Glowing Stone Chapter 1
Late one night, old white and green van on its journey. Inside the spacious van was a large family of thirteen: a mother, a father, their ten daughters, and one son. The family was nearing destination New York City Lynn Sr. was at the wheel, ensuring his family's arrival. Rita was assisting her husband with the GPS, making sure they stayed course.
The Loud sisters were engaged in their own activities in the van. Lori was on her phone, looking slightly upset about her breakup with her ex-boyfriend Devin, as she had to move to a new place. Devin did not want to engage in a long-distance relationship. Leni was reading her teen magazines. Luna was listening to her music with her headphones. Luan was working on her new joke to try to make her family laugh, even attempting to get her brother to laugh or speak. Lynn Jr. was contemplating how to get her brother to talk again. Lucy was at the back of the van reading her new vampire book. Lana was playing with the family pets, Charles, Cliff, Geo, and Walt. Lola was admiring herself in the mirror. Lisa was documenting her scientific work. Lily was taking a nap.
Lincoln was the only boy in the family, the sole son and brother. He had blond hair and typically wore an orange t-shirt, blue pants, and white shoes. The only distinction was that he was unable to speak.
The incident occurred when Lincoln was about four or five years old. Lincoln and his family were at the park, where he was in the sandbox. A group of teenagers, finding it amusing to attack a child without cause, began to punch and kick Lincoln. After a while, his sisters noticed the situation and were understandably upset., Lori, Leni, Luan, and Lynn started to retaliate against the teenagers, while Luna held the injured Lincoln to ensure he was alright.
Let us just say that the Loud sisters and Loud parents crying upon seeing their son in a bloody mess and were raged the teenagers for causing this.
Not long after, the police arrived and arrested the teenagers for assaulting him. Lincoln was taken to the hospital, where the doctors examined him and found that the beating had caused damage to part of his brain and his vocal cords. The doctor told his parents that Lincoln might never be able speak again. The Loud family broke down, knowing that their brother might never speak again. However, they never gave up hope. Over time, Lincoln struggled to communicate with his family and everyone around him in Royal Woods. Seven years passed, and Lincoln still had not spoken to anyone, becoming increasingly shy. His family members, including Rita, Lynn Sr., Lori, Leni, Luna, Luan, and Lynn Jr., blamed themselves for Lincoln's inability to speak.
Throughout his life, Lincoln had been bullied and picked on incessantly, leaving him in deep depression He would often retreat to his room, crying. His parents and sisters tried to help him, but nothing improved. Not only was he mute, but he entire life in fear. Due to the teenager who beat him up, he was afraid to make new friends or even talk to everyone. The only Lincoln felt comfortable with were his family
During this period, his five younger sisters, Lucy, Lana, Lola, Lisa and Lily, were born. They had never heard Lincoln's voice before. When Lincoln returned home from school, he occasionally had glitter or paint on his head. The final straw was when he came home with a black eye. His family had enough of their son/brother coming home beaten up. After identifying the perpetrator and them incarcerated, it did not rectify the damage; their brother still not speak.
Over time, Lincoln experienced deep stress and anxiety due to being bullied ridiculed. His family became concerned when they noticed that he had stopped eating for a period of time and was even having panic attacks. Worst of all, he was suffering from PTSD, wandering the house in a panic in the middle of the night. Fortunately, Lincoln's older sisters, especially Lori, stepped in to help him calm down and address the issues he was facing.
His younger sisters were worried to see their older brother like this Sometimes Lincoln would wake up to find his younger sisters sleeping in his bed. Even though Lincoln couldn't speak, Lisa helped him use sign language. Over time, he could only communicate using sign language.
After considerable deliberation, the parents decided to relocate to a different place. This is where the story left off. As the children approached their new home, Lynn Sr. said, "Just a few more minutes." "Okay," the loud daughter replied, while Lincoln remained silent and nodded his head.
This not only caused Lynn Sr. and Rita to feel distressed knowing that their son would never speak again but also upset the Loud sisters. The older sisters missed how their brother used to be happy and had never heard him speak clearly. The younger sisters had never heard their brother speak before. Whenever they wanted to communicate with him, he would nod his head and make gestures, occasionally using sign language. After Lori explained to them why Lincoln talk, they felt sorry for him.
As Lincoln stood by the window, gazing at the passing scenery, he suddenly observed a four-legged creature with a tail. The creature stared at Lincoln with blue eyes, and he was taken aback by this unexpected encounter, pondering to himself, ("What was that?")
After several more drives, the Loud family finally arrived at their new residence. In many ways, it resembled their previous home; they still shared rooms, but now they had the benefit of three bathrooms.
Upon arrival, the moving truck was already there waiting for them. As the Loud sisters disembarked from the van, they proceeded into their new house with their belongings in the moving boxes. Additionally, Lynn took Lincoln's belongings and placed them in his room. Lincoln gazed the building and felt an inexplicable sensation that someone was observing him. Within moments, he entered the house. After exploring the surroundings and seeing his sisters into their respective rooms, he examined his own room and realized it resembled his old home. Upon entering his room, he discovered that his belongings had already been arranged by his sisters Lynn and Lori. The only difference was that he had a fire exit.
Before Lincoln could lay down, he noticed a box on his bed. He saw that it had his name on it but did not recall packing this box before. After a few seconds, he began to open it and discovered a stone inside. The stone bore a symbol of a snowflake. Upon picking it up, Lincoln couldn't help but examine the stone. As he looked at the stone, he thought ("Why does this feel familiar?") With that, Lincoln lay down on his bed, intending to sleep. Before he could drift off, he heard a knock on the door. He got and opened the door to see Lola standing there.
