Kai
"This place is incredible…" I think to myself as I venture the roads of the city on my electric bike, the crisp breeze rushing over me and causing my cloak to flutter in the wind.
Been 2 weeks since we've arrived here, and I still can't get over the magnificence of this New York city-like town.
As Zechariah said, this IS an interspecies society.
All creatures, mythical and nonmythical exist here.
In a bustling community with relative peace here.
Though if they knew the things I know…they'd more than likely have different mindsets…
I still have many questions though…
Why can't we talk about the Districts? What's so wrong with Jack's story? What exactly is Zill? What's the name of this place? Who founded it?
These are questions I need answers to.
I'm one you'd consider almost always thirsty for knowledge, wanting to solve problems, and needing to know more about where I am, who I'm among, and who I should consider to be my friends and foes.
Call the last half that being skeptical, but in MY profession? That's called being careful, and functional, I'd even bet.
Regardless, I feel as if I'll find those answers sooner or later.
I'm scouting/admiring this city for anything out of the ordinary.
Though, this city would classify as anything BUT ordinary.
Because at this point, ordinary more or less just means calm, which is virtually nonexistent, given my experience.
I'd best be heading back to the Academy, I'm on my break right now and I'll need to get back to work patrolling the institution.
I soon take the next U-turn and start making my way back, revving the electric engine and speeding where I can.
Eventually, I find myself in the parking lot of the domelike structure, locking my vehicle and beginning to head towards the entrance.
As I do, however, I begin to feel as if something's off…
Like…
I'm being…
Watched.
I take a detour from the entrance, opting instead to use the door near the auditorium, where Cameron and Jackie should be at this moment with the students.
I keep maintaining my cool as well as my stride, still being wary of the potential liability around me.
As the entrance is within sight…
Behind me
I suddenly turn around and thrust my hand forward, not seeing what's there, but managing to grab …
A neck
And I, with great prejudice, slam it and the whole form straight into the nearby wall.
Splintering it…
SHNK!
I instantly draw the hidden spear-like blade I used before and I brandish it against the 'face' of what I managed to seize.
As I do, and in a translucent pulse that looks reminiscent of visible heat waves…comes the truth of not what…but who…I grabbed.
"I told you I'd have my eye on you." I growl, staring daggers at the spy.
It's Kaycee…
"H-How…?"
"Nobody hides from me. Why in hell are you here? You duped Cameron into coming here without telling her what this place really was, and you would've laughed if I didn't catch you red-handed. YOU are the one who committed that dishonest, malicious act. Why?" I interrogate the white-haired, yellow eyed woman.
"Could ask the same about you. You…were not supposed to be here." She utters, her voice distorted as of right now.
"Maybe I was. You're obviously part of an alternative agenda for something, and you see me as a problem to your plans. Of which, what do you need Cameron for?" I say as I squeeze harder. "News flash: Nothing happens on my watch."
"We…have uses for her…your little friend over there…" She manages to choke out.
"What for? A coup or something like that?" I ask.
"GNNH…W-what even ARE you…? You look human…but you're LEAGUES stronger…!" She squeaks out as she dodges the question.
"I'm the factor you didn't count on." I declare.
"In that case…we'll be dealing with YOU soon…Kai…" She glares at me, pulsing some of that weird power at me.
"Don't threaten me with a good time, Kaycee." I retort, returning the glare.
But soon…
VIIIIII-POP!
In a rapid sequence of more pulsing power from her, and in a flash of light…
She's gone, and all that remains of her presence is the cracked concrete wall.
I knew she was going to show up eventually…
Just not here…
2 weeks of nothing…but it seems my patience paid off.
I better get to Cameron ASAP.
Making sure there's nothing else around, I take haste in getting to the auditorium, entering about the same time as I hear a musical number coming to a close.
"(Sigh) You sing like an angel, Kayla." I hear Damian comment to the girl in question, as she and Zill had finished their performance on a grand piano.
"Eek!" Kayla exclaims as she darts away in fear of the red jackal.
"Every time!" He throws his hand up in frustration as his failed flirt attempt.
Zill only glares at him in response.
"Yunno, Damian, I'd appreciate it if you didn't try to hit on my girlfriend." He tells him before intensifying his look. "Especially right in front of me."
The accused in question gives a look of innocence before squinting his eyes at the anomalous one.
"Does it upset you?"
"YES!" He shouts in response.
When he does, I can't help but notice…
A light…coming from him…especially his eyes.
He's emitting that same presence he was yesterday…
When he was going up against me…
He said he was strong…is that his power?
Or at least the source of it?
"Hmm…" I utter to myself as Damian begins to walk away nonchalantly.
"Sorry! No habla English senor Zilliano!"
As the immediate area is soon without the little antichrist, Kayla gets the courage to reapproach Zill, staying right behind him.
"Sorry about that, Zill. I always get nervous when he gets too close." She says to her significant other.
"S'okay babe." He assures her, and comes face to face with her. "It's not like he has any kind of competition."
As they soon embrace, and Zill gives his girlfriend a kiss on the head, I decide to make myself known.
"Right you are, my mighty friend." I say, making my way on stage, catching the attention of the couple as they separate.
