The Mysterious 'Ship

Chapter 10: Round and Round They Go

The house returned to some semblance of normalcy immediately following that night. Luan hadn't quite ditched the new look, but at least she'd been somewhat more open, even cracking her usual jokes once again.

Her parents were both pleased; her mother for the return of her daughter's normal behavior, and her father for the retention of her more conservative attire.

But while she'd done her best to help Lincoln with their siblings, even backed him up and pushed for them all not to meddle in any romantic affairs unless he specifically asked them to, they both expressed doubt that it really got through to their sisters.

How could it, when neither felt they could say exactly what the events had been that had led to their new alliance?

"You sure you're gonna be okay?" Luna asked for the eight time as Luan sat there on her bottom bunk, another Cuesta Tern novel in her hand while a few novels from similar writers sat nearby.

Knowing what everyone thought, she'd pretended that the books had been the cause of everything and that Lincoln had helped her through it by building up her tolerance for the horror genre, and that was that. It also helped explain why they were suddenly so close that Luan would push her sisters to let up on him, even defend him over other things as well, and he kept the charade up by reading the books side by side and also watching horror movies with her even though it freaked both of them out to do so, something she was supremely grateful to him for.

For so many reasons.

Especially the part when they both got really scared…

Luan looked up, nodded. "No problems here, Luna."

Her sister grinned. "Good to hear!" then she laughed. "Guess Linc's help has paid off, huh?"

The too wide grin hidden behind her book, Luan held back the darker tone that threatened to spill out of her as she simply said, "Yeah."

Of course, it wasn't just Lincoln who had plans.

After all, why else would she go to the trouble of paying Lisa to make her a Lola-proof diary?

But her plans would take time, she knew that.

And one gloomy day that following October months since that night, that time came.

"Hello?" Lincoln called out, entering the house after getting back from Clyde's with a shopping bag in hand. "Anybody here?"

But no one replied. Well, all save for Walt, who tweeted happily, and the other assorted pets who barked or rolled around in response to the boy's arrival with the only call absent being a meow. But no human did.

Lincoln shrugged. "Eh, guess everyone's out right now."

And so, he went upstairs, got comfortable, and pulled the fresh new comic book out of its bag. "I wonder where they are?" he said absently as he flopped down on the bed in his underwear and began reading. "We didn't see them when we went out today…"

He passed nearly forty-five minutes just reading before, suddenly, a growl rang throughout the small room.

"Huh, has it really been that long since lunch?" he looked at his clock. "Not really… maybe it's true, Chinese-Ugandan food really does leave you hungry an hour later. Still," he remembered the sweet and sour Ugandan egg roll, hard-boiled eggs wrapped in a ball of mash potatoes, breaded and fried then drizzled with sweet and sour sauce as well as other accompaniments with some fondness, "can't say I hated it!"

His taste buds proven thoroughly blitzed from all his peanut butter and sauerkraut sandwiches, Lincoln got up from his bed and, passing up getting dressed, instead chose to first listen for anyone still around. Once he was sure he was still the only one home, he exited the bedroom and went for the kitchen.

But as he made his sandwich, he noticed something.

"When did the dryer turn on?" he could hear it rumbling from the kitchen, and he couldn't help but feel just a tad uneasy about it, though he couldn't quite say why.

It wasn't until he was done making his sandwich and went to sit at the table that he figured out why. "Wait, I've been home for at least an hour… so when did it get turned on?"

For a moment, he sat there, sandwich half-way between mouth and plate as the gears turned inside his head. He couldn't help but shudder as he let his mind wander down darker alleys, and finally his thoughts went to such places that he couldn't help but call out, a little louder than he'd meant to, "Hello? Is anyone home?"

But no answer came.

So he called again. "Hey, is anyone home? Lori? You doing the laundry?" when no one answered back, he kept himself just barely calm as he said, much lower now, "Mom? Dad? ...Lily?"

Again, no one replied.

Then the dryer shut off.

His ears perked up, listened for any sound of footsteps on the staircase. But he heard nothing, and shrugged. "Huh," he took another bite from his sandwich, head craned so he could see into the kitchen just in case, "maybe it was turned on before they left? I must have missed them by a bit, I guess."

Still, he remained alert as he continued eating his sandwich, his eyes darting over to look at the kitchen entrance every so often, sometimes after every one or three bites. Eventually he was done and, taking his plate to the sink, went to turn on the faucet when-

He paused. Listened. Scared stiff, he looked at his reflection in the windowpanes, the gray sky above blessing the city of Royal Woods with a gentle pattering of rain.

The dryer was back on.

His entire body screamed at him, every synapse firing off in his brain telling him to run upstairs, grab his clothes, then climb out his window and make a break for either Mr. Grouse's home or Clyde's place.

But he didn't. No, Lincoln decided that the best course of action, the only course of action for him despite all the horror movies he'd seen the past few weeks…

"I really hate myself right now," he groaned as he sat there before the door leading to the basement. "I'm really gonna do this, aren't I?"

He reached out as if in answer, turned the doorknob gently, then squirmed as he heard the squeak of the hinges, the upstairs light casting shadows on the room below.

