Fifteen - Pt. 8 -

We entered inside the abode of Mr. Cotton, who nervously crept to a safe distance away from us. Hurtful, but okay.

Some of us were able to sit, but the rest had to stand due to there being a short supply of places to actually sit. I did find it extremely rude that he didn't offer us something to drink or something and just chose to stand, watching us, causing the air to be tainted with awkwardness. I may be a pain in the rear, but I know manners and his poor display of them made me want to go kung-fu on 'im. I was among those that chose to stand and I leaned against the wall, crossing my arms and legs, staring at Cotton from across the room.

"So.." I spoke, breaking the silence.

I tilted my head. "Anything you wanna share with the class?" 

Cotton rubbed his hands together nervously, giving me the dirty eye. 

There was something withholding him from telling us what we needed to know. Not just his paranoia.

And I had no clue as to what. 

"I don't know why I should even bother telling you, it's not like there's anything you can do about monsters."

"We do have some experience in this particular field.." I added, spinning my knife between my fingers before taking hold of it once more and lifting my eyes up to him. "More than you do, at least."

He sneered, but said nothing. 

"Please Mr Cotton, whatever you can tell us." Scully said, gently and as politely as possible. 

"There are children's lives at stake, so we really are pressed for time."

Mulder added, making Cotton squirm. While the heroic side of our party was being patient and optimistic, the villainous side.. you can guess who.. were standing in the darkness, staring Cotton down intensely, their faces teeming with wickedness, hands ready at their weapons. 

They were thinking deadly thoughts.. and I believed I knew what. 

Cuz I was thinking the same thing.

"It's not going to do any good.." "Okay, so basically, there's a lot to tell that you're purposely keeping from us.. or you don't know anything, and you're just wasting our time." "No." He panicked.

"Then talk. Cuz we got places to be."

"Stop harassing me, kid!" 

That's when Bane emerged from his spot and began to stomp towards Cotton, who widened his eyes and shriveled low upon witnessing Bane's imposing size and battle-ready posture. His fists curled and his muscles tightened as he now hovered over the man. 

"Gah!" Cotton screamed, practically hugging himself. 

"What are you doing?!"

Bane then took him by the shoulder and hoisted him to his feet. 

Cotton shook like mad, staring up at him in fear. That's when Bane gathered up the front of his shirt with one hand and held him in place, causing the man to panic even more. "Whatever hold the villains have on you.. I promise you, mine is far worse." 

Cotton swallowed loudly, kicking his legs as he was hovering in the air.

"I highly...hhkkkk!!!...doubt that!!" 

My head tilted. "Really? Because.. these four.." I nodded at the boys.

"--are villains." And then leaned forward. 

".. Now how did I manage getting that on my side?"

Once again, he swallowed. I leaned back, completely playing it cool while a man was being threatened by my muscle like I was some kinda mafia boss. 

As much as I go around pretending like I'm some kinda 1920's gangster, it doesn't at all surprise me. 

I fastened my gloves tighter, my eyes wandering the room. 

"I would hate to think you had anything to do with what's happening to Coolsville, Cotton.. betraying your own kind by selling them out to monsters is pretty freaking cruel." "I'm not a traitor! I swear!"

I snapped my fingers, which pointed to him.

"That's exactly what I was hoping you'd say! Cuz see, my boys here, they know a liar when they see one. And they're getting those bad vibes from ya that I really hope is just them getting antsy."

I leaned in at that moment.

"Problem is, you're just not urgent enough to save a bunch of kids." 

His brows crinkled. "It's not just about the kids! The families are disappearing, too!! The monsters patrol these streets! NO ONE comes out anymore!!" His head turned. "I talked to one family the other night..next morning, they're gone!! With absolutely no sign of them!" 

Bane flicked his gaze on me as I stood up straight, my own gaze now pointed at the ceiling. Jim snuck over to me and whispered in my ear..

