I look around the room and notice everyone’s gaze on me and Justin, while Freya’s oblivious to it all and keeps reading the article.
When she’s done, Alex barks out a laugh. “I wonder who they are.”
“Some monsters, obviously,” Kayla spits out with disgust.
“No, I mean the vigilantes.” He pokes the inside of his cheek with his tongue, trying to suppress the smile.
“Yeah, I wonder that too,” Mr. Attleborough says, rubbing his chin and looking at me and Justin.
I feel uncomfortable under their attention but not guilty in the slightest. I’d fuckin’ do it again. Over and over.
“Does the article have their names?” Alicia squeaks.
“Hold on,” Freya says as she scrolls the article. She tells her the name of the two monsters who tried to ruin her life. They didn’t succeed. She is fuckin’ strong and indestructible.
“Does it say which police district is taking the statements?” she asks, a little more confident. Everyone watches her.
Even oblivious Freya says, “Fuck,”as she drops the phone on her lap.
“Does it?” Alicia asks again, and Freya picks up the phone and responds, guilt on her face. “Yeah, it’s the Springfield Police Department, since the first known crime was caught there.” Her eyes fill with tears as she delivers the news.
I want to come and comfort Alicia, who fidgets with the hem of her pajama top, but I don’t. She doesn’t need me now, not really. She is strong enough on her own to face her demons, and if she needs me, she’ll let me know, and I’ll be beside her, fighting them off with her.
“Dad?” she asks.
“Mmm.” His only response.
“Will you drive me there tomorrow?”
“I will,” he answers with a choke and tries to clear his throat. A quiet sniffling comes from every woman in the room but my Alicia. She’s holding her head high, her shoulders squared, ready for a battle that I know is not going to be easy.
Something bumps into the window with a loud thud, and we all jump. I swear to God, even I jump like a little boy scared shitless. Ghost lets out a loud bark and rushes toward the sound.
“Holy fucking shit!” Justin brings his hand to his chest. “My soul nearly left my body.”
“Language!” Mrs. Attleborough reprimands him but doesn’t really mean it. A light smile plays on her lips.
“What is that?” Freya stands from the floor and carefully walks to the window.
“Wait!” Alex is on his feet in an instant and reaches her in two big jumps. At the same time, I call out to Ghost to come over and stop barking.
“Chill, y’all.” Kayla rolls her eyes. “It’s Frank.”
Frank?AstheFrank who was at Alicia’s house?
“Seriously? How did he find us here?” Justin looks annoyed. “I swear he’ll be the death of me.”
Kayla waves him off. “Don’t be a drama queen. I told him I’ll be here tonight.” She walks to the entrance door and opens it. “Frankie,” she calls. “Frankie! Come to the door. Mama’s here.”
The hairy face of a big moose shows up in the opening, and I snort. “That’sFrank?”
“Yeah, I had a similar reaction.” Justin shakes his head in disbelief. “I still can’t wrap my head around it. The dude is everywhere we go, and I mean it—everywhere.” He points an accusing finger at the moose, currently nuzzling Kayla’s shoulder. “Every time I say a word too loud, you know like, a little too loud, which I never do.”
Now everyone snorts.
“What? I never do that.” He looks around, and a few extra snorts with a fewyeah, sure, you don’ts follow. “So anyway, every time I do that, he’s around, beating his damn hoof at me. And I’m telling you the motherfucker is scary.”
“He’s my boy, and he can hear you just fine!” Kayla yells from the door, still exchanging some weird hug with the moose.
