Hidden inheritance

Chapter 26: A Fresh Start For Lone Kids

News spread around the street and at her school. Everyone knew that Ben Tennyson, her cousin, was now an official missing person case. She had received many calls from classmates and a few supportive texts from Emily she didn't have the time to answer yet. She had just gotten back from another spell searching session when her uncle and aunt visited.

She wasn't that much in good shape to begin with, but what they told her finished her off. She had hoped they were bringing good news, that maybe they needed more support too, that they wanted to talk about why Ben was gone... instead, they told her Ben was adopted.

Like she cared! It didn't matter whether or not Ben was related to her or descended from a brainless chimp, he still was her cousin! Hell, it meant nothing to her at all, nothing! He still grew up in the same town as her, caused her a lot of trouble on many family gatherings before, acted like a disgusting slimeball when she was around, acted like the doofus he was, and nothing could ever change that!

She was so mad, why did it matter to tell her this? As if it'd bring Ben back! All they've done is shut Max out from the problem the day after the entire mess happened. She wasn't given details, but her parents and uncle and aunt warned her against going to Max, as well as telling her she wouldn't spend her next vacations with him anymore.

What did they think, that getting mad would solve all of this? She wished! Ben was gone, he was gone and he could be gone for good for all she knew! She wasn't even sure she'd ever be able to track him down even if they knew where he went, his aliens gave off the same energy as he did.

This couldn't be the end of it, she won't let it happen! Ben got into bigger trouble before, whether it was Vilgax, or gladiator-loving kidnappers, other weird alien creatures from space, or even-

"Ouch!"

"Hey, watch where you're going!"

"Sorry!"

Gwen hadn't even realized she ran onto someone until she fell down. Breaking her out of her thoughts, she shook her head and got back up.

"I'm sorry, I should have- Kevin?!"

The black-haired kid looked up and his eyes widened before they both took a step back. What was Kevin doing here, settling scores? And... was he back to looking human now? When did that happen?

"You're Tennyson's cousin! What are you doing over here, getting ready for a date or something?"

"Ugh, grow up." She rolled her eyes. "I should be the one asking you that! What are you doing in Bellwood?"

"I thought you were the smart one and your cousin was the idiot." he mocked. "Speaking of which, Tennyson and I need to talk. What about you? Did you run away at this time of the year because you realized school was boring? What's a nerd like you doing in Bellwood anyway?"

"My family and I live here."

"...oh."

Kevin suddenly wondered how come he never managed to run into the Tennysons while he was still in town. Then again, if people heard about the trouble he brought, their parents would not let them anywhere near him. Still felt weird knowing Tennyson had the same hometown as he did, maybe there really was something attracting all the weirdness to it.

"Well, did you come to fight me or do I have to make you scream to make Tennyson come."

She suddenly sent him a chilling stare that, despite what he's been through, momentarily froze him. She looked really mad, guess it was normal when he kept coming after her cousin, though he'd expect her to be more sarcastic about it.

"Well?"

"Ben's not coming."

He raised a brow. "Why not?"