"I have no doubt that the two of you have questions," Mr. Hawk guessed correctly. "I am ready whenever you are."

Today in the afternoon was when my and Scarlett's parents were discharged from the hospital. It had been a tough process to get them to be released because of the conditions that they were in. Broken bones. Loss of blood. My sister and I feared that they would pass.

Thanks to Dr. O'Fallon and other hardworking doctors, they saved Mom and Dad, and when Scarlett and I received the call the day before, we were excited. They were coming home.

Now here we were. In the living room and sitting with our parents. Mr. Hawk sat across from us and was in a chair, and we were sitting on the couch and cuddling with Mom and Dad.

Despite their young ages, our parents looked pretty old. Mom had long, brown hair with a couple grey strands and noticeable wrinkles on her face. She wore a black, long-sleeved shirt, a black skirt that stretched to the floor, and grey sneakers. She was also wearing a silver necklace and a golden watch.

Dad did not have any wrinkles, but he did not have much of his brown hair. He wore glasses on his face, a dark red, long-sleeved shirt, dark blue slacks, and white shoes.

"You can ask anything, Mom and Dad," Scarlett told them. "Just please keep an open mind."

"Honey, we were kidnapped by a psycho scientist and trapped in tubes for years," Dad pointed out. "Any news that you girls have will beat what your mother and I went through. That is, if it is good news."

"If you ask me, Mr. Morgan, I think that it is great news," Mr. Hawk said.

"Please. Call me and my wife John and Ruth."

"Okay, John and Ruth. What is your first question?"

"When we were coming to this mansion, Margie brought up that there are monsters here," Mom explained. "I thought that she was messing with me like that she had done in the past. But when I passed the kitchen, I spotted a creature, a robot, cooking."

"The robot's name is Ironic," I said to her. "He and some others are fixing us a late lunch and early supper."

"Oh. Well...the food had better be good," Dad commented.

"It always is," Scarlett reassured him. "I promise that you will like - no, love - it."

Mr. Hawk got up from the chair and strolled over to a bookcase that was up against the back wall and filled with books. He ran a finger along the spines of the books that were on the top shelf and pulled out one of the books. He smiled and returned to us.

"John. Ruth. I suggest that you read a bit of this." He handed the hardcover book to Dad and turned to me. "Margie, would you be a dear and tell your folks who you really are?"

I quirked an eyebrow. "Huh?" My eyes widened. "Oh! Right, right."

"I will be back. I am going to check how the food is coming along."

Mr. Hawk exited the living room and entered the kitchen, and I climbed to my feet. Mom and Dad were staring intently at the title of the book.

"'History of the Monster Protectors,'" Mom read. "What the heck are Monster Protectors?"

Dad shrugged. "I guess...to protect monsters?"

"Actually, Mom and Dad, it is one of the most important jobs in Forlot," I said. "I should know because I am the current Monster Protector."

They slowly lifted their heads to look at me - and burst out laughing.

I did not expect that.

My smile turned upside down, and Scarlett intervened.

"Mom. Dad. Please stop laughing. It is not a joke."

Their laughs died down, and they glanced at her.

"What do you mean that your sister's joke is not an actual joke?" Mom asked.

"She is the Monster Protector. We are here because she is the Monster Protector."

"No. We are all here because Dr. Maxwell brought your mother and I here," Dad argued.

"Mom. Dad," I said. "Scarlett and I had no clue that you were in Forlot. Heck, we thought that you were dead."

Mom ran her fingers through her hair. "Who told you that we were dead?"

"Our writer."

"A writer?"

"Forget it."

Scarlett took the book from our parents. "Margie is the Monster Protector. She has been protecting the monsters who live in this mansion and fighting evil humans and evil monsters."

Mom gasped. "That sounds dangerous!"

Dad pushed up his glasses. "Have you gotten hurt, sweetheart?"

Oh, now they believe us.

I hesitated. "...yes, but—"

Mom immediately stood. "That is it! If my baby is harmed, she should not be the Monster Hunter."

"Monster Protector."

"Whatever! You need to quit before you get yourself killed!"

Dad rose and rested a hand on her shoulder. "Calm down, honey. I am sure that our daughter was put in the position for a reason."

I agreed with him and was about to explain to them why I was chosen when I overheard a faint voice.

"Margie..."

Now, you would think that was not weird at first, and I assumed the same. I asked Mom and Dad if they said my name. They looked at me and shook their heads, and Scarlett claimed that she never spoke of my name. At least, not in the last minute.

Maybe it was coming from the kitchen.

I excused myself and walked into the kitchen. A smelling sensation filled my nostrils, and I wondered what it could be.

Ironic, Tippy, Skippy, and Tappy were preparing the food, and Mr. Hawk was watching them. Mr. Hawk gave me a warm smile and informed me that the food was almost finished.

I licked my lips and rubbed my belly. "Good. 'Cause I am starving. Anyway, did any of you call for me?"

"No," Mr. Hawk claimed. "Nobody called for you."