The Chess

      Something was wrong in the courtroom. Maddie couldn't quite answer the question “what exactly?”even to myself, and didn't notice this oddity right away, but only after Jack appeared in front of the jury with a comically huge headband covering his damaged ear. He was wearing a familiar and well-known orange work jumpsuit, but with a colorful striped tie over it, which he usually wore at more serious events along with a suit. The awkward appearance seemed even more strange against the background of the restrained jurors and the judge in a black robe. Bizarrely bright against the background of something more normal. "Didn't he even realize where he was going?" — Maddie asked herself, staring at her husband. The feeling of something terribly wrong slowly mutated into anxiety.       ― Jack Fenton, do you have anything to say to the accusations? ― the judge's voice seemed to be somehow electronic, as if it was being voiced by a voice assistant.       For some reason, Maddie couldn't figure out when she had listened to the moment of Jack's accusations. I tried to focus on the judge or one of the jurors, but it only made me feel sick and had a headache. The faces of everyone present seemed to be shapeless and twisting into an endless spiral. Everyone except Jack.       ― Yes, Your Honor! — The man's voice sounded cheerful and loud, and a wide smile did not leave his face. ― I was fulfilling my civic duty. As a true patriot, he defended the inhabitants of his country, the inhabitants of the Amity Park, from the monsters that made their way into our world! Monsters living at our expense!       Maddie felt her stomach twist, and all the blood drained from her face. Jack couldn't say that in court. He couldn't justify himself with what she was thinking. No one in their right mind could. She stared at her husband, his wide smile with even, snow-white teeth, feeling her internal organs grow heavier, as if turning to stone. How her fingertips feel numb, as if the blood has stopped flowing to them properly. This is probably how the victims of the Greek Gorgon felt, looking the monster cursed by Athena right in the eyes. She knew she couldn't take her eyes off him. Can't move anymore and looks around, turning only her eyeballs.       — Objection! — The voice coming from somewhere to the left seemed vaguely familiar, but it was slightly muffled and distorted by an otherworldly echo. — They were people. The most ordinary ones, like you and me.       ― Can you prove it? — Jack asked. The white bandages where his ear used to be began to soak in blood. Slowly, as if a new wound had opened under a bandage. Much more terrible than one could imagine. ― To prove that they are human? What are you people able to prove?       — Accepted —The sound of the judge's gavel was so deafeningly loud that it seemed to hit Maddie right on the skull. ― The country's constitution protects only people and gives them rights only. If the victim is not a human being, then we cannot judge Mr. Fenton on the charges that have been brought against him.       — Are you serious? — Maddie stammered, looking Jack straight in the eye.       — Yes, dear. We're serious, — he was still positive and smiling, not a drop of contempt or cunning reflected on his face. He just kept looking at her like an innocent child, blinking his big blue eyes with long black eyelashes, inherited by his son. ― Prove that this creature is human, and not dirty carnivorous evil spirits. Prove that she has the same rights as me, you, or anyone else here.       ― This is absurd, ― it seemed to Maddie that the internal organs were twisted by a terrible spasm. It seemed that instead of guts, there was an animated tangle of snakes inside. ― Why does anyone have to prove that they are human at all? What kind of ruler can you use to measure this?       — You have no proof! — Someone shouted from the jury box.       — Not a single one!       ― Only for killing people can you be tried to the fullest extent of the law!       Maddie felt her head start to spin, as if the blood was gradually draining from her body. The one that soaked Jack's headband almost through and through, and which is now seeping through the bandages in viscous drops, accumulating on his bulky cheekbone and slowly sliding to his chin. Maybe it really was her blood, and not men at all? Was he taking her for himself to appear more innocent in the eyes of others, and she had almost no strength left to respond to him? Maybe that's the point of this stupid blindfold? Cause pity, because the poor are more likely to be believed. Surely the victim will be believed because she is a victim?       ― He hurt our son, ― Maddie said with difficulty. Her mouth felt as dry as if hot sand had been poured down throat. ― He've been experimenting on our son. Almost killed him.       ― Is he human? ― Jack asked with a smile. The sticky scarlet blob that gathered on his massive chin grew larger and larger, but it never broke off on his orange work overalls and stupid colorful tie.       ― He's your son... ― Maddie tried to retort, but the man abruptly interrupted her.       ― Yours, ― man said emphatically. ― It was you who created the monster and brought it to the human world, not me.       ― What..., ― the remnants of blood pounded in her ears, drowning out the voices of the members of the jury, the judge and the lawyer, whose face she never saw. Only Jack's voice was still steady and clear. It was as if he was talking it all directly into her brain. ― You're talking nonsense.       ― Nonsense, it's like two ordinary people could have a monster, ― Jack shrugged. The jury supported his words with laughter, as if they were watching some kind of performance, rather than helping to find the culprit in a terrible tragedy. The culprit is that one child was left disabled, and the other was naturally put into a torture chamber in early childhood. ― The laws of humans cannot be applied to monsters. Even the laws that apply to animals should not apply to them. They're not even animals.       Maddie couldn't believe her ears. Didn't they get a fair trial? Are their rights less than even those of some decorative dog that people get to entertain them with a mischievous character? Did everyone here think so except her?       Her stomach twisted from the new spasm so much that she was finally able to come out of her stupor and look away from Jack. Hugging herself, she looked down at the dark wood table. A bright neon-pink liquid with a peculiar metallic odor spilled over the carelessly scattered sheets of paper with paragraphs from the constitution. Soaking the paper, she blurred the letters on the pages, erasing line by line. Erasing everything that this document called “human rights,” leaving in place only a ridiculous substance similar to what a small child would call unicorn blood because of the positive color and sparkles.       Turning her head slightly to the left, Maddie almost screamed in horror. The headless body of Vlad Masters was sitting on the chair next to her. The incision on the neck was clean and even, as if made by some incredible surgeon or the most skilled executioner in history. It was from this wound that a pinkish, shiny substance flowed in torrents, pushed out of the severed cervical artery by pulsating currents. The white shirt was already completely soaked by this something, and the red bow tie had slipped to the side due to the fact that the knot had been cut as well as the neck. The severed head lay on the table next to it, right on top of a thick book, on the spine of which the word “Law” was printed in gold. Vlad's blue eyes were veiled in a ghastly whitish haze, but they were still open and staring straight ahead.       When the woman tried to get up, she only fell from her chair to the floor, still staring at the headless body in disbelief. Her heart was pounding against ribs from the inside, and my breath was coming in short gasps, as if from a long run. It was difficult to get up from the slippery wet floor, but the desire to escape was stronger than anything. Maddie clutched at the armrests and backs of the empty benches, where neither journalists, observers, nor close relatives were sitting. She could hear footsteps behind her. A lot of feet were slapping the wet floor in an attempt to catch up with her, stop her, hold her in place. The door from the courtroom gave way with difficulty and slammed shut right behind Maddie as she left.       But the picture outside was even worse.       Danny. Her boy's face, covered in blood, peeked out of the iron maiden's sarcophagus in place of the open mask. Strands of black hair, wet with blood, stuck to his forehead, and his large blue eyes were inflamed from crying. He couldn't scream, but his lips moved, repeating only one thing over and over again.:       “Mom... mom... Mom...”       The iron maiden's mask snapped shut with a metallic clang, drowning out the boy's hoarse, desperate scream. Tears of blood flowed from the statue's eyes, making its pained face even more terrifying. Blood flowed from all the cracks of the statue, accumulating in one giant puddle on the floor. Maddie tried to open the torture instrument to free her son, but her hands slipped on the metal wet with blood. She was unable to open this monstrous thing, or even hold on to the pathetic semblance of a rusty handle on one of the doors, which literally crumbled under her fingers if she just squeezed it a little harder.       Jack pulled her away from the iron statue, clasping her hands behind her back. The bandage came off his head and blood flowed from his injured ear without encountering any obstacles. It soaked the collar of his jumpsuit and flowed down his chest and arm. It fell in large drops on Maddie's face, which turned away from him, not wanting to look. She struggled, but it was no use. It was as if she was being held not by a familiar husband, but by some kind of colossus with a steel grip.       ― He's just a monster, Maddie. He's as guilty as a dog that attacked its master, ― the man's voice sounded close to his ear.       ― No! It's not like that! ― It took Maddie a moment to notice that Jack wasn't holding her at all.       The hunter appeared right in front of her, holding a brightly burning torch in his hands. She was standing tied to a pole on a pile of rickety logs and brushwood that stank of gasoline. Her hands were tied behind her back with a rope, and her whole body ached as if she had been beaten for hours.       ― And you're guilty of protecting these filthy creatures, ― roared Jack's deep bass, drowning out the roar of the faceless crowd. ― You gave birth to a monster. You decided that he could be equal to people. But the fire will cleanse you of this infection!

