Four days. Four days since the monster had moved on. Anne had since stopped wallowing in tears and perked back up. Nothing could keep her down for long. She hadn't known Randall long enough to truly imprint on him- his loss felt like when you play an amazing game then one day find it no longer works. Empty and frustrated, but over all it's not that big a deal.
Even if she were still deeply depressed, she wouldn't allow herself to show it around their father for fear he may ask the reason. So she kept to a happy demeanor, which was natural to her. Anne's smiling face helped keep a light mood. Being a Sunday, their father was at home.
It was about two in the afternoon; Mercy and her father sat on the couch watching a nature documentary on some sort of exotic birds. The birds were colorful and jumped about the screen trying to attract mates. Anne had been in her room, so nobody noticed when she walked into the joined living room and kitchen and stood there. She flopped her arms about at her side and sighed loudly when nobody noticed. "I'm bored."
Without looking, Mercy replied "Go draw or somethin'."
Anne wrinkled her nose and tilted her head. "Daddy?" She asked innocently.
"Hm?" He hummed as a commercial came on T.V..
"Can we got to th'paaaark?" She swung her arms back and forth and kicked a barefoot slightly on the carpet. Mercy rolled her eyes at her sister's attempt to be cute.
He turned his head to look at his little girl, smiling sweetly at her. "Know what? We should all go out ta eat." The family hardly ever went out to restaurants, and it had been some time since they had gone out and spent time together in public. When their father was home they enjoyed spending quality time together if he wasn't tired; being why Anne had asked to go to the park. It was a bonus if he had the money and will to go out to eat, too!
Anne jumped up and down a squeeled. "Let's go to Chuck-E-Cheese's!"
"What does miss all-grown-up want?" Asked their father, turning to grin at Mercy who repositioned on the couch so her legs were to her chest.
"I could do pizza."
"Yay yay yay yay yay-" Anne spun in circles and clapped her hands. Her short hair bounced and flew as she spun. "Arcade games!"
Everyone got dressed properly for public interaction, then they shut off the TV and went out to the car. They would not be leaving in Mercy's old truck this time.
"I can't believe y'played games fer three hours!" Exclaimed Mercy, who was walking towards the swings of the park. They all decided it was still early enough to have some time to romp about the town's little park before heading home. Anne had insisted on it especially- it was where she had wanted to go in the first place.
"I gotta ton'a tickets, too!" The younger boasted, walking backwards ahead of Mercy. She was grinning proudly when she nearly tripped- but flailed her arms about and reclaimed balance before meeting the ground. "Won'a panda bear."
"I know, I know, I was there!"
Their dad was following behind, before heading towards a picnic table that was in the shade of a large old oak tree. "We're not gonna stay for more than n'hour, got that chillens?" He called to them.
"Awwww." Whined Anne.
They reached the swings, and first thing Anne kicked off hard. She wanted to fly. Mercy was gentler, and preferred a slower pace. It also helped her stomach was so full of pizza, and if Anne hadn't been bouncing around the restaurant she would be much fuller as well. Mercy swung low and other wise observed her surrounds, while Anne took to singing loudly. Mercy couldn't understand it due to the rate at which Anne was going back and forth. The words- from where Mercy was- seemed to skip.
After about five minutes Mercy went to a complete stop. She loved just sitting in the swings; it reminded her of elementary school. High school didn't have a playground. Anne continued about her business, ignoring everything around her in favor of panting out song lyrics, though Mercy was sure she changed the song every minute or so.
As she sat there, head leaning on the slightly rusted chain, she went into deep thought. Amongst frivolous imagination, it came as a surprise when she felt someone tap on her shoulder. She jumped a little and twisted her body to greet whoever it was- who she had actually assumed to be her father. She was greeted with nothing but air. She narrowed her eyes, looking towards her father who was still in the same spot. He smiled and waved at her as a man came up to him. The two shook hands and began to talk.
"Hm." Mercy turned back around and nearly screamed when there came a flash of purple and a harsh-
"Boo!"
