Bubble Gum and Monsters

by Mark Francis

  Chapter 3

  The team walked through the art museum to the front entrance. The white stone walls of the Getty Museum looked beautiful under the night sky. They walked down a wide set of stairs into the arrival area, where a stylish red sports car awaited them.

  Riley and Mason took the front seats, while Daea and Eli sat comfortably in the back. The team leader pushed a button, and the roof reclined. The museum cast a lovely silhouette behind them as they drove down the dark, twisting mountain road.

  Eli looked out the side of the car. “I can see the Suffering. It’s so dark and ominous. It covers everything like a thin fog.”

  “It’s the darkest thing you can imagine,” Riley said as the wind blew through his hair.

  “I can see it too,” Daea said.

  The oldest boy continued, “It’s important that you develop skills to track it. For instance, I can read a westerly motion in its movements. Hard to say where we will end up, though.”

  They turned onto Sunset Boulevard and drove west through Beverly Hills and Hollywood. The streets were littered with adults. Billboards plastered the Sunset Strip. The Suffering swayed rhythmically across the road and sidewalks. Riley smiled as he drove; Mason stared straight ahead, and Daea and Eli looked around in awe. They turned left onto West Canyon Road, toward Mount Hollywood.

  “Stomp,” Mason whispered under his breath.

  “How’s it going with the Tome of Awakening?” Riley asked over his shoulder.

  Eli sat up straight. “Good. I read it and am almost done my transcription. Daea didn’t even look at it.”

  “Hey,” Daea exclaimed. She stuck her tongue out at him and whispered, “Tattletale.”

  “Tell me about monsters,” Riley said.

  Eli answered, “There are four hundred and ninety-six kinds of monsters. Some monsters are common and others very rare. They have affinities for locations. Zombies are common to general locations like cemeteries, but also to specific places like Haiti and Ghana. The Dracoli, on the other hand, are unknown to modern history.”

  “If some are so rare that they’ve never been seen, how do you know there are exactly four hundred and ninety-six?” Daea asked, poking Eli with her finger.

  Eli swatted her hand aside. “If you had bothered to look at the Tome of Awakening, you would have seen this number has been passed down through Childaar lore.”

  “So you don’t really know, do you?”

  Mason interrupted the escalating argument. “How do you hurt a monster?”

  “Monsters are immune to weapons, so we have to use martial arts and Gifts,” Eli answered.

  “That’s right,” Riley said. “Let’s discuss tonight’s tactics. You will both notice that you are physically adept. Use this to your advantage. Eli, since you have Fire, we’re going to put you to practice. Every team loves a nuker.”

  Eli pumped his fists in the air.

  “Daea, have you observed any Gifts besides enhanced perceptions, speed, and strength?” Riley asked.

  “Not really.”

  “No problem. You will. You are going to stay with me, and we are going to fight up close. Sound good?”

  Daea grinned. “Yep!”

  “Childaar usually specialize in a fighting style. I’ve been boxing since my Awakening, so I’ll help you with your punches.”

  “I chose kung fu, Jeet Kune Do style, just like Bruce Lee,” Eli said.

  “I want to do kung fu too,” Daea said.

  “Don’t copy me. Do something else.”

  “No. I want to do kung fu.”

  “You’re a copycat.”

  “You’re a copycat.”

  “At least choose a different style.”

  “Like what?”

  “How about Five Animals: tiger, crane, leopard, snake, and dragon.”

  Daea pursed her lips. “OK. Five Animals.”

  The young vampires in the backseat high-fived, then gave their attention back to the driver.

  Riley laughed. “I’m glad that’s sorted. Mason is an L4 Quick. He’ll use his Hideness and two levels of Speedness to disappear and zip around the battlefield. He also has one level of Psiness which gives him Shield. Expect to see him popping in and out of the fight. I’m an L6 Sovereign. I have Powness level two, which means I can punch more than fifty times harder than the strongest Kinedaar. I also have two levels of Mindness, but those Gifts are more useful on Operations. Finally, I have Upness two, which allows me to Jump and Glide.”

  “What if we can’t beat the monsters?” Daea asked.

