Part 3
Starting

Randal Pascal

Randal shuffled his feet awkwardly, sitting in the middle of Kat and the woman driver with the kitty on her lap. It was awkward now that he had been discovered, so figured that staying as a cat would probably make things easier. The woman driver had no idea that the kitty sitting beside her was actually a boy, and he planned not to ever let her know.
“Where did you find this cute little specimen?” the woman asked curiously, scooting over to scratch him on the ear.
Kat came out of a daze. “Hmm…? Oh, well, he was back there with, er, Snookums.”
“Ah, so that’s what my little tabby was afraid of?” the woman giggled, scratching the kitten between its ears.
Kat quickly glanced worriedly at Randal, and then mumbled, “Mhm.”
An awkward silence filled the van, and the woman cleared her throat loudly. When neither Kat nor Randal made any sort of noise to appease her, she turned the radio on and began to hum to it.
“Hey, Randy,” Kat whispered inconspicuously. “Psst.”
Hmm? He mumbled back, shaking himself out of his thought process. What is it?
Kat glanced over at the woman quickly, but she was paying no attention. “Do you know how long this trip is going to take? I don’t think that I can handle being in this van any longer.”
Mm... Couldn’t really tell you, sorry. I’ve flown many places, but never so far as out of the state.
“Out of state… It makes it sound so far…” Kat groaned and slunk back into her seat.
The woman turned down the music a little and asked, “Anything wrong there, dearie?”
“Oh, oh no,” she replied, sitting up automatically. “Just a little tired of being in the car so long.”
“Ah, yes, it has been quite a while since our last stop. Maybe a stretch break is what we both need.” She smiled at Kat and turned the music back up. “Be on the lookout.”
It was almost another hour before a decent rest stop was seen by either of the girls. Kat felt like she was dying, listening to oldies and country rock constantly and having the woman sing to every single song. There was a slight pulsating in her right temple and a scorn plastered to her face.
Ah, look! Randal exclaimed, pointing his nose toward a large green and white sign. Finally, a rest stop.
Kat smiled and told the driver to stop at the next rest stop.
Once both Kat and Randal were outside of the car and the woman was inside the bathroom, they began talking.
Kat sighed. “Now what? I can’t take any more of this constant music and driving and listening to her sing. It’s killing me!”
I agree, Randal replied. I don’t think I can take much more either. Do you happen to know where we are?
Kat pointed out a sign saying that they were about 265 miles away from Las Vegas. Meaning, trying to accomplish getting there without a car was going to prove impossible. Not only that, but the heat was taking the breath out of both kids, leaving them completely out of stamina.
“We need to figure something out before she gets outta that bathroom,” Kat moaned, falling onto the grass. “Ouch…”
Hey… look at that…
Kat sat up, rubbing the back of her head tenderly. She saw two cars pull into the parking lot together and parked right next to each other. A woman got out of a black convertible silently and stealthily, removing black sunglasses as she did. She motioned toward a man in the car next to her, signaling for him to come out and talk to her. He got out clumsily, trying his best to not make her look bad and failing miserably. A giggle escaped Kat’s lips.
Don’t you think that’s a little suspicious? Randal asked, his gaze still lingering toward the two. They were now walking behind the bathroom building.
Kat lay back down on the grass. “Not really. It’s probably just some hooker who wanted to get some and found the easiest guy.”
Randal stretched out on his stomach and lay right next to her. I dunno, she didn’t really look like the type. They looked like, I don’t know, secret agents on some special mission.
Kat laughed. “Oh yeah, that boy was definitely a secret agent. They way he walked so awkwardly.”
Randal stood up. I just have a feeling… I’m going to go eavesdrop on them. Holler if you see our driver and I’ll come back. Hey, spot me, will you? A squirrel is probably less noticeable than a cat.
“All right, if you really think that’s necessary.” Kat pretended to pet Randal, covering him completely from the people around. “But maybe a bunny… There are a ton of bunnies around here.”
