Chapter 14: Reunion?
I decided to prolong my stay at Essex City. Even if i want to see my little sister, there are still last men on the lose that means that we - no, they are still in danger.
I looked through my scope and barely found the silhouette of Rufus through the alley. Seeing him with a hybrid?
"What? Is that one of Aimee's?" I muttered as I watched them move they almost got caught a few times, but I dealt with em'.
Finally, they have reached where the tank is stationed.
Seeing I have done my job, I packed my things and went straight into my hidden, sick, beautiful, and heavenly ride. As i was about to ignite my engine, I heard footsteps behind me.
"Don't move. If you let me leave with that motorcycle of yours, then I won't shoot you." Said a man panting, trying to catch his breath.
"Sure," I said as I raised my arm and dismounted my bike.
I turned around and saw my god damn father.
"Hello, Old Man looks like time hasn't been kind to you." I said as I felt anger and confusion bubble up inside me. Wanting to ask questions I have held for so long.
My father froze in his steps when I said those words. He took a closer look at me, and his eyes shone a glimmer of hope and muttered, "Lily?"
I chuckled mockingly. "What? Are you delusional now?" I frowned and saw that he somewhat lowered his guard, so I quickly took his gun and said,"It's me, your son."
He widened his eyes and started stuttering. "M... my... my... son?"
"Yes." I said as I looked at him with pity as his fragile frame, which almost seemed to be hollowed.
"Seems like you're not eating well. Nor sleep." I whispered to him as I watched his eyes slowly build up with tears.
Then, he neeled down on the ground as he started sobbing. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry I should've looked for both of you much longer. But your mother's death made me lose any ounce of hope in me. Please forgive me!"
I froze, unable to say a word. 'My mother's dead?' I thought as I clenched my fist, drawing some blood in my palm.
"How?" I muttered, which ended my father's pathetic whimpering.
"What?" Asked my father confused.
"How did mom die?" I repeated this time I looked him in the eyes.
Father looked hesitant for a moment before he started speaking.
"She had the sick before the RV crashed."
I frowned. I shouted, "Bullshit! You can't fool me with that pathetic excuse of yours!" I watched as my fathers eye went from regret to pity and sadness.
Through some miracles, my father seemed to have regained his lost strength and started to speak. "It is true! And if you can't accept that, you're the fool here!"
"Fuck you! You weren't even present in my life! Nor in Hope's life! So don't tell what wrong or right!"
"Hope is alive?" He said as his body language took a strange turn. Somewhat tense.
"Of course she is, You fucking dickwad." I said as my eye flickered with irritation and hate. Not believing that this pathetic piece of shit is the father I used to look up to.
"Then where is she?" He asked as he craned his neck behind me, hoping to see Hope.
"She's not here obviously." I scoffed, stopping his insistent looking.
"Then tell me." He said his voice hardened, demanding her location.
"Why? So you can take her away from me?" I gritted my teeth as rage bubbled up my mind.
Father, seeing me craning for a punch, wave his hand in dismissal. "No! No! It's just..." he trailed on, 'why is he hesitating?' I wondered in suspicion.
"Just what?" I asked.
He bowed his head and sighed, then looked back at me. "Remember when I took your mother to the hospital?"
I nodded. "Yeah, its the day she's having an ultra sound, right?"
"Right, that day I injected Hope with a substance that I have made."
"What the FUCK! DID YOU JUST SAY!?" I shouted as I felt an Incandescence amount of rage.
Then, I punched him.
Repeatedly.
When I stopped, he was gasping for breath and muttered. "I deserve that."
"Yeah, you do." I snarled at him
"What did you inject her?" I demanded my fist tremendously trembling on anger and resentment.
"It's... it's a serum that will make her body stronger than ever. That day, the doctor informed that she would not live because she's too weak. So I did what every desperate and loving father will do."
I stumped down the ground facing him as every anger that resided within me withered out. "So after all these years, what I thought that her hybrid gene is causing it is wrong?"
My father, being the percipent man he is heard what I said."Oh, right, she is one."
As I heard that, I frowned on confusion. "What? But I thought you didn't knew."
Father chuckled at what I suppose was my confused look. "Actually, we thought that you wouldn't figure it out, and just dismiss it as the disease that makes a persons hair grow in an abnormal rate.."
I sighed in exhaustion. "Right, do you want to meet her?"
Father's eyes gleaned with joy and something else that I couldn't figure out as his body once again found strength to stand up and did something that even I felt embarrassed about.
I groaned in embarrassment as I saw him dance with his tippy toe. "Do you really have to dance?"
Father just grinned at me and continued dancing.
"Come'on its getting dark."
I got on my bike and scooted over a bit by the front to give my father some space to sit on.
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It's now dark as we rode while chatting, catching up.
"So Jess, how did you escape the RV?" Ask father.
"Well, I woke up before it blew up and somehow managed to scavenge some supplies. How about you, how did both of you suddenly disappear?"
I heard my father sigh wearily. "Ah, we got thrown out of the RV, and your mom and I passed out on the road before the last men saved us."
