Monster Rundown Part One Chapters 1 and 2

Monster Rundown Part One Chapters 3 and 4

Chapter 3

The tables for schedules were alphabetized, so Henry hoped to see Charlotte in his line. No such luck. "Why don't they just email the schedules?" said a tall, skinny guy in front of him.

"So stupid, I hate waiting in lines," said another. Henry didn't mind. Enforced waiting helped the rushed, overwhelming feeling spread out a little. Hands in hoodie pockets, he tried to avoid accidental eye contact with anyone he didn't know. The stadium had a high ceiling.

Being in this school felt weird, being in this town for longer than a couple weeks felt weird. He didn't want to be here, but he couldn't say that he wanted to be on the road again either.

The student at the desk said, "Name?"

"Henry Crane." Her eyebrows raised. His schedule: Trapping Strategy, Ancient History, Lunch, Math, English and The Rundown.

"Where are the lockers?"

"Down that hall." Through the same door as all the other students. Henry didn't wait for Mel.

The school halls were less crowded than Henry expected even though all of the student's lockers were in the same hall. Adam still managed to bump into him.

"Sorry. Don't send me to the hospital again."

"Might've bruised your shoulder there. Sure you don't want a doctor to check it out?" Henry said.

"What are you implying?" Adam said, stepping closer to him.

Henry took a step back and raised his hands. "Never mind." Another fight with Adam and Henry would be expelled.

Adam looked like he wasn't going to let it go, but a short kid with glasses stepped between them and said, "Henry Crane?" Adam pointed at Henry while walking away.

"Yeah."

"Sherman Arrington." He held out his hand.

Henry shook it. "What's up?"

"Just excited to meet you."

"Ok."

"Sorry. That's weird. Most people will act all cool around you, but you and your family are legends around here."

"Really?"

"Your father, the returning son of Colorado Springs, one of the most successful and now infamous American coursers, a Roosevelt alumni, two sons clearly following in their father's footsteps, well, three with Melbourne Stein. I mean, your family single-handedly stopped a zombie outbreak in Denver, rooted out a vampire clan in Fort Collins, and escaped from a labyrinth. Your blog was basically required class reading, I mean, everyone used to read it until you guys stopped that archmage, Solus, and you stopped writing."

Wincing, Henry said, "My life is the dream everyone thinks it is."

"You're heroes. I mean, that was horrible about the Steins, but imagine what would have happened if you guys hadn't been there."

Henry didn't want to punch this kid for some reason. "It felt super heroic."

Sherman leaned closer. "And everyone hates Adam."

"At least something makes sense."

Sherman followed him to his locker, which was big enough to hold rifles, swords, traps, and many other weapons. Further down the hall, Charlotte was taping something to her locker door as Eli loaded her gear into it. "Where's your first class?" Sherman said. Henry pushed his schedule into Sherman's chest. "Nice. We have the same first period. Trapping's this way."