"Oh! Kai! Hey man!" Zill says as he fist bumps me.
"It's so good to see you again!" Kayla grins. "How've you been?"
"I've been good. Apologies if I haven't been seen much outside of security work in these past couple weeks. I've been…also working…elsewhere. I'd hang around the school more often, but despite Zechariah's assurances initially, the club rooms are kind of full right now." I explain.
"Yeah, I think one of the clubs is going to be disbanded, not sure which, but I think you're going to have an opening pretty soon." Kayla says.
"Hey, Kai!" I hear Cameron calling out to me from the stands, being accompanied by Jackie.
"You been doing good?" I ask her.
"Well, yunno, hanging in here, trying not to lose myself…" She utters.
"Hey, you've been doing better since you've been here, I at least can tell you that." I encourage her.
"Thanks man…" She says sheepishly.
"Hey Kai, wanted to ask, what kind of club are you even looking at making? You've been all on that ever since you and Cameron came here." Zill comments as I turn to him.
"Well, it's a surprise, so to say. Can't exactly ruin it, can I?" I say, chuckling.
"Yes, but you can only keep a secret for so long, especially with someone who's got strength as deadly as yours, I can only imagine what you have in store." Zill smiles.
"You're…not ready for what I've got." I bluntly state, shaking my head.
"Wanna bet?" He asks, raising an eyebrow.
"Don't make gambles you can't follow up on." I advise him.
"Oh really?" He says confidently.
"We'll cross that bridge when we get there, how about that?" I suggest.
"Alrighty then." He says.
I just about notice Damian still sulking over Kayla, near Jack as of right now.
"How about we chat later? Gonna need to get back to work soon." I say.
"I'll hold you up to that." He says. "See you, man."
"Bye, Kai." Kayla waves to me.
"Nice talking to you." I say as I leave them alone to do their own thing.
I watch them as they walk away.
"Feh! Can't they ever just get a room?" Damian hisses.
"Dame, why do you care anyway? Your chances with Kayla are zero." Jack tells his cousin. "And she's terrified of you."
"Nah! Religious girls are just a challenge!" He dismisses him as he soon puffs out his chest. "But they always give in to temptation at the end…"
"The fact that you chase girls says a lot about who you are." I say, catching his attention as I approach him.
"She loves me, she just doesn't know it yet…" He proudly defends himself.
"You say as she wants to literally put physical distance in between you and her, because her 'love' is overwhelmed by fear, apparently." I say. "Why are you even trying to get her? She's already taken."
"Oh-ho-ho-ho, she's too good for lil' Zill. Queen like her needs a king like me!" He says.
"Of course, the only Demon in this school is the one notorious for taking instead of giving." I insult him, catching Zill and Kayla's attention as well as Jack's.
"What? Got a thing against Demons?" Damian narrows his eyes and brings out his devilish smile.
"You have no idea." I utter, the ambiguity of the statement being obvious, also confusing the little antichrist.
I turn to see our little crowd of people watching us.
"Let me leave you with this, Damian Beezly." I say, walking up to him and coming face to face with him. "When someone is in a relationship, they're off limits. Knowing you, you will learn this the hard way. Also, if you want people, such as Kayla, to not treat you like a Demon, STOP. ACTING. LIKE. IT."
Despite my advice to him, he just shrugs it off, and departs with Jack, who gives a concerned look at his cousin's pride.
"Alright guys! That was great!" I hear Jackie congratulate the students for their performance. "What did you think, Cam?"
"I…think they sounded fine…" She utters.
"Okay! Break time guys!" She tells the kids.
'Wasn't it already break time?' I think to myself.
"Oh, hey Cam! I wanted to ask ya somethin'." Jackie says, turning to my friend. "Every year I host a little talent show to sort of entice more students to explore their passions! Would you like to help me out with it this year?"
"Um, sure. That sounds fun…" Cameron replies.
"Oh! Great! Thanks! It'll be fun, yes?!" The multicolor-haired girl hugs her. "Normally Al helps me, but he's not very good at organizing…"
Al…
Oh! Alonzo!
Jackie's husband!
I believe I've met him in these past couple weeks.
Rather eccentric, but I can respect someone who can dance.
Not to brag, but when I need to, I can bust a move.
"Well, it'll be nice to help you out, getting to bond with one of the only other humans I've seen here." Cameron says, looking at her.
Suddenly, Jackie bursts into laughter.
"You're not human?" I ask her before she can say anything as I approach the girls.
"Uh…yeah, heh, I'm so sorry, I didn't know Cam…well…didn't know." Jackie responds, wiping a tear from her, but suddenly gets a brief look of confusion. "How did he know…?"
As Jackie confirms my suspicion, Cameron suddenly gets the biggest look of skepticism I've ever seen her have before.
"Th-Then, what are you exactly…?" She asks, her fear beginning to take hold until I stand next to her, at least somewhat easing her conscience.
"I'm an avian!" Jackie exclaims with a smile, causing Cameron to recoil.
"I don't follow you…" The latter says.
"Would I be wrong in assuming you're a shapeshifter of some sorts?" I ask.
