A H.E.R.O.S PROJECT 12

18. The old Matthews property

I didn't tell Grandpa we were visiting today.

We were on a mission, and Richie didn't want Grandpa involved, though Grandpa might be the only person with the answers we needed.

The house and massive estate all belong to Grandpa. Grandpa's mother inherited this land from her mother, and so on. This land has been in our family for generations, so everything should be accounted for, including that underground cellar.

Yes, someone dug up the cellar. Yes, I had no business going down there, but still. There's a still. Does Grandpa know about the H.E.R.O.S PROJECTS? If he does, why didn't he tell us about the experiments? Why were Twelve and Two in the cellar, and what was Grandpa doing with them?

Lou runs to Tristian's car when she parks. Lou must have gotten out of the house, and Grandpa wasn't home to haul her back inside. That's good news for us. Grandpa isn't home.

Lou barks at Richie as he steps out of the car and chases him up the walking trail to the woods. Once Richie is far enough away from the house, Lou howls running to me. Lou licks my hand, and I pet her furry face. She smiles a doggy smile, cocking her head, her eyes sparkling.

I don't look at Lou like a pet or a dog like Richie. I see her as a family member who's a bit nosy, but it's because she loves me. I'm used to her opening my bedroom door or any door I'm behind to check on me. "It's good to see you too, girl. I see you're still sneaking around the woods, getting yourself into trouble." I scratch her right ear, and she murmurs little purrs. She barks, bellowing from her gut, mimicking vowels and words. If I didn't know any better, I would assume she was trying to talk to me.

"What is it, girl?" I smile, petting her head and scratching her chin. Lou yaps, lowly barking, trying to form words. But everything that comes out of her muzzle is animal sounds.

Lou gruffs, giving up. She lowers her head to smell my walking boot. She scrunches her face, lifting her head to stare at me intensely.

I hold her gaze. If she weren't a dog, I would suspect she knew something and had a secret she couldn't bear keeping to herself.

The interaction is peculiar, and I pet her head, ending it. Lou's hard stare vanishes.

I last saw Lou running out of the cellar. She left before I was attacked. I should have thought of her. Worried if Number Twelve hurt her too but here she is. She made it back home safely.

"Yaya, get rid of your dog!" Tris screeches, slowly walking to me. Lou turns her head and stares at Tristian, and that singular action makes Tristian panic. She runs to a fallen tree log across the house and jumps on top of it. Like that would do anything. Lou can jump too. But Lou is a friendly dog. She's never bitten anyone except Richie, and I'm okay with that.

Lou and Tristian have a complicated relationship. Not as bad as Lou's relationship with Richie. Lou enjoys taunting Tristian when they meet. Lou doesn't bite Tristian or touch her. Lou provokes Tristian by forcing her to interact with her. It's kind of cute. That's how I view it. Not Tristian.

"Get that thing away from me, Yaya! She's a wild animal!" Tristian cries. Tristian turns in circles, running away from the sight of Lou running in circles with her. The whole spectacle is amusing.

I usually let Lou torment Tristian, but we have somewhere to be. I'm turning into a metal coffin. That's just slightly more important than watching Tristian face her fear. Tris has a black belt in karate. And no one would take her seriously if they knew she was afraid of dogs.

"Why don't you karate chop Lou? Maybe she'll leave you alone!" I laugh.

"How about I karate chop your foot in half?! How about that, Anaya? Maybe that will make your dog leave me alone!" Tristian retorts.

"Five bucks Tristian breaks Anaya's foot in one hit," Dougie waggers to Lee and Richie, hiding on top of a different fallen tree log. Lee is a big baller and gives Dougie ten dollars. They place their bets.

I whistle for Lou's attention, and she turns her head and glares at me like I'm bothering her. That makes me smile. There's no need to whistle again. Lou gladly abandons Tristian, happily trotting in my direction. Lou barks at me, comfortably taking a seat beside my walking boot. "Cheerleaders," I laugh. Tris hops off the tree, nervously walking to me, her fist up.

I know what she's going to do.

I don't resist. I know better, and Tristian punches my arm.

It was worth it.

And since Tristian didn't break my leg, she said she won the bet. No one argued with her. Dougie gave her the money.