***

      ― No! ― Maddie woke up abruptly, her hand tangled in the crumpled duvet cover. She was breathing heavily, her back was wet with sweat, and her stomach still hurt, just like in her dream. Unpleasant, lingering pain.       It was just a nightmare. Because of everything that had happened over the past few days, because of her husband, who seemed to be madly convincing her of his innocence when she nevertheless decided to visit him in the hospital yesterday under the strict supervision of the police, who looked at her with quiet sympathy. Her brain, overloaded with information, was clearly starting to malfunction, making it clear with such night visions that she could not cope with the load. He doesn't have time to digest everything properly.       ― I'm going to start sleepwalking like Danny soon,― Maddie muttered, pulling back the covers. A peculiar smell of iron abruptly hit my nose, and a maroon stain spread out on the white sheet. The obvious source of the abundance of blood and pain in her nightmare. ― That's the last thing I needed...       Maddie got up from the bed with a groan. The small digital clock on the bedside table read fifteen minutes past six. It's too early in the morning for a summer day when the kids will never wake up. Even she herself would prefer not to get up before the alarm clock, but what to do. After such terrible dreams, it would still be impossible to fall asleep a second time, especially on a dirty bed. Besides, she could use a little extra time to get herself in order. She had a lot of plans for today, and it was going to be a hell of a long and exhausting day.

***

      For several days now, Danny had been waking up quite early in the morning, but he just continued to lie on the bed with his eyes closed in an attempt to stay half asleep and take a nap a little more, so as not to accumulate fatigue and not bring himself to the next night walks, which usually happened after a rather impressive lack of rest. He didn't usually dream at such moments, but this time, from time to time, the rustle of leaves and a deep growl could be heard from the darkness. This is probably the only thing that could be called similar to a dream, but it was a pity that he couldn't fully immerse myself in it, as he did then, in Vlad's mountain chalet. But he wouldn't mind, for the first time since he got his powers, talking to the beast from nightmares.       Mom woke up with a little cry. Obviously, he wasn't the only one sleeping badly in this house. There were soft footsteps and a rustle of cloth outside the door. Danny lay motionless, listening intently for the sounds that his heightened senses picked up. After some time, you could hear the muffled operation of the washing machine. And then the sound of falling water in the shower. Apparently, the woman decided to start the day early in the hope that this time she would definitely be able to be productive.       Phantom gritted his teeth, remembering the state his mother had been in when she returned home yesterday after trying to talk to Jack. She and Jess weren't allowed to see the man. It wasn't that Danny himself was eager to see him, but Jess was obviously unhappy with this turn of events even more than his unwillingness to share with her all the details of what happened many years ago in the basement of the house. And sister didn't want to talk about the events of the year before last either. She seemed overly impressionable and fussy to Danny lately, and these are not the best qualities for a keeper of secrets. At least for now. And he didn't feel like he was ready to open up to anyone else. Although after talking to my mother, it seemed to make breathing a little easier.       Charlotte's spiders in the terrarium quieted down after Jack stopped showing up at home. Maddie tried to ask him for details about the ghost, who, as it turned out, reached out with his spidery paws to her, but under the weight of daily problems, this conversation did not come anywhere in the end, interrupting at the beginning. Moreover, the ghost himself now completely refused to show his face. Even the spiders seemed to activate only when Danny wasn't in the room. Charlotte was obviously not a fool and knew perfectly well that nothing good would happen after their dialogue. In fact, she has achieved almost what she wanted, Jack is no longer in this house. He's not a hunter, he won't be able to call himself that anymore, at least, and most likely he won't be allowed to have any weapons for the rest of his life, unless of course he stays in prison for the rest of his days. However, after all that the teenager managed to scrape together, his father will most likely be in a madhouse. Both the police and the hospital staff described him as someone who had clearly lost touch with reality. Few people seemed to believe his words about ghosts and vampires, that he was a hunter of evil spirits, and so on. On the one hand, it was wonderful, the fewer people believed in all this imaginary danger, the longer his friends, acquaintances and himself would be calm. But on the other side...       The local media presented the tragedy very cautiously. Apparently, it's not for nothing that the TV presenter of Amity Park was called an android on the Internet. A blonde girl, without a single hint of emotion, gave out the text of the news about the attempted murder of a schoolgirl by a “hunter of evil spirits”, who recognized her as the evil spirits. For such stinginess in her presentation, she became popular in her hometown, but the rest of the country was obviously not satisfied with this. At some point, Danny almost completely stopped accessing the Internet on any popular sites. Personal messages and the news feed were filled with speculation about the tragedy of the circus “Gothic”. Surprisingly, the people who supported my father were still at least online, even if there were relatively few of them. The news about the suicide of the circus owner, who was detained by the local police, flashed especially often in his personal information field. Some saw justice in this, others regretted that the man had not been sent to prison after all, and were sure that he had gotten off too easily. And someone saw it as a conspiracy created for unknown, but very evil purposes. The Internet is truly an amazing place.       Danny got up from the pillows and sat up in bed, tiredly rubbing his sleepy eyes. Obviously, it would not be possible to plunge into sleep anymore, especially after the death of the circus owner once again surfaced in my head. He still remembered how he froze in a stupor on the threshold of his room, looking at the open thermos lying on the floor. He rushed out of the house in the guise of a Ghost to find a spirit who had gone off the rails after many years of slavery. Tucker had never given him any reassuring news about Schoenhowert up from the pillows and sat up in bed, tiredly rubbing his sleepy eyes. Obviously, it would not be possible to plunge into sleep anymore, especially after the death of the circus owner once again surfacedn my head. He still remembered how he froze in a stupor on the threshold of his room, looking at the open thermos lying on the floor. He rushed out of the house in the guise of a Ghost to find a spiri the circus?       Sam was the only one who calmed this panic, although she didn't really explain anything. She certainly tried, talked a lot about something similar to funeral rites or mourning for the dead in order to release their soul. But Danny didn't really understand anything, although he trusted her slightly trembling voice for some reason. The girl looked terribly broken at the time, with inflamed eyes and black traces of earth embedded in small, almost completely healed wounds on her fingers. She spoke incoherently and incoherently, promising that she would fill them in on the details as soon as she understood everything properly. Which wasn't exactly like her anymore. She was usually in a hurry to share any ritually gothic information with them, so what changed?       Danny reached for his smartphone on the bedside table. Vampires have already slowly begun to move away from their information isolation. We chatted for almost the whole night, and we've been trying to reach him for a couple of days now, but we weren't in the mood to respond at all. It wasn't that they were too insistent or annoying to him, not at all. There was just something suffocating about their care and consideration. Something that paid too much attention to him, which only made him want to hide the phone away more.       Although there was another kind of “attention” that still unnerved the teenager much more.       Getting out of bed, Danny stretched properly, not expecting to see a man looking through the window of his room, dressed too untidily and impersonally to determine his gender, age or gender, but the dictaphone in his hands spoke volumes. The stranger also looked surprised, frozen in the most ridiculous and unstable of all possible poses, apparently realizing that he had foolishly looked not into the window of the owners of the house or their office, but into the room of a teenager standing now in only shorts.       Still holding his phone, Danny took a quick picture. The camera's flash, which was not turned off, scared the stranger so much that he fell off the ledge onto something or someone below. There was scuffling and muttered curses from the street. The guy looked out the window, noticing an unfamiliar car driving away from their house, and also took a photo to zoom in to get a better look at the license plates.       ― The state of Wisconsin? The guys have obviously come a long way to do something stupid for the sake of sensation. Were they hoping to find Vlad here or what? ― Danny snorted irritably, looking at the car disappearing around the corner of the street. Photos of the rooms should be shown to the mother, and at the same time to the cops. Although he sincerely didn't want to add to their work, they probably have a lot right now. The guy is sure that he could have handled it himself, but Masters made it clear to his protege that he should not engage in amateur activities and sit quietly. At least for now. It's understandable, there's no need to give visitors an extra reason to talk about the paranormal and find black-and-white blurred figures with green eyes in their photos. ― You acted stupidly. So I won't be ashamed to stop you from living or even working further if we meet again.

