Homesick

Chapter 11

"We're here." said Kara at last, standing in front of the gate, looking at her house. The lights were still on, like usual.

I didn't reply. I haven't seen anything since i "you-know-what" for the first time. My head was still spinning and i was afraid if i opened my mouth, a second wave of sick would gush out. Kara looked back at me. Her face was slowly gaining colour and the colour was coming back in her lips. She was less pale, anyway.

"Let's go inside real quick and get a glass of juice," said Kara, pushing open the gate to her house. She walked inside, me following her. A few lone chickens were in a coop, pecking at the ground. Kara fumbled at her waist, pulled out the keys and unlocked the door. It swung forward and she headed inside.

I walked inside. It was a normal enough house. Bookshelves, a stone kitchen, a rickety table and chairs, a couch and a TV. She led me to the kitchen where she swung open a cabinet and pulled out two glasses. She swung open the fridge and produced a carton of fruit punch. She poured the punch in the glasses.

"Thanks," I said, taking the glass. "So... what are we going to do about Claw. Wait, do you even know about his backstory."

"Yeah, everyone does by now." said Kara wistfully. "But, imagine destroying all of New York just because of that. I mean, New York is a big city..."

"Yeah." I said, but deep inside me a little pang of guilt still remained for Claw. "It's just not right."

"Well, on the night Claw uses the weapons, he will be at a top of a tower, to maximize his damage," scowled Kara. "We need to stop him from firing the weapon and disable it, that's why i need to train you up."

Kara downed her juice and i downed mine.

"Well," said Kara, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. "We better go train you up now, the faster, the better-"

But Kara stopped and the colour drained from her face.

"Can you hear that?" she asked me, alert. "The footsteps?"

I craned my eyes but couldn't hear anything. Kara must have bat hearing or something. Suddenly, the gate creaked open loudly. 

"Oh my god," said Kara, clapping a hand over her mouth. "Kill the lights, Jack."

I rushed over and turned off the lights, everything went pitch-black. I rushed over back to her.

"Our glasses!" I exclaimed, which were sitting on the bench top. Kara swooped over them and shoved them in the upper cabinet.

"Right," hissed Kara. "Jack - don't interrupt me - you hide behind the couch, i'll hide underneath the table."

"We can't split up-" I began but Kara cut over me.

"Go, now!" she exclaimed, diving under the low table. I didn't argue this time and ducked behind the couch and listened.

The door suddenly crashed open and i gave a little gasp. I could see Kara, with the hood over her head again, as still as a statue. The Roamer was standing there, his neon green eyes shining in the darkness. It looked like the stuff of the nightmares. I frantically glanced at Kara but she wasn't looking at me.

The Roamer stood there for a second and slowly walked around. He peered under tables, looked in cupboards and peered in corners. He prowled around, twice he came so close i could see his neon green studs from under the couch. I barely tried to breathe. For some reason, he wasn't using his blades as he normally would.

He did not check under the dinner table just yet, but i feared he would. I adjusted my legs a little from cramping and the couch squeaked. The Roamer whipped around as my heart began thudding audibly. I barely breathed as The Roamer advanced towards me. I could see the studs on his feet again. Then, with the swish of his green cape, he turned the other way.