Chapter 14

Dead Battery

Author's Note: See June 17th the facebook archives for an explanation of a minor conversation. Not neccessary but just if anyone was curious as to where it came from. monsterhighdotwikiadotcom/wiki/Facebook

Jackson rushed to his car after making a brief pit stop to his locker for the chemicals. On his way out, double checking that the Mad Science classroom was indeed locked. Keeping his music lowest he could, not because he was trying to listen for anyone but because he was indeed running low on juice.

Making his way out to the parking lot fully prepared to go home and start trying to manage everything that'd happened today, he face palmed.

His car one of the only left, parked sideways with tire marks on the street around it.

He hadn't stopped to think how he actually got to school today. Quickly devising a plan to maybe hide his keys and force Holt to walk or something.

Wondering if Mom would listen to him on banning their car until this was all over with.

Jackson made a thorough inspection sighing with relief as no one had clawed or keyed it. Then got in. Pausing.

Looking at the radio.

Clicking it as rock music blasted into his car at full volume. He turned it down, always curious what his presets were actually on. Never able to check them because his car was a common booby trap. Rather… trigger trap.

A concept that was usually more relevant the more they fought. Holt would often set up music traps around the house or change the names on his songs, in attempts to get time out. His car was a common target since all it took was turning it on and not realizing Holt had left the radio at a loud volume to black out and wake up to getting pulled over for speeding or running into a stop sign.

Number one reason why Holt was permanently banned from his keys. It didn't matter if Holt could drive, Jackson mostly didn't need him turning on his car to blast pop music.

For once though he could actually enjoy it himself. Exiting out his music app to save energy, and finding a nice channel on the radio. Small gaps while waiting for the songs to change, never long enough to transform but long enough to make him anxious about it.

He drove home at a much calmer pace, annoyed Holt tore up his wheels like this.

Pulling his glasses out of his pocket he put them on, not worried about ruining Holt's precious image on the road.

Jackson checked his texts after parking carefully at home. Half expecting something from InvisiBilly but nothing, a reminder from Frankie to take it easy, and a slightly threatening message from Operetta to send her the file before he worked on it.

Sitting in the idling car he slowly turned down the radio, annoyed he was so restricted by the music bubble as his iCoffin bleeped him another reminder that it was almost dead. He put his headphones back on, it fairly loud but he was about to go inside and find one of Holt's music aids. There were like radios all over the house after all.

Walking up to the door and pulling out his keys since his mom's car was missing, he unlocked the top lock. About to unlock the bottom when his music stopped playing and his iCoffin vibrated in his pocket, completely dying.

His heart rate picked up, expecting to get another few minutes. Maybe if he could unlock fast enough!

He held back the flames as he fumbled to find the second lock.

Pins and needles poking at his skin.

Come on! He managed to sort of shove it into the lower lock beginning to turn when he couldn't take the pain anymore. Faltering for a split second, pushing himself against the door as he

wobbled against the door frame to a head rush.

Holt pulled his headphones down to his shoulders looking around. Noting the key in the lock and the iCoffin dead.

Stupid Jackson, he smiled. Stretching and whistling as he unlocked the lower lock letting himself in. The house was quiet and warm from the afternoon sun heating it with no A/C all day.

He put his hand on the mudroom's radio habitually before making a fist and recalling he needed quiet and silence to exist instead. Which he didn't completely mind, but getting blocked off from music was the annoying part. Not understanding why he couldn't have both like before, when he only existed at night. He'd rather never see the sun again then get roped off from his jams.

Holt knew it was Jackson's time and all, but didn't see why he needed to rush to give the nerd his evening. Taking his time as he went to find a snack in the kitchen settling in on the couch and turning on the tv. He hadn't really gotten to enjoy television since the trigger switch. Namely because while he could hear the tv, especially with subtitles, his music was always sort of obscuring the tone and he didn't always catch everything.

So while he was in this dweeb's body he might as well enjoy himself a little, still keeping it kind of low volume and his finger on mute incase any loud triggering commercials interrupted. Lazing on the couch for a moment after all of Jackson's stupid classes.