  Eli answered, “When buildups of Suffering aren’t beaten, they multiply and create more Suffering in the area. Stomps are especially dangerous because monsters can knock Childaar out. The duration of unconsciousness is determined by damage taken. In some cases, Childaar are knocked out indefinitely and need to be exposed to the sun, where they experience an early Sleepining. We must be careful when fighting outdoors. Entire teams can be wiped out if they are knocked out and the sun comes up.”

  “Very good,” Riley said. “It’s a good strategy to abort a Stomp if the team is at risk. Most Stomps are common monsters that we can handle with ease. The general rule is the rarer a monster, the more dangerous it is.”

  The car crested the small mountain and then followed a fire road down into a valley. A huge billboard featuring Rex Jones greeted them as they approached the entrance.

  “My mom was working here today. She provides food for movie sets.”

  Riley drove past an empty security booth and parked the car. “Movie set Stomps are common in Los Angeles. We'll start at the front and make our way through—destroying all monsters we find."

  “I can see in the dark, and the world is so clear,” Daea said as she inspected her surroundings. “The Suffering, it’s rolling up over my knees.”

  Riley gathered the team. “It is especially strong at mission sites. Also, we can’t see in the dark, but rather need less light—like a cat.” He looked each Childaar straight in the eyes. “Let’s review. Daea, what are you going to do?”

  Daea stood up straight and answered, “Stay with you and fight things.”

  “Good. And you, Eli?”

  “Take opportunities to shoot my Fire.”

  “Great, and Mason’s going to provide battlefield support.” Riley looked around. “Now, what have we here?”

  A sturdy crane loaded with lights and cameras, and room for people to stand, jutted into the sky. A small, ruined cabin sat ahead of the crane, near the base of the rise. A narrow, beaten path wound up from the cabin to a mine entrance halfway up the mountain. A tent covered a director’s chair, movie cameras, computers, monitors, and other electronic equipment. Past the tent, a clearing full of tables and chairs offered the cast and crew a place to rest while they weren’t working.

  Daea pointed at the tent. “That’s the video village. It’s where the director, assistants, and producers watch what’s being filmed. In the old days, they had to wait until the day ended to review dailies, but now they see it as it happens. That rest area is where craft supplies sets up to feed people, but most people in the business just call it crafty. Also, actors are referred to as talent on a movie set. One time I met Annaliese Aguirre—”

  Mason interrupted the girl. “So what’s the plan, boss?”

  “First, light us up. Even though we have dark vision, this will be easier with illumination.”

  Mason became a blur as he zipped to the crane and turned on the power. He returned to the group before Riley could finish his sentence. Humming sprang from the lights as they gradually brightened.

  “Whoa,” Daea and Eli gasped in unison.

  Riley gave the Quick an approving nod. “Next, we will examine the video village before going into the crafty area.”

  “It’s just called crafty.”

  Riley gave Daea a hard look, and she quieted. “Crafty,” he repeated. “From there we’ll circle around to that shack, then up toward the mine. Rookies, stay with me. Mason,
do your thing.” The Sovereign clapped his hands. “Let’s do it!”

  Mason used his Unnoticeable, and disappeared before their eyes. Riley moved under the tent, scanning the video village for activity. The young kids followed him.

  A hiss sounded. Something jumped from under the director’s chair. Riley grabbed what looked like a thick, hairy spider, the size of his hand, out of the air. He threw it to the ground and stomped on it. The creature dissolved into black and gray wispy strands.

  “Shadow-Spider,” Riley remarked. “They’re a common monster, part of a group we call Crawlies. They’re everywhere.”

  Daea’s eyes were as big as saucers. She inspected the spot where Riley had stomped on the creature and found no sign of its existence. “Where did it go?”

  “Back to the Suffering,” Riley answered.

  “So, it’ll come back?”

  “In some form or another.”

  “Then we can never defeat the Suffering?”

  Riley laughed and tousled Daea’s hair. “That’s cute. Nope. The best we can do is ease it.”

  Eli gasped and pointed. Five Shadow-Spiders scurried into the tent. Mason appeared behind them. He kicked three times, and three enemies disappeared high into the night. Riley grabbed Daea by her arm and pulled her forward. She kicked at one of the monsters but missed. Eli struggled to maintain a flame between his hands. The team leader finished the encounter as he crushed the remaining two Crawlies under his foot. They both dissipated back into the Suffering.