"..The Shashta Nirvana??" 

I turned in his direction, shaking my head. "First of all, ew, that mispronunciation. And second, I don't even wanna consider that a possibility." Jim's brows lowered. "Why's that?" 

My eyes snapped to him and I squinted. Once again, I found myself having to explain to him the concept of empathy.

"Because the kids' families would be DEAD?!" 

He looked away, as if remembering how to solve a math problem.

"Oh yeah." 

I rolled my eyes, sighing. My head turned to Cotton, "Do you know if there's anyone left?" 

He nodded. "There's a few families.. hkk.. around the area.. hddfnnn.. mind....calling off.. your dog?!" 

My eyes enlarged in realization and I snapped. "Oh yeah-- Bane, cut it out!"

Bane immediately released the little rat. Cotton held his throat.

"Bah.. some heroes!!"

"Mm, well, maybe we're just the kind that are tired of being screwed around with."  

He cut his eyes at me, darkly.

"Next time, try cooperating the first time you're asked to.. you'll have a better day." 

Cotton huffed. "I hate you." 

"I get that a lot." 

I walked over to a table and grabbed a notepad before walking back and throwing it down, next to Cotton's knees. "Gimme a list of all who you know is left. We'll work from there."

"Their addresses, too!" I glared at Mabel, who gave Cotton a stern nod. 

I sighed. He blinked in confusion and shifted, uncomfortably.

"So.. you're leaving?" 

"Yes." Scully rose with Mulder and the two approached our small circle,

"Thank you for your cooperation." "What cooperation?!"

The two agents ignored J's protest and walked out, Dipper running right behind, holding Mabel's hand to drag her along in the process.

"Demens, time to go." Master started to head out, the rest of everyone following close behind.. but I remained, staring down at Cotton with extreme prejudice. The rest paused and waited for me. I drew Cotton's attention to me, whose eyes lifted, anger seeping into his expression.

"What?" 

I squinted. "... If we have to come back here.. you're gonna regret it."

He sucked in every ounce of air inside of him and looked back down, now writing the list we needed. When he finished, he ripped the paper out from the pad and handed it to me, holding it between two fingers. "You won't." 

I took it. ".. Hold ya to that."

With that, I stood up and turned, joining the gang as we all skedaddled away. 

~ 

 

"That was rather unexpected." Dipper observed. "I, for one, didn't see that coming." 

Shaggy shook his head. "Like, to think, one of their own neighbors.. turning on them like that!"  

"Well, 9 times out of 10, the ones who attack us are usually the ones we know.. ones we trust."

Daphne pressed her fingertips against her lips.

"That.. that explains why it's always been someone we know, the ones we've unmasked.. they've been people we trusted, part of our town.."

"It almost makes you not want to trust anyone." Velma frowned.

I shook my head, "If you pay attention, they won't have a chance to do anything. You'll be ready for it.."

Eleven looked up at me. "Has someone hurt you?" 

Her question threw me by surprise and I slowly looked down at her, almost uncertain on what to say. 

I didn't wanna drag anyone down with my emo thoughts, but.. "..Y-yes..many times." "..Why?" 

"Because they sucked." She blinked. I sighed, knowing that she wanted more. 

".. Because they were people who gained my trust and took advantage of the kind side of me in order to break me.. because it was easy.. but most have learned to stop." "When was that?"

I leaned in, smirking. "When I started to break them back."

Eleven smiled an adorable half-smile. It pleased me that I was able to make such a serious child smile. Mulder nodded, laying a hand on my shoulder.

I glanced at him, as he started to smile himself. He didn't say anything, just looked at the others and silently, they all decided to move on down the path, to proceed to the next house. 

The Master lingered behind, standing next to me with his hands in his pockets. My eyes naturally drifted to him, observing that he was in the process of deep thought. ".. You were hurt.."

My brow lifted. ".. Yeah.. I told you that." 