***

      The morning was even worse than Maddie had imagined. Looking at the photo of a strange stranger in the window of her son's room, Jess realized without prompting that she should call the police and picked up the phone while Danny, yawning relaxedly, brewed himself coffee and lazily spread jam on bread. He seemed completely unmoved by what had happened, although in his place Maddie would probably have made a fuss a long time ago.       The offer to go to Alice and spend the rest of the holidays away from all this outrage, which is obviously going to get worse and worse, the children took a little discouragingly. Danny probably jokingly suggested that she wanted to get rid of them in order to “take all the media attention for herself,” but with his character, it was difficult to say for sure whether he was joking or was at least half serious. The last thing she really wanted was to make him think she needed him less after everything he'd told her. But the reality was different, there had only been more weasels from the news world in recent days. They tried to catch them on the street, in shops, on an evening walk. At first, they approached cautiously, but each time they became more and more brazen in search of information that could significantly increase their modest fee.       Giving them some time to pack their bags and say goodbye to their friends was the only request the children made. They clearly didn't want to spend the rest of the summer in the wilderness with little to no communication, but it wouldn't be a good decision to let them continue to stay in a place where news vultures would peek through their windows either. And Maddie herself felt like she was coming to the edge every time she looked into their eyes.       It was hard to let them go. To feel suffocating tears that cannot be cried out in front of them, too. You can't cry in front of children at all, being the last support in difficult times. If she makes it clear that she is broken herself, then there may be no hope left for them. And every day it became more and more difficult to control myself, sorting through documents and patents, working with the police and lawyers.       And then there's this cycle, which has decided to come early this time. For some reason, her own body decided that she probably wasn't sick enough. The summer had been stifling in itself, but now Maddie was beginning to feel like she was about to start melting. She was terribly hungry. Something more satisfying and bigger. And after all, even staying at home would not have worked, because she had already agreed to work with Masters, which meant no more indulgences and comfortable time in her home laboratory, which would also soon become much more empty.       “I haven't felt this way since university,” ― the woman thought, running into the elevator and fanning herself with a folder of documents. She didn't look around at all, concentrating too much on her thoughts and condition.       ― Rough morning? ― The sudden voice of Mastres in the closed elevator made Maddie almost jump in surprise. The man appeared out of nowhere in his usual formal black suit and red tie, but this time without glasses. Sipping coffee from a paper cup, he was intently studying something on his smartphone.       ― How long have you been here? ― Maddie exhaled, feeling her mouth go dry. For some reason, the smell of strong drink was completely invisible in the air.       ― We went in together, ― Vlad hid the phone in the inner pocket of his jacket. ― Since you're asking such a question, you're clearly focused on something more important to yourself than the upcoming acquaintance with a new workplace. Problems at home?       ― Almost, ― Maddie continued to fan her burning face with a folder. ― If earlier the journalists were annoying from afar, today they decided to look right through the window. And into Danny's bedroom, too. And he's acting as if nothing has happened.       ― They accelerated for a long time. I thought they would start doing tactless nonsense much earlier, ― Vlad grinned slightly, hiding his smile behind a sip of coffee. For a brief moment, Maddie thought there was something strange about his white teeth, but she didn't really have time to figure out what it was. ― The vultures are losing their grip.       ― I think tomorrow morning, or maybe tonight, I'll send the kids to my sister. Away from all this, ― the slight heat made his heart beat faster. Surely her current condition was most strongly influenced by stress, which could have turned gray in a couple of days. ― A couple more such visits and I'll start to break down.       Masters was looking at her with a strange expression on his face. Without his glasses, he seemed to become a completely different person. His eyes seemed narrower, but her gaze was sharper and more attentive, pinning her in place like a butterfly. She tried not to make eye contact with him once more, but she could still feel him on her skin.       ― It's probably the right decision, ― he finally stated. Maddie even felt relieved, allowing herself to exhale. ― But you don't look well yourself. Maybe you should have stayed home today. Get some rest, help the children get ready, spend time with them.       ― They're self―sufficient enough to handle the packing without my interference, ― Maddie chuckled a little nervously, straightening her hair. ― Besides, Danny wanted to visit his friend at this hospital today, and Jess was planning to collect all the books she needed for her studies. Next year at school will be her last. And I've already postponed this meeting for too long, because you wanted to talk to me not only for the sake of work, but also to introduce your lawyer, am I right?       ― Mostly, Maddie, ― the man smiled. His thin lips seemed too bright, as if he was drinking bright red juice instead of coffee. ― Your zeal is commendable, but I still believe that chronically tired employees cannot be effective under constant stress. I don't think there's anything seditious about a vacation.       ― For a billionaire like you, maybe not. But I can't afford to be unemployed. Especially when the trial and the lawyer's fees are breathing down your back. My savings are not as impressive as I would like, ― Maddie sighed as she watched the floor counter slowly creep up, finally stopping at the right one. The hallway was cool and quiet enough. In the farthest part was Masters' office, as far as she remembered, but during the last visit she had no particular desire to look around. ― I can't afford a vacation at the moment.       ― It's not necessary to be so ruthless to yourself, ― the man kept a little distance from her, as during the first conversation in many years before the evening of the reunion. ― I could help...       ― No, thanks, ― Maddie interrupted him sharply, not even giving him time to finish his sentence. ― I don't want to be in debt.       Somehow, Masters did not respond to this. He just measured her with attentive dark blue eyes, which sent a chill down her spine. There was something subtly disturbing about it for her personally, although she couldn't pinpoint the exact reason. It was a bit like the look in the back she sometimes felt during traditional camping trips with Danny. The look of a curious predator that cautiously looks at people. He sniffed and walked around the camp without being seen directly, but he could always be seen somewhere on the edge of peripheral vision as a light shadow. If you start to think about it, Vlad was a similar wolf to her: cautious, attentive, cunning and frighteningly smart. Surely cruelty was included in this list, otherwise how else would he have been able to climb so high? Kindness and understanding can only lead a life of humility and poverty, and Masters clearly had none of that.       Danny had obviously picked up something elusively bestial from him after too long a conversation. Not to say that it was too noticeable, after all, the teenager was always a wild loner, it's just that he seemed to start using personal existing traits in a similar way. There was something frightening about it that made a loved one seem far away. It was as if she knew even less about him than she thought.       “And now you're sending him to his sister to know even less for sure,” ― Maddie clutched the folder of documents to her chest tighter. The hardcover was already crunching under her fingers when a white cat with two dark spots on its forehead jumped out at her feet. With a short “mew” in the direction of the woman, the cat busily approached Masters, rubbing her side against his dark trousers and wrapping her long flexible tail around his ankle.       ― What's a cat doing here? ― the woman asked herself, looking at the small, elegant animal.       ― This is the employee of the recreation room, ― the man said, noticing her surprised look and pointing to the double―leafed glass door from behind which the cat jumped out.       Inside, there was a fairly large room with a small table, upholstered sofas, and a kitchenette delicately hidden behind a small green partition with climbing flowers that Maddie couldn't identify. Two more tortoiseshell and ginger cats were sprawled on the couch. Lazily making out, they licked each other's faces, not in a hurry to be distracted by a new person.       ― An employee? ― Maddie asked, just in case, not sure if she understood Vlad correctly.       ― That's right, ― the man picked up the white cat with a restrained smile and motioned for Maddie to follow him further. ― While we're waiting for the lawyer, I suggest a short tour. If you're determined to get down to business, then it's worth taking a look around the workplace first. What do you say?