  Through the shining floodlights, a crescent moon rose high in the clear night sky. A strong, warm wind rustled the shrubs and bushes as it gusted through the valley. No sound from the city was heard.

  Riley walked out of the tent. “Let’s check that rest area.”

  The team walked out of the tent toward a piece of valley floor where plastic chairs surrounded white tables.

  “It looks like this will be a quick shoot,” Daea informed her teammates. “They don’t even have trailers for the talent.”

  “Spread out and keep your eyes open,” the leader said.

  The team explored the area. Daea was under a table when she heard Mason shout, “I rounded some Spiders and a Netherhound.”

  “What’s a Netherhound?” Eli asked.

  Before an answer could be given, the monsters appeared from the perimeter of light. Five Shadow-Spiders flanked a massive pit bull with fire red eyes and a foaming white mouth that slobbered into the stormy Suffering. It growled like a dog possessed.

  Mason disappeared, and Riley stepped toward the Netherhound. Daea and Eli kept tight behind their leader. Before the groups engaged, two lion-sized creatures with the head and body of a lizard but with powerful crab-like pincers dashed in behind their allies.

  The lizard creatures reared back their heads and spat globs of green phlegm at the Childaar. Riley took the brunt of the attack. The liquid ate through parts of his shirt and jeans, and his skin underneath reddened.

  Mason appeared beside the team and asked, “What are those? I’ve never seen anything like them before.”

  “Styyders,” Riley answered. “I fought one in Rio de Janeiro years ago. They’re quick and their acid powerful. Distract them while I finish the Netherhound.”

  Mason vanished. Riley turned to the Childaar behind him. “Keep back. Eli, get some Fire on those Shadow-Spiders. Daea, protect him. Don’t draw attention from the other monsters.”

  The Styyders jumped their front line and charged at the team. The Sovereign delivered an uppercut to the first. It dissolved into wispy strands of blackness as it flew through the air. The second opened its pincers and clasped the Sovereign. He struggled to free himself.

  Daea stepped out to aid her leader, but found herself face-to-face with the Netherhound. She jumped back as the dog barked and chomped at her. It drove her away from the group. She saw Eli swarmed by Shadow-Spiders. He struggled to maintain concentration as the Crawlies bit at him from all sides.

  The dog pounced at Daea. Razor sharp claws protruded from its enormous paws. She jumped to the side, planted her feet, and punched the creature square in its snout. Unfazed, it hurled itself at her and pinned her to the ground. Sickly froth dripped from the demonic pit bull onto the young vampire’s face. Its massive jaws opened and bit at her neck. Daea rammed her forearm into its mouth. Snarling and grunting, the Netherhound shook her arm. With her other fist, she punched the monster’s thick skull until it released her. She rolled out from under the beast and kick flipped into a crouched position.

  Mason appeared, and pried at the pincers holding Riley. The Sovereign, covered in blisters from the acid, struggled, but was unable to break the Styyder’s grip. Eli had defeated all the Shadow-Spiders except one. He stood shoulders square, fists at his waist, in front of the last arachnid. It jumped to attack, and he delivered a centerline punch, and a fiery blast exploded from his fist as he struck. The creature melted into gooey black ink, rejoining the wild and unruly Suffering.

  Daea ran toward the Smart with the Netherhound close on her tail. Eli prepared a yellow ball of fire in his hands. “Duck,” he yelled as he launched the projectile.

  The girl dove to the ground. She felt the burning missile soar above her as it sailed wide of its target. She felt the monstrous dog land on her. She protectively covered the back of her head and neck. Fangs ripped into her arms. She wriggled around to face the monster. Eli launched another fireball. This time his aim was too low, and Daea screamed as her shoulder absorbed the fiery impact. Enraged, she wildly punched and kicked the Netherhound until it dissolved and washed over her.

  The last Styyder disappeared into the sky as Riley got an arm free and delivered a knockout punch. Daea charged Eli with her fist cocked. Before she could punch him, Mason zipped across the field to intercept.

  Catching her fist, he said, “We never fight amongst ourselves. It’s a strict rule. No violence amongst Childaar. It’s grounds for expulsion.”

  “But he shot me,” she cried.

  Eli put his hands in the air. “I was just trying to develop my talents—like I was told.”

