Chapter 4 - nightmares

Klyde hugged his parents, which caught them by surprise, then silently walked out of the house and back into the car. Maddy and her mother followed and they left.

Klyde made no sound, you'd almost mistake him for dead if you didn't see his chest rising and falling, he stared silently out the window the whole trip. Maddy didn't want to bother him, but at the same time wanted to comfort him. They got back and Klyde went straight to his room, quietly closing the door behind him. Maddy was almost in tears now, she couldn't bare seeing him in such a state. She went over to his door, "He Klyde, I- I just wanted to say that, I'm sorry about your sister, and if there's anything I can do to cheer you up, let me know. Hope you feel better soon.." "She heard a soft thud on the door, which confirmed to her that Klyde was listening. "Well, good night Klyde, rest well if you can." The door peaked open and Klyde whispered a response, "thank you, you too. Good night." She could hear the sadness in his voice. He closed the door slowly, giving Maddy a sad yet grateful look as she disappeared from view.

He didn't sleep that night, instead exercised for hour upon hour, trying to avoid his thoughts.

Next morning came, Maddy was up. After a few hours Maddy thought klyde wouldn't come out at all, then the door opened and he slowly stepped out, clearly didn't sleep at all. His knuckles were red. "Hey Klyde, you doing ok?" He slowly shook his head as he walked closer. She lead him to breakfast and watched as klyde looked at the food for 5 minutes before finally deciding to take a bite. "You wanna um, continue our movie marathon?" he looked at her, then whispered, "I want, to catch my sisters killer." "but we don't know who-" "I know who killed her, and deep down, I think you know too." "You mean, him? He wouldn't, he-" "he threatened to kill me, then said he'd make me regret ruining his career." "Oh.. Right. But, how are we going to catch him?" "I'll find a way.. Wait, did you say 'we'?" "Yeah? I'm not letting you do this alone y'know." "Alright.."

And so began their investigation to locate Maddy's father.

School was pretty normal, until a large boy approached Klyde. "What do you think you're doing hanging around a girl like her? She belongs with guys like us, not a lowlife like you." "that's her choice, not yours." "what'd you say punk?" "I said, that's her choice." He shoves Klyde against the wall. Maddy yelled at the large boy to stop but he didn't listen, "hot chicks like you deserve better than this loser." "I don't care what you think you big idiot, he's my friend leave him alone!" He ignored her and went to punch Klyde in the face, he dodged and the guy smashed his hand into the wall, damaging his knuckles. Then Klyde turned and stared into the guys face, the guy went for another attack but kilyde again dodged and hit him in the neck, paralysing the large boy. Then leaned one foot on him and glared into his eyes, it was then the large boy knew, Klyde would not hesitate to put up a fight if or when threatened. The boys backed off. "You okay klyde?" He gives a nod and they head to class.

After school klyde got a call from the cops confirming, "we just felt it would be good to inform you that we have evidence that suggests that your friends father is responsible for your sisters murder." "Thank you for confirming my suspicions officer." "you already suspected him?" "Yes, he did said I'd regret ruining his career." "I see. Well that's all, good night sir." the phone hung up.

"Well, I guess that confirms it, let's begin." Just then klydes phone buzzed. A message from an unknown number. "Hello, meet here if you want to get me back for your sister." coordinates followed. "Also, no cops, or I won't be there."

"Wha- are we sure this is a good idea?" "It may be our only chance." "OK, lead on then. They gathered some items then off they went to the coordinates that had been provided, sure enough he was there, standing with a sinister grin." Glad you could make it. I see you brought a witness." "What do you want." "I already seem to have gotten what I want, making you suffer." "then why'd you send for me?" "I wanted to test to see if you'd actually have the guts to show up." "well, I did, now what?" They were right in front of eachother now. Suddenly the man lashed out at klyde with a knife, burying near the edge of his abdomen. Klyde grunted in pain as he was pushed over the edge of the cliff, the man got in a car that suddenly pulled over and zoomed off.

Maddy ran over and looked down, finding Klyde hanging by one hand on a protruding root. She reached down, "Klyde grab my hand!" "I, can't.." his hand started slipping. Maddy called the emergency department but it was too late,his hand slipped as emergency services started to arrive, they all watched as klyde fell to what should've been his demise.

