The Everlasting Andersons

Chapter 3 Rescue

"We stopped looking for monsters under our bed when we realized they were inside us."

Charles Darwin

Keia sat around the living room next to Rickelle with the rest of her family, plus one.  After what they'd just been through, she didn't trust new faces. The only thing keeping her wrath at bay was the fact that she came with her brother.

Speaking of, she looked over at the man she hadn't seen in two years. He didn't look any different. But she could feel that there was something different about him. As he sat there writing in his book, the new girl looked over his shoulder and smiled at him.

"What're you writing?" Rickelle said, blatantly stating what the rest of them were thinking.

He smiles at her and closes the book, holding the cover up so they could all see. It had bestiary written on the front, not really answering the question. He must've noticed because he laughed.

"I forgot I'm the only one who play's videogames like that. It's basically just a handmade monster Wikipedia. Anything I find out about monsters I write it down in the book."

"What about the one who attacked us?" Says Keia.

"Phantom." He states plainly, irritating Keia with his tone.

"Hell is that?" Ricardo tosses the book at Rico who catches it easily. He walks over to Keia and turns to the page he was writing on.

"Phantoms." She reads aloud. "Turn into mist. Method of killing unknown.  Threat Level 6. Alignment, evil. Can be killed by holy bullets." She makes a face and flips through the rest of the book. "Mimic, can look like anyone. Witches, bats, shifters. How do you know about all this?"

" Experience." He simply states. She wanted to ask further but he had a look in his eyes that made her stop but it quickly shifted back to a smile. He swayed back and forth and hummed innocently. He was taking this remarkably well. Which irritated her. How long had he known about all this and informed none of them?

"Okay, what the hell?" Rico says as he throws his hands up in frustration. "Keia's goin around throwing magic at folks, Tank's some kind of monster professor. Can I get some details please?! And who the hell is she?" He points towards the girl Ricardo brought with him.

Keia looked towards them, also wanting to hear the answer.

"This is Rayla. She's my... friend." Rayla shifted on the spot and rolled her eyes. He'd be in trouble for that later she guessed.

"As for the other questions. We can discuss those in the car." He says looking at his phone.

"They found Nette and the kids." She mentally slapped herself. In the confusion and panic she'd forgotten about her mother. Apparently Rico did too because he jumped out of his seat.

"Holy shit! We gotta go!" Rayla slapped Ricardo hardly on the shoulder as Keia grabbed the keys and they all piled outside. Keia goes to the drivers seat but Ricardo tosses Rayla another set of keys.

Keia looks at him questioningly.

"We gotta split up for a bit." He says as he ushers Rickelle into the other car. "We don't know what we're walking into. I'm not about to bring our little sister into even more danger."

"Where else are we gonna leave her?"

"I'll text you the address, take Rayla and Rico with you."

"Uh I think the fuck not." Says Rico. "I'm going to get my mother."

"No! Your going to get in the car with Keia and make sure they all get safely to their destination."

"I'm coming with you."