"Hello?" he called yet again, spying the dryer vibrating where it always sat, a layer of clothes spread out before it he didn't recall being there before. "I-is anyone home?" he couldn't help stammering.

When no response came, he tried getting indignant. "Come on, answer me, you guys!" but it sounded weak coming from him. "Lynn? I know you're screwing with me, come on out!" when she didn't respond, he then tried, "Luan? I b-bet-" he bit his lip, stayed right where he was, "-you're the one behind this, huh?"

Still, no response came.

"Lana?" he tried lamely, risking a single bare foot on the uppermost step, flinching at the squeak it made. "Are you and Lola playing with me?" he laughed weakly, looked around, saw nothing. "I-if so, p-pretty good s-stuff, I'll ad-" he gulped, took another step, "-mit."

But, once again, no one responded.

This did nothing to bolster his spirits, however. Rather the opposite, in fact, as he paused halfway down the stairs, had to work up the courage to go down the rest of the way then yelped when his still bare foot touched cold concrete.

"I really should have put some cloths on," he muttered under his breath, some of his fear forgotten since he had something else to keep his mind on. Now that he was down there, however, he couldn't summon up the courage to go back just for that.

It was then he considered the dryer; whoever was home but wasn't answering him, maybe it was their things in there?

Given that he could swear something heavy was inside given the thumps he could now clearly hear muffled by some other clothes, he considered the weather, thought to one sister in particular who just might not hear him even if he hollered for her-

He sighed and laughed to himself. "Don't tell me, it's Luna, right?" his entire body relaxed as he strode up, stood before the dryer now with his hand on the hatch. "I can't believe I've been spooked by-"

Lincoln paused. Something didn't feel quite right about that.

After a minute, he realized what.

"But how did she get by me-"

Suddenly, two hands slammed down on the dyer on either side of him, causing Lincoln to jump so hard that, were it not for the other person positioned just right, he'd have jumped clear through to the second floor.

When he finally calmed down, stopped twitching as he laid his upper body across the top of the dryer with his arms and hands up to shield his face, he squeaked as he turned and looked the girl looming over him in the eyes, "H-hey Luan."

The girl, her hair let down, teeth bared in a too-wide smile. "Hey, Linc," when he didn't seem to have anything to say, she said, "I was wondering when you'd get down here."

Realization dawning, he lowered his arms and said, "That was you-" and stopped when he saw something… concerning.

"Wh-what's that in your hand?"

"Oh, that?" Luan grinned wide as she followed his eyes to her right hand, a gag and an eye mask pressed tightly between it and the dryer. "That, dear Lincoln, is for the severe sleep deprivation." His eyes then darted over to her other hand when she wiggled her shoulder. "And this," she lowered her face to within a hair's breadth of his so that he could feel her hot breath on him, "is for the paranoia."

"A f-feather-"

Luan's horrifyingly evil grin spread wide, making Lincoln squeak and shut his mouth in an instant. "Yes, Lincoln, a feather. And some rope, too," then she slowly, ever so slowly moved the both of them along the dryer, down its front until Lincoln was nearly laying on the floor. "And if you don't want worse than what I have in store for you, I'd suggest this is one time you not laugh…

"At all."

He was about to scream, but the look on Luan's face shot that idea down.

As she made her move, the last words he heard were, "Ever read Cuesta Tern, Linc?"


Luan sat there and looked at her handiwork. Her brother was tied up at her feet, laying flat on his back on some clothes she'd hastily gathered to keep him at least semi-comfortable for what she had in store.

And it was all she could do to keep from completely losing it.

"Th-thank you, Linc, I'm s-so g-glad you c-convinced me t-t-to keep th-the others f-f-from meddling-" she gulped, then said the last few words in a whisper despite being sure she didn't need to, "y-your l-l-love life!"

Trembling harder now, she licked her lips as a giggle, then a small peel of laughter escaped her mouth, causing her brother to jump ever so slightly despite the ear plugs she'd inserted only moments before.

What is this I'm feeling?

Is it really true?

It's really true!

I'm-

Barely containing herself, Luan let go ever more and allowed herself to disrobe entirely before lowering herself to all fours and lording over Lincoln's sensory-deprived form. Shivering due not to cold but something else she knew but, at the same time, didn't want to know, she giggled once more before grabbing one last object and lowering herself to just above him.

If he so much as moves, he'll feel—I'll feel-

She couldn't complete that thought.

So dangerous, then and there, and that was despite no one home for the next few hours.

Luan looked back down at her brother, couldn't help but lick her lips again.

I-I'll definitely have to thank you, Lincoln!

I never knew I was actually-

Even now, she couldn't complete that thought, for some odd reason.

It had to be the truth, though. There was just no other explanation!

And she'd do whatever she could to get him to see how she saw things now.

Shaking like a leaf on a tree in a hurricane during an earthquake, she took the object in her hand and, slowly, ever so tortuously slowly, dragged its soft feathery goodness along his flesh.

And practically drew blood from her lip trying to contain her squeal when he just barely jumped.