Her 'presence' so to say that she's emitting like Damian, is slightly unstable, in a not bad way. It just hints that her physiology is not concrete to one form.
"The ones in fantasy stories?" Cameron asks me.
"Yeah." I say, soon turning to Jackie. "So what would you be? Falcon? Hawkman? Kiwi?"
"Kiwi?" Cameron asks, confused.
"Figuratively, those guys got the middle finger from evolution." I say, the sympathy for those little flightless birds becoming obvious.
"Well, for context, avians are bird shapeshifters. We usually take human forms because it's easier to handle things with hands as compared to feathers." She explains, her body soon beginning to morph colors and shape. Her fingers becoming feathers and her head molding to become more birdlike, and soon, she is, without doubt, a parakeet-like being still sporting her signature smile. "And easier to eat fun foods or kiss with mouths rather than beaks! Ya know? Are you scared of birds too?"
At this point, Jackie is about the same height as Zechariah, only about a head shorter if he was sitting down right next to us, and Cameron is squeezing my arm once more as she usually does when she's scared.
"I'm…pretty scared of all animals to be p-perfectly honest…" She says, trying to back off.
"Yeah, speaking of, Jackie, if at all possible, can you change back? You're making her uneasy." I courteously ask the shapeshifting lady.
I'll need to talk to Zechariah about having the staff back off of Cameron until she adjusts properly, despite us being here for 2 weeks…
"Okay, whatever you say, Kai!" She says, gladly shifting herself back into her tan-skinned form.
"Though I'd have to ask, most people would be surprised to see this society full of creatures like us. Yunno, mythical creatures, shapeshifters, so-called talking animals. It's almost as if you adapted the exact moment you encountered us! You didn't even question most things that were happening." She points out.
As she says that, I can't help but notice…
A woman.
Watching us from the balcony, of whom also noticed the fact that I noticed her despite the fact that I shouldn't've had any clue she was there.
Jackie seems to see where my gaze is going right now.
"Oh! Hi Carrie!" She calls out, waving to the grey-skinned woman who commented on my physique when Cameron and I arrived here.
She doesn't respond, only continues to give us the death stare.
Though I'm debating on whether it's me or Cameron she's giving it to…
"Okay guys! Break is ov-"
RING!
Jackie's announcement is near instantly cut off as the school bell signifies the end of the class.
"OOPS! Looks like I lost track of time there…" She utters, but soon puts on her singsong voice. "Class dismissed!"
"Ugh…" Cameron puts her hand to her head, having been shaken to the core once again."
"You good?" I ask as the students begin to empty the auditorium.
"N-Not sure…"
"Cameron, this can't go on. I know you're scared of animals, but this is something you need to work out sooner or later if you're going to make it here."
"Easy for you to say." She replies, us having talked about this several times before. "It's like Jackie said, you're the one who adapted so disturbingly fast…"
"Yeah, it's easy for me to say. The difference is that I'm willing to go the hard route of at least doing what I can to help you conquer this fear." I say. "And I adapted because the moment I saw that this world has talking animals, asking unnecessary questions would waste time."
"But…how would I even do that?" She asks. "And time for what?
"Well, we need to get to the heart of why you're afraid of animals. Also, time to adapt. Time of which you can do so yourself. Time for you to figure out what drives you to constantly have the need to be on your toes, what about animals specifically are you afraid of." I ask. "If you want to make some time, we can talk it out. You can't solve a problem unless it's excised."
She looks at me briefly before taking a moment to at least think.
For her, this is more than likely a chronic issue that's been plaguing her for years.
It can't be solved overnight.
"You don't need to give an answer now. If you need some time..." I assure her.
"Y-Yeah…that'd be nice." She says, nodding.
"And that's perfectly okay. When you're ready…I'll be here." I say.
"Thanks…Kai." She says as she looks to me.
"Anytime, Cameron." I say as I depart her and the auditorium to continue patrolling the school.
As of these past couple weeks, I've been your standard security guard for this institution. Can't live in places like this without having honest work, and been making a pretty good living.
Though to be honest, as far as I've seen, I'm kind of the only measure of defense this school really has.
However, I'm confident in my abilities.
Whatever this place has in store…
Bring it on.
I look down at my wrist, and I flick it.
SHKK!
The sizeable blade flies straight out from under my wrist, the exact same one I used to aid in my second rescue of Cameron.
It's big enough to where, as my initial assessments were, it could be classified as a spearhead.
However, recently, I've been working on a little upgrade that I've been dying to try out.
I'll just say it right now, I'm an engineer at heart.
My passion for building and inventing things is something that, so to say, drives me.
Figuratively, or maybe even literally, it's part of my religion.
It's, complicated, to explain it.
SHKK!
I retract the blade back up my sleeve, also feeling up my form to make sure…
I have everything I'd need…
Accounted for.
As I cruise the halls, scanning virtually everywhere to make sure the peace is being upheld, at least for now, I can't help but come across a brief exchange Zill and Kayla are having.
"So, Zill…you excited for next week?" She asks her boyfriend.
"Next week?" He asks, smiling, but confused.