She gasped and covered her mouth, scared out her wits from the surprise. Her legs straightened back – as if she were about to let herself drop and beginning to swing. Randall- the little bastard- was right up in her face and began to crackle. Besides Mercy and her family, the only other people in the park was the man her father was speaking to and a little girl playing in the sandbox some ways off. So Randall must have figured it safe enough to be a little douche and give her a jump scare.
"Randaaaaaaall!" Yelled Anne happily. She was already exhilarated from the pizza, prize, and now the swings- but of all things to stir her up Randall had to give a visit.
He backed up from the older human and crossed his arms, lifting his head. "Hey'ya." He said coolly. He appeared to be keeping an eye on the adults, who were lost in conversation at the table; far enough away not to hear him speaking.
"You nearly gave me a heart attack!" Mercy rasped in frustration, full of adrenalin, prompting another laugh from Randall.
Anne had skidded to a quick halt and a big cloud of dust followed. She was grinning widely, still full of energy despite the hours in the arcade. "Randaaaaaaall!" She squeaked again, jumping up and launching herself into the purple and blue monster. He looked distressed and awkward as she clung onto him, his arms opening wide as if not to touch her. She was a foot and a half shorter than Mercy; she seemed so small to him.
Mercy was full of questions. She thought by now he would have been long gone, back to where ever it was monsters came from. But this was not a place for open talk. Not when her dad could easily turn his head and spot the beast. "What are you doin' here? This isn't a place ta talk- let's go behind th'bathrooms!" She pointed.
Randall shuttered slightly at the raven haired girl rubbing her cheek on his scales. It was sort of nice to be missed so badly, even if the kid only knew him for about a day and a half. "Yeah." He merged into the background, shook Anne off with some effort, and casually made his way to the old brick building that was used as a restroom.
Mercy had since gotten out of the swing. She hollered back "Hey Daddy- we're gonna go to th'bathroom!"
He glanced over at them and nodded his head, but otherwise continued to listen to whatever it was the unknown man was chattering about. The man was much fatter than their father, and had sat down beside him now. Mercy could only assume it was an old friend or co-worker. Either way, that wasn't important now.
Anne skipped off to the bathrooms already, having left Mercy behind. She grinned and followed briskly til they reached the back of the building. It was just a large square brick house, one side for men the other for women. There were no doors on the entrances, and on the inside (of both gender's areas) smelt like it hadn't been cleaned in years. But the little reuniting group stood around back out of the eyes of the few park inhabitants, so they didn't need to worry about the smell.
Mercy chuckled; her sister had latched onto a pathetic looking Randall again. He pouted at Mercy. "Alright, alright," Mercy began "leave th'poor monster alone."
Anne's face mimicked Randall's own pathetic expression as she looked up at her sister.
"Now."
She let go and sulked angrily. "Randall!" Mercy then exclaimed with a big smile. "Thought you done gone and left! The heck you doin' in a park?"
"Oh, no 'good to see you Randall- I think you've gotten more handsome since I first met you'?" He teased, head lowering to her level a distance between them.
Mercy tapped her foot impatiently. "You're right, come'er." She crooned, stepping forward and moving as if she we going to scratch him like a dog.
Suddenly he wasn't so keen on teasing and seemed embarrassed. "No no no I was just kidding!" He retorted, lifting his hands. Mercy grinned and stopped, moving back in place.
"Ey Randall," Anne had perked back up. It amazed Mercy how quickly her sister could go from sappy to happy. "you wanna mint?" She offered, taking a mint from her pocket and waving it about. She had a fistful in her pocket from the restaurant.
He looked suspicious but took it, unwrapped it, and tossed it casually into his maw. Rather than suck on it, it was crushed into little bits and swallowed.
"Randall you didn't answer my question." Mercy said.
He licked at his teeth with his forked tongue. "And what was that?"
"The heck you doin' in a park?"
"Mmmm." He searched for the right words, looking up. When he found them he gave eye contact and spoke slowly. "What better place to find potential doors, then to follow children home from the town playground?"