***

      Tucker's house was, as always, a little noisy and smelled of the goodies his mother, a committed housewife, loved to cook. Surely her baking would have been an incredible success if she had decided to open some kind of bakery or cafe, but she preferred to pamper only those closest to her. Danny was kind of jealous of Tucker every time he visited him, even if he never said it out loud. Even now, lounging on a cushioned armchair and sipping homemade mint lemonade, watching a friend fiddle with a new hard drive that glowed slightly in the dark due to the ectoplasm that had once got on it, the teenager could not help but compare what he saw with his own family. Everything had been difficult at home for a very long time, it was difficult to remember at least one conversation between parents without raising their voices.       While waiting for Sam, the Ghost listened to the soft rustle of the curtains of the open window, to the voices of people on the street and the barely audible radio on the ground floor. One could probably say that he was afraid of running into sneaky journalists or someone like them again, who runs a small blog and fancies himself a serious and impartial analyst. It was only on the way here that he came across one who chased him in a car, but persistently pretended that he was an innocent daisy, and the camera in the back seat was not his. To break the lens of this thing unnoticeably with the help of telekinesis was the very special pleasure that he would not mind repeating.       The goth girl hugged him tightly instead of greeting him right after she entered Tucker's room, who couldn't hold back his sarcastic joke, for which he got a pillow in his face.       ― So we won't see each other until the end of the summer? ― Sam clarified after he briefly outlined the situation and showed a photo of the morning guest. ― Is that all because of that?       ― Well, not only that,― Danny tucked his legs under him a little warily, sitting cross-legged and taking a quick glance at the open window. ― To be honest, it seems to me that Mom would like to be alone with her thoughts. She used to do that when she was fighting with father, but now, you know, she can't just leave town. I don't know how bad it is, but today I heard her wake up screaming, and yesterday, after meeting Jack, she was crying in the shower. She probably thinks it's unnoticeable, but when you're able to tell that a pigeon is rummaging in the trash within a hundred meters, you'll definitely hear something like that.       ― Have you tried talking to her? ― Tucker adjusted his glasses with the back of his hand, sitting down on a chair so that its back was in front of his face in order to make it easier to fold his arms on it.       ― I tried, but she doesn't want to talk about herself. Gets off the subject as soon as he can, ― Danny set his empty glass on the floor next to the armchair and leaned back on it completely, staring at the ceiling. ― I thought to enlist Vlad's support to either stay or drag her away together with us, but he sided with her. As a result, after I visit Catherine, I will need to go home and pack my things. We will be sent to Aunt Alice on an evening flight. You will have to learn Zen far from civilization and the Internet.       ― Are you going to fly on a plane?! ― Sam blurted out, almost jumping in her seat.       ― What's the big deal? ― The ghost shrugged his shoulder, sitting down again like a human. ― This is the fastest way to get where you need to go. You will need to make a couple of transfers by bus, and the journey will take more than a day. During this time, the journalists will have time not only to find Jess and me, but also to extract everything they want under torture.       The friends exchanged glances, but did not argue with him. They already had everything written on their faces that they thought about this idea of flying on an airplane, especially after the recent incident in the mountains of Colorado. Mom and Jess were also against it at first, but they gave up anyway. Frustratingly fast. Still, Danny secretly hoped that Maddie would find such a crazy option too dangerous and she would put the brakes on the idea of a summer vacation in a village that wasn't even on some maps, allowing them to stay at home. It's a pity it didn't work out as we would have liked. Well, it was Danny's own fault, which meant he would have to deal with this stupid attempt at manipulation. In the end, before Vlad's level, he still had to be manipulated and manipulated in order to at least begin to understand how it works. It's not a good aspiration, but it's still obviously effective in many situations. Better than a banal fight.       ― I have a request for you during my absence,― Danny leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees. Outside the window, there were still no extraneous voices or any noises other than passing cars.― Can you keep an eye on Charlotte's terrarium? The spiders need to be fed at least once a week, otherwise they will start looking for a way to escape or even worse, they will start dying. According to my observations, two new corpses come to the place of each corpse. The house will quickly turn into an arachnophobe's nightmare if the terrarium is started, and I would not like to add this problem to my mother.       ― It'll be done in the best possible way, Chief, ― Foley said with a playful salute.       At that moment, the new hard drive, which had just been connected to the computer, made a lot of noise, as if it were a motor from an electric razor. The teenagers immediately turned around at the sound, and Tucker hurried to disconnect the part from the system unit, muttering to himself something about dust.

***

      For the first time in days, Jack managed to get to the phone to call someone other than a lawyer. After talking to his wife, there was a terrible aftertaste, even she did not seem to believe in his version or for some reason did not show this belief in front of the police. Was she still so angry about the past that she decided not just to leave him and get a divorce, but to do something even more terrible?       ― No, that's stupid, ― Jack told himself, listening to the phone ring. ― It's just a misunderstanding. Another stupid misunderstanding that simply does not allow people without sufficient knowledge of the otherworldly to understand me properly. To assess the scale of the danger that I managed to avert. The importance of the incident for science.       The man began to chew his thumbnail unconsciously while waiting for an answer. All his thoughts were focused only on how to explain his own rightness to others. He felt the same way he did last Halloween, when, according to Maddie, an evil ghost was in his body and mind. Which couldn't be true, of course. He is a hunter of evil spirits, he avoids otherworldly things as he should, so as not to be caught and split into atoms. During Halloween last year, the house was simply overrun with small spirits, which Maddie did not see due to her own skepticism. For Jack, that was the truth. Only this time, not only his wife doesn't believe him, but everyone around him for some reason. Reporters are not allowed to see him, and they do not allow him to give statements to the press himself, referring to doctors who are sure that they are holding another psycho, and refuse to answer the question of how his ear was damaged if it was not something otherworldly. His injury at the moment was the most convincing proof that everything that happened at the circus “Gothic” was true.       The phone was finally answered. The dubious “hello” uttered by his family and friends in a still slightly broken voice caused Jack to sigh with relief. Danny answered the phone. His son certainly should have understood him, despite all his softness and fear of the paranormal. He knew what he was afraid of, and therefore he must understand that his father had no other choice in the case of these monsters.       ― Hello son! ― Jack tried not to shout too much, holding the phone to his good ear.       ― Dad...? ― the voice on the phone sounded quieter. With a slight, frightened shudder. His boy must have been so scared of what had happened. Surely Maddie or the cops had already told him nonsense, which he believed being too naive and good-natured in life.       ― Of course it's me, Danny, ― Jack felt a lump rise in his throat and the tip of his nose tingle. The tears came of their own accord, even though he didn't want to. All the speeches and explanations flew out of my head as soon as I heard my native voice. ― You can't imagine how glad I am to hear from you!       ― I can't say the same, ― the voice sounded strangely cold, which made the man tense up. ― Why are you calling?       Fenton felt something in his chest snap and fall so abruptly that he felt dizzy. He froze with the phone in his hands, trying to process what he had just heard, and feeling cold goosebumps running down his spine. What did they tell the boy that he was reacting like that?       — Me... I wanted to talk. To explain what happened, ― all the thoughts, all the previously prepared text of explanations flew out of his head. But he couldn't formulate a new one right off the bat. With just one phrase, his son seemed to have knocked out of him the ability to put words into adequate sentences and the last remnants of hope for understanding.       ― Mom's not at home. And even if she had, she probably wouldn't have wanted to listen ― Danny continued to be so violent that he seemed obsessed with something or someone. He seemed like a different person than his boy, who was always gentle and accommodating. ― After she talked to you yesterday, she locked herself in the bathroom to cry. You still don't understand what you've done, do you?       He understood, but obviously not like the others. They were waiting for a different confession from him, waiting for him to call the otherworldly monster a man, to agree with the version that he had made a mistake in choosing a target. But he's a hunter with a flair for evil spirits that has never failed him before. Which led him not only to his first discoveries, but also to the idea of creating a portal so that these creatures and their habitat would be much more convenient to explore. He couldn't be wrong about something like that.       ― Son, listen to me. It's all one big misunderstanding...       ― As with the Iron Maiden? ― Danny interrupted him rudely.       Everything started to fall into place. Maddie has probably already reminded her son of the past misunderstanding that made her so angry with him the day before the incident. Surely the boy's brain distorted the childhood memory quite easily and quickly and adjusted it to this stupid idea of his wife's torture, which she had somehow got into her head. He was too young at the time to understand the importance of the experiment, and now he's too old to remember what it really was like.       ― You know, if you'd continued testing new equipment on me, I wouldn't have said a word. Just like with that stupid deflector, which left me with a scar on my lower back. As always, ― his son's voice acquired a slight echo from something on the phone. ― But I guess I'm not enough for you anymore.       Is that how he saw it? Was that how he felt about their experiences together, or was it just a matter of Maddie's sharp tongue? Was that what he thought, or was that how he perceived everything that happened after communicating with others? Jack was so focused on finding answers to all these questions that he even began to breathe less often. His mind was racing, unable to process everything at once. The situation seemed to him like a nightmare made real by something.       ― Listen, Danny, I can prove that this is all a misunderstanding and it wasn't a human being...       The phone rang briefly. The teenager dropped the call without even trying to listen to it. He clearly made it clear that he would not help, take his side, or even listen to him anymore. For the first time in his life, Jack felt truly alone and abandoned. Without the support of friends and family, he seemed to have lost his lifeline, being thrown overboard somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean. The environment had wanted to devour him before, refusing to accept ideas as something worthy of attention. As something that was definitely a part of their reality, which they preferred not to notice because of the fear of the new. Due to the fact that the otherworldly was stronger than man, according to superstition, although the hunter himself was sure that no pitiful evil spirits could surpass humans.       ― It looks like the call is over, ― his escort remarked in a surprisingly neutral tone. ― If there is no one else to call, then you need to come back.       ― Just a few more minutes, ― the man asked. Since everything is going so well with the family, then it was worth trying to look for support at least from the parents.