His head lowered for a brief second, before lifting back to me.

".. You never really talk about it.."

I swallowed, looking away. "Everyone's gotten hurt at some point.. it happens." 

"Yes, but no one should get hurt many times."

In surprise, that I wasn't about to express, I turned my head to him, giving him a look as plain as vanilla ice cream, but teeming with admiration that I couldn't explain. "No, they shouldn't.." 

I put aside my surprise and looked behind me, smiling. 

".. But that's the thing, Master, you gotta learn to fight back, but.. you can't just look after yourself.. me, I turned it around.. I made sure no one gets hurt. No matter who they are." 

Master wasn't able to express any emotion. He just stared at me with inquisitive narrowed eyes that I ignored after a second, moving onward to catch up with the others. I had a growing feeling the Master wanted to talk.. but now was not the right time.

"Sarah, where's the list?" Fred questioned. I held it up between two fingers.

"Right here, Freddy boy." 

I handed it to him as I came close, where my eyes eventually turned to other things. It was getting further in the morning and there still was no activity. I was not comforted by this. 

"The Adams family!" 

My head turned. "The Addams family?!" 

"Yeah!!" "Am I actually going to be graced with meeting Morticia and Gomez?!" I grabbed the paper from the tall blonde dope, but sagged upon realization. 

"Morticia and Gomez? No no, it's Hank and Penny." 

I sighed. "I was hoping it was the same universe.. well, it could still be aliases!" 

"They have three kids." "The third is probably Uncle Fester."

I handed the paper back to Fred. He looked confused. "Uh.. they don't have an uncle.."  

"Suppose now you're gonna tell me they live in a pretty suburban house?" "Well actually, yes.." 

"It's a cover, they're in witness protection; they've seen some things."

Gavin shook his head, "It's not the Addams family, I promise you. They're very content in their mansion right now."

I slowly looked over at Takeo, who grew uncomfortable upon noticing my dark stare. 

"Now you're telling me you've met the Addams family??"

He rose his brows. "Sure I have.. I just had dinner with them the other day!"

"You did what?!"

He winced. My whole body turned to him now. "Frick it to the curb, boy, how many worlds have you hogged up, seeing my people, when I've only been to a total of SIX friggin' worlds; two of which weren't even part of any fandom!!"

The Master's brows crinkled. "We've only been to six bloody worlds? Wonderful." 

"You shush." I put my hands on my hips, turning my attention back to Ninja Boy. 

"You and me gonna have serious words."

He innocently shrugged. "I'm sorry!" 

"Keep up your apologies, you traitorous swine." 

His mouth fell. As well as his eyes. Including his voice. 

"I guess I should avoid telling you who included me into their club.."

My whole body tensed up with explicit rage as my head sunk into my shoulders and I turned back around, my fingers forming into claws.

He smiled nervously and painfully.

I gave him such a look of vengeance, he almost looked as if he were about ready to hide behind someone. "If you say one more word, child, I'mma shave your head bald and make ya look like Bane's half-asian cousin!"

He looked away, trying not to make any further comments.

"Miss Demens?" Bane spoke up, directing me to his masked face.

"The children." 

I pointed. "Right."

I point back to Gavin, "Stop distracting me with your good looks."

His face went red instantly.. always a curse to pale folk like he and myself. And I finally turned back to Fred, bringing my hands together. "Sorry Freddy boy, I'm trash, please forgive.. lead the way to the alleged Adams family."

He was blinking profusely and seeking eye contact from the rest of the gang, but nevertheless turned his body to move in the right direction. "Right.." 

I felt slightly guilty for weirding everyone out so bad.. I can't help it, though. I'm a living question mark. 

Fred led the way regardless, to a white house seeping in suburban energy. 

If ever I saw a suburban home, man, that house would be it. I wanted to scream from how suburban it was, me gosh.

"Great googly moogly, this is the scariest thing I've seen on this venture yet!"

