Chapter Ten: The client

Hiccup once again woke up with her clingy boyfriend with his arms wrapped around her waist. She gripped his arms and tried prying them apart only for him to cling tighter.

“Dreki!” Hiccup bellowed. “Let go, I need to get ready for school!”

“Ditch.” Dreki mumbled into her shoulder, kissing it lightly. Her face lit red and she began to flail.

“Let go, let go, let go, let go!!” Hiccup said, trying to grab for something to help her up.

“RELEASE ME!!” Hiccup demanded.

“Fine.” Dreki said and released her, sending her flying. She rolled on the floor. Her legs kicked over a vase which popped out of the pillar it sat upon and landed in Hiccup’s hands. A trap door suddenly opened under her and she rolled down a stone staircase. Dreki glided over, looking down into the tunnel and hearing Hiccup fall deeper and deeper. It wasn’t until he heard a loud thud did he ask “Anything broken?”

There was silence till Hiccup called back, more of moaned back, “No….”

Hiccup found herself in a darkened room, the vase still in her hands. As she rose up, she stepped on a tile and torches soon blazed to life. Hiccup found herself in a room filled with gold coins, rainbow colored jewels, crowns, pearl necklaces, jade necklaces, diamonds, crystals and other treasures that would have billionaires look like the homeless. She looked at the place in disbelief, Dreki soon soaring down beside her and saying “Oh you found it.”

            “WHAT IS THIS?!” Hiccup screeched.

            “My treasure.” Dreki replied, cleaning his ear out. “From all the years of your absence from my life.”

Hiccup was a little touched by his suddenly obsession of her but snapped back to her anger “Why’s it under my room?”

            “I thought it should be in a place where my most prized jewel lives.” Dreki said seductively only getting slapped on the head.

            “Get rid of it before someone steals it!!” Hiccup said.

Dreki only shrugged it off and replied “They can’t get in unless they’re accepted by me. You come in here, you die.”

Hiccup trembled and Dreki replied “Let’s go back to sleep.”

            “No, I have school!” Hiccup said and went back up the steps, Dreki following of course.

            “I’ll drive you.” Dreki said.

            “I’ll take a bus.” Hiccup retorted.

            “My car’s faster.” Dreki said.

            “I like the bus.” Hiccup said bitterly. They reached her room and the door closed when Dreki simply let his hand slide across the door. Ancient writing followed him and the treasure vault sealed shut. Dreki returned to Hiccup who was setting out her clothes. She had come to realize trying to get rid of the expensive clothes Dreki bought her was useless when he just either threw out or burned her old ones.

            “You’re wearing them without a fight?” Dreki said, sounding pleased. “Have I finally tamed the great warrior?”

            “No!” Hiccup replied. “How much was all this anyway?”

            “Hmm, well the clothes were freshly new, specially made and with a couple of threats half off.” Dreki said, calculating the prices in his head. “Four thousand dollars each.”

Hiccup threw the clothes out of her wardrobe and bellowed “Return them!”

            “Can’t, lost the receipt.” Dreki said plainly.

            “Then sell them!” Hiccup said.

            “No, they stay.” Dreki said.

            “ARGH, you aggravate me!!” Hiccup bellowed.

            “Aw, I love you too.” Dreki said with a gorgeous model like smile.

            “ARGH!!” Hiccup screeched again.  

~ * ~

            Hiccup walked home today from school. She hadn’t told Dreki about her whereabouts knowing he’d decline and pick her up anyway. To Hiccup, it was rather embarrassing for your overly rich boyfriend to pick you up from a sleek black European car that happened to be bulletproof and have guns hidden in the compartments. So Hiccup lied and told him that Brooke had already offered to pick her up, who was actually on the lookout for Jackie with Kazuma (currently in South Africa she last heard). Hiccup had her headphones in and was listening to one of My Chemical Romances songs, bobbing her head lightly to the beat. As she turned a corner that was her secret shortcut, she came face to face with Celty.

            “Hey Celty.” Hiccup greeted.

Celty responded with a wave.

            “You out looking for demons again?” Hiccup asked.

Celty shook her head no.