I nodded, contemplating,'I see, so that's why there's helicopters and sutff there.'
Then, the conversation ended.
Just.
Like.
That.
Then, my walkie flickered to life.
"Hello Jessebell, it's your favorite Air and now Land lord." Rufus smugly said.
"Hello to you too." I sighed heavily, already regretting telling him my channel.
"Thank you for helping me and Bobby there awhile back. We're now in a tank." Rufus said as I heard a murmurs from whom I suppose is Bobby.
"No problem. Anyway, I see the schoolbus Aimee and Jepp took, so see ya."
"Oh, yeah, I think I see you guys too. Let's talk later." Said Rufus, then my line is silent once more.
"Jepp?" Asked my father, who I forgot is with me.
"Oh, you know, Thomas Jepperd." I casually said.
"Really! The Skull Crusher?!" Said my father as he beamed in excitement.
"Eh, don't get too exited." I shrugged.
As we neared the bus, that seemed to have taken a halt as I saw its passengers look to the left.
There, I heard the rumbling of a tank. 'Oh, that's probably Rufus.'
Then we stopped just behind the bus and heard a roar of multiple bikes coming over the hills and a thud from the walkway.
"Ah, shit it's the animal army." I cursed, blaming my luck.
"You got a problem with them?" Asked my father.
"Yeah, I kinda stole some of their supplies and also kinda killed their caged tiger. Poor thing." I said as I shook my head in disappointment and pity.
"And they call themselves the animal army." My father muttered.
"Right? Isn't it pretty ironic." I said in agreement.
"Right, you are son."
"Stay here they don't know you yet." I said to my father as I got off my sick ride and went near the bus door.
There, I saw Bear or little Ickie bear. Standing at the hood.
"We ride or die for this bus!" She screamed. "Boo-yah!"
'Boo-yah? What the hell is she screaming now? Of I were part of that army, I would be cringing as hell.' I thought as my face contorted into disgust just thinking about saying that cringy catchphrase while also part of the supposed animal army.
Then, Rufus the big Dumbo still hasn't revealed himself and kept ponting at the bus, then at the obstacle blocking the bus's path.
Realizing what's about to happen, i ran and screamed at Rufus to not continue whatever it is he's planning. "Wait, don't shoot! You'll damge their eardrums! They are a lot more sensitive to sounds than we are!"
And thank the Gods as it seems like he stopped and opened the hatch and revealed...
I then heard murmurs behind me. The hybrids specifically. "Bobby?"
Anyway, they continued their yapping while I watched as Rufus went down with a sour face.
"What's the big idea?" said Rufus as he held Bobby close to him while the animal army were going into the Essex City planning to end the last men.
I shook my head and spoke, "Didn't you hear what I just said earlier?"
"Ah, right, my bad." He said as he walked past me and headed straight into the bus
I, too, went back to take my father, and suddenly. He grabbed my arm, and I looked into his eyes, and he said. "Be with your sister. I'll help those animals army to end Abbot and his men."
"You don't want to meet Hope?" I said, looking at him for any spark of excitement.
He shook his head in denial and said. "No, it's better if she doesn't know who I am. I've been absent for the entirety of her life, then I'll just suddenly reappear and think that we're all gonna be treating each other like family."
"Can't you just try?" I pleaded to him.
"It's too late for that now."
"Then, how are you gonna go back there? With my bike? Because just so you know, I won't let you."
Father laughed. "Hahaha, still the caring little Jess i knew. But yes, you are right, so I managed to hitch a ride with one of the animal army."
Then I looked past us and saw what looked like a dolphin waiting.
I sighed, seeing my old man being as stubborn as a mule. "Our mom won't forgive you nor like you for this, you know that?"
"Nah, she lives me too much for that." He laughed, then he patted me on my shoulder and looked me straight into the eyes and said. "I'm proud of you, son. Truly, because out of all the scenarios that I thought if isn't what turned out to be. Thank you again for giving me a chance." Then we hugged and nothing dramatic happened like me crying and him sobbing nothing like that.
'He's acting weird, before this he's all giddy with meeting Hope but now he's somehow hesitant… something is not right with this old man.' I thought as I watched as his silhouette dissappear and go to the bus and once again watched as Gus, Jepp and Bear hug it out right in the entrance.
"Good to see you alive, little ickie bear." I grinned as they broke the hug and with Bear looking at me like I stole her favorite toy.
"We're not that close." Said Bear as she entered the bus.
"Ouch." Said Jepp as he and Gus watched our exchange.
"Jess!" Screamed Gus as he ran up to me to give me a hug.
"Hello."
"Hope told us about you."
"Oh, did she?"
"Well... Wendy did because Hope wouldn't talk to us. Only Ear, Wendy and Miss Aimeel can make her talk." Said Gus as I frowned at the name.
'Damn you Earl.' I cursed inwardly.
"Hey come'on we need to move." Jepp called out as Gus got on the bus, and I returned to my sweet baby beautiful ride.
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The bus once again stopped this time at an abandoned playground.
As the kids went out and went straight to playing, followed by Aimee, Bear, and then Jepp. Though I didn't see Hope.
