Author's Note; Here is the next chapter, and one of my favourites so far. Hope you enjoy!

Melissa

Another beautiful day in the cul-de-sac. I'm having another walk around the neighbourhood. Until I find myself in a place called Park n' Flush. And I hear howling. "Ooh, dogs! I want to get a closer look, but not too close if they're dangerous."

As I'm coming near the commotion, I hear familiar voices.

"You dogs, SHUT UP!" It was Lee.

I quickly find a hiding spot and peek through what's happening. "Oh my word!"

The dogs that Lee is referring are the Eds who are tied up in leashes and making noises. They have no pupils and irises in their eyes which means they're hypnotized again. They told me the story about them using a hypnotizing wheel on the other kids but then of course the Kankers came in and caused chaos and managed to get hold of the wheel and entranced the Eds to becoming their dogs. And they managed to snap out of it and return to their normal selves again later. They're wearing the same clothes as the other day but with some changes. Ed with a loose green hoodie. Double-D with a white shirt under a red unbuttoned t-shirt. He used to wear shorts but lately, he's been going for blue-purple pants, or blurple as I like to call it. And Eddy wearing a black t-shirt under his yellow one.

Lee throws a shoe at them. They are now quiet. "That's better. Be good while we're gone!"

"Gone? Where to?"

Lee slams the back door and all three sisters exit from the front.

"But that's what we got the last time!" says May.

"Yeah, and we have to get it again for Mom," says Lee who is in front of her sisters.

"And we can get more gum," says Marie.

"You mean, more gum for you."

They are arguing until they leave the park. I'm assuming they're out to get groceries. I slowly appear from my hiding place and approach the Eds. They are looking at me while still holding on to the shoe in their mouths.

"Uhh…nice doggies?"

They drop the shoe and start to pant as if they are happy to see me.

"Oh man, this is awful," I say aloud. "What did they do again to snap everyone out of their trance?"

I think for a few seconds while they are glancing at me strangely. Then it hits me. "Oh yeah!" I prepare my hand. "Please work, please work." I snap my fingers. But nothing happens. "Oh no…"

More blank expressions from the boys-turned-dogs.

"It didn't work…Wait..." I remember that Lee was wearing a purple turban that has a black circle in the middle with zigzags when they departed. "That must be the Hypno-wheel. Maybe that's how it works. The user is the only one who can mesmerize people and undo the hypnotism with it by snapping their fingers…Dang it, and they have it."

I facepalm myself and bend down. I sigh and get teary.

"I'm sorry, guys. I wish I knew another way to fix this…Whoa! Eddy!"

He starts to sniff my white flip flops with black stripes. I also have on midnight blue knee-length shorts and a Jaws poster t-shirt. And then he sniffs on my stomach. "Get off!" I slap him on the cheek.

"Hey! Ow! That hurts!"

I'm suddenly shocked. "Eddy, is that you?"

His eyes are closed while rubbing his cheek. "Of course it's me, you-" he pauses after opening his eyes. He looks surprised. "Melissa?"

I rush to hug him. "I'm so glad you're okay!"

He hugs me back. "Wha, what happened?"

We let go of our embrace. "Pause that." And I slap the others one by one. "Sorry, Ed…Sorry, Double-D."

They are now caressing their cheeks.

"Ow, what was that?"

"I felt something that could have been a hit." Ed goofily laughs.

"Yes! Back to normal!" I say, making triumphant fists.

"Melissa?" says Double-D. "What are you doing here, and-" he gasps. "Why are we tied up like dogs?"

I get my pocket knife out from one of my back pockets and start to cut the ropes. "Because you were dogs just now."

"But how did…oh no, they did it again on us!"

"Tell me about it later." I get the last rope and they take off their leashes. "Now come on! We gotta get out of here before the psycho sisters return!"

The three of us are running and are out in the street again.

"Hey! Where are you guys going?" says Lee, coming from behind us.

"Oh, shucks," I say as we turn around with terrified faces.

"Let's get em!" shouts Marie, dropping their groceries.

"RUN FOR IT!"

We hear Eddy's words loud and clear as another chase begins, with screams and evil laughter coming from the sisters.

"Split up!"

The boys listen to me and we sprint in different directions. I find myself close to a bush. Behind it, there are lots of trees, indicating a forest of sorts. The Kankers' voices come closer. Then I feel my mouth is covered and my whole body is taken inside the bush.

"Hey, it's me!"

My eyes widen when I see who it is. I whisper. "Eddy! Thank goodness!"

"Try over there!" shouts Lee.

May is approaching us. We try to breathe as little and calmly as we can. Then a cat's yowl is heard not too far from here, directing her to where it is.

"Whew."

"You got that right," I whisper. "Oh." I notice I'm holding his hand. Both of us are blushing.

I clear my throat and bashfully smile as I let go of it. "Sorry."

"Oh no, that's fine." He seems embarrassed too.

There is a brief silence.

"Hey, uh…"

I turn to him.

"Thanks for saving us back there."

I grin. "You're welcome."

"And…you're right."

"About what?"

"I'm…really sensitive about my height. It's not easy being the shortest in a group and that they are things tall people can do that short people can't."

"Not to be harsh but you're wrong because there are many things short and tall people can do. It's all about believing in yourself. To be honest, I thought that's how you usually react when it comes to your size. And uh…I wasn't always confident about mine. It was one of the things I was teased about back home. It took me a while to figure out that it is only a part of who I am, and that it doesn't stop me from doing things I wanna do."

"Yeah, I guess. Please don't tell anyone about this okay?"

"Why not?"

"Coz it's embarrassing. And I'm still trying to accept it on my own."

"You can also do that by telling the people closest to you that you are trying and learning to accept it. I think that's one of the ways of healing."

He looks at me with sad eyes.

"And…" I extend my hand. "Deal. I promise I won't say anything."

He glances at it for a moment then shakes it with a brave smile.

"Eddy! Melissa!" we hear Double-D and Ed calling us.

I peek through the bush carefully and whisper. "Please tell me that's not a trick…Oh good, here they come."

We reappear and join the rest.

"Are you guys okay?" I hug the other two.

"Yeah…for now. Let's go this way back to our places." Double-D points to another path. "It's possible they haven't been there before."

"All right."

As we are walking, more conversation occurs.

"Thanks for rescuing us from what was perhaps our worst yet repeated predicament yet, Melissa."

"Pleasure, Double-D. How did you guys get hypnotized again anyway?"

Eddy begins to explain. "It happened this morning while the three of us were hanging at my place. There was a knock at the front and it was the Kankers wearing the Hypno-Hat we told you about. They quickly mesmerized all of us and next thing you know, we're back at the trailer park as their dogs!"

"Holy Canis Lupus."

"What?"

I say. "That's the Latin name for a wolf, which happens to be one of my favourite animals."

"I like that movie you have on your shirt, Melissa."

"Thank you, Ed. It's one of my favourite 70s horror movies…Wait, what's that on your neck?"

"Where?"

I come closer to him. "It looks like…blood?...Oh no." I feel really dizzy. My whole body starts to collapse. Losing consciousness. But not before feeling arms holding me.