Anne laughed stupidly and nodded. "That's creepy." Then she thought a moment. "Doors?"
The older sister watched him accusingly, drumming fingers on her pants. She shifting her weight onto one leg. "Hope you ain't scarin' them kids. You ain't found no door yet?"
Randall shook his big head. "I only followed about six home. Two lived close enough to walk, the rest had to come in cars. Do you know how tedious it is to cling into the top of a car? And then later find your way back to the same place when they're duds?" He suddenly looked rather exhausted to Mercy. She gave him a look of pity.
"Doors?" Anne repeated. Randall hadn't explained anything to the little one like he had Mercy the night before he went off.
Mercy nodded, shifting legs. "Yeah, like, they come outta doors n'stuff to scare kids because. . . it powers homes or somethin'." Her tone got more skeptical as she explained it. "Apparently, he was paid ta do this? N'won't tell me why he was kicked out into th'human world? Some of it sounds like B.S. to me."
Randall glared. "I'm a talking eight legged lizard who can change colors and go invisible, and you want to question that?"
She lifted a finger up and opened her mouth, but then shut it and lowered her arm. "Touché ."
"Well, I believe him." Anne stated, looking snobbish. "I didn't know you could change colors though!"
"Me either. You only ever went invisible." Mercy agreed. "Do it!"
Randall sneered.
"I'll give ya 'nother mint!" Anne encouraged, picking out another one of the fresh little hard candies from her pocket.
He sneered harder. Then, his scales turned a shade of white, and red stripes ringed around his body. He was a mint! Rather more like a candy cane. "Happy? Gimme." He reached out a grabby hand, and Anne popped the candy into his palm.
"That is so cool!" She squeaked.
"I'll give ya a chocolate mint if you do another one." Mercy said with awe in her voice, after Randall had consumed the crunchy mint.
His eyes lit up, and he now seemed more than happy to preform his trick again. He turned himself pink with green limbs, which was a sight to see. Like some tropical reptile from an alien world. He stepped closer and held out his hand like he had before.
"Awwww, whadda good lizard!" Mercy sung, petting his head and handing over a slightly melted piece of mint chocolate from her pocket. He grimaced at the petting but allowed her to do it. Then he pulled his head back and did to the chocolate what he had done to the previous two mints.
"Oh Mercy, I bet he's hungry!"
She nodded. "And tired. Bet you was sleepin' in trees."
He looked pissed at the accusation despite its truth. He hadn't thought sleeping inside a human house was such a good idea.
"Randall we gotta go before Daddy thinks somethin' done happened." Mercy said, sadness in her voice. "But if you wanna come back with us-" she added more hopefully.
"Pleeeeease!" Begged Anne.
He didn't want to admit his weakness, but the thought of that closet nest was so appealing to him. He was also just a little lonesome. Don't tell anyone, though. "Fine." He almost hissed, looking defeated.
"Yaaaay!" And Anne was upon him again.
He was a monster. Yes; one hundred percent monster. A beast of great power who could- if he so desired- rip weaker creatures into shreds with his God given teeth. Randall Boggs was indeed scary. So he had to be careful. Sneaky, like before the roar. Keeping silent in the dark of a child's room. He couldn't allow any of the children he followed home (or their parents) see him in the slightest. What a challenge, considering if there was no active door in the house he had to also get back outside.
The first four did not have doors. At least not for the time being. There would have been evidence of it; there always was. A child was more prone to jump at sounds, and more creative ones took to drawing their monster. None of the first four were promising at all.
But ah- the fifth was so close. The fifth was a little girl of the age seven, who had worn pig tails to the park tied with pink hair ties. She had skipped about and favored the slide. She was one who Randall could trail behind as she walked hand-in-hand with her mother back home. They did not suspect a thing.