He turns to see a poster that says 'Talent Show try-outs Friday', and his smile gets bigger.
"Oh, next week! Yeah!" He replies as he gets in closer to his girl. "I have something special planned for the two of us…"
He kisses her, much to her joy before he departs.
"Catcha later baby!" He points to her with a cool guy look.
"Bye sweetie!" She waves to him, and soon sighs in awe as he's out of sight. "I can't believe next week is our three year anniversary! I wonder what he has planned! I mean, I don't mind what, anything would be fine with me. But he always does the most romantic things!"
I…doubt that the two of them are on the same page on what exactly is going on.
I already don't like where this is going…
She flutters her hands in excitement as she bounces away like the kangaroo she is, leaving Vanexa, who was there as she was gushing, to witness it all.
Also, of whom gets met with a dramatic lick from that fox named Spam, who was hiding in her locker, for some reason…
How long was he even in there? Much less how'd he get in there without some key? Last I saw there was a lock on there…
Better not to question it, I learned that the hard way.
As I depart the red hallway, I stumble upon a green hallway, as well as Zill again, conversing with Jack.
The former of whom…again, I already know have different ideas on what's going on next week.
She was thinking about a date, and HE was thinking about the talent show.
Better remind him first chance I get.
"So Zill, what're you and Kayla doing for next week?" Jack asks.
"Oh, I have the best idea for us." Zill confidently says, and soon wraps his arm around his friend's shoulders. "Ya know that song we sang from the musical freshman year?"
"Yeah! The year you got together?" Jack asks.
"Well, I figured it would be the perfect song to sing for the show!" He nonchalantly explains.
"The show?" The jackal asks, confused.
"Yeah, the tryouts are next week and I know Kayla is really stoked!" Zill adds, I just about notice Damian suddenly poking his head out from the other direction.
There's always trouble, wherever he is.
I take this initiative to hide behind the corner, continuing to eavesdrop.
"Uh heh…Zill, I think yer uh…heh…forgetting-" Jack tries to tell Zill, but has his mouth covered by Damian.
"Forgetting you have some real competition this year!" He interrupts his cousin, and soon comes face to face with Zill. "Your winning streak has come to an end!"
"You're sure of that, huh, squirt?" He confidently asks him.
The red Jackal growls at him as he continues to muffle Jack's attempts at speaking to Zill, of whom seems to be painfully oblivious as to what exactly Damian is doing.
"Okay, well, seeya Jack! I gotta go to work early today." The anomalous one says as he departs as his friend gives a muffled 'bye', the former also not being aware of me as he passes me.
As the two, and unbeknownst to them, me, are now alone, Jack gets the angle to push Damian off of him.
"What's yer issue, Dame?!" He exclaims at him.
"I can't let you remind that show off of his anniversary! It's his own fault he forgot!" Damian claims, pointing at his cousin.
"So you think you can stop me from telling my best friend he forgot his 3 year anniversary?" Jack asks.
"Yes…" Damian hisses maliciously at him.
"Try!" Jack retorts.
This isn't going to end well for him.
As such, my suspicions are confirmed when Damian tackles Jack to the ground, seemingly using his antichrist strength to pull him into another room, and soon emerges with his cousin tied up in a rope.
Yunno, I really should've expected something as low as this from someone such as Damian.
Of whom, as of right now, as thrown Jack into a locker, and stares down at him condescendingly.
"Comfy?" He asks, smiling mischievously.
"DAMIAN!" His captive cousin screams at him, and pokes his head out. "LET ME OUT OF H-"
SLAM!
The brown jackal is met with a locker door to the face as his red relative throws on some sunglasses and departs.
"It's only a week Jack! Hang tight…" He nonchalantly says, leaving the locker room on the opposite side and making Jack the only other known soul here. "Just…a…week…"
When the immediate area is without the little diablo, I make sure the area is, indeed, vacant.
All clear.
I emerge from the corner, hearing the banging of Jack on the door all the while.
Looking at the handle, there's a padlock.
Not something I'm not used to.
I look around for something I can use to pick it.
Fortunately, there seems to be a green and white hairpin on the ground.
Perfect.
I take it off the ground, soon bending and molding it to where it can be used.
I have other ways in which I can remove this lock…
But my method of operations in how I conduct myself make it to where I
When it's now in proper pieces, I kneel down to the lock, being ever so delicate to make sure each part is exactly aligned, as it should be.
When everything's in position, I force each of them all in, and turn it.
CLICK!
Awesome sauce…
(Why'd I say that?)
With the lock now removed, I open the door to see the captive Jack, his eyes now wide open in surprise at seeing me.
"Kai?! What're you doing here?" He asks, shocked.
"Keeping an eye on that little Demon's antics." I say, helping him out.
SHKK!
I extend my hidden spear blade from under my forearm, making it rotate in the same way I used to get the angle to save Cameron initially. The way I hold it now is like a knife, of which I use to cut the ropes restraining Jack.
Now free he looks at the blade.
"No wonder you're security, already packing hidden weaponry…" He comments, looking at the sizeable blade.
"You have literally no idea." I say. "You okay?"
"Yeah, thanks to you…wait, so you heard everything?" He asks.