***

      Vlad seemed monstrously condescending to her. Too soft. Suspiciously compliant. Ridiculously helpful and polite. He even offered to take the kids to the airport in the evening, knowing full well that Danny probably wouldn't refuse his company. There was something about it that seemed wrong and strange to Maddie, as if he expected something from her in return after such mental generosity. After the unspoken conditions, she would not have been surprised at such a move on his part, but there was also something that did not allow her to so easily write off everything on the cold calculation of a man. After all, until today, he has not always behaved like an exceptionally cold-blooded businessman who sees only personal gain in others. Maybe Vlad really felt sorry for her to some extent, after everything that had befallen their family literally in one day, but that only made Maddie feel worse.       She usually relied on herself in all difficult situations. It didn't matter if it was about work or running a household, Maddie was used to the fact that most of the decisions she made would be hers. Jack was a good idea generator when it came to projects, but she was mostly responsible for bringing them to life, bringing them to mind, and presenting them to the general public. She also conducted negotiations with Masters about the portal and related devices already patented by his companies, even when, after many years of silence and simply disgusting parting with him as a former friend, she found this face-to-face communication unpleasant. Even if it was purely business.       ― Madeleine? ― The voice of Isabella Weston, with whom she was left alone, pulled her out of the viscous swamp of bitter reflections.       ― I'm sorry, I lost my concentration, ― she ruffled her hair with a sigh. Concentrating on something so painful was too much of a challenge right now, even if it was necessary. When the conversation turned to the reasons for her desire to divorce, about the evidence, her brain seemed to malfunction. ― We were talking about Jack's developments and my thoughts went somewhere completely to the side.       ― I can understand you, in a purely human way, ― Isabella smiled gently. There was the same annoying sympathy in her green eyes. ― But please focus. There's not much left and you can take a break from it all.       ― Yes, I understand, ― she nodded, feeling a spasmodic pain in her lower abdomen. ― But there is no time to rest at all.       ― Is Mr. Masters such a ruthless employer that he has already overwhelmed you with cases? ― The woman straightened a lock of copper―red hair and got up from her chair, heading for the coffee machine. ― Would you like some coffee? ― she asked, taking a second cup.       ― Yes, thank you, ― Maddie nodded eagerly. She didn't want coffee so much as something sweet and preferably more. ― On the contrary, Masters suggested taking a break, but I just can't imagine sitting at home alone and stewing in all this. I would love to get away from everything, go somewhere far away from civilization with my children, but everything will only get worse from my escape.       ― Has the car that your son saw this morning been found yet? ― The aroma of strong, bitter coffee filled the air, which began to trickle into the cup.       ― No, ― Maddie sighed, leaning back in her chair, trying to find a more comfortable position for herself. ― Perhaps, after their puncture, these vultures from the world of journalism fled the city faster than they were searched for. But I'm still afraid to leave my children in the city, because this is clearly just the beginning.       After yesterday's conversation with Jack, they tried to intercept her at the entrance to the hospital, and even at the store on her way home. All of them were newcomers, judging by their behavior or dialect, which most of them gave away with their heads. For the first time in a long time, Maddie was glad that local news publishers were different from everyone else in the country in their coldness and almost mechanical presentation, which became the subject of many jokes even at the moment when they had just moved to this quiet coastal town when they were young and had just begun to comprehend the wisdom of parenthood after Jess appeared.       ― After we get through the paperwork and those photos you mentioned, I'll try to bother you less, ― Miss Weston promised, handing her a cup of coffee and a sugar bowl. ― It probably won't be possible to not involve you at all before the process begins, but at least I'll try to minimize this stress on my part.       The woman put down the second cup for herself and began to look for something in her purse. Maddie wasn't afraid to overdo it with sugar. If there was no company nearby, I would just pour a couple of spoonfuls into my mouth before taking one sip. Surely no doctor would approve of such a thing, but right now, at this particular moment in time, she didn't care. A pleasant sticky sweetness settled on the tongue, slowly flowing down the throat along with the hot coffee. The drink was too strong for her taste, but that was the last thing she could complain about at the moment.       Isabella handed her a small bottle of painkillers, fished out of a small purse that she carried with her besides a briefcase for documents. And to the questioning look, she replied with a restrained smile:       ― You're restless all the time. During times of stress, many people experience periodic pain that becomes unbearable. The usual display of attention and even, one might say, care from something made Maddie feel too uncomfortable. So much so that instead of saying “thank you” She just nodded curtly. Drinking the medicine with something other than water was quite wrong and obviously not according to the instructions, but she frankly did not want to get up for this. As she handed the bottle back, Maddie noticed out of the corner of her eye that there was a real first-aid kit in the lawyer's purse. Surely, during the discussion of difficult cases, her clients often needed something to stay in their senses or wait for the doctors to arrive. Not that it was necessary during a meeting scheduled in a laboratory literally next door to the hospital, but apparently the habit of being “fully armed” turned out to be stronger.       ― In addition to custody of the children, which is obvious, and the house that is fully designed for you, is there anything that was valuable to you in your marriage and would you like to keep to yourself? ― Isabella returned to her seat with a glass of hot drink, which she didn't even bother to add sugar to.       Maddie took a quick glance at the stack of documents that Vlad had provided her with to familiarize herself with her future work and which he had urged her not to take outside the center. An unsettling thought popped into her head about all the past developments she and her husband had worked on. She had a lot of things at home that she needed for work, but now she had little idea what she would have left after that. Will the equipment that Masters has be enough? Wouldn't she have to reinvent many necessary things because of all this legal obscurantism if she lost the rights to them? How long will this pain haunt her, randomly appearing at work as a flashback? Wouldn't it have been easier to change jobs altogether and escape from all this in anticipation of miraculous healing?       She didn't know the answer to many questions. She couldn't even formulate now what she wanted from a future without a man with whom I lived even happily most of the time.       ― There are some developments that I can use here, ― Maddie replied, absently stirring the still―partially melted sugar in a cup of coffee. ― I need to get acquainted with the Masters materials to be more precise.

***

      Being next to Maddie caused contradictory feelings, especially when they were forced to sit closer to each other in the comfort of the car on the way to the airport. Perhaps the only thing he was sure of was that this feeling could not be called hunger. Which would probably be nice if this degree of uncertainty was a little less unnerving.       Blood rushed to her face from time to time, coloring her cheeks with a light, barely noticeable blush. Even the air conditioner turned on did not help the woman escape from the heat of the summer evening, she kept fanning herself with an open palm or a magazine, the name of which no one had paid attention to for a long time. From these actions, the scent of her blood spread through the salon more actively, but it was probably noticeable only to him. Full of bitterness and settling in my throat like a spicy seasoning, which made me want to cough and drink cold water. Although it definitely wouldn't help. Danny beat him to it, increasing the power of the air conditioner, which displeased the only passenger who was currently freezing.       ― We're going to start getting ice here soon, ― Jess protested, hugging herself with trembling fingers. ― How are you going to survive at Aunt Alice's without air conditioning? Will you move into the refrigerator?       ― Yes, if necessary, ― Danny replied, absently stroking the white cat curled up on his lap. ― Besides, you're the only one who's cold. And if that's the case, it's better to let one person freeze than four people boil.       The boy was definitely still unhappy with the cat's company imposed on him, but he tried not to show it. “I don't need a babysitter!”: He hissed softly as Vlad handed him the carrier. He probably expected other kinds of help from him, for example, in getting rid of this trip in principle. He clearly didn't want to leave his hometown, just as he didn't want to leave his mother in the company of problems, but he's still a teenager, after all. Being in the midst of complex and boring proceedings, being under the constant gun of journalists who obviously would not leave him or his sister alone for a very long time, was not worth it. Maybe he understands this himself, since he does not actively resist, or maybe the reason is different. The teenager's mind was a dark forest that he couldn't even try to enter.       Taking a quick look at Maddie, Masters tried to at least roughly imagine what was going on in her head right now. Chaos or something more or less definite? She didn't have much time to gather herself and fully comprehend everything that had happened over the past few days. A son with superpowers who had the “honor” of becoming a test subject in childhood, journalists hungry for sensations so much that they are ready to encroach on their privacy, an idiot husband who is unable to even try to come up with a more or less adequate alibi and continues to broadcast about ghosts. Not that there was anything surprising about it specifically for him. There was a lot that could be done for personal gain from the latter, but Maddie... She literally lived in another world until recently. Simpler and more understandable.       ― Are you sure I should take her with me? ― Danny sounded quiet and somewhat lost, referring to the four―legged passenger.       ― She's used to life outside the big city and more freedom than I can give her here. Even the penthouse will not be spacious enough for someone who is used to the forests of Colorado or Wisconsin. ― Vlad tried to smooth out the corners and attract the attention of an extremely kind―hearted boy to the needs of a cat rather than convince him that Fernal's help and company could be useful to him at least during a direct flight. He doesn't exactly admit this in words, although his rapid heartbeat completely betrayed his fear and nervousness about the upcoming flight and a couple of hours on the plane.       ― I hope it won't take long. I've already lost the habit of living with Aunt Alice, ― Jess looked out the window at the flashing landscape of her hometown, still hugging herself.       ― You used to say almost the same thing every time we went to see her when we were kids, ― Danny grinned. ― And then you cried the most about how you didn't want to leave.       ― As soon as things get a little quieter, you'll be right back, I promise, ― Maddie nervously rubbed her neck under her short hair, the thinnest of which stuck to her skin. She kept unconsciously twirling a simple wedding ring on her ring finger, and each time she abruptly jerked her hands away, noticing her own gesture.       Masters forced himself to look away from the throbbing wreath that stretched from her collarbone and disappeared under her cheekbone. He spent too much time actually learning how to behave like a human again. He controlled every action and look, even the most insignificant, so as not to be too strange in the eyes of others. And now he was well aware that he couldn't afford to stare at a woman for too long for a variety of reasons.       ― I'm sure you'll have a good time, ― Vlad smiled slightly to suppress the urge to lick his long fangs. ― Journalists can be annoying, but only the most beaten-up people come to a tiny village in the wilderness of Arkansas, and there aren't many of them right now. There are more chances to meet a unicorn, so it will certainly be more comfortable there.       ― What about you, Mom? ― Jess's huge blue eyes looked at Maddie with childish affection.       ― I'll be fine ― the woman said, looking too tired, and that made her sound as improbable as possible. ― Maybe things will be sorted out faster than planned and I will even be able to come to you myself.       It was the most desperate lie Maddie could tell, looking the children straight in the eye. But only Jasmine seemed to take her on faith, judging by Daniel's heavy sigh, who was busy putting the cat back in the carrier. There would be too many things to do, according to Mrs. Weston's predictions, which were generally accurate enough. The ceiling of rest from business for Maddie is a couple of days off, which she will most likely spend in the laboratory just to think less about everything else and not go outside. And it's good if she really works for herself while locked up, rather than sinking into chthonic gloomy thoughts while lying in bed.       ― But still, just in case... ― Maddie didn't even finish her thought, as Danny interrupted her, closing the door of a soft fabric pet bag with a zipper.       ― Do not communicate with strangers. Don't give any comments. Don't get into trouble, ― the teenager gave the adults a long, dark look. ― We know.