The girl and her mother (there did not appear to be a father present) lived in a ruddy apartment building in a older part of town. Randall was able to slither in easily as the child had been rather slow. The child and the mother, after a change into more comfortable clothing, had gathered onto the single couch and watched a film on T.V. together. This allowed Randall to pick through the little girl's room.
It was disappointing. Drawings were taped to the walls. Pictures of bunnies and cats and families with big wobbly crayon smiles. Nothing odd there. There was, however, a drawing of a big poof ball of blue with silly eyes on her desk. It sprouted two big horns from the top of its head, like bull horns, and had a big smile with buck teeth. At that moment he had felt this girl a success. If he stayed over night he could wait for her closet door to open.
Night fell and the girl was tucked into bed. All Randall had to do was stand still in invisibility as she fell asleep. He was so ready to see the closet door open- when he glanced at the child and his mouth dropped. In the resting girl's clutches was a poof ball of blue, googly eyes, horns, and a silly smile. She had been drawing a stuffed animal! A whole day wasted.
The sixth he followed was a toddler who had to be driven home. However, she was just as unsuccessful, and not worth mentioning.
Randall finished his story of the past four days to the two girls. They had situated in Anne's room just after dinner (Randall had hid in her room) to listen to him. There hadn't been much to tell, honestly. He sat slightly curled around on himself at the end of the girls single bed. He was full of left overs the girls had snuck him, and his tail fell over the edge slightly. The sisters were at the other end with the pillows, and had listened without interruption.
"Gee," Anne began "you sure did have'n eventful couple'a days!"
"Tch, if you call that eventful. Such a waste of time." He looked sad, staring down at the covers.
"You should'a just waited a full night n'all th'kids rooms. Bet one of the doors would'a opened."
Randall shook his head. "That would take so loooong."
Mercy grinned at him and tilted her head. She decided to try a question again. "Why are you here?" She recalled asking the night before he left, and he seemed touchy on the subject.
He looked up and glanced at Anne, then back to Mercy. "It's not important." He said simply. "Only thing that matters is getting back."
That was not a good answer. "Listen, if ya done somethin' bad-"
"Yeah, we'd still love'ya!" Anne cut her sister off. It wasn't what Mercy was going to say, but it was good enough.
Randall looked back down. "Hmph." He thought it over a second. What harm could it possibly do? They won't let you stay in their house any longer. He told himself. So he watered it down a little."All I wanted was a little more recognition."
Well, it was a start. "Yeah? Go on, what happened?" Mercy edged, as if talking to a child who had been traumatized.
"Just a liiiittle more recognition, that was it. So I did something I probably shouldn't have. It was a good idea at the time but a mistake of my career. Now I'm here!" He was still refusing to look them in the eyes. He looked somewhat awkward to admit what he had done was the wrong thing to do. It didn't change the thought of revenge, however. Though, Randall felt somewhere deep inside his stubborn psyche, he was starting to enjoy the company of the- no no, what a horrible thought!
If humans where so vile, why was he openly allowing them to feed him, and sitting comfortably on one's bed? He felt light headed. He decided not to bring this up.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Mercy replied, voice lowered. She decided not to ask what this 'mistake' was at the moment. Her eyes showed compassion when Randall finally decided to look up.
"Yeah, 'cause Daddy says everyone makes mistakes." Anne nodded vigorously, giving him puppy dog eyes.
He found himself smiling involuntary. Before he knew it there was a hand upon his head, like earlier in the park. He felt himself flinching before he relaxed at the touch. Mercy was getting into the habit of touching him; as a reward or comfort. She flashed him a hopeful smile and then tried to flatten his fronds, which simply popped back up again. "We'll help ya." She said.
Anne scooted over and, knowing his earlier discomfort with her hugs, copied her sister and instead stroked his back. "Yes!"
Despite getting the feeling they saw him as not simply a person, but a sentient animal (even though they knew what he was), he still allowed them to pet him. It actually felt good. Randall was not touched gently often and, to be quite honest, human hands were extremely soft. He was feeling drowsy.
A longer chapter, but split into a few parts. Bit of a time skip. Thanks for reading.