"Yeah. What Damian is doing right now is borderline predatory. He wants to break Kayla's heart so he can somehow capture it, even though her fear of him is going to override her 'feelings' for him." I say, having all the evidence I need to make my conclusion.
"I…know my cousin can be…a jerk…but…nevermind. I gotta tell Zill about his anniversary with Kayla!" He exclaims. "If he misses it she'll never get over it!"
"I know. But I have a better idea. Been cooking up a plan since I got here." I say.
"And what kind of plan would that be?" He asks.
"Let's just play this out." I say. "On the day of the show, which is likely the day of the date, track down Kayla and let her know, but don't let Damian see you. I'll notify Zill. What we'll do is we'll have the show, AS the date. She herself said that she doesn't mind whatever they do. But it's CRUCIAL Damian doesn't find out, at least until the plan is enacted."
"Okay…I at least can work with that, but why have it so elaborate?" He asks.
"Damian is a nuisance; I didn't even need to be here more than a day to see that. Even you can admit that. You literally just said that a second ago." I reiterate.
"Unfortunately…" He replies.
"Stopping his plans aren't good enough. You must Make. Him. Cry. Take it all away at the last moment. He'll more than likely be there to see Zill's reaction to realizing he was 'late' to the date. When really, the date was there all this time." I explain again.
"But…knowing him…he'll be furious! Who knows what he'll try to do in response. He's the Antichrist! He can't really do much to me, but I don't want you to get hurt! He'll likely challenge you to a fight or something like that!" He says.
"Let him." I boldly say.
"But…"
"There was a reason I took security here. On the off chance he does try to fight me…he'll get the one-two to the face. I don't care he's a kid, if he attacks, will not hesitate." I say.
"Again…Antichrist…" He tries to reiterate again.
"I've been conquering my demons for years, and if push comes to shove…" I say as I turn to where Damian once was, looking at the knife I still have in my hand. "I'll conquer him."
SHKK!
As I retract my blade, Jack sighs.
"If…if you say so. But whatever happens, it's on you." He says.
"I'm fully aware of the risks and consequences." I assure him. "I'd recommend you go off the radar for the week."
"More than likely Damian would've said to the faculty I'm on 'vacation' or something like that already…and he's not very good at checking things because of his cockiness in his abilities, so I don't need to worry about him finding out I'm out…but the question lies as to where exactly I'd hide…" He says.
"Hmm…I'll let you figure that out. If necessary, and you need a fallback plan, you could lay low near my dwelling until it's time to enact the plan." I say.
"Thanks. I mean, it's only a week." He says.
"Time flies, you'd be surprised." I say, looking the wristwatch I have on my left hand. "I'd recommend you start making trails, this period's about to end."
"Okay. Thanks, Kai. You have no idea what you've done for me, Zill, and Kayla." He says, smiling as he sprints out the door.
"It's what I'm here for…" I say, closing the locker of which Jack was imprisoned in, and soon departing to get back to work patrolling.
One week later
So far, Jack's been doing good staying under Damian's radar. I secretly met with some of his teachers and managed to convince them to give makeup work for him since he couldn't afford to be around school.
I shouldered the responsibility of delivering the work to and from the teachers discreetly during my shifts, making sure that little devil was nowhere to be seen.
Today's the day, and Jack told me he already notified Kayla.
All that's left is to find Zill.
I'm doing my patrols again, and I recently came across the sheepish Cameron and enthusiastic Jackie conversing as the latter is putting up posters for the talent show.
"So what kind of talents do you usually see at the tryouts?" She asks.
"Oh, the children always come up with crazy acts for the show." Jackie replies, smiling.
"C-Crazy? Crazy like…how?" Cameron asks nervously.
As she does, I just about notice the one named Carrie sneaking up behind her. I sneak my way over and gently pull my friend aside, who is delighted to see me, but more so after I semi-shield her from the grey-skinned woman.
"Crazy like creative!" Carrie announces her presence as I stare her down, making her back off from being creepy.
"Bingo, Carrie!" Jackie says, but goes unnoticed.
"So how y'all adjustin', ginger, redcoat?" She interrogates both Cameron and me, respectively.
"I'm not even British." I comment.
"Sure. And ya still seem purty jumpy…" Carrie dismisses me and looks to my friend, who suddenly drops the stack of flyers she's been using. I preeminently catch most of the pile as it falls, but some still fly off and hit the floor.
The girls notice this and look to Cameron as she and I work together to pick them up.
"Mmmyep…" Carrie nods, my friend leans away from her.
"Maybe we wouldn't be if you would stop acting so weird." I say, Carrie gets an offended look, despite being the perpetrator.
"Well, anyways-me, Kai, and J-Jackie have to get ready for the tryouts soon…" She utters.
"Yeah. The students are prolly getting ready." The shapeshifting woman adds as Carrie leans into Cameron.
"Yeah, I can take a hint, ginger…" Carrie replies.
"Maybe you can take a hint over there." I tell her off, pointing to the other direction. "You're still acting creepy."
