Chapter 4

Julia looked upon the cloudy sky. The same sky that she saw Shin flew into along with the Fienderlush, Ygesh. An unbelievable sight that she is sure that she will be institutionalized for if she told the authorities about. It was a good thing she had recorded the whole ordeal on her trusty camcorder that still had thirty percent of battery life in it.

She continued to stare up above while pointing her camera to the sky, when out of nowhere, a hand grabbed Julia's camcorder and yanked it from her grasp.

Shin: "I'll be confiscating this, young lady."

Shin said after taking Julia's camera.

Shin, now back in his human form, took Julia's camcorder after he stepped out of the spacial portal behind him.

Julia: "H-hey! What gives? give that back, Shin."

Julia said, demanding to get her device that hold the proof of what she had just witnessed this night.

Shin: "Relax, I'll give it back to you, after."

Julia: "After? After what?"

Shin: "After, after. BTW, that's not racist since I'm a Japanese Reaper."

Shin said as he mimicked the voice of Mr. Miyagi from Karate kid, obviously mocking Julia.

Before Julia can berate Shin for taking her stuff, she started to hear sirens from the distance slowly getting louder.

Shin: "Wow, that was fast. I just called 911 a few minutes ago."

Shin said, revealing that he called the authorities while he was up in the sky.

Shin wanted call in the rescue of Linda and Magie anonymously, but since Magie already knew that he and Julia were their rescuers, he decided to stay and answer any questions the authority might have to avoid suspicion.

Shin: "Your dad's gonna be here soon, Julia. We better get our stories straight before that happens. Once the matter of making sure the girls are safe and secure, then you can get your camcorder back."

Shin said, laying out his condition on the return of Julia's property.

Julia: "Fine. But you owe me an explanation, Mr. Reaper."

Julia replied.

From there, Julia and Shin came up with a convincing story of who kidnapped the girls, how the two of them found Linda and Magie, and how the kidnapper got away. Once the authorities got there, Julia and Shin were greeted by the Emergency responders, two deputies, and one father named Sheriff Roy Blake.

Sheriff Blake: "Julia? Julia, honey. Are you alright?"

Sheriff Blake called out to his daughter. Once he reached Julia, the sheriff gave her a big hug.

Julia: "Yeah, dad. I'm okay."

Julia replied, hugging her father back as she hid the smile on her face.

Sheriff Blake: "Good... Cause I can't ground you if you got hurt. WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE THIS LATE?"

Roy berates his daughter for sneaking into the school and getting herself in harm's way.

Shin: "Don't be too hard on her, sheriff. If it wasn't for your daughter, we wouldn't have found Linda and Magie before it was too late."

Shin said, coming into Julia's defence.

Sheriff Blake: "And who might you be?"

The sheriff asked Shin while he eyes the boy judgingly.

After Shin introduced himself to the sheriff, he then explained the altered truth that he and Julia came up with. Shin told the authorities of how he followed Julia after spotting her going to school while he was on his run. He then described how Julia expertly used her forensics knowledge to locate the blood trail they followed to find where the girls were hidden. Lastly, Shin sang praises of how Julia single handedly fended off Ben, who was the kidnapper, with her self defense tools and training. By the end of the story, everyone that were listening were at awe of Julia's intelligence, bravery, and combat prowess.

Sheriff Blake: "Julia, honey, is that true? Did you really do all those things?"

Sheriff Blake asked his daughter.

Julia: "W-well... The girls are safe now. That's what's important."

Julia said, trying to avoid lying to her dad any further.

Deputy Garibaldi: "Wow, sheriff. Your kid's a bonafide superhero. Maybe we should recruit her for the force."

Deputy Garibaldi said, being his usual jovial self.

Deputy Manor: "Yeah, sheriff. I need a gal pal in that sea of sausages call the Sheriff station."

Deputy Jenny Manor said as she complain that she's the only female officer working at the station.

The sheriff stayed silent from the comments coming from his two deputies, and when an checked on Linda and Magie as the paramedics tent to them. As all the adults check on the two unconscious girls, Julia punched Shin on his shoulder.

Julia: "Why would you say that I chased Ben away? I thought we agreed that we'd tell them you did that."

Julia whispered angrily at Shin.

Shin: "We did, but this is way funnier. Besides, I need to keep a low profile. I Wouldn't want to be forced to leave this place before the big event hits."

Shin told Julia, hinting of what will happen two months from now.

