Mythical Link ▸ Link Neal {Book One}

Ten

     "We all have to agree that none of this is to be spoken of outside these walls," Link spoke to everyone, who had gathered in the main office of the studio. Everyone was in stunned silence over their recent discovery. A wild wolf attacked a young girl, damaged Link's car to oblivion, and said young girl apparently had a twin sister thinking she was crashing some halloween party. Most of their situation had an odd supernatural undertone that reverberated through the cracks of their reality. It was all so difficult to believe that the only thing they could do was agree with Link not to speak of it, in fear that they might be looked at like they were crazy.

     Sure, they were quite concerned that there was a wild wolf running rampant through Burbank. There was no way to tell who or what it was going to attack next, and sure enough that would mean somebody else would witness the same bizarre situation as they had. 

     Which made Rhett not want to agree to Link's condition easily. "I'll agree to it on one condition." All eyes turned on the man who had broken the silence, who returned their stare with a steely one of his own. "If we hear about it attacking somebody else, we are obligated to say something. Animal Control needs to go after that thing."

     Link thought about it for a moment, placing his hand on his chin as he continued to stare into Rhett's eyes. He worried about his family, his friends, his crew, and he even worried about his dog Jade. He even worried about the mythical beasts and any other innocent people out there just doing their own thing. Link pulled his hand off his chin and nodded his head while he fixed his glasses on his face. Rhett had a great point. "I absolutely agree. We'll have to keep an extra close eye on our kids when they go outside to play. I'll personally wrangle the thing myself if it hurts any of them." 

     Terra had to chuckle, even though she found it noble that he was so protective of his kids and his best friend's kids. She tried to imagine tiny Link in a battle with the big bad wolf, and she had to cover her mouth with her hand to keep from bursting at the seams. Link turned an unamused look on her. "You still have some explaining to do," he said curtly, and she swallowed. 

     She gave a quick nod of her head. "I know. And we still have to go out for lunch," she said. She thought she had sounded a little too hopeful, but she wanted to make things right with these guys, especially Link. Link was all too familiar to her and she had an explanation for that, as well. She could very easily see herself growing attached to them like they were family, since she didn't have much family of her own. 

     There was a flicker of a smile on the corner of Link's lips that disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. Rhett shook his head with an amused grin plastered on his own lips. "Alright. So we go out for lunch! All of us!"

      Terra looked around the room. Her cheeks had fired up with immense heat as everyone in the room turned their eyes on her. Chase caught her eye and could instantly sense that she was uncomfortable, and he awkwardly cleared his throat. "Maybe it should just be you and Link that take her out. After all, you are the ones that saved her life."

     Terra looked at Chase gratefully as she tucked her braid over her shoulder. "Yeah, can it please just be you guys? No offense to the others. I think you're all really cool and sweet."

     Kevin inclined his head with a smile, Alex and Eddie nodded with understanding, Stevie looked indifferent.

     Jen smiled sweetly. "It's not a big deal. You deserve some time with the guys. They're heroes." She nudged Link with her elbow and a smirk. He smiled sheepishly. He wasn't too sure about being a hero. The only thing they had done was lie to the police about what really happened and for what? So the girl wouldn't be hauled off to the loony bin? Link dropped his smile and kept his head lowered.

     "It would have been cooler if we hopped on its back and grabbed it in a choke hold. I'd feel more like a hero then," Rhett said as he demonstrated a chokehold on nobody in particular. Everyone laughed, and Link broke out into a huge grin, lifting his head. He caught Terra's eyes and he noticed the frown in her eyes.

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     Neither of them could decide on where they wanted to go for lunch, so they decided on In-N-Out Burger, because who doesn't love a good burger and fries? Terra leaned back in her seat and relished in the calm ride through traffic. She had a lot to discover about California, seeing how she had only recently moved when she'd lost touch with her brother Teegan. They'd spent a good 10 years looking for their sister, Tessa. When Link accused her of being out in the sandstorm, Terra had hope that she would finally find her sister. She needed to try to make things right with Link again, so she would have both Rhett and Link's help in the search for her sister. 

     Terra leaned forward in her seat and inched close to Link who had been driving. "Link, I feel like we've gotten off on the wrong foot. Can we start this again?" 

     Rhett glanced at her through the rearview mirror, and she saw the corner of his mouth tug upward surprisingly through the beard. There was no way to hide it. Link gripped the steering wheel slightly tighter.

     "You guys saved my life. I especially owe you one, since you lied to the police and got a ticket because of me." Her tone had been hopeful as she searched his profile for anything. 

     Link sighed a breathy sigh. "I should be the one that's asking for your forgiveness. I was freaking out for nothing." 

     Terra shook her head and placed her hand gently on his bicep. She gave it a gentle squeeze. "This isn't nothing, Link. Something is really going on. This is absolutely real. What you saw through the storm could have very well been my sister, Tessa."

     "With fangs sprouting from her upper and lower lips?" Rhett asked as he glanced at her again. His eyebrows could have easily crawled up into his hairline.

     Terra shrugged, arching an eyebrow. "And you guys saw me heal on the spot. It could have been stranger." 

     Link had to admit that Terra had a point. They had barely scratched the surface with Terra able to heal on the spot. There was no explaining how that could have happened, and at some point they would have to try to figure out what the deal was. Link felt like he was still caught in his dream, and he honestly wished the day was over. 

     Rhett's mouth came open slightly and he turned completely in his seat to look at Terra's face. "But this girl looked exactly like you," he said accusingly. Terra understood why he would take that tone up with her, because he had joined her and Link at the tail end of the conversation when she mentioned that Tessa was her twin.

     "She has a twin brother and sister," Link said as he eyed Terra through the rearview mirror. Terra nodded her head and watched as Rhett's jaw dropped. 

     He ran in his fingers through his beard. "That explains so much," he said hazily. Terra smiled and released her hold on Link's bicep, patting Rhett on the shoulder. She allowed her shoulders to drop without the extra tension after she felt like she had successfully reconciled with the boys.

     They pulled up to In-N-Out Burger and exited the car. Terra's heart sank into her stomach when she looked at Link's car again. She then looked at Link, whose lips had lowered into a frown as he looked his car over. His shoulders were slumped and sadness flooded his eyes.