"Sure, redcoat. Both of ya, lemme know if ya ever feel like really getting to know yer new home. There's more to this place than you've seen…" She says as she begins to walk away, but soon runs into the red fox named Fabian, and confronts him as she passes him. "Don't get any ideas, fuzz bucket."
"Whaddya know? A Frenchman." I comment.
"Exactly what do you mean by that-" The French-accented one starts to ask her and I, but is cut off by Jackie.
"OOOH! FABIAN!"
He turns to see her she approaching him, all while Carrie just leaves us alone, me giving her a look as she departs.
"Would you have any desire to help me and Cam judge the tryouts?" Jackie asks as she wraps her shoulder over him. "After all, you and I both know you have quite a background in hidden talents in performance!"
"Well, I-" He begins to say, but soon notices the unnerved Cameron, and puffs out his chest in a presenting, formal manner. "Why, yes, I do…but I am afraid I cannot. I have some papers to grade."
He leans in closer to my friend, but I step forward to make him back off slightly.
Does nobody here realize how batsh*t scared Cameron is of animals? I thought they'd get the message by now!
"I had hoped to invite Ms. Cameron to tea with me though…"
"Woah! Down boy! She's new! Don't go tryin' no fancy stuff this soon!" Jackie interrupts him and ruffles the fur on his head.
"You don't even know if she drinks tea." I say, having learned that she prefers coffee in the morning.
"You wound me, Jackie." He smiles at her and looks to Cameron. "No, in all seriousness, I wanted to speak to you, and even your friend Kai here, about the human world. What is it like, now?"
"W-Well…" Cameron tries to speak, but can't find the words.
"Depends on the topic." I say, raising an eyebrow. "It was rainier than a Justin Bieber concert before we left."
Before the confused Fabian can ask more, Jackie is already pushing the half-giggling Cameron away at my unintended pun, causing me to follow/resume my patrol.
"Whoop, no time, we're late for the tryouts!" She says.
"Farewell ladies! I hope to see you for tea soon Cameron. I look forward to hearing from you a little more as well, Mr. Kai." He says, waving his elongated tail mostly at my friend.
"Bye Fabian!" Jackie says to the French fox as we leave his immediate presence, also leaving Cameron slightly dumbfounded on what exactly happened.
"Was that fox…just…h-hitting on me?" She asks.
"Yes he was." Jackie replies nonchalantly.
"And clearly nobody can take a hint…" I whisper under my breath.
We soon arrive at the auditorium which, Zill should be as of right now.
Jack told me he already notified Kayla that her and Zill's 'date' will be their performance on the talent show.
All that's left is to get to him.
The first thing we notice is commotion going on near the stage, with a girl getting into an argument with an apparent judge.
"Oh dear! What's going on here?" Jackie asks.
"A dispute, that's what." I say.
When we get closer, we can hear what they're saying.
"Girl. I say again! Please get off ze stage." The Italian judge tells the redhead girl.
Wait, it's the same one who sniffed me and recoiled violently…
Never got her name…
"C'mon! you didn't even see my act! That's not fair!" The girl exclaims, frustrated.
"I didn't need to see any act to know you have nothing to offer." The judge dismisses her, and points to her outfit. "Why are you wearing that?"
The assistant judge tries to speak up.
"Actually, I would love to-" But is cut off by the other judge. "See…"
"Next."
The girl sulks away in defeat, but somehow trips, and falls backwards onto the judges, much to their frustration.
"What kind of clumsy move was that?!" The blue-haired judge angrily asks her.
Jackie soon intervenes.
"Mackenzie?!" She asks, approaching her. "Gustav! What's happening here?"
"It, tripped."
"Oh, Kenzie. Sweetheart…you can't keep…" She tries to comfort the girl but is met with hissing from her.
Despite her reaction, I approach her, and I extend a hand to her.
She hisses again, but I don't react. Soon she looks to and from my hand, having a brief emotional dispute between her head and her heart. Eventually, she relents, taking my hand and allowing her to be pulled up.
"So, Mackenzie, was it?" I ask, he nods, not making eye contact with me. "Would you be open to telling me what your act was going to be?"
Despite some hesitation, she quickly goes back onstage, and emerges from the curtains with a cello.
"I…was going to play a song." She says, but soon points to the one named Gustav. "Until he decided I wasn't even worthy of the tryouts."
"Mr. Gustav, right?" I ask. "What's the problem here?"
"Like I said, I don't even need to see her act to know she's got nothing." He dismissively says.
"Okay, discount Simon Powell…how about this: 60 seconds, that's all you need, right Mackenzie?" I suggest to the blue-haired man, and then ask the redhaired girl. "Nothing more, nothing less, at least until you change your mind."
"Who're you to tell me how to do my job?" He accusingly asks me.
"The one who's gonna do it while you watch." I stare daggers at him. "60 seconds isn't that long in a noncombative situation, I'm pretty sure your life won't be on the line for just one minute."
He stands there as his assistant looks to and from me and him, seemingly surprised somebody stood up to his superior.
"Fine. One minute, that's all you get." He says, relenting more or less to not cause any more problems.
The redhead's eyes suddenly widen like dinner plates, as if she wasn't expecting me to get this out of him.