Once Linda and Magie have been taken to the hospital via ambulance, Shin and Julia were taken to the station for further questioning. It took almost an hour before the two were sent home. Deputy Garibaldi was assigned to escort Shin to the motel he was staying in, while Julia will ride home with her father.

Deputy Garibaldi: "You staying in a motel, kid? Aren't there suppose to be a foreign exchange parent house you're supposed to be in or somethin?"

Deputy Garibaldi questioned.

Shin: "Usually, yeah. But my school decided that I would be fine staying by myself in a motel since they found me to be very reliable."

Shin answered the inquisitive deputy.

Deputy Garibaldi: "That really sounds dangerous. But, since you look like you're taking care of yourself fine, I guess they're right to trust you."

The deputy said to Shin.

After that, Julia and Shin were driven to their homes. Julia's drive with her father was silent. Sheriff Blake didn't say anything to Julia, almost as if he was hell bent and focused on getting home and nothing else.

Once home, the sheriff addressed his daughter's actions that evening.

Sheriff Blake: " I... I can't believe you snuck out of the house. How did you even got out?"

The sheriff said, sounding upset and distraught.

Julia: "That really doesn't matter now, dad. We got the girls and..."

Julia's non-answer was cut short by her father's words.

Sheriff Blake: "Doesn't matter? You could have ended up kidnapped like those girls. You should have just left it to us and we would have found them in the morning."

Julia: "Left it to you? Ben said he would have killed them tonight. If I left it to you, you would have found their fresh corpses."

Sheriff Blake: "You don't know that. And we would have arrested that bastard Ben, not like now where he's on the lamb, probably looking for his next victim."

Julia: "No. You would be dead. Just like those..."

Julia caught herself before she told her father about the corpses in the killing room. While they were making up their story, Shin told Julia to not tell anyone about the corpses, and that he'll take care of them.

Sheriff Blake: "Julia? What were you about to say?"

The sheriff asked, puzzled on why his daughter stopped talking.

Julia: "N-nothing. I was just thinking of how mom would have been proud of me for finding those girls. How she would have done the same thing."

Sheriff Blake: "That's why she died. Going in to places she had no business being in. She left us to report on a war where she died. I love your mom, but she was selfish. I don't want you to end up like her. I Don't want to lose you the same way we lost her."

Julia: "Mom was not selfish, she was selfless. And if you can't tell the difference, then you didn't really love her. And if you can't accept that I want to be just like mom, then you don't really love me."

Julia's retorted, upset that her father would talk about her mother in that negative light.

Before the sheriff could even utter a word, Julia stormed off to her room. Sheriff Blake wanted to follow suit, but he found his feet stuck in place, ashamed that he would call the woman he loved selfish. A few minutes go by, and sheriff Blake resigned to his room with a defeated and tired expression on his face. Julia cried herself to sleep that night, not just because of her fight with her father, but also because of the horrors she witnessed that night. She knew at that very moment, her normal life is over.

Morning came, and just like the day prior, Julia's alarm clock blared it's annoying beeps. Julia slammed a hammer fist on to her clock, silencing it. Julia sat up on her bed, bags under her eyes, and her hair, frizzier than usual.

Julia then checked her phone and found three new messages in it. The first was from her father, second was from Tina, and the third was from Shin. She checked her father's message first.

Sheriff Blake: " Hey, Apple Crumbs. Sorry about last night. We'll need to have a serious talk about it later, but now, I have to meet up with the FBI and Forensics people about the kidnapping, and then I'll need to check on the two girls' condition at the hospital. See you later. Love you."

A heavy expression can be seen on Julia's face, as though she thought that her father would talk to her first before leaving for work. Next, she read Shin's message.

Shin: "Meet me at the hospital. We need to check on the girls. Then we'll talk about last night."

Julia wondered why Shin was telling her to ditch school to check up Linda and Magie. Finally, Julia checked Tina's message.

Tina: "OMG Julia. school's out today. They found Linda and Magie. Everyone in the theatre club will go to the hospital to greet them."

Julia suddenly understood why Shin wanted her to go and check on the girls.

Even with her head pounding from all the crying she did, and the lack of sleep last night, Julia forced herself to take a shower, get dressed, and put on her makeup to head out for the hospital. She found the beacon and scrambled eggs breakfast her father made for her, and decided to eat them before leaving the house.

As the hospital is pretty far from their house, Julia called for a local chauffeur service called Wolftrack. The drive to the hospital was fast, only taking fifteen minutes from Julia's home.