No way. I’m not becoming some fluffy bunny. Plus, they’re all stupid. Randal stepped out from under Kat, his tail trailing after him. I definitely don’t like this bushy tail though…
“Oh, get over it,” Kat said, pushing him toward the bathrooms. “Do your stuff.”
Randal ran quickly over to the back of the bathrooms, hiding himself in a nearby bush. He saw the two people whispering rapidly to each other about… fires. The lady, carrying her black sunglasses, told the boy she was with that they needed to get to the fires as fast as possible. They were talking about plans and what she wanted to do once she got to Vegas. The boy didn’t talk much, but nodded furiously and expressed all emotions he was feeling through facial expressions.
“You must keep your temper under control, however,” the lady said. “The fires don’t need any more help.”
I… wonder what that means? Randal asked himself curiously. How would he help the fires with his temper?
The boy was about to make a comment when the lady shushed him. “Wait, listen.”
“To what?” he asked, looking around.
The lady walked slowly around the place they were talking. “I think someone’s listening to us.”
“You think what?”
With that, Randal decided to leave. He had heard enough to understand what they were trying to do, so he rushed back to Kat.
“So?” Kat asked, hiding him as he turned back into a cat. “Anything secret agent like?” She smiled.
No, but get this, they’re going to the fires too!
“Really? How coincidental.” Kat pondered a moment. “You think…?”
Exactly. He smiled at her.
“Aha!” Both Kat and Randal jumped up, looking straight at the lady in black who was now right behind them. “How much did you hear?”
Kat looked at her, confused. “How much did I hear of what?”
“Of what we’re doing… of what we can do. How much did you hear?” She pointed an accusing finger at Kat.
“N-nothing,” Kat stuttered. “Why?”
The lady stood up straight, putting her index finger to her temple. “No, you must’ve been listening. You know about where we’re going…”
“How would you know that?” Kat asked, standing up with Randal in her arms. “You can’t know what I know. You can’t know what I’m thinking.”
“Actually, she can,” the boy chimed in, looking proud.
The lady gave him a cruel stare and he shrunk back, obviously deciding not to make any more random comments.
“I just do. I’m good at random guessing.”
Kat rolled her eyes. “Whatever, miss I-know-everything. I really have to get back to my car now. Our driver should be returning soon.”
“Is she the lady in the bathroom?” the lady asked.
Kat nodded suspiciously.
“So you two are preparing to go out to the fires, too?” she questioned. “How convenient. Oho, and you can… talk to animals?” She smiled cleverly at Kat’s astounded face.
“That could be useful!” the boy said from the background.
The lady pondered. “I suppose so… Well then, would you like to come with us Miss…?”
“Kat Mercher,” she finished. “And that depends. How exactly did you know I could speak with animals? That can’t just be clever intuition.”
“Quick, aren’t you?” she asked. “Let’s just say I’m close to peoples’ minds. So?”
“What do you think, Randy?” Kat asked, looking down at him.
It can’t really do us much harm, can it? he replied. And I can get out of this infernal body.
“Well, I guess that we’re coming with you,” Kat told the both of them. “And your names would be?”
“Mystic Dangerfield,” Mystic introduced, “and he’s Landon Daistin.”
Landon smiled warmly, and it felt as if the sun got a little brighter.
“Let’s be off,” Mystic said, motioning toward the cars. “Before your driver gets out of that restroom.”
“Hold on a moment,” Kat said, putting Randal down. “Go ahead, Randy.”
The small paws on Randal’s cat-form body began to stretch themselves and grow into a normal human’s. The catlike face was becoming featured with his own human expressions.
“Oh, oh, ah! Hold on Randy!” Kat exclaimed, turning pink and running toward the back of the van.
Mystic and Landon both looked star struck and started chuckling, looking away from him. Kat came back, her arm covering her eyes and her other hand holding out his clothes.
“Please, put them on.”
Randal laughed and grabbed them from Kat, putting his clothes on as quickly as he could.