            “Looking for your head?” Hiccup asked.

She shook her head no again. Celty pulled out her phone and started typing down her thoughts on it. Once done, she held it up for Hiccup to read. Hiccup squinted at the screen and read aloud “I’m waiting for my client. Wanna help?”

She looked back at Celty who waited for her answer.

            “You want me to help?” Hiccup asked.

Celty nodded, typing another message down and holding it up for Hiccup to read.

I have a feeling you can really help with this one. It read, Celty adding another sentence. Hop on.

Hiccup giggled excitedly as she boarded herself on Celty’s motorcycle. She wrapped her arms around her waist and soon Celty took off. Hiccup had always been the one repairing motorcycles but she had never before ridden one. She felt the wind push by her face and combing through her hair. She smiled widely, suddenly hearing How does it feel?

She looked up to Celty who seemed to be waiting for her reply.

            “Feels like I’m flying.” Hiccup replied.

Even without a head, she could tell Celty smiled at the comment. They turned, dodging cars and hopping over civilians who didn’t move fast enough. Hiccup couldn’t help but enjoy it, finding it humor to see the terrified and confused faces of civilians. They soon came to a dark alleyway, stopping midway. Celty looked up at it, the motorcycle humming. 

            “Is this the place?” Hiccup asked.

Celty merely nodded and took out her phone, typing down a reply.

We go by foot here. It read.

Hiccup got off the vehicle; running her hands over it and feeling it nudge at her leg lightly. Celty led the way, Hiccup staying close behind her. They lost view of their only vehicle back home and soon came to a large white building; it looked like a lab merged with a mansion. Celty motioned for Hiccup to knock first. As she was about to knock, a voice said What do you want?

She jumped a bit, but found a small speaker on the side.

            “U-Uh, you called for Celty.” Hiccup replied through the speaker.

You don’t sound like Celty. The speaker countered.

            “I’m here to help.” Hiccup replied.

…Who’re you anyway? The male voice asked, sounding suspicious.

            “Hiccup Sirius Haddock.” Hiccup replied. There was a pause for a couple of seconds till the large metal gates swung open. Celty patted Hiccup on the back and led her in. As they walked up the path, Hiccup’s phone suddenly rang.

            “Oh, uh, hang on please.” Hiccup said, seeing the collar ID read Dreki on it.

Phones away. A voice bellowed making Hiccup flinch and frantically hid her phone. The doors slid open and the two walked inside. They were welcomed by a high tech lab that was filled with veils of unknown chemicals, knives, tables for dissecting and test tubes. Hiccup cringed when a small baby form of a cow in one of the many test tubes, being formed in a pink fluid. She clung to Celty who patted her arm.

            “Celty…you’re late.” A voice said. A spot light shined down on a single teenage boy who seemed almost Celty’s age. He had spikey milk chocolate brown hair and wore a white lab coat over his tight purple shirt and baggy jeans. His hands were tucked into his pockets, his emerald eyes glaring at them. Celty walked toward him, pulling out her phone and typing down her message.

What’s the emergency? Celty asked.

            “Come with me.” The boy scientist replied and led them out. Hiccup stuck close to Celty who seemed tensed as well. The three came to a door; the door had no handle but a code in its place, the boy typing down the combination at the speed of light and the door opened automatically. They came to a cozy living room, a roaring fire place blazing with beige walls, velvet furniture and tall windows with long curtains, velvet carpet, a tall bookcase and coffee table in the middle of the two couches facing each other.

Here I thought Dreki was the only one who flaunted his money around…. Hiccup thought, Celty and herself seating themselves across from the scientist.

            “The missions quite simple.” The boy said. “Get my test subject back.”

            “Uh…okay what does it look like?” Hiccup asked.

The boy turned back to her with the piercing glare and asked “You said you were Hiccup Sirius Haddock right?”            

            “Y-Yes…” Hiccup replied, trying to sound polite.

            “Hmmm, I’ve heard stories but you’re nothing how I pictured you….” He replied and put his hand out. “Gary Ookido, scientist of paranormal activity and other alienated beings.”

