Chapter Five

I woke up fifteen minutes before my alarm when a text from Casey buzzed right in my ear.

I realized I had fallen asleep looking at the photo of Casey's monster after my nighttime skating.

I shook the sleep out of my eyes and text.

There was an old man walking across the street last night - he looked like a mad scientist. Anyway, a white van pulled up and three identical men got out and kidnapped him. This is getting crazy. What if these freaks go after my sister or my dad next? Or you? Or me? I have to do something...

Of course. The notorious Casey Jones was going to sweep the scum off the streets. I fell back into my pillow when another irritating buzz broke the silence.

I'm thinking about taking a run at the redhead O'Neil today. What u think?

I rolled my eyes and texted back:

/).-

Then, I collapsed back into my pillow to get another few minutes of blissful sleep.

###

Heading to sixth period, I followed Casey through the halls as he pushed a hockey puck between students' legs.

"So how'd it go with O'Neil?" I asked nonchalantly.

He grinned at me. "She's the person who signed up to tutor me. I got a date with her in the park later."

"A date... over some trig homework." I raised my eyebrow.

Casey shrugged. "A date's a date, Ren."

I rolled my eyes. "You wanna meet up after school? I don't think anyone's going to be home for a while."

Casey's face revealed that he had an idea.

Great.

"Actually, why don't you meet me on the roof of my apartment an hour after school. I've been working on something I think you'll want to see."

I shrugged. "Sure. See you then."

###

I emptied everything I didn't need for homework in my locker and grabbed my board. In the sea of students changing class, I slipped out of the building easily.

I dropped my board to the ground and hesitantly made my way to Casey's apartment building.

I kicked my board into my hand and started climbing the fire escape latter with my free hand.

I made it to the rooftop and looked around as storm clouds darkened the sky above.

"Casey?" I called out.

I heard some tentative footsteps behind me. I turned, relieved, and screamed as I came face to face with a skeleton monster.

Without thinking, I pulled my board back and smacked the thing straight in the face.

"Ow! Ren, chill, it's me!" Casey yelled, pushing his hockey mask off his face to reveal a similar design of face paint coating his face.

"Don't scare me like that, Jones!" I shouted angrily.

"But, cool right?" He indicated his garb. He was wearing his typical sleeveless sweatshirt over jeans and a gray long sleeved shirt, but he had a hockey goalie pad over his left forearm and he had two hockey sticks and a baseball bat behind him sheathed in what might've been a small golf bag.

"What are you doing, preparing for Halloween? You know you have a month." I sat down on an A/C unit.

"No!" Casey crossed his arms indignantly. "I'm Casey Jones, the kick butt street vigilante who's going to free this city of all the freaky alien scum."

There were voices in the alley below.

Casey glanced behind him and grinned. "And the freaky human scum, too."

I bent over the side of the roof to see three Purple Dragons forcing a man to hand over his wallet.

"Lets go." Casey flipped his hockey mask over his face.

"N-no," I stumbled back from the view. I found myself clutching my right side, my hand right over the long scar running down the skin.

"Come on, we can't let them take all that guy's money." Casey pulled out a hockey stick.

I shook my head, feeling sick.

"Well, I'm going, with or without you."

When I turned around, Casey was already gone.

I waited, listening to shouts and threats. I thought I heard the Purple Dragons leave, but the sounds of battle continued.

I heard Casey scream over another yelling voice.

I ran to the side of the building, but my friend was nowhere to be seen.

"Casey!" I called. "Casey!"

I thought I heard him yell something back, but a taxi backfired and drowned out his voice.

I waited about two minutes until he texted me.

Meet you at your apartment in five. BE THERE

^*^

Okay I hope everyone can figure out what's going on with the continuing battle noises and Casey shouting "back." Hope it wasn't too confusing. Please vote and COMMENT!!!! ^~^