He managed to roll himself at just the right moment to cushion his fall before passing out at the bottom, bleeding. Emergency services immediately sprung into action, and so did Maddy, despite everyone telling her not to, she climbed down the cliff and began tending to klyde. Emergency services finally made it down and klyde was taken to hospital.

He was out cold and had lost alot of blood. Maddy stayed with him the whole time. After th procedure he was put in a quiet room, it was just him and maddy in there. Maddy fell asleep leaning over klyde.

A day passed, yet he did not wake up. Then day 2 came, Maddy awoke to the cold breeze from the window, "wasn't that closed?" she thought, then looked at the now empty bed where klyde should have been. She yelled "HE'S GONE?!" and nurses rushed into the room, they looked out the window and saw where klyde had landed, but he was nowhere in sight...

Maddy was sent home and say in the living room crying. When there was a knock at the door, it was now the afternoon. She opened it and there stood klyde with clothes and materials. She gasped in surprise then hugged him tightly. "Where did you go?! I was worried sick!" "sorry, had to get some things. I know how to find him." "Wait, what? How?" "I'll explain inside." They went inside and klyde explained everything.

"wow, that's... Alot. You came up with that?" "Yeah." "you're smarter than I thought. I mean I knew you were smart but that smart? That's impressive." "Heh, thanks." "so what's our next move?" "my next move, I can't risk getting you hurt." "Wha- excuse me? What about you? Who's gonna make sure you don't get hurt?" "I'll live." "No, just, no. I'm in this whether you like it or not." "Hm, fine." they sat there silently for a bit before Maddy spoke up again, "so what is *our* next move?" "I get this set up." "what is it?" "a suit, y'know, mask my identity, us provide protection and helps with stealth." "damn that's cool." "Yeah." "Alright then what?" "then we figure out our targets." "how?" "we get into street cameras, contact lists, partners and employees of your father's." "that'll be alot of people klyde." "good, means they won't know who we're gonna go for, we'll try aim for high up close contacts, but not too close or they'll know." "How are you so smart, like you really know what you're doing Klyde." "Well, had to do something to pass the time."

Maddy's mother caught them by surprise. "well if you're gonna be hunting for that criminal and are going to be travelling alot you'll need a car." "Wait, mum, are you serious?! You're gonna let us have a car?" "yep, don't wreck it though, they take a while to repair." "oh my gosh thank you so much mum I love you!" "it isn't a problem dear, I was planning to give that mustang to klyde anyway, I noticed it peeked his interest when he first arrived." "Thank you ma'am, I appreciate your support." "I said you could call me Ellis dear, tho if you really want to you can call me mum, or mother, take you pick." "Mum!" "What? I'm just trying to help him feel comfortable." After that they silently ate dinner and went to bed.

Next morning came and Maddy, somehow, was laying next to klyde as he woke up. He was shocked, but didn't move, he then lightly shook her to wake her up. She woke slowly at first, then realising klyde was looking at her she jolted up, she was bright red and zoomed out of the room. Klyde got up, got dressed and headed out to breakfast. "Good morning Maddy, and Ellis." "Good morning klyde!" replied Ellis. "M-morning." said Maddy, still red with embarrassment, it was clear she had hoped to wake up before him as to avoid getting caught. "Good sleep?" asked Ellis. Maddy gave a shy and embarrassed laugh, "yeah." "how about you klyde?" "surprisingly, yeah." "that's good to hear. You going to begin your hunt today?" "maybe, if I can get my suit done by sunset." "I see, well good luck with that, let me know if you need anything." "of course." "Maddy, why have you turned into a tomato dear?" "I- um- nothing. Must've been a dream I had or something." "uhuh, sure." her mother laughed before leaving the two in the dining room. "yknow if you wanted to keep me company while I slept you could've just asked." "Wait, really?" "Yeah." "I- um, I'll keep that in mind."

Klyde spent the whole day working on his suit and Maddy assisted. After it was completed klyde tried it on and it fit perfectly. He then tested its durability and flexibility and it was just as he'd wanted it. "Time for the next stage." klyde said. He then pulled out his computer and typed away. "you're gonna find him on a computer?" "in a way yeah. I'm finding contacts and looking through most recent sightings." "That's smart. You don't look it but you're a nerd, I like it." "I'm, thanks, I think?" they both laugh and continue the research.