Monsters start at coffee

stars were made for falling

Tord didn't know what to do. He had searched the whole área and didn't find a trace of the hybrid. The sky was painted reds and purples, indicating night was coming, and fast.

Taking his cellphone out of pocket, he looked through his contacts, looking for a specific set of people. But, instead, the norwegian ended up seeing a hundred missed calls and texts from both Edd and Matt. There was no way other than facing the consequences, so,  with slightly trembling hands, he called Matt. The ginger wouldn't argue so much, Tord thinks.

- Tord??? - the other's voice was almost a whisper - Where are you? Where's Tom? You're safe?

Tord took a breath. He would never admit, but he felt like screaming and punching someone, really hard.

- I'm coming home, Tom isn't - he tried his best to sound not-about-to-breakdown. It didn't work much - I'mma find him though. I hope.

- What do you me-

Tord ended the call, not letting Matt finish his sentence.

Rain started to fall, soaking him wet, worsening his situation. To worsen everything, he had ended in some part of town he didn't really know. Looking for shelter under a bus stop, he texted an old friend of his.

"Paul, are you free?"

"No, but say it anyways"

"Can you come pick me up?"

"Where are you, to need our help?'

"Our?"

"Patryck's coming"

Of course Patryck is coming. The two seem to be always together. Actually, he was pretty sure they were a couple - if they weren't, they should be. Tord wrote a vague description of the area he was located and sent it. Paul didn't answer.

Ten minutes of no response and a red car appeared on his sight - their car. The two laughed at something inside it, but stopped when spotting Tord.

- You're soaked, take off your coat or you'll wet the car too. - Paul started when the norwegian entered the car.

- Good night for you too. - Tord sadly chuckled, taking his red hoodie off and placing it to the side.

- What happened though? - Patryk questioned him - it's been a while since you've talked to us.

- We thought you wouldn't come back since meeting your new friends. At least you know you can always count on us - Paul gave him a smile.

Tord stared the man while he talked. Maybe the norwegian isn't the best at keeping touch.

- It's a long story... - Tord told the two all of the recent events. Well, not everything, as he left out most of the fights and made it look like he wasn't the one guilty. - could you help me?

Paul stared at him, as if he waited for Tord to laugh or something, but the other didn't.

- Not today. Today you are going home and taking a nap or something. Take care of yourself, you look horrible, look at those eyebags! They're worse than when you worked with us!..

Paul reminded him of Edd, but a bit watered down, in the sense of acting like a dad. Paul's effort did work, unlike Edd's, which only succeded to annoy him.

- Paul, I need to find him! - Tord didn't even notice the car was moving. - Edd's gonna kill me!

- Tord, I'mma have to agree with Paul. Sorry, but that monster'll have to wait.

The rest of the ride went fine, with Paul and Patryk chatting casually, laughing and including Tord sometimes in the conversation. The constant sound of Tord's phone going off with Edd notifications alarmed Patryk, who asked him about it. Of course, Tord shrugged it off and ignored all of the beeps. The rain poured on the car windows, making counting the waterdrops a good way to pass time. The whole situation remembered him of his time in the army, when he worked as a minor scientist. The very first time Tord looked for promotion, his supervisor got angry and fired him, forcing himself to find some roommates while he didn't have a job. He didn't get the job back, neither any other one. Devoting his life to some science here and there, but mostly small gigs to help with the rent was his solution. It's been like this for what, two years? Maybe even more.

- If you need anything, call us. Tomorrow we'll search for it. - everytime anyone called Tom an "it" or "monster" his stomach twisted in an ugly way.

Tord put his soaked hoodie on again and got out of the car, walking the concrete path his house had.

He didn't really want to deal with Edd right now. Opening the door ever so slowly as to not make sound, he entered the house, happy not to find anyone there.

He overheard, however, Edd talking with Matt in his room.

- If you saw both of them coming out the door, why did you let them go?! - the brunnete voice was raised in annoyance.

- I was scared! I think you'd be too...

The rest came out mumbled and Tord couldn't understand nothing more. Should he  interfere? Maybe not. The norwegian sat in the sofa and checked his phone, a notification from Patryk popping up on the screen:

"Why don't you come back to the army? I think they would like that serum of yours"

Tord's body tensed. How should he react? At the same time he'd like a tot if he could just go away and never come back. This time for real though.

Imagine what that strength wouldn't make for the army? His general couldn't refuse this. A serum which gives the user unimaginable physical power. It is so unstable though, no one'd be able to control it - basically a failure.

He'd been trying his best to ignore that thought, that he could make money and prestige off of this. But the offer was real now. After some seconds, Tord, deciding to ignore his friend, closed the phone, only to hear a low beep again. He found himself opening the message app before he could even think.

"Paul said he can talk to his manager, he might be interested?"

"I'll think about it. Don't say anything to him yet."

After writing and deleting his text at least two times, Tord hit send. He'd think more about it after, because now there's a worse problem: Tom. And Edd. Okay, there are two worse problems to solve right now.

A bit after turning off his phone again, the door to Matt's room opened abruptly, making Tord flinch. Edd fumed out the room, and when the man looked up to see Tord, he seemed very much surprised.

- TORD?!

A second of silence.

- You are soaking the sofa! Get up!

- uh? - oh. Tord didn't take off his hoodie upon entering the room. While he took it off, Edd continued to basically shout at him.

- Where were you? Where's Tom??

- You want my honest answer? - Tord asked. Edd stared his soul. - He's lost.