So, I went inside the bus and saw her brooding.
"This isn't what I thought you." I say behind her and whispered sofly to her.
"You left me here." She mumbled, still not looking at me.
"Yes, I know."
"Thanks for stopping that tank guy." She said and gave me a glance.
"Yes, I know." I said as she grumbled in annoyance, and I smirked in victory.
"Stop that." She whined as she was now looking at me fully.
"Stop what?" I said, feigning innocence and she threw a short temperature tantrum.
"Oh, by the way, I managed to kill a few last men. Back at the preserve." She proudly said as she held up the knife I gave to her years ago.
"How many?" I asked.
"Five!" She said, grinning as she showed me her five hairy fingers.
"Well, that's good, but that is still nothing compared to me." I said as I watched the grin dissappear from her face. "Here take this carved wood as a early birthday present." I added as I gave her the wood sculpture that I bought back in Factory Town.
"Ugh! You're still so annoying!" She said as she stomped out of the bus, joining the others. Thought her face held a smile not a frown.
I laughed wholeheartedly "But you love me!" and then I felt it. My third sense. 'What is it this time?' I thought as I looked around inside the bus. Seeing nothing, i dismissed it and got up. Then I looked at my fingers. My pinkie specifically.
"Oh, I got it, I'll inject the cure later." I casually said and shrugged it off. And went out the bus.
I am greeted by Bear in a tree. "Hello, Bear trying to get some honey?" I teased her as she looked at me confused.
I sighed in disappointment and muttered, "Young people these days couldn't even understand a joke."
I sat at the steps of the bus and watched our kids play. With Aimee assisting them. Then I saw him. "Earl...." I whispered as I watched the big Dumbo elephant that couldn't even get into the see-saw and Hope helped him get on.
'Hmmm, don't know what Hope sees in him, but I'll put my trust on her this time.' I said as I continued to watch while also listening to the talkie that Bear had in hand.
While Jepp beside Bear is watching Gus like a hawk fearing he might dissappear if he blinks.
A few minutes after that, they all returned into the bus, and I stayed behind thinking about whether the black hole is the big bang or not. Then, I heard steps behind, and I looked behind, and it's Jepp and Aimee. "You okay?" Asked Aimee.
"Eh, technically no." I casually said as Aimee and Jepp became concerned and took a step closer. "were here if you need help, you know that, right?" Said Jepp, reaching out to touch me, but I took multiple steps back. "I have it." I said to them, keeping a straight face.
"What?" Aimee muttered in despair as Jepp ask "since when did you know?"
"Earlier when I'm at the bus. I'm thinking that the guy that bumped into me back in the Factory Town has it, and it got to me." Then I added. "but it's impossible as the virus should've shown signs a way back."
Then, Bear came wondering what's taking us so long and Jepp broke the news to her and she just said "Oh, that's sad." And returned to the bus. WITH A UNCONCERNED FACE!
Anyway emotional things happened but in a distance and we continued on our way and Aimee now looking at me with pity and concern at the back of the bus.
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After 9 long grueling hours of driving. One questions, if they really need their ass.
I got out of my sick, beautiful, and heavenly bike, and I couldn't feel my asscheeks. "Ah fuck, I should've just tied this up and sat in the back of the bus." I whined as I slapped my ass repeatedly.
"Ahaha, careful, Skelly, there are kids present." Said Jepp with a teasing grin.
My face turned ugly in disgust as I said to him. "Ew, dude, how are you even thinking about that right now?" I shook my head in disappointment and added. "I thought you're better than this, in front of the kids, really?" I then hopped in my bike again as I heard Gus scream in excitement and head down where Jepperd pointed at earlier before he said those atrocious things.
"Cabin huh...", I mused out loud.
"I wonder how Lucas and the others are doing." I added.
[---------------------------]
Meanwhile, in Hawkins ( Hours After Jess left)
"WHAT!?!?" A loud booming voice escaped from the cabin as birds flew away in a panic.
Inside, you will see four humans sitting and arguing while one holds a letter. While the other one sipps a new hot brewed coffee watching them have at it with a clock ticking in the background.
"What the hell does Jess mean by this!?" Said Max, frustrated as she scratched her hair as she held the letter in another.
Then, Jane muttered, "Does he think we're incompetent and weak?" Followed up by Lucas shaking his head and said "No, I think that he thought that it's his responsibility." He paused, giving everyone a chance to process it and somehow missed Mike's gesturing for him to stop, and he continued, "As he is at fault why Hope is in there and I think he is trying to redeem himself somehow."
Max offended by whatever Lucas said replied. "So, all those years with the two of them living with us is nothing!?" Lucas stuttering having a hard time to defend Jess's choice. "We-... I-.....You se-..." Then Max held her free hand up, mentioning Lucas to stop this tomfoolery."Just... just stop. You're making a fool of yourself by simply defending him even though you know it yourself that he is in the wro-."
"HEL!-" A scream stopped them from arguing, and they all simultaneously turned around to find Judy missing, and she's now replaced by a large gooey kind of substance…