"Hey, Linky. Mommy and Daddy said we're having pizza for dinner. Isn't that great?" Lola smiled, excited about the family meal. "They want me to come get you." After Lola finished talking, Lincoln shook his head no. Lola looked confused, so Lincoln used sign language and smiled to help her understand.
Sign language: (Thank you, Lola. However, I am not very hungry at the moment, so you may have my pizza sister.)
Lola was taken aback by her brother's words. Shortly after, she expressed her concern in a worried tone, "You're skipping pizza? You never skip! Are you alright, big brother?" With that, Lincoln communicated further using sign language.
Sign language: (Don't worry, Lola. I find that I am just not really hungry. just want to take a nap.)
Lola gazed at her brother and sighed. "Okay, big brother Lola said, and Lincoln returned her a smile. Before he could return to his bed, he felt someone embrace him. He looked down and saw Lola clinging to him. If he listened closely, he could hear her sniffling. So, he embraced her in return, and after a few, Lola released him and went downstairs, wiping away her tears, while Lincoln lay in bed, taking nap.
Before she entered the kitchen, she looked back up and let out a sigh. "I'm sorry, Linky," Lola said, wiping away more tears.
Approximately three or four hours later, at around seven o'clock, the Loud sisters were in their room while the parents were in theirs. Lincoln awoke with thoughts swirling in his mind—specifically about the stone and the creature. Feeling bored and desiring some activity, he got up and decided to explore New York City, as his sisters had only two weeks remaining before school resumed.
After descending the stairs and just before departing, his sisters called out, "Lincoln, where are you going?" He turned around to see his eldest sister, Lori, emerging from the kitchen. Lincoln gestured to indicate that he intended to take a walk around the city. Lori paused momentarily before speaking.
"Are you certain you will be alright in that environment?"
Lincoln nodded, offering her a reassuring glance.
Finally, Lori sighed. "Okay, but be back before it gets dark, alright?" Lincoln nodded at her and left the house, while Lori couldn't shake the guilt, she felt for Lincoln losing his voice and becoming shy.
As Lincoln wandered through the city, he soon noticed the sky darkening. He began heading back home but then heard a strange noise emanating from a nearby alley. Curious, Lincoln walked toward the sound, but upon his arrival, everything fell silent, causing him to feel a bit apprehensive. Just as he was about to leave, a creature darted out and bit his right hand.
Terrified, Lincoln hastened to evade the creature assault. After several tense minutes, he succeeded in breaking free and fled from the alley at full speed. When he finally felt secure, he glanced back and observed that they had not pursued him. Releasing a sigh of relief, he noticed a bite mark on his hand and contemplated applying a band-aid to it. With that thought in mind, Lincoln began his journey home.
Shortly thereafter, Lincoln returned home. With a few sighs, he quietly opened the door, endeavoring not to wake his family or disclose how late it was. However, as he entered, the lights were switched on, and there stood his family, looking quite uneasy.
After a moment of silence, Rita stepped forward, her voice trembling. "Lincoln Loud," she said firmly as she walked toward him. "Where have you been? We were—" Her words faltered, and she dropped to her knees, hugging him tightly. "You scared us half to death! Don't scared us like that again." Lynn Sr. added that he and rest of the family are glad that Lincoln is safe.
Lincoln created several signs to elucidate the events that had transpired.
Sign Language: (I apologize, family! I was merely exploring the city to appreciate its magnificence. I seem to have lost track of time, and I narrowly escaped an attack by someone.)
He withheld the particulars of the creature, uncertain of how to articulate them.
After Lincoln completed his gestures, the family expressed their concern, and Lori softly spoke up, "This is all my fault." Everyone turned to her, surprised to hear her voice.
"It's entirely my fault," Lori said, tears streaming down her face. Rita approached her daughter, embracing her tightly to provide comfort. Lincoln experienced a surge of emotions; he understood that they loved him, yet he still felt like a burden.
"Lori, it is not your fault," Rita reassured her, gazing into her daughter's eyes in an attempt to make her understand.
"Yes, it is, Mom! It's all my fault that Lincoln lost his voice. It's my fault he got bullied, and it's my fault he's suffering!" When the doctor said that Lincoln would never speak, I broke down, crying eyes out. I failed to protect my only brother and now look what happened to him. I'm the world worst sister ever," Lori cried out, pointing at herself, her emotions spilling over.
The entire family stood in stunned silence, coming the realization that Lori had shouldering the blame for Lincoln's condition all years. As everyone absorbed this revelation, a quiet voice pierced through the tension.
"…Sor...rrrr...yy," Lincoln's voice emerged, prompting everyone to turn in astonishment.
"Lincoln, you can—?" Rita began to say, but Lincoln interrupted her.
"I... I'm so...r...ryyyy fo...rrr be...iiiinn...ngg a bu...r...deeee...n." His voice wavered, tears streaming down his face as it turned red, while he expressed his feelings for the first time in years. Hearing their son and brother speak again left the entire family in shock.
Lori attempted to speak, but Lincoln, overwhelmed by emotion, fled upstairs, tears streaming down his face as he locked himself in his room. His family remained downstairs, stunned and in shock.
Rita fell to her knees, overwhelmed by the emotion of hearing her son's voice again after so many years, and broke down in tears. Lynn. rushed to his wife, embracing her, both sharing tears of profound emotion. The Loud sisters were filled with mixed feelings of happiness and sorrow, knowing that their brother had begun speaking but were upset and worried by his self-blame.
Upon returning to his room, Lincoln seated himself on the floor, weeping. After approximately ten minutes, he finally succumbed to sleep. Unbeknownst to him, the bite mark on his hand and the stone began to emit a gentle glow in the dim light. Lincoln's blond hair started to turn white, and the bite mark metamorphosed into a distinct beast symbol, indicating a transformation beyond his comprehension.