theo thought as he entered.
A little bell rang over the door and Theo walked over to a booth by a window still thinking about the boy he had seen and the weird thing the car radio did.
"What'll it be?"
Theo turned to see a waitress with red hair styled into pigtails, a speckled dress, an apron and black mary jane shoes. Theo then looked at the menu for a moment.
"French toast, eggs, and sausage links sounds nice."
The waitress looked at Theo like he was weird with her blue eyes, but she wrote down the order anyway.
"Anything to drink?", she offered, "Coffee?"
"I'm more of an orange juice guy.", Theo answered.
"Whatever floats your boat.", the waitress stated rolling her eyes and heading to the counter.
Theo noticed that a guy wearing a suit and looking like someone important was seated at the counter on one of the stools that were lined up there with someone else behind the counter with a handlebar moustache and wearing an apron on his waist over jeans and a red checkered shirt. Both looked too busy to notice Theo, but Theo decided not to say hi.
"So my next stop is a backwards town in the middle of nowhere.", he sighed, "What could this realm throw at me now?"
/
As the waitress brought him his order of French toast, eggs, and sausage links, Theo felt a shiver that made him tense. The waitress froze looking a bit funny.
"You okay mister?", she asked.
Theo slapped on a nervous smile.
"Yeah, just…felt a bit chilly.", he answered, "Got any orange juice by chance?"
The waitress turned and walked to the counter again leaving Theo with his order and his thoughts.
"What was that?", Theo thought to himself, "First a car radio goes haywire, then a shiver here?"
His thoughts returned to the boy he saw at the time and wondered if there was a connection between the two. Unfortunately for him, his thoughts were interrupted as the waitress came back with a glass of orange juice and set it near his plate.
"You going to eat or stare into space?", she asked.
Theo felt like this woman was just wanting him to leave and got to eating his breakfast which was starting to feel a little bit cool. As he was finishing, he couldn't help but feel like he was being watched and looked around to see nobody paying him any mind. After he had finished, he noticed something odd about his napkin as he pulled it away from his face after cleaning it.
"Well, looks like I found my next clue.", he thought noticing that it was another poem, "An innocent's longing brings a creature to life. Resolve the past or you pay the price."
Theo felt like finding the boy was his next objective so he paid the tab and hurried outside with people looking at him funny but he was beyond caring at that point.
"If I know this tale which this part of the realm is based on, then I should find the elementary school.", he thought as he noticed that there were Christmas decorations here and there, "Guess time is out of joint around here too."
Theo then recalled Princess and Quinten as he got near the Sierra Vista Elementary school and ducked near some brush before letting the two out.
"Guys, I think I found my lead."
"Really?", Princess asked as she was already in her human form, "What is it?"
Theo sighed.
"I have to find a boy.", he answered.
Quinten removed his mask and looked confused.
"Why a boy?", he wondered as he adjusted his six black gloves.
Theo shrugged.
"I just have a feeling there's something off about him. I don't know what, but I at least want to see him."
Princess then noticed Quinten and looked back to Theo.
"So, how is Mr. Spider Hero here going to blend in?", she asked a bit harshly, "Won't people overreact when they see him?"
Quinten frowned.
"Hey, I resent that."
"Shh!", Theo hissed, "You guys want to draw attention?"
That made the two quiet down as Theo took out his four-sided dice.
"Hope I roll a four.", Theo muttered.
/
Just when he was about to toss the dice, he heard what looked like fighting faintly and turned to see a bunch of kids on the playground obviously observing something. Theo forgot about the dice and put it back in the box and hurried to the playground fence with Quinten and Princess both looking confused.
"So no dice roll?", Quinten asked as he placed his mask back over his face.
Princess shifted into her mermaid form, but looked at Quinten as if expecting something.
"What?", asked Quinten, "You want me to carry you?"
Princess nodded, but when she noticed Quinten wasn't budging, she reared up like a cobra and sighed heavily.
"Fine, I'll slither over."
Theo however had gotten on to the playground and had gotten over to the kids.
"What's going on here?", he asked.
Theo made his way through to the middle where he noticed the same kid from earlier was on the ground with another kid on top of him about to throw a punch at him, but Theo grabbed hold of the kid's arm making him pause.
"That's enough.", Theo said firmly, "No fighting in this school."
The boy on the ground looked Theo's way and his frown lightened a bit, but the other boy was another story.
"Who's asking?", he asked.
Theo's eyes shimmered for a moment.
"Don't test me.", he warned before looking noticing a comic on the ground and the boy on the ground picking it up, "I'll have a word with him."
The boy had just gotten up when a woman clearly in her forties and wearing a black and white checkered dress, high heels, glasses, and earrings came over looking firm and grabbed the boy that had gotten up.
"Don't look at me that way.", she said before walking off with him and taking his comic from him.
Theo was appalled.
"Excuse me, I would like a word with him if you don't mind."
The woman stopped and looked his way with a cold sneer.
"Fine, but in my office."
/
Theo followed the woman and the boy to a door that had a "Nurse" sign under its window. Before they went in, Theo took out his blank cards when he noticed Quinten and Princess near the fence and they quickly returned before anyone saw anything. Theo came in with the woman and boy only to see yet another woman in a brown coat, black shirt, red skirt, and high heels also. She had brown hair that was combed, brown eyes and a curious expression on her face. The "nurse" that had brought the boy in didn't look too happy.
"Excuse me, this is a private office."
"It's my office now too.", the other woman said calmly, "Now I'd like to have a few minutes with the-"
She paused as she noticed Theo.
"Who are you?"
Theo thought fast.
"Oh, I'm the…new…guidance counselor. I just started today."
The "nurse" sighed heavily and slapped the comic on a counter before she left the room leaving the two alone with the boy.
"And you're who?", Theo asked.
"I'm Dr. Jennifer Stillman.", the woman answered before looking to the boy, "Tell you what, I'll give you the comic back if you give me a name."
Theo took the comic and gave it to her which she held out to the boy who took it but kept his brown eyes off them both.
"Benjamin James McCann.", he said plainly.
Theo felt another shiver, but he thought it was probably the chill from the outside air and noticed the cover of the comic read "Alien Worlds".
"So you're into aliens huh?", Theo guessed, "Not dinosaurs or something."
Benjamin looked up as if in awe.
"Dinosaurs are aliens. When they couldn't survive Earth's ecosystems, they all died out."
Theo felt emboldened.
"Really? I wonder who told you that."