  Daea stuck her tongue out at the boy.

  Riley, shirt burned away and skin blistered, approached and said, “We may have learned something about Daea here.”

  “I noticed that too,” Mason replied.

  “What? What are you saying about me?”

  “Oh, I know,” Eli said. “Daea, how do you feel?”

  “Fine, I guess. So?”

  Riley walked to Daea and patted her on the back. “You have the Gift of Tuffness, which lets you take more damage and endure more pain than other young vampires.”

  Eli cut into the conversation. “There are only two Dynasties that have Tuffness: Hardys and Charms.”

  “How do I know which I am?”

  Riley was about to answer, but Eli interjected, “We have to wait to see what other powers you have. Hardys also get Powness and Formness, while Charms get Speedness and Adoreness.

  “Even if I have Tuffness, I still don’t want you shooting fire at me.” Then she laughed and gave Eli a high five. “We fought monsters.”

  Riley looked at the rookies. “You two are going to take point on this next one. It shouldn’t be too tough after those Styyders.”

  Daea beamed. “Great!”

  Eli looked at the cabin apprehensively.

  “We’ll be right behind you,” assured the Sovereign.

  Daea and Eli crept toward the building. It was made of logs, and as they got closer they saw that it was painted to look old and tattered.

  “You go first,” Eli told Daea.

  “Why me? You go first. Scaredy-cat.”

  Eli pushed Daea on her back. “Because you’re the one with Tuffness.”

  “Don’t push me, and ask me—don’t give me orders.”

  “OK, Daea, will you go first?”

  “Say please.”

  Eli sighed. “Daea, will you please go into the building first because you c
an take more damage than me?”

  “OK, since you asked nicely.” She walked up to the building and opened the door. Even though the outside was brightly lit, the cabin was dark. Her eyes adjusted, and she saw the angry Suffering rolling around the room. Eli scuttled in behind her. Two large movie cameras were placed in the corners near the entrance. A small bed with a worn and dirty mattress sat along the far wall. Beside it was a small stove with rusty pots and utensils.

  Daea felt Eli shaking behind her. He startled and whispered, “What’s that?”

  “What’s what?”

  “A noise. I heard a noise.”

  The young vampires stood motionless, listening.

  “There, under the bed. I think I heard it there.”

  A Shadow-Spider stuck its head out. It was dead still, watching them with its many eyes.

  Eli had conjured a solid, pulsating, yellow and red fireball, which he rolled under the bed.

  The girl grabbed Eli and pushed him toward the door. A loud bang rocked the valley, and the cabin exploded. The Childaar flew through the air. Daea fell on top of Eli, who gasped from the impact. Soot, smoke, and ash rained down.

  Eli pushed Daea. “Get off me.”

  Stunned, Daea rolled over on to her side. “What were you thinking?”

  Riley and Mason doubled over laughing.

  “I saw the creature and wanted to clear the room. Did you see my fireball? I made it explode!”

  “You think?” the girl screamed. “There was one Crawlie in there. I could have destroyed it with my pinky finger.”

  Eli shrugged.

  Daea growled and whispered under her breath, “If they weren’t here right now, I would punch you in the face.”

  “You could try, but I’d fireball your face first.”

  Riley brought the group together. “I guess that’s one way to do it,” he said with a chuckle. He then became serious and looked up at the mountain. An owl sat perched on the mine entrance; it hooted, spread its wings, and flew away. A gravel trail coiled up the mountain side.

  Mason cleared his throat and said, “I think we should get Eli up on that camera crane.”

  “Good idea.” Riley turned to Eli and said, “Be careful up there. You don’t want to draw attention to yourself, so don’t engage until we do, and don’t shoot near us. I want you to clear the trash on the perimeter.” He said to Daea, “Stay behind me.” He clapped his hands. “Stay focused. We’re almost done.”

  Mason vanished, and Daea and Riley walked up the trail. Daea turned and saw Eli scrambling up the crane. He spotted her, smiled, and waved vigorously. The mountainside was steeper and rougher than it looked. The bushes swayed ominously in the night. The young girl chose her steps carefully so she wouldn’t slip on the loose rocks. Like a light waterfall, the Suffering rolled down the slope. The Sovereign surveyed the area for dangers and ambushes.

