Jester Book 1: Abduction

Ch 18 Part 2: The Next Generation

After a day of boring classes, bland conversation, and droopy pedestrians a girl can't help but want to sleep in her bed. The analog read three o'clock in the afternoon. With a bubblegum pink backpack over her shoulder, she rushed through the workers and toward a hidden door. Before she could get away a gruff voice chimed, "How was school today?"

She turned to her guardian, hanging on the door frame, "Eh." A bit of black hair fell into her face as she pretended to care about his question.

He turned around with a knife in his hand. His apron read, 'Kiss the Bull' but the word kiss was written over a crossed-out 'Kick'. He stood so high that his head nearly reached the ceiling. He towered over the teenager. His massive golden nose ring reflected a bit of light from the dim bulbs above, "I told you to call me when you're on your way home."

She blew a bubble and fixed her purple jacket, "Oh yeah. I forgot."

He carefully put the knife on a nearby table. A few workers rushed by with dirty plates in hand, "Bibi. You know..." He looked around making sure no one was listening. He leaned in to say, "Brawlers are still disappearing."

Bibi felt her frustrations ignite. She mumbled out, "Crow's not missing."

He huffed at her defiance. She still hadn't accepted it despite the news reaching every Brawler in town. In her eyes, Crow was off on a mission just like the posters kept saying. He didn't want to be the one that forced her to rush through her grief. She'll come to her senses with time. Instead, he shooed Bibi into the small compartment.

The two of them had to squeeze to fit inside. Bibi opted to make her way partially up the stairs so that he could try to fit in the small flooring at the base. The young oriental always found it hilarious watching him try to fit his gargantuan butt into normal-sized spaces. When he was finally comfortable he continued, "I know you miss him. I do too." He presented the girl with her phone. She was shocked and started patting her pants pocket. When did his massive fingers get ahold of her phone without her knowing? She snatched it back with a pout as he continued, "But until we get more news, we have to assume that all Brawlers are being targeted."

Bibi blew an angry raspberry, "I'm not some little kid, Bull. I can protect myself."

"I'm sure you can. But whoever is doing this got Crow. Do you really want to fight someone like that?"

She found her voice catching on her tongue. The bird was the best fighter she knew. Even if she thought she could take him in a fight, there's no telling how tough this kidnapper might be. Bull mentioned that it might not be one person, it could be a team. They can't take any chances. He added, "I already lost Crow. Do you know what I'd do if I lost you both?"

Bibi rolled her eyes, "You'd bulldoze this town."

He patted her pudgy cheek, "Atta girl." Bull pointed upstairs, "Alright go ahead, I'll have lunch ready soon. Got some orders to fill." With that, her violet jacket rushed up the steps to their apartment above the shop. Before she could vanish, Bull made one final call, "Bibi. I love you."

Bibi's body froze for a second. It was so embarrassing whenever he did this. His obsession with being a father was constantly projected onto her. She turned around and muttered, "...love you too..."

"I didn't hear that." Bull's parental taunts made her crack.

She yelled down, "I love you too!" and slammed the door shut. She seriously needed to find him a girlfriend. She made her way to her tiny room. No more than twenty-five square feet of space, less than a college dorm. Her bed barely fit her torso and the neon blue and black color palette turned the small square into a mini disco. She had a little desk against the southern wall but it didn't have anything on it besides space for her laptop and dinner.