“So, you’re a morpher?” Mystic asked as they pulled out of the parking lot, Kat and Landon following them in the other car.
“Mhm,” he replied nervously. “Any animate object I can morph into… except other people. My power hasn’t been developed that far yet.”
Mystic nodded. “No worries, you’ll get there.”
Randal smiled awkwardly, looking out the window and watching the trees and bushes roll by.

Jade Pyra

Jade led Carolyn out of the airport and called loudly for a taxi. Carolyn winced and glanced around, making sure that no one was staring at them. A bright yellow taxi, spotted with black, pulled up; an angry looking driver was in the front seat smoking a cigarette. As Jade and Carolyn climbed into the car, the driver pulled the cigarette from his dry mouth and coughed.
“Where to?” he asked, wheezing, a Spanish accent floating through his voice. The cigarette was holding he flicked out of the open left window.
Jade muttered to herself, frustrated. “I guess just take us to the castle.”
“Awright,” the driver replied, pulling out dangerously close to a large black limo.
“Hey, watch where you’re driving!” Jade shouted at him angrily. “You’re liable if we die.”
The driver grunted. “Like anyone would notice if you two were dead.”
Carolyn, offended, looked at the driver. “Excuse me, but I do have a family.”
“I’m sure,” he replied, turning the car violently. “Especially if you’re here of all places… alone.”
Jade returned to her sitting position. “Don’t worry about him. All taxi drivers are bitter, angry people.”
Carolyn crossed her arms. “Whatever.”
The rest of the drive was silent, filled with only the sounds of dangerous turns and honking horns. In the day, Las Vegas looked only like a normal big city, filled with many different types of people. It was muggy and hot outside and the taxi did not have air conditioning. Jade’s clothes and hair began sticking to her - wet and uncomfortable. She looked at Carolyn, trying to move as little as possible; Carolyn looked awestruck at her now frazzled, curly black hair and running foundation.
Jade laughed. “Not used to this weather, huh?”
An appalled Carolyn shook her head in response. “I live in New York. Everyone always looks good in New York!”
“Tch,” Jade sighed. “You have a lot of learning to do.”
“We’re here,” the driver hacked, pulling off to the side. “That’s fifty bucks.” He held out a grimy hand for the offering.
“No way,” Jade replied, stepping out of the car. “I’m not paying you for the poor service. C’mon, Carolyn, let’s go.”
“W-what?” the driver exclaimed. “You can’t do that! I’m callin’ the cops!” He shook an animated fist at Jade and Carolyn as they walked toward the big, bright colorful castle, ignoring him completely.
“Well, that was certainly interesting.” Carolyn brushed off her designer jeans gracefully and flattened her hair as best as she could. “Now what exactly are you trying to show me how to do?”
Jade combed through her hair lightly, untangling most of the knots. “Know your way around Vegas. You said you wanted to come here for fun, right? Well, I know my way around for sure. You just gotta know the way of the city.”
“Isn’t it just a place for lowlifes and whores?” Carolyn asked, rolling her eyes. “I came here for a getaway, not to live here. I do have money, you know.”
“And money gets you everything you could want in life and more, right?” Jade remarked sarcastically. “That’s why you’re so bored with your life and wanna get away?”
Carolyn dropped her right hand away from her hair. “Just be quiet.”
“That’s what I thought.”
The two girls had crossed a large white bridge over the oncoming traffic and Jade opened the large, golden front door of the casino slowly. Inside, they felt a whoosh of cool air and cigarettes.
“Ahh,” Carolyn sighed. “That feels a thousand times better. Now I just need… my… stuff. Hmm…”
Jade pushed her forward and through the casino, making their way to the reception counter. “We were too busy to grab your stuff. Not to mention we couldn’t have been caught by your parents. You have money, right? You’ll get by.”
Carolyn grunted. “I guess I’m literally starting anew here.”
Jade walked around the golden bars marking the line to the smiling receptionist, Carolyn following slowly behind, trying to fix her melted foundation.