Missing that he didn't get to really jam out with Operetta, she could be inspiring when watching him sing. Even if it was a bit high pressure to perform well for her. Heck, the only friends he really got to see today was Heath and his lunch group kind of. Usually he looked forward to swim class. He wondered for the second time today if Lagoona would be cool with him showing up. If he was still in Jackson's skin tomorrow.

Maybe it'd just wear off…

He ran up the stairs quickly closing the door behind him. Catching his breath. Heart pounding in his chest as he heard smashing noises on the floor below.

Cringing at the screaming bellow that rung throughout the house.

Why was mom even home?

Why was she angry?

Pressing up against the door of his room this was why he wished he had a lock. Especially hearing the destruction. Clenching his fists as he heard wood splintering and dishes being smashed downstairs.

Looking for something in his room to move in front of the door. Not sure if he could move his bed or desk… Or chair? Maybe just hide in his messy closet if he could fit.

He was afraid of Mom's Hyde for several reasons.

Namely, it wasn't his mother.

Not anymore anyway.

Second, she was really strong and really angry. Usually it was in his defense but as a more feral monster, she didn't know where to stop, what the line was, or even what the problem was.

Third, she was a terrifying implication of a potential future path. Sure they didn't normally go nuts and kill people, but they had a bad family history of it.

Praying silently, he hoped his mom didn't know where he was. Glancing at his desk chair hoping it'd hold up against her if she wanted to smash his door in.

Thoughts interrupted as he heard her yell out his name from the stairs. Or at least that's what he thought she yelled, it was more of a roar really…

Swallowing hard he could hear her stomp up the steps. Bracing himself as he heard her in the hallway. Other doors sounded like they were being smashed or pounded open. Muscles tensing as she approached his.

The impact of her force against his door sent him to the ground on his face.

Scrambling to push his desk chair against the doorknob, then shove himself under his bed, he curled up in the dark cramped space.

Cringing as he heard wood splinter and his mother's heavy breathing as she forced her way in.

Shakey breaths as he layed still, hoping she wouldn't find him. Or assume the room was empty and wander off till she could calm down.

He felt a hand on his ankle.

Cursing aloud he grabbed carpet to no avail getting rug burn as he was wooshed out, fresh air hitting his face like a spotlight. He was pulled out into the open.

He saw dark blue skin and messy black hair before

he woke up.

The first thing that hit his ears was the silence again. Along with a soft clang of someone stirring something in the adjacent kitchen.

Holt opened his eyes and immediately sat up, then falling off the couch. And sitting up again.

His heart was still beating really fast, he still felt unsteady and leftover emotions from the nightmare.

Looking at the tv.

Off.

Looking at the window.

Night.

Looking at the kitchen.

Mom.

Peachy skin, just a dream before.

Wait, Mom?

Geez how late was it?

Looking at the clock.

Really early for her to be home.

Stumbling out of the dark living room he sat down in the bright kitchen. Looking at his mom confusedly. She was still wearing her scrubs from the hospital. Her dark black hair strung up in a lazy pony tail while she tended to what smelt like pasta.

Channeling his inner Jackson wasn't hard when he was this groggy.

"Why didn't you wake me up?" he asked groaning. Rubbing his head. Mostly just kind of ticked off at this point. All that wasted time…

"Your body clearly needed the sleep." she retorted rolling her eyes to look at him. "Where are your glasses?"

Giving him a headache.

"The couch I guess. We don't." he leaned back in the chair still shaking off his tiredness "Need sleep."

"Yes you do. It's unhealthy for you.. two to only sleep one day of the week."

"And we don't need naptime on sundays either." he stretched pushing his bangs out of his face annoyed still. "Only baby monsters need naptime." Holt huffed bitterly, looked at the kitchen clock already forgetting his previously gauged time "Now, Holt won't have enough time out. After I. Do homework and junk."

Their mother gave him an odd look as he was petitioning for Holt to get more hours. "You want me to give.. Holt more time out tonight?"

