Masters's Son

Twenty Seven

"Who's Patricia?" Ember asks, looking over to my line of sight.

"She's someone I met in Amity. What's she doing here?" I ask mostly to myself. I see her walk back into the kitchen, holding a ladle.

Ember gasps, "I thought I was the only one you knew from Amity! I gotta go say hi." I pull her back from walking. "What? No, no. Maybe later—" I'm cut off by Tucker. "I think it'd be cool to meet someone from Amity. You hardly talk about it." Sam smacks him upside the head, muttering to him, "You can't just say something like that."

"There's a reason I don't bring it up." I say nervously. Despite what I said, I've talked about it more than I ever have while I've been here. I really should shut up.

"Please Ember, don't—" I turn to where she stands and see she's not there. My eyes dart to the kitchen entrance and see her speeding to the door. I start walking after her.

I don't even know if Patricia remembers me. If she does, how does she remember me? A puny kid that she felt that she was obligated to help? A scrawny, injured boy that she had to carry home? She hardly knows me, she doesn't have any knowledge of my home life. I don't think she does, at least.

By the time I reach the rock star, she's already in the kitchen. I didn't notice it before, but Sam and Tucker followed. "Ember," I hiss, "what are you doing?"

She smiles, "Saying hi, obviously, Dipstick."

I look her in the eye. She's too stubborn. "Just don't... antagonize her." I know she has anger issues, or had, when I first met her. But she was kind when we spoke. Patricia's not a bad person, she just gets a little angry at times.

"Deal." Ember's smile widens and she continues her way to the Lunch Lady.

I feel a hand on my shoulder, it makes me jump out of my skin. I turn quickly to see Sam.

A deep exhale of relief escapes me. "So who's Patricia?" She asks.

"I only met her once. How we met is sort of complicated," I rub the back of my neck with a sheepish look, "for the most part she was really nice. But, she can get very angry." I drag my eyes to the now conversing ghosts. Ember pointed to my direction and the older ghost's face brightened when her eyes landed on me.

That surprised me.

"Dearie!" Could be heard across the kitchen. Few turned to look, too occupied with their own tasks. The ones who did look their glances were brief. The action still made me feel embarrassed.

The two ghost-women made their way over to us.

"I hadn't a clue you'd be here, child! You're a long ways from Fenton Works." She says with a big smile. I slightly flinch at the name.

It's been a minute since I last thought about Fenton Works. I think I shut down the portal, but only so those creeps couldn't access it. Was she able to get back to the ghost zone through the Fenton portal?

I chuckle nervously, trying to hide my nerves. She doesn't know about Jack or Madeline. We only met once and I may have accidentally locked her in Amity Park for a while. Is she mad?

"Yeah, I moved away not that long ago." I say.

Something seemed to click for her. "Is that why the portal was closed off? I tried coming back to Amity, but the entrance was missing. I'm glad to know you're well. How's that head of yours?" She ducks my head down.

The movement was so sudden I almost stumble forward. "Good, thanks." Her hand was taken from my neck so I lift my head again only to hit something hard.