Settling In

So, I'm gonna continue writing this story, even if nobody comments, rates, or reviews. I'll just skip the intro for each chapter from here on out.

Dan Unger yawned and stretched as he went up the stairs to his front porch. He stuck his key in the lock and turned the knob. He was shocked to smell the haunting aroma of lasagna cooking on the stove and music playing in the background.

"Hello?" he called. "Shoeshine?"

"Hi, Uncle Dan!"

Dan went into the kitchen to see Elizabeth stirring up a pot of cheese.

"Dinner's almost ready", she said cheerfully.

It suddenly dawned on Dan that he had invited Elizabeth to stay with him.

"Elizabeth!" he said. "I'm so sorry, I-"

"Forgot I was coming?"

"Yeah."

"No worries! I figured you would. That's why I fixed dinner, to thank you for taking me in."

"Thanks! It smells great."

Dan sat down at the dinner table and Elizabeth brought him a plate of steaming lasagna, parmesan, a glass of water, and a chocolate chip cookie.

"So, what did you decide to do with the house?" Dan said as they started to eat.

"Nothing yet", said Elizabeth. "I don't think Mom would have wanted me to sell it, so for now it's just sitting there."

Shoeshine came bounding down the stairs and parked himself at Dan's feet.

"Hey, Shoeshine!"

Dan reached down to scratch the dog behind the ears.

"Oh, yeah", Shoeshine thought, "that's the spot."

"Your beagle is so cute!" said Elizabeth. "Where did you get him?"

"I, uh, rescued him...from the, uh-"

"Humane Society?"

"Yeah, that!"

"Cool!"

Shoeshine sank to the floor, enjoying being rubbed. Elizabeth giggled.

"He certainly likes the attention", she said.

"You have no idea", said Dan, and Shoeshine looked up at him questioningly.

After dinner, Elizabeth claimed she was still very tired from her trip. She said goodnight and headed up the stairs to bed. After she was gone, Shoeshine breathed a sigh of relief.

"You have no idea how much I've been dying to speak", he said to Dan. "Anyway, now that she's gone, I like her! Is she staying for long? Can she stay forever? She gives great belly rubs."

Dan chuckled.

"Yeah, I think she'll be with us for a while, boy", he said.

"What made her come here, anyway? Not that I'm complaining."

"Well, her mom died less than a month ago, and her dad's a notorious criminal serving his time in prison. She blames him for her mom's death, and I can't say I blame her."

"Why?"

"I'm not telling you all the details. It's not my story to tell."

"Are you gonna tell her that I'm a superhero?"

"Not for a while. Something tells me she wouldn't handle it very well."

"What about her dad?"

"Oh, don't worry. He's not getting out for a long while."

…..

Alarms sounded throughout Florence Square Prison as Conrad Conger sprinted through the halls. He had knocked out the guard escorting him back to his cell less than five minutes ago. He turned a corner and jumped into a laundry basket, covering himself well as guards ran by searching for him. More laundry was piled on top of him and the basket was rolled away. Conrad shifted as he was loaded onto a laundry truck. He chuckled inwardly as he heard the motor start. This was it. Soon, he would be with his daughter.

The laundry truck driver groaned as lightning flashed in the sky.

"Aw, man", he said. "I was hoping it wouldn't rain today."

Still, he pressed on. Conrad stuck his head out of the laundry basket. Now was his chance to escape. Right before he made his move, the truck driver was startled as a tree was struck down by lightning and fell into the road. He gasped and swerved out of the way, tipping the laundry basket and sending Conrad sprawling to the floor.

Unable to hold the weight, the truck turned on its side and slid across the road, coming to a stop in the dirt. The truck driver hit his head on the steering wheel and was knocked unconscious. Conrad got to his feet and kicked open the double doors in the back. Thunder sounded above him as rain began to fall and he cackled. He was free.

As he made his way down the road, the wind picked up and he was swept off his feet. Conrad yelled as he was tossed around in the breeze. Suddenly, he was dropped. As he once again got to his feet, lightning struck again, this time on a power line just behind him. He screamed as it fell on and electrocuted him.