The Black Mask (completed)

I bought Pages for my new computer, so now I want to write! I already have half of the next chapter done, too. I love Pages!

Kk. Ciao.

Derek’s POV- Chapter 28

“Good morning starshine. The Earth says hello,” a seemingly shrill voice bounced around inside my head. I groaned, trying to roll over, only to fall five feet and land painfully on the hard wood of an unfamiliar floor.

“Where am I?” I asked thickly, my brain still fuzzy from sleep.

Light, cheerful, relieved laughter came from above my head. “You’re at Dante’s safe spot,” Selene told me. “And thank God you’re up. I was beginning to worry you were dead!” Blearily, I opened my eyes and looked around. The harsh light from the single window on one wall seemed to burn my eyes, and I returned my gaze to the opposite wall which had a bunk bed pushed up against the wooden boards.

“Why the bloody hell is it so bright in this place?” I grumbled, heaving myself off the floor. Selene reached down and easily drew me to my feet, though I staggered a bit.

“Windows tend to have that effect,” she mocked me. “Nice pajamas, by the way.” I looked down at myself.

“Agh!” I cried, covering myself. “Why am I naked?”

“Last night, everyone was so tired from the trek that the entire group just pretty much collapsed. Except you. You waited a minute, actually managing to get to the bedroom here. And then you started mumbling about liking to sleep naked. I left as soon as you started stripping. I’m not sure how you got in that bed, though. You were practically dead on your feet, and that ladder is vertical.”

“So no one’s dead yet?” was my blunt question. I located my boxers, and decided that was good enough, yanking them on.

“Nope.” Selene seemed positively ecstatic about that.

“Well, that’s good. Hey, what time is it?”

“It’s about one in the afternoon. And, surprisingly enough, you’re the first one up, dollface.” She was in a good mood, clearly.

“Well then. Let’s go wake the others, shall we?” I asked, rubbing my hands together like an evil genius. She rolled her green orbs at me, but agreed. Turns out, she had a bucket of water and an air horn at the ready, just in case.

Fifteen amusing minutes later, the rest of the house was awake. Many of them looked like drowned cats, and a select few were still holding their ears and complaining of ringing.

“Gather round, everybody!” called Selene, clapping her hands. She dragged a chair over and stood on it, looking down on the group huddled around her. “Alright. We are clearly at Dante’s safe house, so I’m pretty sure we’re safe. Dante is currently at the store in town. Since we only got food and a few blankets at the Target, he’s out there buying everyone a change of clothes, some toothbrushes, soap, etc. The necessities that we forgot before. While he’s gone, I am going to assign everyone to jobs. We need to scavenge through this place and find everything useful. Also, some cleaning is required, and a few guards should probably be posted around the perimeter. Who wants to clean?” There was a pause, and everyone stepped backwards a bit, leaving Jace and Sarah out front. “Good. We have volunteers. At the end of the hall you will find a closet with some rags, a mop, two brooms, and possibly a vacuum.”

“But-” Sarah started to protest.

“You’re right Sarah. You should be a guard. Bex? How about you take her place.”

Bex sighed but didn’t argue.

“Guards? I think Jose, Derek, Sarah, and Stephen. No, wait. Stephen stays near me where I can watch him. Dante will help the sentries when he gets back. The rest of you, go make like mice. Look for every crumb and piece of wood.”

“What are you going to do, Selene?” James asked stoically, crossing his arms.

In her chatter and bossiness, Selene had forgotten to include herself. “You’re right, James. Sarah, you’re on cleaning again. I’m a lookout. Get to work!”

Sarah looked disgruntled. She and Stephen shared a look that I couldn’t quite interpret before taking off in opposite directions.

“What was that?” I wondered quietly as Selene led the small group of guards out to the front yard. In the daytime, the woods were light and airy, and much less creepy.

“I’m going to shift and climb a tree after I position all of you. If you see something, give a shout. I’ll hear it and I can shriek louder than any of you when I’m in cat form.”