***

      “...The car of the suspects in the attempt to enter the private territory was not seen within the city limits, according to police reports. Presumably, the violators managed to escape,” ― the radio presenter's voice was suspiciously familiar. It seems that the local TV news anchor has exactly the same thing, but it was definitely nonsense. Anity Park is a small town, of course, but not so small that all the news broadcasts are hosted by the same person.       “It's a pity that our colleagues from other states show such disrespect for privacy, but we will still hope for their prudence in the future...” ― the last phrase made the woman irritably turn off the radio in the car and return to the objects of her surveillance.       Maddie Fenton and Vlad Masters. It was strange to see this couple together even in the framework of business communication, and now, getting out of the same car and even in the company of children... But at the homecoming party, this woman pretended to be a proper and faithful wife, practically not taking a step away from Jack.       After taking a couple of quick photos and immediately checking them, Harry clicked her tongue in displeasure, wincing in disgust. No matter how hard she tried, over the past couple of days she hadn't been able to take a single normal picture of this “blissful” family of oddballs, caught in the midst of events that were too vivid for such a sleepy town as Mira Park. No matter how she caught the moment, no matter how she chose the angle, the Fenton boy always came out a little blurred, as if he was cursed not to have even one normal picture. The ceiling of what she managed to find were shared photos of Casper High School students, and even then it was not possible to recognize him there. For some reason, his eyes were more illuminated than everyone else's, turning into two burning dots in the picture. And now Masters was added to it, whose figure seemed to be the epicenter of the broken pixels in the picture.       Annoyed, Harriet put the camera aside and picked up her smartphone. There has long been an unspoken competition among photographer-journalists to see who will take the most decent picture of the Wisconsin rich man. However, so far, good photos have only been brought by those who were obviously given permission to take the picture, while everyone else had to be content with what came out. Namely, photos at the level of “evidence” of the existence of UFOs or bigfoot, which looked like photos from cheap old soap dishes. Now, among the elusive people for photographers, there is clearly this nondescript boy, whom only someone who did not have a sense of beauty would willingly want to arrange a photo hunt. Masters could at least be called subjectively handsome: a slender and statuesque man with sharp cheekbones, who always looked sharp in his perfectly fitting expensive suits. And this one... a real gray moth, in tattered jeans and T-shirts six sizes too big. And then there's that downtrodden look in his eyes. It's not surprising that, according to the information she has, the kid doesn't even have any real friends. Not only does he come out blurry in the photos, one could stumble over him in reality without noticing.       ― It's some kind of curse, ― Harry hissed, looking at another unfortunate picture already on her phone. She stared intently at the figures of the remaining Fenton family, who were busy taking a rather impressive suitcase and a hiking backpack from the trunk of the car, which the boy threw onto his shoulders with some incredible ease. ― Maybe you're at least not as dodgy as you seem, ― the journalist muttered to herself, trying to roughly estimate the weight that the teenager had taken almost playfully.       Mindy, who foolishly messed up the windows this morning and forced the team to split up in a hurry, said that the boy was not as rickety as he seemed, which until recently was hard to believe. It was worth finding out where Maddie would send her back-biting dogs to send the guilty assistant and cameraman after her, and finally try to get closer to the couple from the scientist and her new “employer".       ― It's going to be an interesting story if everything is really the way I think it is, ― Harry chuckled to herself. According to sources, it was at this moment, when several articles were hung on her husband, that she decided to break the bonds of a marriage that had lasted for almost twenty years. I wonder why? Of course, one could shrug and say that this is just a coincidence, but readers don't really like this. And Harry herself didn't believe in such coincidences. They happen too rarely.       She dialed the number of the "Plasmius Geneticist" hospital in the Peace Park. After the puncture of the careless assistant, it was worthwhile to act as legally as possible and disguise yourself as something more “charitable.” This town was conservative in many ways, including even the attitude of reporters to their own work. Tiffany Snow, the local presenter of the central channel, seemed to Harry like some kind of neural network, as did the person who wrote the text for her. It seems that even in Europe, TV presenters are not as prim as this doll without facial expressions. But since the locals like this kind of presentation, it must be assumed that excessive initiative and emotionality are frowned upon here. The heat should have been turned down if she really wanted to get to the bottom of something interesting.       ― Mercy Hospital, how can I help you? ― a rather pleasant male voice sounded on the other end of the line, slightly hissing due to some kind of congenital speech defect, apparently.       ― Good afternoon! Harriet Chin, a reporter for Milwaukee Magazine, is bothering you, ― she smiled, trying to make her voice as friendly as possible and kept her eyes on the Fenton family, who were already queuing for security at the entrance to the terminal building. ― I am covering the case of the release of hostages from the circus “Gothic” and learned that the victims are with you. I would like to offer assistance in spreading information about them, as far as I know, not all of their identities have been identified at the moment, and publicity in the media could help find their relatives faster. Will it be possible?       Harry's honesty was crumpled up and thrown out the window in his first year of journalism, and the desire to achieve some high and noble goals was shattered by a reality in which no readers and, consequently, consumers were interested in such a thing. Lying eye to eye was part of her job, and the search for sensations has long replaced the search for truth.       ― I'll clarify this question and contact you later if the answer is yes, ― he said after a short, tired sigh, which made Harriet tense up. Such irritability could mean exactly two things. The first is the most optimistic, the workload after the incident in the hospital is so great that even the operator had time to rub calluses on his ears. Secondly, one of her competitors has already tried to get into Plasmius Geneticus under a similar pretext. Harriet considered herself a fairly good professional in her field, but the latter would definitely make her job much more difficult. Which, of course, I didn't want to. ― Will it be possible to contact you at the number you are currently calling from?       ― Yes, of course, at any time. I will be very happy to help.