“How are you two ladies today?” the receptionist, name plate saying ‘Marie’, asked through a set of perfect bright red lips and bright white teeth.
“Just fine,” Jade replied, pushing Carolyn forward. “We’re doing just fine, um, Marie.”
Marie smiled at Jade, and then looked over at Carolyn with dismay. “You look like you’re having a makeup crisis,” she said, alarmed. “You know, we have a lovely Mac makeup store just around the corner.”
Carolyn brightened up and stopped messing with her face. “Really?” she asked excitedly, leaning around a golden pole to see if she could make out the Mac store.
The receptionist nodded politely. “Just around the corner and through the glass doors on the far right. There’s a giant selection of stores inside that building.”
“Oh, thank you so much!” Carolyn exclaimed, making to take off toward where the receptionist pointed.
But Jade pulled her back by her perfectly stiff white collar and forced her up to the desk. “Room first.”
“What?” Carolyn asked, confused. “I thought you had all this down. You have money, too, don’t you? I need a new supply of everything. I can’t buy the room too!”
“You think you’re the only one who needs to buy everything new again?” Jade shouted. “My house burned down! I have nothing!”
Carolyn gestured to make another excuse then stopped. “Oh… it did? I’m so sorry…”
Jade took a deep breath. “It’s okay. It was practically my fault anyway.”
“Um, ladies?” the receptionist interrupted, trying to be as polite as possible. “I’m sorry to intrude into your discussion, but will either of you be making a purchase toward a room? I have irritated customers waiting in line…”
“Oh, of course, sorry,” Carolyn murmured, looking embarrassed. “We’ll take one room with two queen sized beds.”
The receptionist typed this into the computer quickly. “Very good. And how long will this stay last?”
Carolyn looked over at Jade questioningly. Jade shrugged and said, “Put us down for a week. We can stay longer if we come back, right? Just keep our room open for the next month.”
Jade nudged Carolyn, and Carolyn fished her credit card out of her back pocket and handed it to the woman.
The receptionist looked surprised and typed a week into the computer. “I’ll do my best to keep your room open for you. Have a pleasant stay with us here at Excalibur.” She handed them a room key each and shooed them away.
“Thank you,” Jade said happily as they made their way to the shopping area of Excalibur. “I don’t think I have enough in my account to afford a month in this hotel.”
Carolyn shook her head. “No problem. I suppose it’s the least I can do if your house burned down, huh?”
They walked through two glass paned doors and into a shopping hall. The ground was dark gray carpeting, contrasting the bright colored walls around them. The stores were plentiful and of many different types, so both Jade and Carolyn gazed upon them excitedly.
“Meet back up with you at the hotel late, okay?” Carolyn said, bouncing up and down. “Shopping’s my favorite!” She ran down the aisle to the nearest makeup store, leaving Jade to scan the clothing stores quietly.
The two girls met back up lugging dozens of bags into their room. Carolyn threw them all on the ground and plopped onto the brown and white sheeted bed face-down. Jade set her bags down on the opposite side of the room and stretched herself out onto the other bed.
“Ah… that was relaxing,” Carolyn said, muffled through the sheets. “There’s nothing in the world like shopping somewhere new.”
“Relaxing… What a weird word to call it.” Jade picked up the black remote control and turned on the TV. “I find it more of a nuisance.”
Carolyn sat up automatically. “You know what sounds even more relaxing?” she exclaimed. “Going to the pool!”
Getting off the bed quickly, Carolyn rummaged through her bags carelessly. She grabbed her bathing suit from a gray and tan bag and rushed into the bathroom to change, not even waiting for Jade to respond.
When Carolyn stepped out of the bathroom, in her bright orange and yellow flowered bikini, Jade was still stretched out on her bed.
“What are you doing?” Carolyn cried. “Get dressed already! I thought we were going to the pool!”
“Correction: you said you were going to the pool. I never said anything.” Jade’s eyes were still shut.