  “So, what do you think of all this?” the older boy asked.

  “I hope Eli doesn’t shoot me from that crane.”

  “No. I mean about being a young vampire—a Childaar?”

  Daea paused. “I don’t know. It’s kind of fun beating up monsters.”

  “So do you think you’ll stay?”

  “I think so. It seems like the right thing to do.”

  Riley nodded. “Most young vampires have a sense that it is our duty to help. Just remember to not lose your childhood for this. Sometimes it seems like the world is on our shoulders, and to an extent it is, but you don’t want to get to the end and wonder if you missed anything important.”

  “Eli said you’re close to your Sleepining?”

  “I turn eighteen in two weeks. I have to decide when I am going to expose myself. I’ll probably do it on my birthday.”

  “What are you going to do after that?”

  “I don’t know. I’ve been with recently turned Ennui. They say they feel like the same person, but with a panging sense of loss. I suppose once you’ve experienced life like us, it’s hard to downgrade. After a day or two, they forget their Childaar lives and move on.” He smiled. “I am looking forward to spending more time with my parents and sister.”

  “Have you seen your parents since your Awakening?”

  “Of course. Our parents are told we have been accepted to a prestigious boarding school. We sometimes get to go home for holidays and special occasions.”

  “That’s good to hear.”

  “It’s also true. Being a Childaar is kind of like going to boarding school, but with missions. Some cities are busier than others. You’ll find a comfortable routine wherever you are sent.”

  “How many young vampires are there?” Daea asked.

  Riley slowed. His eyes were squarely on the opening to the mine. “Not as many as we need. Do you know about the Orakles?”

  “They are the leaders of the Childaar, right?”

  “Not exactly. Four is the optimal number of Childaar in a city. If there are more, our competitive natures take over and we become bitter and jaded. That’s why we can’t use communication technologies. They connect us as though we are in the same place.”

  “That’s why we can’t use phones or the Internet?”

  “Exactly. The Orakles, however, take it upon themselves to ensure that we make best use of our limited numbers. They send us to cities around the world for maximum coverage. They all have Scry—the third level of Seeingness. Scry allows a Smart or Sight to remotely view other areas.”

  “Like a crystal ball?”

  “Kind of. The Orakles try to keep a team in every major city. That’s where the Suffering is strongest. Capital cities often have a B-team. Metropolises, like New York, Shanghai, and Sydney, might have C-teams too. The Orakles try to rotate Childaar so that no one spends too much time in cities with B and C teams.”

  “How many teams are there in L.A.?”

  “Three. I am the leader of the B-team. I’ve been here two years.”

  “How do the Orakles tell us this information?”

  “We use the mail and courier system for most correspondence, but if it’s an emergency, they can contact us using their Gifts or telecoms. We try to avoid this, though. They are miserable enough without putting more stress on them. Hope you never meet an Orakle.”

  They arrived at the mine entrance.

  “Stay here,” Riley told Daea as he moved in to investigate.

  Mason was nowhere to be seen, and Eli looked happy standing atop the camera crane.

  The mine exploded into thousands of pieces. In its place, protruding out of the mountainside, flailed a gigantic tube-shaped monster. Its round body had a tough gray hide. A swarm of thick tentacles extended from the creature’s wide maw.

  Riley was knocked up and over the mountain. The monster thrashed furiously. Daea watched as the monster’s body slammed down on her. She managed to dodge the first thwap, but it struck her on the second. She bounced off the ground and rolled down the mountain, out of control. Digging her heels into the ground stopped her descent.

  A flicker of flame flew overhead. Daea saw it strike the creature; it didn’t seem to notice. Riley glided out of the sky and into the monster’s tentacled maw. He punched and pulled from within. The creature roared as the Sovereign ripped out three of the appendages.

  Mason appeared beside Daea. “Be careful. This is a Wuurm. They’re common to desert areas. I’ve fought a few here in L.A., but never one this big. Don’t get close. We’ll weaken it, and then you can help us finish it off.”

  “Yeah right,” Daea yelled behind her as she ran in to engage the monster. She punched the Wuurm with all her might, and its thick, fleshy skin rippled.

  Once again, the enormous monster slammed down on the girl. She was too close to dodge, and once again she was sent rolling down the mountainside. It slammed itself into the ground four more times, and Riley was knocked loose. He tumbled down behind the young girl. Daea caught a shrub and regained her balance. Riley plunged to the bottom.