She was right, that was out of character for either of them.

He smiled thinking about why Jackson would want that, something his mom would believe "I don't want him angry at me…"

Which was right. Whenever the dork stole too much time, Jackson didn't want to be on Holt's bad side. Especially when he had access to his homework, diary, phone contacts, car… well everything.

Their mother paused looking at him sternly and seriously. Her own glasses only making it sharper. "Did he threaten you again?" she asked with a tone.

Holt swallowed sitting up straight "Uh. No. But."

"But he doesn't need to actually make a threat to scare you? This isn't going to be like that time you went to your Uncle Fahren's? I know you two have been touchy ever since you got off the night-day timer." she sighed, wishing it were back to the time when they couldn't squabble over sharing a life. Things were so much more peaceful before they knew…

Uncle Fahren's… Oh.

Holt briefly smiled fantasizing about that time Jackson tried to steal an entire week of his summer for some "peace and quiet" on some musicless dumb farm.

Jackson, wasn't expecting to get a self inflicted black eye right before Holt was forced out of the picture.

Man that was the best thing he ever got away with.

Served him right…

He rested on his elbows watching his mom straight what appeared to be pasta. His stomach yearning. He hadn't had a real meal cooked by someone else in what felt like forever. Leftovers didn't count. Their mother was rarely home early enough to make dinner.

"Well maybe if we'd grown up knowing we had a secret evil twin brother…" Holt rolled his eyes sort of knowingly pushing his mother's button's. Knowing he was referring to himself as the evil one but taking self satisfaction in knowing he was really talking about Jackson.

"We'd know how to share better Mom~"

It didn't take Jackson's brain to know a simple reason they had difficulty getting along.

Both Jackson and Holt had grown up as a single child. With a single child mindset.

To suddenly in teenage years not only have to start sharing but start sharing everything? Was what caused at least half of their disputes.

Literally everything. Try telling that one to a potential girlfriend.

He could see it now.

Hey sweet fang, I know you like me a lot but wait until you meet what I become when I'm not in a party. Yes that's right! You got not one but two boys for the price of one. Yeah I don't know if it's cheating if you date the one who was chess club champion in middle school…?

"I wouldn't really call Holt your brother…" His mom eased out making a face.

Well she had no problem with the evil label apparently.

She turned to start serving bowls of spaghetti to the table, then half dropped hers, onto the table just set it down pretty hard.

"What happened to your shirt!?" she asked quickly coming around to his side to pull out his half burnt sweater vest.

Then half closed her eyes "Blackout?" she asked sarcastically, both knowing what the codeword was for by this point.

Though Holt retaliated. Sure it was his fault, but he hated the assumption that it was. "Our clothes don't work that way." he retorted with an edge of anger.

Which was true, unless he deliberately sabotaged Jackson's clothing somehow before school.

"Well I know he did that…" his mother pointed to his hands sitting down with a sort of annoyed disappointed expression.

Ok melting pens could be a problem. And this one was actually Jackson's fault… who was what his mom considered "Holt" right now.

"I can break my own pens!" he defended himself? Making a face.

Though his mom looked surprised. As he was quick to defend the assumption it was Holt.

When usually they were continually complaining against the other.

"Have you two been…" she looked confused "Talking?" Which was great if they were, better to get along then sabotage and be self destructive. But she certainly wasn't expecting it any time soon.

Holt guessed she meant like working together and such.

"In a way…" Holt made a face looking at his food and stuffing his face to avoid further confrontation as to why he was sticking up for his reputation.

His mom wasn't really touching her food though still looking at him suspiciously. Like there was something off about her son. Maybe it was because he had his glasses off.

"I mean I know you have to coordinate on things sometimes. But are things getting any better?"

They were actually getting worse but, Holt swallowed his milk stalling. Thinking about Jackson's tumor comment. Shoulder still sore from punching himself.

"Well. I don't know. We aren't the same as you and your Hyde that's for sure." he thought it was an innocent enough comment until he heard the hard clank of his mom's fork hitting her ceramic bowl.