Jim glared, "Why, because it's happy.. and cheery..??"

His eyes scanned the home with visibly growing disgust. 

"And brightly colored.. full of family members... and.. laughter.. so.. American." 

He shrugged his shoulders, uneasily. 

"I'm not needed inside, I'll stand watch."

"Literally Jim, you are the biggest wuss."

He didn't even bother making eye contact, "Am not." "Are, too." 

"You are actually, it's a scientific fact."

Jim swerved his head at J, and the two stared at each other with such silent comedic sarcasm and disliking of each other, I almost busted out. 

Fred and Daphne walked up the steps and knocked on the front door. I crossed my arms, 

"Naw, give me a creepy castle or secluded mansion any day. I'd be in introverted weirdo heaven." 

"Ooh, we should get a castle. You are a queen, after all." 

"That's right." I agreed with a contemplating nod.

"But would you lot actually live in it with me?" 

The boys all cut their eyes at me with intrigue. 

"We've got our revenge to think about." "Yeah yeah, blah blah, revenge blah blah - - y'all think like a bunch of teenagers, only temporary - - what about after all that? Where are ya gonna stay?"

This made them frown and look away. Clearly, they hadn't thought of that.

Even I questioned what lay in wait for me beyond the boys and I's agreement. What awaited Gavin, too. Both our lives had been sucked into the peculiar adventure we are currently persisting in.. but beyond all that.. what was to happen to us? I'd be thrilled to continue the adventure. Carry on with everyone by my side and slowly mend the broken universe ahead of me.. filled with complicated and lost souls just waiting for a strange little queen to give them a purpose.. but what if I couldn't? What if this all goes horribly wrong? Worse.. what if all of this was just a figment of my own imagination? That I was trapped in some extended dream where I visit and save characters, go on extraordinary adventures where I'm actually remotely important for a change.. and a cool ninja buddy, who's every ounce bit of attractive as he is honorable and mega tons of sweet, is fighting by my side?

It's a heartbreaking thought.. but I had a strange feeling that it was true.. that all this was too good to be true. And ow, Jim pinched me!

My head swiveled to the Irish brat, who nipped my neck, being the only bare part of my skin at the moment besides my face, to grab hold of my attention. I had apparently slipped away in thought while the rest of the gang had greeted the kindly looking Adams family. I elbowed him in retaliation, before turning my gaze on the ones above.

The two individuals ahead were definitely the opposite of what I imagined. A tall, well built man with auburn hair and brown eyes, and a blonde, blue-eyed woman, both of whom looked sickeningly exhausted and battled with fatigue. Sleep deprived and excruciatingly worried.. I could tell right then that they had a role to play in this investigation. 

"Kids.." Mr. Adams uttered, with very little energy. "What.. what is all this?"

"Who are these people?" The woman muttered, being held by her husband.

"Friends from out of town, Mr. and Mrs. Adams." Answered Fred.

"They're here to help with the case." "Oh, my!" The mother released.

A tiny spark of hope came over her. "That's wonderful!"

Heartbreaking as it already was, both grief-stricken parents eyes' swelled up with tears. And I noticed, from the corner of my own eyes.. the unsettled silence coming from the boys. I turned my head to the four as they stared at the parents with noticeable curiosity and intrigue.. and.. well.. almost.. pity?

Not so much from J, who seemed straight up uncomfortable.. but from the other three.. there just.. seemed to be something..I don't know.

Even Jim seemed bewildered.

"What's up with you lot?" They didn't answer. But I already knew.

"..Weird, ain't it? Seeing it from a different perspective?"

Master shrugged his shoulders, uneasily. "Just a bunch of stupid kids.."

"Right.." I nodded, crossing my arms. "Just a bunch of stupid kids.. stupid kids whose families are worried sick about them.. who are terrified they'll never get home again.. stupid kids who did nothing wrong except exist and fall victim to you lots' twisted little anger and need for violence.. no.. you're right.. they're just stupid little kids.. and those are stupid little parents.. devastated and begging to have their children back."