Luna returned home, shaking the rain off her poncho before stepping inside and doffing it. Charles barked in welcome and Cliff, sauntering downstairs after having taken his restful nine hour cat nap, meowed in welcome, too.

"Hey, what's up?" Luna chuckled, bending down and giving each a scratch behind the ear before looking around. "Where is everybody, huh guys?" she asked, looking at the two before listening for anyone's voices. "Huh," she said after hearing nothing. "I would've thought Luan'd be here, at least. Although…" scratching her own cheek, Luna stood up and started for the second level, "she did say she had plans she needed to get to today, and that's why she couldn't come with me."

As she went, Luna considered that. "I wonder what they were? She wouldn't even tell me," now she'd reached the bathroom, she hung her poncho up to dry over the tub. "Maybe it's a guy and she's embarrassed?"

Then something clicked. "Aw, man!" Luna snapped her fingers. "She never did tell us who Lincoln's mysterious girlfriend is," then she laughed as she walked back to her room, set her boots down to dry. "She did try to get us to let up on the lil' dude, though. I still can't believe she'd take his side."

But then, Luna gave that some more thought. "Well, maybe not," she turned, walked out of the room and made for the ground floor. "I mean, I guess we have been kinda meddling, and what with him getting punched like that? Yeah, I could see it now, I guess."

Luna couldn't help but feel a little guilty as she reached the end of the stairs, looked at the TV. "You know, I should probably apologize to Linc when I see him next-" Charles quirked his head to the left, an ear perked up. "Sorry, boy!" she laughed, gave another scratch for both him and Cliff. "Just talking to myself, it's a bit empty here with nobody around—no offense meant!" she added hastily.

The animals didn't show it, but she was sure they were a tad miffed with the unintended slight.

Trying to get back into the pets' good graces, Luna decided a treat was in order. "How about it, guys? Jerky?"

The animals immediately forgave her at that suggestion.

Thought so! She chuckled to herself as she made for the kitchen-

And saw the door to the basement hanging open.

Huh? She could hear the dryer going, but there was something else she could hear, too… What the hell is that sound? And why is the door hanging open?

Curious, she started walking over, her bare feet making soft foot falls as she went. When finally she reached the door, she took the knob in hand and looked down-

Her mind instantly froze as she spotted her sister bared for all the world, Lincoln in what appeared to be the same state of undress beneath her though blocked mostly from view, legs twitching ever so slightly while Luan's panting, ragged moans, strangled though they were, still managed to reach Luna's poor, innocent ears as her sister focused so intently on what she was doing, one of her arms moving along Lincoln's side, to the abandonment of everything else around her.

How long Luna stood there just watching, listening to the two she didn't know. Words weren't spoken between her siblings, but as far as she knew they didn't need to be to grasp what she was looking at, witness to.

Then, ever so quietly, she backed away, let the door slowly swing shut, turned toward the cabinet with the jerky in it, doled out a piece to both Cliff and Charles, then took one piece for herself, stumbled as she made her way into the dining room, caught herself on the table, then went toward the bathroom.

'Don't worry!' Luan said that night so long ago. 'I'll look into this! Besides-

Luna shuddered. Entered the bathroom, grabbed her poncho from where it hung. Then, she started for her and her sister's bedroom-

'Cuesta Tern's getting to ya, huh?' she'd asked. "Stupid, stupid!" Luna hissed, the first words she'd spoken since spying that scene down below.

Boots now on, she continued on her way, shivering and shuddering as she went back downstairs, treading as softly as she could.

'-heard anything about Lincoln's long-legged crush?'

'I've been trying but he's… a pretty tough nut to crack.'

"Of course he'd be!" Luna wheezed under her breath, her hand now on the front door. "Y-you were—how did you-"

'I can't wait to meet her-'

Luna started to gag at that memory as she opened the door, stumbled out, closed it behind her just as a shudder rippled across her entire frame. "Guess I don't have to worry about that," she croaked now the rain drowned out her voice.

'-it's not healthy to lose sleep over a book.'

'It's not… I mean-'

"Was she really gonna tell me!" Luna freaked out now as she stumbled away down the street now, the full horror hitting her. Then, she started to cry. "I could have stopped all this! I could have done something!"

'-because you look like – pardon the language, shit, and I'm seriously worried for you, okay?'

"It. Wasn't. The. Damn. Books!" Luna pounded her fist against a light pole, sobbing now as she bit back a scream. "Why didn't I see it sooner! Of course she was tired! Why the-"

'-how personal is he?'

Luna stood there, her tears halting as she stared down at the sidewalk at nothing. Then, after a moment, she lifted her head, looked back the way she came, and started to laugh.

And laugh…

And laugh…

And laugh.

End


A/N: Nobody is getting out of this tale mentally safe. Poor Lincoln, let this be a warning to everyone not to accidentally screw with your sister's mind through sleep deprivation into thinking you or she has incestuous feelings toward one another, then potentially reinforcing that behavior, or else… you'll end up driving your other sister off the deep end.

Yeah, that's a heck of a moral.