Carolyn rolled her eyes and sat next to Jade on the bed. “Oh, stop being such a spoilsport. We are in Vegas. And it’s, like, a million degrees outside. Swimming will feel nice!”
“I don’t swim,” Jade replied bluntly. “It’s not my nature.”
“Swimming is everyone’s nature,” Carolyn said. “Now, c’mon. Or, is it that you can’t swim?”
“I can swim!” Jade answered, sitting up crossly. “I just prefer not to.”
“Whatever you say…” Carolyn mocked, standing up off the bed. “Did you even buy a bathing suit?”
“No,” Jade mumbled. “Why would I?”
Carolyn walked over to her gray and tan bag and threw a two piece at Jade. It was dark blue and purple, with a very feminine looking skull on the right side.
“It’s always good to have extra bathing suits,” Carolyn pronounced. “I always have three or four around that fit me. Now go put it on. I’ll wait for you out here.”
Jade got up heavily, sighing exasperatedly. “Fine.”
Once down at the pool, Carolyn rushed into the water quickly. The pool was large enough to fit around two hundred people, and looked as if that many were trying to force themselves in. Jade decided to stake out a spot for their towels and try to get some much needed sleep. There were two lawn chairs that were open underneath a large palm tree, so Jade went to them hastily.
“Excuse me,” a male voice said as Jade placed a towel on one of the benches, “but those two chairs are ours.”
Jade looked up at a medium height man with straight, light brown hair. She stood to almost about the same height as him, but he looked like he was well in shape.
“Well, there was nothing here signifying that these chairs were taken,” Jade responded. “It looked like they were perfectly empty.”
The man shook his head. “I don’t think so. You see, my friend is sleeping right there.” He pointed toward the chair right next to her.
Sure enough, a boy of about her own age with dark black hair and a matching dark black bathing suit was laying on his side, muttering angrily in his sleep.
“B-but, he wasn’t there before,” she muttered confused. “I swear, these two seats were completely empty before.”
He shook his light brown hair, smiling sympathetically. “Sorry, but your sight must be leaving you. He’s been here since we got down here; he never even goes into the water.”
Jade shook her head, grabbing her temples. “That’s… so weird.”
“It’s no problem, though. I’m going back into the water after I get a beer, so if you want to take that seat it’s fine with me.” He smiled. “Just, try not to wake up my friend here. He’s a bit… moody when it comes to that.” Chuckling, he whispered, “I already tried waking him. I got punched in the jaw.”
Jade smiled and looked at the sleeping boy. “Man, fast reflexes.”
“Tell me about it,” he said. “Anyway, I wanna get back. It was nice meeting you… uh…”
“Jade. Jade Pyra.” She held out a hand and he shook it.
“Nice to meet you Miss Pyra. My name is Nathaniel Brodie, and my buddy here is Davis Whopper.” He smiled again. “See you later.”
With that, he walked toward a beach bunny with a flamboyantly pink bikini on and started flirting with her. They walked toward the bar together and disappeared.
“Ahem, well,” Jade murmured to herself. “I guess my stake out didn’t work as well as planned, but I’m sure Carolyn won’t care. If I had to guess, she’s probably just flirting with some hotrod in the pool and will be there a while.”
Jade lay down on the beach chair next to Davis and closed her eyes; she was asleep within a matter of minutes.

“Hey, hey, Jade.” Carolyn’s voice broke through Jade’s deep sleep.
“Mmm,” she mumbled, rolling over on her chair. “What is it…?”
“Who’s this guy?” Carolyn asked.
Jade forced open her eyes and glared at where Carolyn was pointing. She traced her finger to Davis, still sleeping uncomfortably on the beach chair next to her.
“His name is Davis,” she said sleepily. “Or at least that’s what his friend said.” Jade groaned and rolled over onto her back, the sun burning her eyes.
“Friend?” Carolyn asked.