Once there, Julia spotted some reporters outside the hospital, not permitted to enter for the safety of the two girls. Julia walked pass them and went up to the receptionist and asked if she can visit Linda and Magie's room.

Receptionist: Sorry, dear, but only family member's and the authorities can see them right now. I heard both of them are still unresponsive, so it's best to wait along with the others in the waiting area."

The receptionist said, as she pointed Julia to the waiting area.

Tina: "Julia. Over here."

Tina called for Julia after spotting her.

Other than Tina, five other people from the theatre club were present at the waiting area. Ken, Merc, Shin, Barbara (Babs) Melrose, and their teacher, Mr. Randy Carver. Tina introduced them all to Julia, who was very cordial with all of them.

Merc: "Thank God the sheriff and his team found them. My boy, Henry's been worried sick since yesterday."

Merc said, unknowing that the ones who truly saved his friends were Julia and Shin. However, Shin requested that the authorities keep the truth about their identity as the girls real rescuers a secret and not be made public so that the sheriff's office can save face.

Mr. Carver: "Sorry guys. This is all my fault. I should have dismissed you all early that day."

Mr. Carver said with his head down in shame.

Ken: "Oh, don't blame yourself, Mr. C. We all wanted to stay and work on the play's background that day. The only one to blame here is that bastard, Mr. Trackmore. I hope he gets a life sentence when they catch him."

Ken said to comfort Mr. Carver and to insult Ben.

Merc: "I second that, man."

Merc replied in agreement.

Babs: "You're the new sheriff's daughter, right? Did he say anything about how Linda and Magie are doing?"

Babs asked Julia.

Julia: "Not really. He left before I woke up today, and just texted that he was going to check up on them here. He's probably with them now though, so they're probably fine."

Julia answered, not disclosing anymore info to them.

Mr. Carver: "I'll have to announce the postponement of the play until Linda and Magie comes back to school. I'll also try to convince the people that bought tickets to see the play to not ask for a refund so we can use the money to assist the girls' family with the medical bills."

Mr. Carver said regarding the play they were supposed to be having tomorrow.

Babs: "Shouldn't we just postpone it for just a week? I mean, we've all worked so hard for this play to happen. I'm sure Linda and Magie will understand if we do it without them."

Babs said. Babs was quit concern with having the play continue since she is playing one of the lead characters, Beatrice.

Babs is a beautiful girl with Auburn hair, captivating green eyes, and a body that would make most men weak in the knees. However, she is every passionate when it comes to her acting, and will do almost anything to keep the spotlight on her.

Mr. Carver: "I'm sorry, my dear, but since Linda is the director and Magie is the primary stage hand, we can't do this without them. Not to mention that Henry is our Dante. I don't think we can count on him to perform in this kind of situation."

Mr. Carver explained to Babs, making her visibly upset.

Merc: "The hell, girl? Linda and Magie are up there probably fighting for their lives, and you're here worried about a play? You're stone cold."

Merc expressed his displeasure to what Babs said.

Shin: "Come on, Marcus. I'm sure she didn't mean it like that. This is just a really stressful time for all of us. Right, Babs?"

Shin acting as a mediator for the two teens.

Babs: "Y-yeah, you're right, Shin. Sorry I said it like that. I was just really looking forward to this, since My dad will only be here for two weeks. He won't be back for another nine months because of work, so he wouldn't see my performance live."

Merc: "Well... I'm sorry too. I get how important this would be for you. If my dad was still alive today, I would have loved to have him watch all of my games."

Merc said, apologizing for what he said earlier.

Julia was impressed by how Shin managed to de-escalate the situation. From a tense atmosphere to a more forgiving one, Julia couldn't help but ponder just how old Shin might truly be to have this much of an expertise in calming people down..

Babs: "Thanks, Shin. You're a really great guy."

Babs said as she touched Shin's left shoulder and squeezed it gently

Shin: "Don't sweat it, Babs. We're all friends here, right? No miscommunications are allowed as long as I'm in this club."

Shin replied to Babs while he touched Babs's hand with his right hand.

Julia couldn't help but feel a hint of uneasiness after seeing Babs and Shin's hands touched, but she brushed the thought off quickly, choosing instead to think of a way to get to the girls' rooms.

Just then, Shin gave Julia a look that seems to imply that he wants her to follow his lead.

Shin: "I need to go to the johns. See you guys in a bit."