  Eli sent a sm
all flame wide. The Sovereign picked himself up, crouched, and then jumped at the creature. From the mountain’s base, he zipped through the air, smashed into the side of the monster, gripped its hide, and climbed back into the open maw, where he proceeded to rip out more tentacles. Daea charged the Wuurm, ducked a swinging attack, and landed a wild haymaker.

  The monster wrapped its remaining tentacles around the team leader, binding his arms and legs. Riley wriggled to free himself, but he couldn’t break the hold. Mason appeared behind the Wuurm, keeping his eyes on his bound teammate. He jumped from side to side, dodging the monster’s slams. Riley smashed into the ground during each of the attacks, but was protected by the Quick’s Shield.

  Daea moved and jabbed around the base of the monster. Eli’s Fire grew with each shot, leaving scorch marks across the monster’s body. Mason kept Riley in his sight as he zipped around, weaving in and out to attack. The Wuurm continued to smash down at its assailants. It caught Mason off guard. The Quick tumbled down the mountain.

  Without Mason’s Shield to protect him, Riley screamed in pain as the creature continued to slam him into the ground. Daea saw Riley attempt to wrestle free, but he was unable to break the Wuurm’s grasp. He caught her eye and between strained gasps yelled, “It’s too strong. Leave me. It's nearly dawn. You can make it back to safety, and the sun will take care of this thing.” The slams continued, and the Sovereign’s body went limp. His eyes rolled back into his skull as the tentacles released his unconscious body.

  Mason appeared beside Daea. “What happened?”

  “Riley’s out. We have to take this thing down by ourselves.”

  “Are you kidding? We’re going to get his body and get out of here. We can’t fight it without him.”

  Daea grabbed Mason by the shirt and shouted, “We are going to finish this fight. Got it? I’ll distract it while you and Eli attack.” She jumped away from the Quick and in front of the Wuurm. She shouted and waved her hands in the air. “Hey, ugly. Yeah, you. You with the ugly face. Catch me if you can.”

  Eli threw solid, orange balls of fire.

  The monster crashed down on Daea with all its might.

  Daea skipped to the side, narrowly missing the assault. “Is that the best you got? Come on! I dare you!” She tried to dodge the next attack but was struck. She hit the ground and ate a mouthful of dirt. She stood up and continued her taunts. “That didn’t even hurt, and you’re still ugly!” She stood on the balls of her feet, anticipating the creature’s next blow.

  Mason moved in and out, keeping his concentration on the girl. He threw straight punches when possible. Eli continued to shoot Fire. The creature split its attention between Mason and Daea. Its wide swings were difficult to dodge, and Mason was flung deep into the valley. Daea was plowed into the ground as the creature’s heavy body hammered her. The few remaining tentacles reached out and attempted to grab the girl, but she rolled to the side and escaped their grasp.

  She pulled herself off the ground and whispered, “Who’s ugly?” With dirt and tears streaming down her face she continued, “You’re ugly.” The monster pounded down on Daea, who lacked the energy to dodge.

  More Fire shot overhead as the girl took another blow and was slammed into a large rock. She slowly stood, stumbled, and fell. She crawled forward. “You can’t hurt me! You’ll never hurt me!” The monster slammed down, and her world went black.

  Daea awoke in her large bed. Sitting beside her, Eli read a leather-bound book. He smiled when he saw her eyes open. “Guess who killed the Wuurm?”

  The girl cleared her throat. “What?”

  “I did,” the boy proclaimed. “I am the slayer of beasts, the master of flame, the executer of—”

  “What happened?”

  “Well, Mason got knocked out right before you. I was alone, on my perch, facing down the Wuurm. Conjuring elemental powers, I destroyed the creature and saved the day. After that, I checked on the team. Riley and Mason came around. We got you in the car and returned to the museum.”

  “How long have I been out?” the girl asked.

  “About a day. Riley and Mason check on you often.”

  “I don’t know if I want to be a Childaar.”

  “Oh, don’t worry. With me you’ll always be safe. I’ll burn anything that gets in our way.”

  Daea rolled her eyes. “Yeah. You’re my hero, Eli.”