***

      Being on a plane again was scarier than Danny had initially thought. He spent the entire flight listening to the hum of engines outside the window, watching the behavior of passengers and flight attendants, and trying to use his gut just in case. Before the start of takeoff, it seemed to him that he could handle it quite well, after all, it had been worse, but alas, reality had other plans. Even though the Ghost's gut was silent, clearly making it clear that there was nothing to be afraid of, the scar from the ghost deflector on his lower back, which seemed to have already lost its former sensitivity, began to burn incredibly. His skin remained cool to the touch as soon as he touched it with his fingers, but the feeling of heat returned every time he began to lose himself in the memories of his last flight.       Vlad's cat drew attention to itself whenever there was a fever. She began to rub her muzzle against her hands or chin, standing up on her hind legs. Cat purred, it seemed louder than the engine, which was noticed by other passengers, who were unhappy that the animal had not been checked into their luggage and ignored all the assurances of the flight attendants that the animal's presence was completely legal.       When the plane shook slightly during a small turbulence, the first thing the cat did was bite his finger. Only then did Danny notice how he almost froze the arm of his chair. Vlad probably knew exactly what he was doing, forcing such a company on him. Maybe he was afraid that without this four-legged babysitter, the cause of a new plane crash would be a nervous Ghost with an acquired fear of flying, extending exclusively to airplanes and large equipment, and not the ability to levitate. The teenager's sharpened hearing distinguished the quiet whispers of staff trying to calm those unhappy with the presence of an animal, about the “necessity” of the presence of a companion animal, which at some point forced him to take out headphones so as not to engage in self-eating also from a sense of shame. “I didn't feel enough pity from my classmates,” ― Danny thought irritably, but the cat didn't let the thought settle in his head for a long time, pulling off one of the headphones, pulling on the wire and playing with it lying on the teenager's lap.       Jess just chuckled softly, from time to time looking up from the book at their little fuss and making some notes in the margins. It wasn't until near the end of the flight that Danny noticed that the volume was dedicated to companion animals and how to use them. The thought that he had unwillingly become an object of observation for his sister was even more unnerving than usual, although this was not the first time this had happened. But still, at least to himself, Danny had to admit that if the whole flight hadn't been distracted by the cat, it probably would have been more difficult to get to the destination in many ways.       After landing, it even began to seem to Danny that the whole flight had never happened at all. That everything that made him so nervous had more to do with the confined space than with the flight itself. Being in an iron cage at altitude as a simple passenger with no control over anything at all was probably scarier than anything else. But it turned out to speculate about this only after the landing gear of the aircraft touched the ground, unfortunately. And until that moment, a terribly playful and curious cat took over all the attention.       They were greeted by Aunt Alice, for once dressed in a smart dress, not a pair of denim overalls. Although she looked so unusual in it that the teenagers barely recognized her.       ― It's like you're going to church or a holiday, ― Jess was the first to rush to hug her aunt after receiving her luggage, literally dropping her suitcase. She probably would have forgotten about the luggage altogether if Danny hadn't been there.       ― It's also a kind of holiday to meet your beloved godchildren, ― Alice quickly released the girl from her arms, taking the suitcase from the already loaded Danny. ― It's been a while since you've come to see me like this, almost for the whole summer. It's a pity the reasons are not very good.       ― Don't tell me, ― Danny rolled his eyes. ― We've got a little extra guest here, I hope you don't mind. ― he asked, pointing to the cat in the carrier, which curiously pressed its muzzle against the screen door to get a better look at the new place.       ― I've got mice in my barn, ― Alice replied, patting her nephew's unruly short hair. ― If this is not one of the pampered urban pets, then it may help to get rid of them.       ― Maybe it will help, ― the teenager smiled awkwardly. A rich man's cat and a mouse... Danny sincerely doubted that this snow-white creature with touching blue eyes would get involved in such a plebeian business as catching rodents, but he did not disappoint his conservative aunt about pets in advance.       ― Have you already chosen a new backpack for your next hike with your mother? ― Aunt loaded Jess's suitcase into the back of the pickup and helped her nephew take the burden off his shoulders while her sister held the cat.       — Yeah. It's more comfortable than a bag or suitcase, ― Danny stretched out, crunching his spine with pleasure, which made his sister grimace, handing him the animal and climbing into the back seat. It was already the middle of the night outside, and the road ahead was not close. Usually, when traveling with his mother, they stayed at a motel for the night and only went on a trip the next morning. The teenager yawned sweetly, settling into the front seat and buckling his seat belt.       ― We'll arrive late, so call Maddie in the morning, ― Alice started the engine. ― Since I have only two guests this time, I have prepared a separate room for each of you on the second floor. Both face west, so the sun won't bother you in the morning. One is closer to the attic stairs and the bathroom, and the second is to the first floor and the kitchen, you can decide who gets which one while we're driving, ― these words made the sleepy teenagers cheer up for a while, but by the middle of the way both started yawning again. Upon arrival, Alice even had to wake up Jess, who had fallen asleep with a book in her arms, while a more cheerful Danny took his backpack and went to occupy a better room.

***

      The house became incredibly empty without the children. It's too quiet and unsettling. However, after they knocked on the door in the evening, immediately after returning home, asking her to answer a couple of questions, Maddie decided that she had done the right thing. After a couple of hours, the situation began to get out of control so much that police officers were on duty at her house for the rest of the night, catching the completely beaten-off sensation seekers, who began to remind the woman of something between cockroaches and mosquitoes.       “A couple of questions about your husband.”       “Will you participate in the trial as a witness?”       “Do you consider yourself guilty?”       “Do you support your husband in this difficult situation?”       The tactless questions had been giving me a headache all morning. She would like to turn off the phone, but then the children won't be able to reach her. Alice promised to meet them in the evening, but by the time they reach a small village, it will be deep into the night. They'll probably be sleepy and tired, especially Danny after the obviously nervous flight. There was still hope that Vlad, with his imposed company on the child, had not lost, and the children would have enough responsibility to take care of the animal.       The laboratory has never had windows leading to the street. At the moment, it was the safest place in the house, where she would definitely not be able to reach. And where she can properly cry over the patents issued to her husband, over the years of collaboration that now, according to the documents, does not even belong to her, and over this terrible report with a photo of a bloody child's back. She even found that very T-shirt in one of the drawers, which only made her feel worse. There was absolutely no strength left to be angry or offended. Surely any expert would have called it a stage of depression, but it felt much worse mentally and physically.       The portal has been shut down and de-energized since that day. The hermetic coils blocked the tunnel, in which she found the remains of a charred black glove stuck to the switch on the wall. An all-too-familiar detail of his son's old protective suit. Surprisingly, the gloves were paired now, but both were white. She somehow packed everything she needed in a briefcase to hand over to the lawyer during the day. She wiped the remaining tears from her eyelashes with the back of her hand and finally got up from the table. Her head felt terribly heavy, face swollen, and the rest of my body ached. Starting a new day was even harder than yesterday, but staying in bed would be a damn bad decision.       When she began to eat a simple sandwich without enthusiasm, washing it down with plain water, the home phone in the living room rang. She lazily picked up the phone, squeezing out a relatively cheerful “Hello" in a slightly hoarse voice.       ― Good morning, Mom, ― her son's voice involuntarily made her smile. ― I hope I didn't wake you up. We got there really late yesterday.       ― I'm really glad to hear from you, darling, ― Maddie almost laughed when she heard Jess demanding to give her the phone in the background. ― I hope you didn't get into a fight with your sister while you were settling down?       ― Jess overslept the battle for the best room, so there was no showdown, ― Danny paused for a while and, shushing his sister, asked in a much more serious tone. ― Are you okay? You sound kind of hoarse.       ― I just woke up recently. Don't pay attention, ― she tried to clear her throat a little to get her vocal cords in order. Maddie's actress has always been lousy. If even such a simple lie was difficult for her, then in court and in front of reporters she should have kept her mouth shut just in case.       ― Maybe you should have come with us after all. ― Jess's worried voice came closer to the receiver.       ― I'd love to, honey, but you know I can't do that right now, ― the kids were really worried about her. Like Alice, obviously. But what can you do, you can't fix the situation any other way. All that remained was to get together and sort out the cases in the hope that there would be enough strength for at least most of them.       ― We're just worried about you, ― Danny said again. ― You'll dive into your work again and then you'll suffer for it yourself.       ― I promise not to overwork if you call me at least occasionally in the evenings and remind me that it's time to go to bed, ― a chuckle escaped from his chest by itself. Something light appeared in his head, which was still heavy after shedding tears.       ― We promise ― they answered in unison. It was incredibly pleasant to hear their voices after the oppressive silence. There was something in their sound that soothed her troubled soul.       ― Pass the phone to Alice, please. I need to talk to her, ― Maddie pleased, feeling a lump of tears form in her throat. She always considered crying in front of children to be something unacceptable, especially at times like this. But Sister is a little different.