She turns to me, a smile threatening to break through.
"T-Thank you…" She utters, rushing back to her initial position to do her tryout.
As she does, I give a little salute to her in response, and the fact that I have to track down Zill soon comes to mind.
I excuse myself to Cameron and Jackie, and disappear backstage, searching for the anomalous one.
He's here, I know it.
Fortunately, it doesn't take long, as I track him down, hanging right behind a dark-skinned girl with a pink hoodie, of whom seemingly reads a book of sorts as she waits for Mackenzie to finish her song.
Zill, as of right now, is checking his smartphone, seemingly waiting for Kayla.
He sighs, concerningly.
"Where is she?" He asks himself, soon turning to the girl reading the book. "Hey Sahara, have you seen Kayla around today? I told her to meet at 8…and she's never late…"
"I think I can answer that." I say, catching his attention.
"Kai? What're you doing here?" He asks, confused.
"Looking for you, actually." I say.
"Okay, but why?"
"You realize that today is your 3 year anniversary with Kayla, right?" I ask.
The look on his face instantly sours, and his eyes go even wider than Mackenzie's did than earlier, and his irises suddenly start glowing that signature green with anxiety.
"Oh no, you did NOT forget that, did ya, Zill?" The girl named Sahara asks.
"NEXT!" Gustavo calls as Sahara goes to do her performance.
"Zill, calm down, it's why me, and Jack, are here. To remind you." I say.
"But it's unforgiveable! How could I have forgotten?!" He asks, pacing back and forth.
"Well, we'll get to that soon. I already had Jack tell Kayla that the tryouts, as well as a little thing we had planned afterwards, is what's going to be your date for today." I explain, calming him down. "It's alright…"
"Oh…my gosh…man…you don't even realize the absolute HELL you saved me from…" He utters, giving me a fist bump.
"Well, speaking of Hell, there's a reason for that." I say.
"Why's that?" He asks, confused.
"Remember last week in the locker room? When Jack was trying to tell you something and Damian covered his mouth, while you, with all due respect, was painfully oblivious to what was really going on?" I ask.
"Y-Yeah…?" He asks, his eyes starting to widen again with his train of thought already arriving at the answer, but also gets another look of realization. "Wait, why were you in the locker room?"
"My good sir, it's Damian, everywhere he goes, there's trouble. I put it in my head the moment I laid eyes on him to keep them on him." I say.
"So…if what I'm thinking is true…" He starts.
"Jack was trying to warn you about the upcoming anniversary, and Damian, seeing this as his opportunity to try to make Kayla break up with you, stopped him before he could." I say.
His jaw drops, in both realization, as well as unrivalled fury, with his green light beginning to intensify from him.
"Oh, that little PUNK! I knew he was trying to get her to fall for him, but I should've expected something like this from him!" He growls.
"Why else do you think I wanted to take away his victory at the last moment?" I say, he turns to me. "Little antichrist such as him needs to learn the lesson the hard way."
"So what's the plan?" He asks, glaring.
"Kayla should be here within the next few minutes. I saw Damian hanging around this area. You guys get to see the look on his face when you do your performance, and relish in victory against him." I say, his smile begins to widen.
He sighs in relief.
"Man, I don't know what I'd do without friends like you." He says.
"You'd survive, but it's nice to at least have them. They make your life better, and teach you all the while." I say…
As my mind begins to drift off to a different…
More scarring…place…
Something that happened…almost half a year ago…
As I do, Zill seems to notice.
"Uh, dude?" He asks, snapping me out of it.
"Apologies, just reminiscing." I say.
"Okay…" He says. "So, does Kayla know what exactly is going on for our performance? I'm guessing you overheard it and told Jack?"
"Yeah, actually…" I say, as I take notice of a couple someones arriving. "They're here."
I look behind us to witness the kangaroo and the jackal arriving, the former having a pleasant smile on her face, all the while the latter gives a reassuring look to Zill.
"Hey sweetie!" Kayla greets her boyfriend, hugging him. "Ya know, when I was thinking about us doing our anniversary, I honestly wasn't expecting this!"
"Y-Yeah, babe, if it's time together, it's a date!" He says, holding his hand over his head.
"So, it was our freshman year song, wasn't it?" She asks. "The one we're going to sing?"
"I mean, what better way to celebrate our beginning than…well…the beginning?" He asks.
"Oh, Zill, that's so romantic!" She exclaims, throwing her arms over him.
"We have a bit of another thing we have ready, should you be open to it." I offer.
"And you all helped plan this?" She asks, her hand over her heart.
"You could say that." Jack comments.
"Oh, you're so amazing, Zill!" She gushes, kissing her crush.
Jack walks over to me and leans in.
"I got the setup ready at her place, only point of contention is what the meal is." He whispers.
"What's her and Zill's diet consist of?" I ask, slightly confusing him.
"Well, Kayla's a kangaroo, so she's vegetarian, but Zill is omnivorous, as he's shown me, so if you got a meat dish or something like that, he'd like that." He says.
"Understood." I say. "I can probably get both situated."
"Got it." He says.
"NEXT!" Gustavo calls out from outside the stage, Jack already sprinting over to get the grand piano to push it out.