 

J's head nodded to me and he tightened his mouth, moving around to be in front of me. 

"You're trying to guilt trip us, but it ain't gonna work."

My head cocked as I faced him. ".. I'm trying to show you four that this is the consequence of your actions.. that those regular, decent people, they don't deserve terror..no one deserves terror. Everyone deserves a chance of peace and happiness.. but no, your kind comes and creates tragedies.. and you don't even realize that you're turning those victims into you. It's an endless cycle and you continue it. Someone hurt you, you hurt others, and the ones you hurt will eventually repeat the process and hurt you in return.. you're playing with fire.. a curse.. a wicked curse that most everyone refuses to break.. but you have a chance now.. that's why you were brought back.. that's why you found me. You don't have to be the monsters anymore.. you've been given a chance to end the cycle.. become something more."

J's throat tightened, angrily. "Like who?" 

He pointed at the others, who were busily chatting away with the Adams family. 

"Those perfect little eagle scouts?"

My head tilted down. "Like me."

This made him jerk his head back. I blinked,

"You already know I'm different.. I've had my struggles, my sins, my demons.. and I'm a messed up little imp, but I decided to take the right path, live my life to free others from evil's hold, no matter who it has.. anyone who doesn't take the chance to be free when they're given it, they're an idiot.."

The clown's eyes narrowed at me. I wiggled my brows. J's head bowed.

".. Don't pretend you're here for us.. you're here to save them, not us.. you said it yourself last night.. there's no hope for us." "I was wrong."

He flinched. I swallowed. ".. I know now.. that there is hope.. I don't.. I don't hate you guys anymore.. now I just.. I pity you." 

Jim chuckled as he looked at me. "Pity a bunch of homicidal sociopaths?"

"Pity a bunch of kids that evil kidnapped and never gave back."

My head turned to them as they looked at me with surprise. 

"I'm here to save them now."

This caused the four's eyes to fall to the ground. I took a single step closer.

"I know it's taken me a long time to come, but I'm here now.."

My voice fell into a whisper as I started to advance towards the others.

".. and I'm not leaving you." 

My attention fell to other things and I approached the chatting do-gooders as they occupied the parents. I cleared my throat as they took notice of me and smiled with a bow of the head. 

"Hiya.. my name's Sarah Demens.."

I took hold of Mr. and Mrs. Adams' hands and shook them in greeting.

"I'm very sorry, the others are sure to spend more time with you, but my business is much more pressing. See.. I know your children are alive. I'm going to find them. But I need something from you two, before I can do it."

The two eyes' filled with hope. "Anything." The wife said, eagerly.

I took a deep breath.

"I need something of your children's clothes, toys, anything they owned. Anything that'll have a trace of their DNA.."

"For what, like.. a bloodhound?" 

I shifted. "Something like that."

The husband turned his head to his wife, his eyes regaining some form of vigor. "Go get his jacket, dear." She nodded in reply. 

Dear.. this place was so groovy, yo. They were so flipping cheesy, back in the times. 

The husband looked down, his breathing uneasy. "Please promise me..please promise me this is going to work." I was about to answer with a bit of a scolding response that promises would only make it harder in this case for the both of us. But that's when Gavin stepped in before I had the chance. 

"With what she's using, sir, I guarantee it." I felt his eyes drift to me. 

"It's how she was able to track me down, after all. Which isn't an easy thing to do." My eyes gravitated to him and I sniffed a chuckle. 

"..Well, we do have a knack for bumping into one another a lot.."

Gavin was trying to hide a smile, as he no doubt found it inappropriate to do so in front of Mr. Adams. That's when he abruptly perked and quickly turned back to the man. "Pardon me, I do apologize..Gavin Takeo."