***

      Maddie looked even paler and more lost than yesterday. The once-blooming woman was literally fading away before her eyes under the weight of problems that she was still trying to carry alone. The blush on her white face seemed painful, and the dark circles under her reddened eyes clearly made it clear that she hadn't rested even at night. The empty house and the pesky vultures circling around her clearly didn't help her feel better. But it was necessary to inform about the desire of a couple of large sharks of a pen and a dictaphone to visit the “victims”, to which the woman reacted with a tired sigh pushing papers away from herself. Her thoughts were clearly far away.       ― You won't have to come into contact with these splinters, ― Vlad said, hoping that he wouldn't have to do it intentionally. Handing her a cup of pomegranate juice, he waited until his slightly trembling fingers took it tighter. ― At least for my part, I will do everything to prevent this from happening. But one of the “adventurers” This is Harriet Chin. I'm warning you about this because she might try to talk to you like an old university friend. In my experience, she's quite annoying, so probably not crossing paths with her at all is the best option. Maybe even going to the countryside for a day would be a good option.       ― How long are you going to try to send me on a forced vacation? ― Maddie was definitely getting annoyed. She was basically a powder keg right now, ready to explode at the slightest provocation. One good thing, at least the children won't stand in the way of this explosion. To some extent, Vlad would like to use Jack as a human shield at the moment of the “detonation”, which will definitely happen sooner or later. But that would be too utopian. ― When will she be here? ― Maddie's teeth hit the edge of the glass a couple of times as she took a sip. She was shaking, either from lack of sleep, or from chills, or from everything at once.       ― She's been in town for a couple of days, apparently she's been taking a closer look at the situation. And the meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, at two o'clock. All the objects of her insincere interest are located in the hospital building, so in theory there would be nothing for her to do here.       ― In theory. Back at university, she could go anywhere without soap. I don't think anything has changed over the years, ― as she spoke, Maddie stared at the surface of the acidic, iron-rich juice, stirring it lightly in a glass. The thoughtful eyes seemed even more purple than usual today, only much fainter and devoid of any spark. ― However, in this she differs little from all the others. I feel like a cow's corpse in the middle of the desert, with scavengers flying over it.       It would be superfluous to respond to such a pessimistic comparison. This is probably how ordinary people who are not familiar with how the press works feel, especially if it caught them at the most inappropriate moment.       ― But while I have time, I'd like to discuss something with you, ― she set aside her drink and picked up a rather impressive stack of folders. There were cases of patients with ghostly illness, apparently one of whom attracted a little more attention because of its very shabby appearance and fell into her hands with his permission. Looking at Maddie now, Vlad was ready to admit that the decision was probably hasty after all. ― You weren't even going to talk about it directly?       Vlad ran his fingers somewhat lazily over the worn spine of the paper folder that Maddie was holding out to him, but he still didn't pick it up. He already knew everything that was written there perfectly well. He managed to learn every last comma in all these long twenty years, after stole it from the archives of the hospital where was quarantined. Sparse descriptions of greenish inflammations, fever, chills, weakness, and a couple more symptoms characteristic of blood poisoning. Nothing out of the ordinary. He wasn't going to give Maddie such difficult-to-understand information about supernatural powers. At least for now.       ― I thought it would be better this way, ― he adjusted the cuffs of his white shirt rather mechanically, indulging his own habit of hiding his hands with traces of ulcers. Sparingly, to the point and without unnecessary details, which usually make a face-to-face conversation too personal.       It was true. If he had decided to talk about everything personally, it would have been impossible to avoid the reasons that preceded his hospitalization, and in this case, as the man hoped, this topic could be minimized. The chances of this happening are slim, but it was worth a try. After all, he had promised her all the honesty he had. He have secured this promise with a contract, and it will be difficult, if not impossible, to go against it completely. After all, he's not some kind of person to disregard that word.       The gold wedding ring still glimmered dimly in the light of the electric lamp as Maddie tiredly massaged her temples. The blood in her veins was pulsing too fast, but it was hard to say exactly what it was related to: nerves or rather her physical condition, so to speak.       ― Next time, choose the option to say something like that through your mouth, ― Maddie threw the folder on top of the stack a little more abruptly than she should have, causing it to tilt slightly to the side.       ― If it whas possible, definitely, ― Masters left a small loophole for himself. A little more obvious this time, but still.       ― Is there anything else related to the disease that I should know about? ― The question sounded harsh enough, more because of the woman's emotions than her desire to encourage him to reveal something she shouldn't have known.       And the list of such things was very impressive: from minor machinations and superpowers that took his very being as far away from Homo Sapiens as possible with the most similar DNA structure, to murders that he was quite consciously capable of doing if there was no other way out. To say no would be more than a simple lie.       ― Vlad, you promised me the truth, ― Maddie's bitter reminder broke the long pause.       ― I promised,― Vlad nodded confidently. ― I just don't quite understand what exactly you want to hear. There's a lot related to this, but here's what exactly interests you and what you should know...       ― You've always been good at avoiding answers, ― the irritation was back in his voice. Vlad was walking on a damn sharp blade without insurance at the moment and it was impossible to stumble. If their communication had been less personal for him, the dialogue would probably have been easier. He would have dealt with Maddie like with all other people, from a much tougher and more distant position. I wouldn't make any promises or make any deals. He didn't even play the frankness game out of boredom and a desire to entertain himself a little.       But he couldn't do that to her.       ― Experience forces me to be careful with my words, Madeleine, ― there was also a kind of honesty in this answer, but it's a pity that at this point in time the interlocutor will not be able to appreciate it.       ― I'll ask you differently. Is this related to that incident with the ghost portal? ― the woman's train of thought became a little more understandable. It was a shame that without the opportunity to look into her head at least a little, she had to settle for such primitive guessing games. But on the other hand, it was better than almost seventeen years of silence.       ― I thought so, until recently, ― Masters tried to understand the mood of the woman by the facial expressions on her tired face, but he saw only exhaustion and fatigue from everything that surrounded her and surrounded her. Being aware of myself as a part of this painful environment at the moment was almost physically unpleasant. ― At least until I ran into the hostages of the Gothic circus. So now I'm honestly not sure about that, ― he tried to get off the topic of the portal as quickly as possible. Maybe in other circumstances or in a different state of mind, he would have lingered on her even more, after all, she was important to him personally. But not this time.       ― As far as I understand, the patients can't say anything about the details, and judging by the information, ― she adjusted a stack of medical records, ― They're barely able to figure out where they are now and remember where they've been all this time.       ― Unfortunately, it's like that and even worse. Some people don't even remember their name the first time, ― Vlad held back a disappointed sigh. It was easier to interview patients as a telepath, but it often still required him to know the language. The scattered mental images of some of the most adequate often contained street names, posters, ticket numbers, and someone else's speech, in a language he didn't know anyway. Yes, technically, he had a much larger amount of information, but unfortunately, because of its randomness and haphazardness, he could hardly use it.       ― Are they all that bad? ― Maddie's voice trembled slightly. At that moment, Vlad felt even more offended by the fact that he couldn't even see into her mind with the edge of his consciousness.       ― Not all of them. One is more or less sane and even relatively strong in body, as much as possible with her critically low weight. She's willing to make contact, but there's still a problem with his language, ― Vlad understood perfectly well what this whole conversation was about. And how it can end. ― Not to say that everything is completely bad, but often you will have to guess the meaning of what was said.       Maddie stared at him intently and intently. It was as if she was trying to recognize the authenticity of her words with her gaze. This hurt the man a little, although as a person who had only recently found out about what was happening in her house behind her back, she could be understood.       ― Do you have any suggestions about what you and the slaves from the circus corpse might have in common? ― she asked rather bluntly.       It's hard to just walk away from such a question and not lie. The “no” stuck in Vlad's throat like a lump. His otherworldly body itself did not allow him to go against the promise of honesty secured by the deal. And a year earlier, it was this word that did not allow him to just ignore requests for help from Danny. And it also didn't allow him to lie directly to Maddie right now. He had the right to remain silent, but that wouldn't help in this situation. If he didn't want to start melting down like a cast member who died a couple of days ago, he needed Maddie. But without answers, she won't help him even if she wants to, which is probably minimal at the moment.       ― Yes, ― Vlad replied. ― But the explanation will take time to take effect... non-standard features.       ― What kind of non-standard? ― Maddie asked.       ― Enough to say that Jack wasn't completely wrong when he said that there were real vampires performing in the Gothic vampire circus. There was some truth in his obsessive delirium, but it was very small.       It was going to be a long conversation, and given how white Maddie was, Vlad not only had to continue to be careful with his choice of words, but he probably also had to cook the ammonia. The sharply increased smell of blood made the tip of his nose itch, obsessively reminding him that this conversation was not at the right time. Just a little bit.       It would be better to postpone it for at least another three days.