Shin told everyone as he stood up.

Julia took this as her cue to follow him. So, she thought of her own excuse to leave.

Julia: " I'm going to step out to call my dad. Maybe he can let us go in to Linda and Magie's room."

Linda said, hiding the fact that she's going to follow Shin. As She excused herself from the others, Julia headed to where she saw Shin went. Once she turned a corner where no one could see her, a black portal suddenly appeared to Julia's left, and a hand pulling her in it.

Julia would have screamed from the sudden action, if not for the hand that covered her mouth.

Shin: "Calm down, Julia, it's just me."

Shin whispered to Julia's ear, giving her goosebumps.

Julia: "Okay, you need to stop doing that. You're going to give me a heart attack one day if you keep that out."

Julia said to Shin.

Shin: "Don't worry. I can see your death clock. Your not gonna die today."

Shin told Julia. Confident that no amount of sneaking up on her will be her undoing.

Julia: "I'm going to ignore that thing you just said now, just tell me where we are."

Julia questioned the Reaper.

Shin: "I took us close to the room where Linda and Magie are in. Now shush, I want to listen to what they're talking about."

The Reaper said, asking Julia to be quiet. As Shin tells Julia to stay silent, they start to hear a conversation from someone who sounds like the sheriff and other people.

Doctor: Good news. They are both in very stable conditions. In fact, Magie just regained consciousness, You can both see she now, Mr. and Mrs. Beck. Linda, unfortunately is still unconscious, but we are confident that she should wake up soon."

The doctor said, assuring the family of the two girls that they are out of harm's way.

Sheriff Blake: "Do you think it's safe enough for me to question Magie, Doctor?"

The Sheriff asked. To which the doctor said it would be okay.

Julia: "Dad."

Shin was surprised when Julia called out to her dad and revealed their presence to the family of the victims. Julia didn't want to get discovered by anyone of sneaking around and probably get into even more trouble with her dad, so she decided to just let him know she was there. Julia figured the worst her father can do is to send them away.

Before sheriff Blake can acknowledge her daughter being there, the parents of the girls and Henry walked over to Julia and Shin in a quick pace.

Mrs. Beck: "You're the sheriff's daughter, right? Oh my God, Thank you for saving our girl. We don't know how we could ever repay you."

Mrs. Beck said, with grateful tears in her eyes.

Mr. Scholster: "Yeah. Thank you so much, both of you. I would have died if anything bad happened to my baby girl."

Mr. Scholster said, also crying tears of joy.

Henry: "Thank you, Julia. Looks like I me and Linda owe you more than just a regular tour around school now."

Henry said.

Julia: "H-how did you all know it was us?" Julia questioned Henry and the family members.

Sheriff Blake: "I decided to tell them, since they all deserve to know who the real heroes of this story are. Don't worry, they promised to keep it a secret so that you won't be harassed by the news groups out there."

Sheriff Blake told the duo, smiling proudly as his daughter got thanked.

Shin: "Well, it's really all Julia's hard work. All I did was help carry Linda. Which reminds me, Henry, Mr. Scholster, please tell Linda to take it easy on the desserts, okay? Just kidding."

Shin chimed in with his joke, making everyone laugh.

As everyone made their way to Magie's room, sheriff Blake walkedbeside his daughter to talk about what happened last night.

Sheriff Blake: "Apple Crumbs, listen... I'm really sorry for what I said last night. I don't know what came over me."

Julia: "I don't think this is the right time and place to talk about our argument, dad. Let's just do that later, when we get home."

Julia answered in a whisper. to which her father nodded in agreement.

Once inside Magie's room, the group were greeted with a pale, and weak, yet smiling Magie. Magie then thanks Julia and Shin for saving her and Linda. Then she was ready to answer sheriff Blake's questions.

Magie: "Before I answer your question, Can I ask... What happened to my arm?"

Magie gingerly said, sadly glancing at the stump where her left arm used to be.

Sheriff Blake: "Don't worry. The doctor said that it was cut cleanly, so they should be able to re-attach it. You'll be flown of to a specialist this afternoon for your operation."

The sheriff said with a reassuring smile.

Once the issue of Magie's arm has been address, the sheriff started to ask his questions while Magie's parents were besides her for comfort and support

Sheriff Blake: "So, Magie, how did Ben Trackmore managed to take both you and Linda at the same time?"

Sheriff Blake asked.