            “It’s a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Ookido.” Hiccup said, shaking hands with him. “I bet you’re fully aware that Celty can’t talk.”

            “Because she has no head.” Gary finished, looking bored. “I’m fully aware.”

Hiccup seemed a bit shocked that he seemed so bored by the fact.

            “You see, I’ve had my eye on this interesting being known as The Biker or Headless Horsemen.” Gary replied, eyes fixated on Celty now. “I’ve always wanted to dissect her kind, cut her open and see exactly what makes this demon or god like being tick but she’s of course….rejected my offer.”

Celty shivered at the thought of being dissected, Hiccup glaring at Gary now.

            “Now about my subject, she needs to be found before the New Moon.” Gary explained.

            “Why by then?” Hiccup asked, seeing the question written on Celty’s phone.

Gary held up a shot which was filled with a purple fluid that which bubbled when shaken, he tucked it back in his pocket.

            “She needs to take this medication every four months. She hates it cause it hurts like hell.” Gary explained. “She escaped before I could inject it into her, giving me this.”

He rolled up his sleeve only to show a large gash that appeared to still be healing. It looked like he was slashed across the arm, it glowed red and tints of black cling to it like flesh. He pulled his sleeve over it and said “She gets more aggressive and violent without it, even on the verge of killing others. If she continues like this after the New Moon, she’ll go on a rampage.”

Hiccup tightened her fists and repeated “Wha-what does she look like?”

            “How should I know?” Gary replied bluntly, the two looking at him in shock. Celty aggressively typed down a reply and held it up to Gary.

You want us to look for a dangerous extraterrestrial with no clue what she looks like or what she’s capable of?!

            “Yup.” Gary replied.

            “Are you crazy?!” Hiccup bellowed.

Gary tapped his cranium and replied “Slightly, but the craziest are always the brightest.”

Hiccup glared as Gary replied “The new moons in three days, you have till then to find her and bring her back for her check up. Got it?”

He turned to Celty and smiled evilly as he added “That’s when you’ll get your payment.”    

            “Payment?” Hiccup asked.

Celty only nodded and excused herself and Hiccup out of Gary’s home. Once outside, they found the motorcycle a few yards away, waiting. Hiccup was boarded on the motorcycle. Celty hopped aboard and the two were off.

 

            “What was he talking about payment?” Hiccup asked, she found herself in front of her new home with Celty guiding her motorcycle in the garage. Inside was a line of foreign vehicles that all belonged to Brooke and Dreki inside, one spot open for Celty. She parked and turned back to Hiccup who had followed her along the way. Celty seemed to have sighed and took out her phone, typing down her reply.

He has my head….

Hiccup fell silent and asked “Why do you think I can help you with this?”

Celty started to type down her reply.

Because the subject is named Tasha Godspell, a Dream Eater who’s been haunting dreams and occasionally eating souls. She was once our friend but disappeared one day...

            “I don’t remember a Tasha.” Hiccup said, the two going back out and inside the house. Hiccup tried searching through her memories for Tasha but everything came up blank. She suddenly realized she had followed Celty to her room, finding it to look like a traditional Japanese room with boarded walls and floors of bamboo, a futon on the floor with a large comforter over it. Celty removed her helmet and Hiccup came face to face with a headless woman, black fog emanating from the neck where her head should’ve been. Celty caught her staring and Hiccup suddenly said “S-Sorry, I-I-“

            “HICCUP!!” Dreki screeched from upstairs.

Crap, I forgot Dreki called today! Hiccup thought, panicking now. She raced off only to bump into Dreki.

            “Where were you?!” Dreki asked.

            “I-I went out with Celty.” Hiccup stuttered.

Dreki face palmed himself and muttered “I knew, you would pull a stunt like that.”

            “Sorry…” Hiccup said, making puppy eyes and resting her head on his chest. Dreki only sighed, picking her up and putting her over his shoulder making her shriek.

            “Put me down!!” Hiccup demanded.

            “Nope, its time for your punishment.” Dreki replied, kicking the door open with Hiccup flailing on his shoulder, he closed the door behind him giving them privacy.  

Author's Note

excitement, new characters!!!