She smiled scarily "Jackson. We. Don't. Talk about her. Remember?" she warned him.

Holt looked at his food recalling his dream. "Yeah but."

"Don't. Talk about her." she just repeated.

He always had questions. He knew their mother's Hyde was more like, Mom smash! not the same as himself but…

Mind wandering back to his dream.

The fact he existed always made him wonder if she was hiding another person under there.

Stress and anger was her trigger what if she just always came out in her worst moods?

Because though Jackson could suppress Holt's life to his annoyance, to hide her Hyde that much seemed overly cruel.

It wasn't up to discussion though.

To their knowledge her Hyde wasn't an actual person just animal instinct that liked to scare things and make them move a lot.

As outspoken as Holt was he was easily shut down by his mom's scolding.

He just wasn't as afraid of consequence as Jackson was.

Their mom picked up on Holt's troubled expression though.

And sighed breaking her own rule "She's not like. You know she's not a real person? Just how I get when. Things get bad."

"I know, Mom."

"I mean I thought Holt was going to be like that too. I know things are hard, but to my knowledge you're the first in the family like this. Kind of gives me hope maybe we're watering down the family curse thing."

"Hey if you don't mind. It was always like that right?" Holt asked almost insecurely.

"What do you mean?"

"Like you always went into rage muscle mode when you, poof'd!" he made hand motions to imply exploding. When he meant transforming.

She actually smiled "If you're concerned one day you're going to just turn into a straight up horrible destructive monster, you're too late."

Oh ouch, Mom.

"Just kidding, yeah it was always like that. Don't worry Jackson, you aren't going to turn 20 one day and Holt's going to be your muscley rage form." then smiled as she took her finished bowl to the sink "I mean to our knowledge"

"Really reassuring, Mom. Thanks for that." Holt rolled his eyes.

She walked past him ruffling his hair on her way upstairs "If you have problems with Holt just tell him it's my fault he has a short night."

Jackson was going to be a little grump about that wasn't he.. Though he smiled to himself thinking about Jackson dealing with being the obvious second choice son if he did complain. Mom was harder on her blue child after all, being the supposed evil one.

He finished up eating, taking pride he got to be the one to enjoy this meal when it was warm and fresh and not leftovers.

Then hurrying upstairs to check his social sites, pulling up some quiet music to put his mind at ease, and bring him some comfort from this awful day.

Glancing at the time soon after he got distracted for a good 20 minutes.

Sighing he didn't want to give up his time, when he was stuck with the stupid school day after all.

But Jackson needed to figure out how to get things back to normal. Despite his nap though he was still in need of a serious recharge. Just like their iCoffin heh.

Logging out of his accounts for good measure he pulled out a word document making the font large enough.

all yours dorkus

Then turned up his background music feeling the sting of transforming, as he held his head letting it happen. Easing into it.

Jackson practically bolted awake grabbing his computer chair. Like waking up from a nightmare.

Wait.

He did have a nightmare.

Blackouts didn't involve dreams unless.

Looking at the time.

And his dark room window.

Oh that idiot!

How could he fall asleep during a time like this!

Glancing at the text doc and reading Holt's message further.

i kno its a bit late. mom said take it up with her if ur angry about it

Did she have something to do with this?

Why was she even home?

Jackson started to storm angrily out of his room making it halfway across the hall before he realized something was wrong.

He woke up in his room and was reminded of some sort of video game logic.

Looking at his hand that was sticky with fresh black ink.

omg did u just try to storm out from the music bubble ur adorable

Jackson grumbled as his iCoffin was dead to his knowledge, going to quickly dig around for his old mp3 player. Not finding it.

Digging out his iCoffin he found one of the chargers and immediately plugged it in as his laptop's music kept him safe in his room.

Still very very very ticked off that Holt fell asleep. Of all things he could have wasted their time on. They'd figured out long ago if one was awake at night and one was awake during the day it didn't seem to have any ill effects.

