Similar powers

Chapter 22. Calm...

On their return home, Max, Chloe, and David are greeted by Joyce, who provides them with a hearty breakfast: bacon omelets for her and Chloe, pancakes for Max, and waffles for David. Just before eating, Joyce notices how dull Max's mood was unlike David and Chloe's, and decides to ask her something.

"Max, you are very quiet, are you okay?"

"Mom, you know Max isn't talkative, then she is also tired."

"There is a difference between being of few words and hinting at half a word, then you also have to explain to me what you said to each other with David at the hospital."

"Joyce, there will be time to explain everything, now let's enjoy the breakfast you prepared."

"No David, it worries me to see Max so off, since I've never seen her like this, plus you also owe me some explanations as to why you brought home a projector."

"Um."

Chloe tries to restrain herself from laughing, while Max hints at a half smile.

"There's no point in you two laughing, because I can pretend it's nothing for a while, but it then proves difficult to deny that you're hiding something."

"Joyce, we don't want to involve you in this matter in any way. We will tell you everything tomorrow."

"Max, you know you can trust me. Already from the way Rachel left yesterday I knew something was wrong, I need to understand what is going on. Why compared to yesterday are you so sad?"

Max hesitates, but then begins to speak.

"Kate was kidnapped tonight, we don't know where she is but it happened because of me."

"What?! Why do you say it happened because of you?"

"Because I know who kidnapped her, and this person is bad to the core, he is the same person who turned Rachel against us because he was bored and wanted to drive a wedge between us. He's interested in me and wanted me to join him, and when I refused yesterday in the hospital he kidnapped Kate so that tonight my answer would be positive."

"This all seems really strange to me, then how did he get into the hospital and act undisturbed without security and nurses noticing?"

*Chloe interjects* "Mom, I know this is going to sound crazy but the truth is as simple as it is unbelievable: this individual is a vampire."

"Okay, now I've really heard it all."

"In your opinion were the events of the past few days normal? A snowfall with 26° and a solar eclipse that no one knew about? I know it all seems so weird and unreal, but when I met that being last night I was paralyzed with fear, afraid I would die if I made an unusual movement. If you don't believe it we can understand, but since you wanted to know the truth we told you."

"I don't believe you are lying at all, partly because just looking into your eyes already shows your honesty. You would have no reason to lie to me by making up something so absurd."

"It usually happens that when something absurd happens in a movie or series, those who say they saw something strange are not believed but rather scoffed at, but I'm glad that you and David believed me and Max in spite of everything."

"One more question and then we'll call it a day: what do you need that projector for?"

"David is going to mount UV lamps and a UV amplifier on it, so when we go to the meeting tonight that monster will be toasted, or at least we hope it will be."

"I have like a bad feeling about tonight, you would have been better off talking to the police about it than doing it on your own."

"Joyce, if we had gone to the police talking about all this, they would have taken us for fools, and even if they had believed us we would have endangered people who had nothing to do in all this." Says Max

"I want you to do one thing for me: after you're done with breakfast, I want you and Chloe to go upstairs and take as much time as you need to rest and think about what to do. I will help David with the projector."

"Thank you Joyce, but there is no need."

"Yes there is Max, you have had a very hard few days with in addition a car accident that fortunately had no serious consequences, you need to be alone and not stress. I've talked too much, now we can eat."