He bowed his head and shook the man's hand. He's so pure, oh my word.

"Pleasure.." The man said. "You two seem like a nice couple."

Takeo swiveled his head back to me for but a brief second before breaking all eye contact completely and shaking his flushed face, clearly embarrassed. I, myself, cleared my throat loudly and crossed my arms, trying to change the subject. "Yeah, well, um, yeah...no." 

Mr. Adams seemed understandably confused, but the conversation was thankfully interrupted by Mrs. Adams, who charged back from inside the house, a red jacket in hand. My heart skipped as I saw it and I eagerly rushed to take it as she handed it over. "Here's our little Toby's jacket..he was wearing it the day the children went missing. It was on the ground a long ways from here.." I rose a brow. "He took it off?" 

"I suppose..they came home from school, then the three of them went to play with some of the other children." 

Ah..that old Leave-It-To-Beaver way of life, where kids would run and play with other kids and be all giddy and so-called normal. 

I never had that. 

Mulder approached, nodding his head. "Am I correct to assume, Mrs. Adams, that most, if not all, of the children in this town have been taken?"

The female Adams nodded. 

"And forgive me for asking..but have either of you witnessed or have your children personally witnessed any strange phenomena?"

She chuckled, sarcastically. "This is Coolsville..of course we've seen strange phenomena." 

He tilted his head. "Such as?" 

She paused a moment to gather her thoughts. "..You name it. Monsters, aliens, peculiar figures and flashes in the dark. This town is famous for our record of monster encounters." 

This is where Scully cut in. "Yes, but I'm to understand those have all been hoaxes, haven't they?" 

Mrs. Adams sagged. "Many, yes.." 

Scully nodded. "And besides the children, there've been other disappearances as well?" 

Mr. Adams shrugged his shoulders. "One of the reasons the rest of us are hiding."

I looked down at the jacket in my hand. 

Red and tiny..for such a small person. 

It had a distinct aroma of rain must and grass and was moist in my bare fingertips. As I looked at it, I had a sudden surge of sadness that I couldn't shake. What if..we were too late? And all this was in vain. 

My sense of dutiful justice took over, however. And my sadness was replaced with hope. Even if we were too late..I still owed it to the parents of these children to see this through to the end. I immediately pulled out the tracker and wasted no time scanning the piece of clothing for the boy's DNA. 

I eagerly awaited the result..in fact, we were all holding our breath.

That's when the tracker rang and the direction it rang clearest was behind us. I felt my chest instantly swell. 

I looked to the Master, who was standing afar. "Does that mean.." 

The Timelord nodded his head.

I beamed. 

I turned back to the parents, "We have everything we need. Thank you."

No longer needing the jacket, I handed it gently back to the mother, who took it and held onto it tightly. I felt there wasn't much to say to them, so I turned and started walking off. But Gavin abruptly stepped towards them and bowed his head in respect. "We will do our utmost to find the children, I promise you. But please do yours to rest and hold onto hope."

I watched as the couple looked at one another, their faces worn from worry. 

I felt really bad for not being as compassionate as Gavin was being. 

He laid a hand on either of their shoulders and nodded. 

"Stay inside, stay together. God be with you both."

He then turned and followed behind us. I quickly broke my gaze from him before he could see I was watching.  

He had so much good in him that I truly envied. Being so kind and having so much care for people, whereas I almost felt I had to go out of my way just to bring someone some comfort. It kinda made me feel scummy, in all honesty. Gavin was already a better person than me...

Despite this, I waved for the boys to follow me into our gossip circle away from the rest of the crew, as they proceeded to go and further question the parents. Master, Jim, Bane and Joker huddled around me like we were a football team and we bowed our heads to the ground, trying to be as discreet as possible. "So, this means that the kid's alive, doesn't it?" Jim spoke first. 

He pointed. "If THAT thing is beeping."

Master nodded, snootily, "The tracker only detects LIVE things--so yes."