His mom would blame any sickness on lack of sleep though and forced them to get as much sleep as they could but. It was a serious waste of time. He had to split his life already he didn't need to waste any of it on sleep.

He slept in his brain. Musing about dolphins and hemispheres he realized his iCoffin was taking too long.

Grumbling he turned down the volume on his laptop and lifted it like an open book, feeling ridiculous as he pulled his ball and chain across the hallway to his mother's room.

He stumbled into his mom's room, who didn't even look up from her book she was reading under the soft yellow light of her room. His music feeling awkward and loud in here, now she could hear it too.

She was in her pajamas and seemed ready for bed or relaxation time.

Frowning because this was probably her fault, he walked up to her.

"Mom" he started angrily.

"No." she retorted looking at him unamused, before he could react: shut his laptop.

He woke up at his desk, laptop opened to a later part of the same song.

It was like a video game check point, and in the same frustrating way of game over again.

No message from Holt. Not even an apology. Or a good explanation.

Like he could expect either from him.

He stood up snatching his iCoffin off the wall, it barely had any charge but it could probably last a conversation. Properly hooking himself up, this was only getting him more upset.

Marching back over to his mom's room.

Opening the door and already starting.

"I can't believe you did that!"

"Believe it." she set her book down and looked at him unamused.

Jackson already started to feel shut down by her glare. Something was off about how she was looking at him.

"Was Jackson asleep when you got home?" he asked still upset, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall now. Keeping his distance incase she tried to just turn him off again.

"Yup."

"And why didn't you wake him up?" he huffed really upset at all this stupid wasted time.

"Your body needs sleep, Holt. I said the same thing to Jackson. That's why I keep trying to make you take naps more often. I think it should be a daily thing, you're going to get sick."

"I am not. And we don't need sleep." he'd had this argument before. Namely on sundays when his homework was nearly done and his mother said he needed a "good start" to the school week.

"Everything. Needs sleep. I should know, I'm a doctor. It's unhealthy, and you have a messed up brain as it is, you probably wouldn't fight as often if you were well rested. Sleep fixes everything up there." his mother told him firmly glancing at the clock. Speaking of sleep...

"I think I know more about our body than-"

"Holt. Stop arguing with me and just accept it's gonna be a short night!" she glared at him "It's not like you've never stolen time from him. Now get back to your room before I ground you and confiscate your headphones."

Jackson was taken aback not used to this sort of scolding "What like...I have to use a different pair..?" he asked meekly.

"Like it'd be your two classes only until next wednesday" she threatened.

Jackson's heart skipped a beat in a bad way. Burning sort of bit at his eyes from her tone.

"But now I won't have enough time for my own school work" he sort of lied. But if he brought up school it helped his side of the argument. Plus it made him look good like he was trying to be more studious.

"Can't Jackson finish that up?" she asked glancing back at her book like she didn't care about the argument.

Well not with all his real homework he needed to catch up on.

"He can't do music theory…" Jackson whined back.

"And how long is that gonna take really?" she scoffed looking at him, as it was just the one class.

Actually Jackson had no idea but Holt did also need time for that. On top of things. This would be a lot more excusable if he'd used the time for that instead of dozing off. Still angry about it but more understandable than wasting it all. All that time down the drain.

"But night is my turn and now it's like half a turn…" he grumbled losing this argument.

"Then take your turn, but leave enough time for Jackson to do his work I know it'll take longer than yours. You already got a nap, he shouldn't need that much of a break" she sounded like she believed it was really that simple.

"That's still not enough time for-" he stopped feeling his iCoffin buzz again. Pulling it out, his mom looked at him fumble with it.

Jackson could only see a battery on the screen again. Not enough charge.

"So what'd he say?" Holt asked pulling his headphones down to his neck.

"He's upset he won't get to goof off all night." his mom mumbled flipping a page in her book.

Holt grimaced "Yeah that sounds like him." he forced a chuckle before easing out of there. Looking at the black screen of his iCoffin, he felt the same as it's dead batteries. Definitely in need of a long recharge.