The Howler's

Chapter 16

     "Who's there?" A gruff voice called from the man. 

     Katy quietly shuffled to the back of the brick wall, and closer to Carter.

     "W-we are um..ah...homeless people," Carter stammered hopelessly. 

     "Idiot!" Katy hissed into Carters ear, then saying more loudly to the man." Leave us alone, we've been through a lot!"

     "Like you know shit," Growled the bald man." Follow me, and I'm warning you..."

     The man opened up his jacket  slightly, showing a gun. Katy snarled, Carter wide-eyed.

     "Screw you..." Katy got up and followed the man, tugging Carter with her.

     They followed the man into the opening of the street, and right into a store across the street labeled 'Fisherman's Supplies'. The net covered door opened with a bell, as they walked through, into a cozy area, a shop with many fisherman's baits and strings and rods, etc. The man kept walking, and soon they were walking upstairs, up a narrow staircase, where Katy and Carter had to squeeze together. Katy felt heat coming to her face, as she felt Carters arm against hers. They soon squeezed out the staircase to a room with an untidy bed and messy table in the middle. The room was very empty. Three chairs sat in the middle. Was he expecting us? Katy moved over to a chair and sat down. Carter did the same. 

      "What do you want with us?" Katy snarled.

     "I want to tell you to lay off," The man growled back, sitting down on the last chair.

     "On what?" Carter butted in rudely.

     "Your cute little mission, that's what," The man sneered." It's no use,"

     "What- how do you know?" Katy asked, astonished." Our- our pillars plan?"

     "Precisely," The man replied." I know because I can use telepathy on water,"

     "What!?" Carter gasped." Who are you? Better then, WHAT are you?"

     "One of you, of course!" The man laughed." A fish man!"

     "A-a FISH man?!" Katy gawked.

     "That's right," Said the man, particularly pleased with himself." Your not the only half human half animal kinds you know!"

     "Do-do you have gills?" Carter suddenly got interested, circling the man, investigating him carefully.

     "Carter!" I snapped at him.

     "I don't have gills, no." The man huffed." But...I can use telepathy on wat-"

     "YOU SAID THAT!" Katy snarled impatiently." Anything else you can do?"

     "I can control the air in water" He explained.

     "Like...bubbles?" Carter snorted, his face red from a stifled laugh.

     "CARTER!" Katy warned him, he squeaked and sat down without a word." Listen!"

     A glance of the past, Katy remembered herself, sinking, on the sewer bottom, and being caught on a bed of bubbles. Was this man there? Was he following them this whole time? Had he known of the note?

     "Sir! Were-" Katy blurted being interrupted.

     "Call me Berny," The man snorted.

     "Berny. Were you there in the sewers when we fell?" Katy shot at him.

     Berny raised an eyebrow." No. But if that concerns you, I could tell you who WAS there..."

     "Who?" Katy asked.

     "My son," Berny sighed." He travels around a lot, and you better be glad he was there at that time. The boy never settles..."

     Katy's mind swirled now, with a million questions to ask.

     "I know you want to ask many questions, young lady, but I ought not the time!" The man moaned, looking at the ceiling. 

     "Please sir- Berny!" Katy pleaded." I must ask something!"

      "You can't make me!" Berny growled crossing his arms.

     With the grinding of his chair as he got up, he shuffled to a door with a dented silver door-knob. Katy grumbled and slumped in her chair, and looked over to Carter. Carter was examining his nails.

     "Can we go now?" Carter whispered to Katy.

     "No! He has many answers to our questions!" Katy ordered." We haft to ask him! Plus, he may give us a roof over our heads tonight!"

     "Oh, alright, I just-" Carter mumbled halting mid-sentence.

     Carters face turned beet red, looking away. Katy raised her eyebrow, and her belly did a summer-salt. 

     "Carter, you selfish ignorant pest," Katy growled under her breath.

     Carter winced and looked farther away." Yeah, sure,"

     Katy rolled her eyes and looked to where the man went off to. Where was he? Should they leave? But there were so many answers Berny might have!

     "We may lack intelligence, but we've got charisma!" Katy huffed, encouraged as ever." Sorry, that was the worst ever encouraging line in the world..."

      "Yeah, it was!" Carter snapped.

     "What's with you?" Katy snarled." You've been awfully moody for a while,"

     "None of your business!" Carter sneered, crossing his arms. 

     Something was up with Carter. But this was their key to the right path in how to find out what Tooth was behind! Katy's heart drooped. What happened to their days when they only laughed after an incident? Everything turned rock cold, and serious. Katy glanced at Carter, looking away right when Carter saw her.

     Footsteps came near them again, and Berny turned around the corner. He sat down.

     "So...Berny do you know what Too-"

     "Do not speak of him!" Berny spat." You must stay here,"

      Katy was confused, and attacked again." Berny, we need some answers!"

      "Of what?" Berny growled." You need none when you'll be- you'll be..."

     His voice trailed off and Katy got a terrible gut feeling. They were in danger, and something was coming. Her heart was the only thing she could hear now, and she could now see the door from the font hallway in her mind. It seemed to stretch out, farther away, hearing her heart drum faster. Her belly turned upside down, and it felt like her soul was drained from her body. Gasping and wheezing for breath, she fell down on the hard cold planked floor in reality now. 

     "Can't...stay...must...go!" Katy gasped." H-danger!"

     Carter kneeled down to her, as fear gripped her gut. Katy looked up at the shaggy old man, as his frown turned upside-down. 

     "I guess your little friend over here has a clue..." Berny rubbed his chin." But, no, you may not go. And I guess I can answer your questions because you won't live long enough to act anyway."

     The entrance door opened with a crash.

     "Oops. Ran out of time. He's here already..." Berny smirked.