Magie: "He... He was carrying a machete. When we tried to run, he chased us. He was so fast. He got a hold of Linda first and knocked her out with the machete's handle. I tried to stop him, that's when he cut off my arm, and then kicked me in the stomach. I passed out after that. When I woke up, me and Linda were tied up in this dark room. There was a tourniquet tied around my arm, that stopped the bleeding. I don't even know why he would do that if he just wanted us dead."

Magie answered and wondered why the man that cut off her arm would wanted to save her life from blood loss.

Right away, Julia found it very strange that Magie isn't addressing the fact that Ben is a monster anymore. Instead, Magie is giving contradictory information from the one that she gave them last night. As Julia was about to ask Shin what he thinks of Magie's alternate recollection, she noticed that he had a slight smile on his lips. As though to insinuate that he knew this would happen.

Sheriff Blake: " So, in this dark room was there anyone else other than you and Linda?"

The sheriff continued.

Magie: "No. We were the only ones in the room."

Magie answered, trying to stay brave.

This last answer not only caught Julia off guard, it shook and dumbfounded her. She saw the dead men hanging from meat hooks, did she not? As Magie continued to paint scene more grounded in reality, the more Julia questions her own sanity. Was the monster attack all just a dream? was Shin turning into a Reaper and fighting said monster in front of her very eyes just a figment of her imagination?

Julia: "Excuse me. I think I'm going to go home now. I'm not feeling too good."

Julia said as the room started to spin from her perspective.

Sheriff Blake: " Oh no, Apple Crumbs. I'll drive you home"

The sheriff offered, implying that he will leave his work to be with her.

Shin: " It's okay, sheriff Blake, I'll escort her out. She probably just needs some air. By the way, A few of the guys from the theatre club and our teacher, Mr. Carver would like to see Magie. Is it okay for them to come up here later?"

Shin said, offering to take Julia outside for some fresh air, and also asking if everyone from the theatre club can see Magie.

Sheriff Blake: "S-sure, Shin. Once me and the Federal agents are finished here, will Have them come up. Honey, if your feeling better come up here, if not, just go home Okay?"

The sheriff worriedly told Julia

Julai: "Okay dad."

Julia said, Still reeling from the anxiety that Magie's story brought her.

With that, Magie and the other people there thanked Julia and Shin once again before they left.

Once they were in a corner of the hospital where no one can see them, Shin teleported himself and Julia to the roof of the Hospital where no one can here their conversation.

Shin: " I know you have some questions, Julia, and I promise, I will answer them all, But first..."

Shin said once they're on the roof

Shin then took his phone and dialed Tina. He told her that the sheriff will let them see Magie after he's done with his questions. He also told Tina that Julia wasn't feeling well, and that he escorted her outside.

Tina: "Wow. So Julia snuck up the floor where Linda and Magie are on and you followed her? You're way too nosy Shin, specially towards someone that you just met yesterday. You have a Crush on her?"

Tina stating her opinion on how close the two have become in such a short time.

Shin: "Nothing like that, Tina. Just curious. Besides, I'm a helpful guy. And Julia looks like she needs a lot of help right now."

Shin replied to the growingly suspicious Tina.

Shin hung up after saying his goodbyes to Tina, and started to talk to Julia .

Shin: "I can only imagine how confuse you might be from after what Magie just said."

Shin said, still sporting the same smile he had when Magie was talking.

Julia: "Oh, you bet you can only imagine. What the hell was that? Did you do something to Magie?"

Julia asked Shin with hostility in her voice.

Shin: "Not me exactly, but my friend did. Hey Puck, come here for a sec. I'd like to introduce you to somebody."

Shin said, seemingly calling for someone. Just as he called, a golden shimmer manifested before the both of them.

From the golden shimmer, came a small boy wearing an all green ensemble. The boy stands at just two feet tall, has completely black pair of eyes like that of a cow or a deer, has pointy ears, and fiery red hair. He's also wearing a green hat that has a shiny golden buckle at the middle of it.

Shin: "Julia, meet Puck, my Leprechaun assistant. He handles all mind alterations, and area destruction repairs. Puck Meet Julia, my classmate."

Shin Introducing Both his acquaintances to one another.

Puck: "Well, hello there, Lass. It be an honor ta meet cha"

Puck said with an adorable Smile on his face.

Julia: "Y-yeah... Nice to meet you too."

Julia replied, as her head becomes numb from the realization that her life just keeps getting stranger and stranger.