Howard's house is closer to Slimovitz's than mine is, so it was decided I would spend the night there. I stopped by home first to get my bike. Though both Howard and I know how to drive, we're too young for a license and we definitely aren't 'borrowing' a car. His house is pretty far, but bikes will be fine. Juggo has an older sister, who is willing to drive him and everyone else and because of that they are also bringing the supplies.
To Howard's house I brought my school stuff, overnight clothes, and an all-black outfit for tonight's fun. I considered wearing my ninja stuff 'cause ninjas are supposed to be stealthy and stuff, but obviously that wouldn't go over well. My black McHoodie will be just fine.
I have to admit, I feel mildly apprehensive about tonight. You know how people will say something 'made their skin crawl'? I know how that literally feels. The ninja tattoos had been moving restlessly ever since lunch and I'm too scared to look at them. Every time I even thought about tonight the oh-so helpful lights would dance in my vision; playing out scenes of mayhem. Why the juice do I need both manifestations? It honestly freaks me out how they respond to my thoughts. I can live with it though if it means I can send the Sorcerer back to his hole in the ground. Wherever that is.
Howard jabs me with his pencil. "What's up? You've been sighing an awful lot for the past hour." Right now we're trying to fill in the irregular verbs worksheet for Spanish.
"I don't know. Are you sure about the prank tonight?"
"Course I'm sure. Don't you think it'll be fun?"
"I guess. Hey, what's the past tense form of 'tener' for 'I had'?"
"Ehh, lemme look it up."
"Hooooward!" The door is closed, but we can hear Heidi just fine.
"Whaaaat." He yells with exasperation.
"Have you seen my red bracelet?"
"Nope."
"Are you sure it's not in your room somewhere?" With this she opens his bedroom door.
"Yes, I'm sure. What would I want with your stupid bracelet?"
"Ugh. I'm always finding weird stuff in here so you never know."
"You go through my stuff?!" Howard gets up as if to confront his sister.
"Whatever." Heidi leaves and Howard flops onto the bed, messing up his ginger hair.
"You're so lucky being an only child Cunningham."
"It can't be that bad." When I was younger, I sometimes wished for a sibling. Howard is the closest thing to a brother I've got.
"It is though. She's so nosey."
"She runs the school gossip show. Can't do that without being nosey."
"Heidi shouldn't be investigating my personal life though. The only thing I know is how to beat the secret level in Grave Punchers… and the secret identity of the Ninja." He winks at me.
"You wouldn't!" I don't think he would.
"Nah."
It's nine-thirty. The house is silent. We had just gotten back from saying goodnight to Howard's parents, who are now asleep. Heidi is on the top floor, so I think we're good to go. Unlatching the window, we hop out and go around to the back of the garage where our bikes are waiting for us. The street lights are lit up and we're zooming down the sidewalk. Two blocks straight, a right on Main, a couple more blocks and finally a right on his road.
The Monster Klub was waiting for us; three bags next to them filled with supplies. No one says a word, it's too risky. P Slimz lives in town and his neighbors are close, thankfully Slimovitz believes in early bedtimes. There are six of us so the goal is to get this done quick and get to the parking lot of the closest convenience store to celebrate.
Dave and Howard grab the boxes of plastic forks and begin stabbing them into the ground. Julian wraps the bushes, Theresa wraps his car (he doesn't have a garage) and Juggo and I are throwing the rolls over the few trees in the yard. My tree is only about eight feet tall, I wonder if I could completely wrap it, like a mummy. I'm gonna go for it. I throw the roll over it from different angles, trying to keep the strands in one piece.
I hear Julian giggle. Looking behind me, it appears he's trying to do a skull and crossbones design on the bushes. He didn't even bother to change into dark clothes like the rest of us, though his dark purple suit works just as well. Howard and Dave are almost done with the lawn forking. With a sigh of relief, I try to calm my nerves. We're almost done and no one has caught us.
I finish my tree and I consider helping Theresa with the car when Julian approaches me.
"Having fun Ran-dy?" He asks, pronouncing my name like it has two syllables. Julian's too close for my liking, however it's the only way to hear each other's whispers. Out of reflex I straighten my back, trying to look taller. Of course it has no effect; Julian is as tall as I am.
"Totally," I attempt to go around him, but he gets in my way.
"You know, it's too bad we can't toilet paper the top of that tree," He nods his in the direction of a tall pine in the side yard. "We would need a ladder… or someone who can fly." His eyes stare into my soul.
"Um, hehe, t-that would be helpful… yeah." Julian is really creeping me out. I look around, but no one else notices us. It's only through sheer will power that I hold my ground as he comes closer still. Julian giggles again.
"Come with me quietly and nobody gets hurt," his sing-song tone wasn't matching his words. Is he joking?
"Julian," I back away now, "I don't think…"
"Fine," His hands reaches into an inner pocket of his coat, "don't say I didn't warn yoooou."
"Juuuuggo!" Julian shouts across the yard. "Why don't you tell everyone the name of the stuffed animal you sleep with?"
"Julian! What are you doing? You're going to get us caught!" I whisper-shout as long as I dare.
"Not cool man. What happens at sleepovers stays at sleepovers!" Juggo is also loudly whispering.