The cute couple soon go out, holding hands as Zill places himself on the seat, and Kayla on the piano itself, as they were last week when they were rehearsing.
As they soon get to their performance, I scan the area, making sure to be wary if Damian is here or not.
If he is, it's not unreasonable he'll attempt sabotage.
He's got that weird presence to him, the same thing that the citizens of this place have, his seems to be more nuanced and sinister.
They're starting their song now, good.
They sing in unison, smiling all the while, as if the world among them ceases to exist, and all that is present is their voices.
Unfortunately, Kayla doesn't know Damian almost ruined this day for her and Zill, and if he doesn't know now that his plans were foiled, he inevitably will.
The song only lasts for about 5 minutes, and though it is slow and steady, Damian is fortunately nowhere to be seen.
He's probably back home, thinking that his 'master plan' has worked…
Love to see the look on that little devil's face…
Eventually, the song comes to a close, and the odd, yet adorable couple share a moment together, loving each other all the while.
"YOU GO MY PRODIGIES!" I hear Jackie cry out from the stands, making Cameron, sitting next to her, recoil.
"Now zat, is talent there." Gustavo gives a brief round of applause for them.
"Nice, man!" Jack calls, pumping his fist in the air.
They get up from their seats, and the couple gives a theatrical bow for their performance.
"Thank you ever so much!" They say as they come backstage, Jack soon wheeling the piano back as well.
"Zillion! You did so amazing!" She congratulates her boyfriend.
"Not as good as you, babe." He gives her a heartwarming touch on the nose.
"Naw, you did better!"
"No, you did better!"
"Look, you both did spectacularly, how about that?" I say, ceasing what could be a perpetual exchange between the two.
"Okay…" They say.
"So, what else did you have in store?" Kayla asks Zill, who looks to us half-expectingly, and half what-did-you-have?
I give Jack a glance, to which he returns, and we both give Zill confident grins.
1 hour later, outside Kayla's home
"…When we all fall asleep, where do we go?"
After helping Cameron home on the way to Kayla's place, Jack had a little performance ready for the couple before they had a romantic dinner right outside.
He almost had a Disney antihero-like feel to him when he sang, but was still pleasant, at least for them.
"Ooh! That was so cool, Jack!" Kayla claps her hands for the jackal.
"Didn't know you could give a tune like that…" Zill also gives a miniature round of applause, being legitimately taken aback at what his best friend can do.
"I mean, I kind of had a bit of a musical episode this past summer when…well…yunno when you tried to help me with my bad luck?" He asks him, putting down a microphone he had.
"Oh…THAT'S what you were doing?" Zill asks, pointing it out.
"Yeah, before I got attacked by that monster." Jack casually says.
"Hey, if it ever came down to it, we'll help you again, without hesitation." Kayla proclaims.
"Wise words, Kayla." I say, leaning over to a small table I had ready, between 15-20 minutes after we got here, Kayla gave me free reign over her kitchen.
In my profession, being able to cook at least somewhat is a highly necessary skill.
Most people don't realize how valuable it is to be able to, and it goes unnoticed almost all the time.
It IS a bit of a simple meal, though at least it's enough to accommodate the couple for the evening.
I take 2 plates with the fancy aluminum tops and bring them to the couple, setting the respective dishes in front of each of them.
"For today's dinner, we have…" I say as I lift up Kayla's. "Fried brussels sprouts, lemon-mint peas, sweet bourbon carrots, and flambéed."
The aroma of the vegetarian dish instantly wafts up into the kangaroo's nostrils, her ears literally standing on end after her senses are met with such extravagance.
"Oh…my…" She utters, her eyes wide open.
"And for Zill," I say, lifting up his. "Exquisite, succulent, catfish cooked Cajun-style in lettuce hearts, and served with a simple vinaigrette of thyme, salt, pepper, lemon juice, and white wine vinegar."
"Dang…" He says, getting a whiff of the dish, and having to cover his mouth to stop salivating at it.
"Bon Appetit." I say in a Lithuanian accent, for some reason.
"Thank you, Kai." The couple say as they dig in.
As they do, and their eyes go wide from the taste, I retrieve a second plate of food I prepared for me and Jack, should he have wanted any.
"Hungry?" I ask, holding it out.
"Sure, thanks." He says as he takes it, biting into the spicy catfish wrap, but soon fans his mouth from the burn. "WHOO! Damn…"
"Apologies, might've gone a little hard on the cayenne…" I say, noticing the extra heat as I take a bite.
"You kidding? This is perfect!" Zill says, happily munching on his food.
"Thank you, Zill." I say.
"Yeah, this is probably the best food I've had in, like, ever!" Kayla compliments with a smile.
"Appreciate it, Kayla." I say, nodding.
As I take another bite of my own food, Jack leans in.
"I'm glad this night went well for them, but you know Damian's going to find out." He advises me.
"Let him." I say after I swallow, reiterating what I said earlier. "If he throws hands…you don't even know what he's capable of..."
I look at one of my own, and grip it into a fist.
"Regardless, I'll gladly humble him…"
Chapter End