"Its name is Admiral Cuddles by the way." Howard snorts. Oh cheese I see where this is going please don't laugh Howard.
"And Theresa here… I know who she has a crush on." I see a light flick on across the street.
"Julian stop!" Theresa is running towards him. I honestly would not be surprised if she punched him in the face.
"She has a crush on Randy Cunningham!" She stops in her tracks. Wait, what? Julian smiles maliciously and places a hand on Dave's shoulder.
"And Dave, did you really think I was your friend? Your accordion sounds like a dying duck!"
The green smoke starts to form and I reach for the ninja scarf… only to realize it was in my other change of clothes! For once I willingly check and see what they have to say. 'A ninja is more than the weapon he wields' I'm not wielding any weapon how is that helpful.
"Cunningham!" Howard is being held by Julian with a knife to his throat in Julian's other hand was a green orb. I vaguely remember seeing the Sorcerer have some of those on that fateful day.
"Yes Ran-dy, save your friend here!" The chimeras were still, waiting for me to make a move. "Or should I say… Ninja!" After everything that had happened, I really shouldn't have been shocked that Julian knew.
"How? I-I don't know what you're talking about!"
"Magic recognizes itself Randy!" With that he moved his hand with the orb and my wings appeared against my will. "I gave you a chance to meet with the Sorcerer, but now you die." Julian floated onto P Slimz's roof, leaving Howard on the ground unharmed.
The stanked students are the most unnatural yet; I can't think of any animal to compare them to. Dave's an emaciated, blue thing with arms like bendy straws; Juggo looks like a garish demon clown with four arms; Theresa might be a plant if plants had teeth sharper than a great white shark. It's terrible of me, I know, but they kinda reminded me of the Fooglies from the movie SPY kids.
I strike a dramatic fighting pose. "I may not have my scarf, but I can still kick your butts!"
"You don't have your scarf? YOU SHOOB CUNNINGHAM! WE'RE GOING TO DIE!" At this very moment, the principal opens his front door wearing a fluffy bathrobe and slippers.
"What in tarnation is goin' on out here?" Upon seeing the three chimeras, he screamed like a little girl and locked his door. Slimovitz didn't notice me at all.
With a roar, the creature formerly known as Juggo rushes at me. His legs are too small to support his weight so the clown walks on all fours like a spider. At least I have a few weeks of experience; Howard can only run as Chimera-Dave chases him.
"Howard, get outta here!" I yell. I can't protect him like this; too many enemies and no ninja weapons.
"I'm not leaving you!" He yells back and runs somewhere behind the house. Chimera-Theresa had seen P Slimz and is trying to break into his house. The door is locked, but her new form can easily smash windows.
To be honest I'm not in a much better position than Howard. It is hard to formulate a plan when you are running from something three times your size without even something as simple as a stick to protect yourself. My pursuer reaches out to grab me, I jump and fall. Something had tripped me… the honkin' plastic forks!
Chimera-Juggo grabs one of my legs, dangling me in front of his giant, red mouth. I've never seen what happens to the Sorcerer's creations when they are not stopped. I wonder if they would eat me. Just as I'm sure is going to do just that, he flings me high into the air; from an outside perspective it appear that he's juggling me. At maximum height I spy Howard in the back fighting off Chimera Dave with… a rake? Gravity takes hold once more and I fall into the clown's waiting hands. The sensation of helplessly falling is so much worse than riding a roller-coaster at Whoopie World. My breath is knocked out of me one, two, three, four times and I'm in the air again.
Howard yells, glass shatters and a chimera roars. The world is spinning so fast, but I can hear him laughing and I remember. That emo butt-wipe Julian is working with my enemy and threatened my best friend. Theresa, Dave and Juggo are nothing but puppets to him; Julian is the puppet master and I need to cut some strings.
"Ninja-McKicks-to-the-face!" I yell, slamming my feet into my assailant's large, red nose. I land on my feet after a backflip. The shining lights of ninja knowledge point out a fatal flaw in Julian's plan. Shoob made himself an easy target; he's not the only one who can fly onto roofs. His back is turned, amused as he watches my best bud fend for his life.
I run, focusing solely on the figure on the roof. I spread my wings, preparing to leap, and then pain. Terrible pain. Once again I'm face to face with a mouthful of teeth. Chimera-Theresa had grabbed me by the waist, thorns like a rosebush protruding from her arms tearing through my hoodie. The boa constrictor vines tightening. Bones protesting. Teeth flash and it feels like lightening hit my entire left side. She bit me.
I land somewhere, tossed like a toddler's unwanted toy.
"Howard." I whisper. I can no longer hear anything from the backyard. No… he can't… Someone's walking toward me. "H-Howard!" I stutter.
"No, just me," It's dark out, but I can see Julian's grin just fine.
"Why did you do this?" I gasp. I really hope none of my ribs broke, 'cause breathing is suddenly a lot of effort.
"I've always wanted to be a great magician and now I've got this," Julian fondles the sorcerer ball. "All I had to do was find the ninja and destroy him. Come my Klub, finish what we have started."
a/n: I decided to split my plans for this chapter into two, so yes Heidi will be in the next update. Minor edits made to chap 3. fyi one year ago today i made this au~ wah