Jade nodded. “He offered me his chair and then went to flirt with a whore in a pink bikini. Dunno where he went but he just left Davis here…”
“Oh, I see.” Carolyn sat down next to Jade on the beach chair. “Well, that kid was saying some pretty random things in his sleep. Something about a girl named Alex and invisibility… He kept apologizing to her about something.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Jade replied, waking up finally. “He’s probably just having a weird dream.”
“Yeah… I guess,” she said. “Anyway, he’s super hot. I’m tempted to wake him up.”
“Mmm, go ahead.” Jade rolled over onto her other side.
Carolyn stood up and walked to the other side of Davis, examining him. He had dark black hair and a tan complexion, a flawless face that looked mainly Hawaiian, and a perfectly muscular body. Just what Carolyn had been looking for this entire time… She should have gone back to Jade sooner. Carolyn slowly put her hand up to his face and touched it lightly.
“No, Carolyn, don’t!” Jade yelled, but too late.
Davis grabbed Carolyn’s hand automatically and twisted it the opposite way, making Carolyn scream out in pain. Davis sat up straight, looking angrily at the person who tried to wake him from his dream.
“Who are you?” he asked furiously. “And what do you want?”
“I-I-” Carolyn stammered, holding back from screaming in pain again.
Jade rushed over to Carolyn’s side and grabbed Davis’s wrist. Davis let go of Carolyn immediately, wincing in pain.
“What was that?” he asked. “It felt like I just got a burn on my wrist.” He looked down at his wrist, seeing a bright red beginning to fade away.
Davis stared at the two girls suspiciously. “Who are you?”
“My name is Jade Pyra, and this is my friend Carolyn Cai.” Jade pointed to herself and Carolyn. “She didn’t mean to startle you; she just wanted to talk to you. She thought you were attractive… she’s open like that.”
Davis had deep red eyes that glared at them, still looking suspicious.
“I-I’m sorry,” Carolyn stuttered. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
At that moment, Nathaniel walked up behind Jade and Carolyn, staring at Davis. “What happened here?”
“These two tried to wake me up,” Davis replied, finally letting go of his burning wrist. “They say she was just obsessed with my looks.” He pointed at Carolyn.
Nathaniel looked over at Carolyn and smiled. “Hello, miss. I’m sorry my friend alarmed you. Jade should have told you not to wake him up, however. You’re lucky you didn’t get punched like I did.”
“Sorry, Carolyn,” Jade replied, flustered. “I remembered a little too late.”
“That’s okay,” Carolyn sighed. “That just hurt like hell.”
Nathaniel grinned at Carolyn. “See? All better. Now, it’s nice to meet you Miss Carolyn. My name is Nathaniel Brodie. Your friend and I have already met.”
Carolyn smiled back slightly and nodded. Her gaze went back toward Davis. He was glowering at Jade intently.
“Um, Davis, hi,” Carolyn said, trying to break the tension. “My name is Carolyn Cai, and it’s nice to meet you.”
Davis nodded curtly. “Davis Whopper.”
Nathaniel nudged Jade and whispered to her, “How would you like to be treated out to dinner tonight? It seems that Carolyn is quite infatuated with Davis and I think it’d be cute to try to get him to talk. Plus, you’re not half bad yourself.” He winked.
Jade shuddered. “Um, I don’t think so. I don’t know if—”
“Yes!” Carolyn shouted. “Dinner sounds perfect.” She was smiling at Davis.
Jade looked at Davis closely, wondering what had changed in his tense expression. His eyes seemed to be clouded over and he had no distinct facial expression. Jade looked at Carolyn’s smile quizzically.
“Perfect,” Nathaniel replied smiling. “Dinner tonight at seven. We’ll meet you at your room at six-thirty sharp.”
Carolyn looked away from Davis and at Nathaniel happily. “We’re in room 1402. See you then.”
Carolyn pulled a confused Jade away from Nathaniel and Davis, guiding her to the hotel.
“W-what just happened?” Jade asked, turning around to face Carolyn.
“It’s better not to ask questions,” Carolyn answered, still grinning. “Just go with the flow.”
The two walked into their hotel room, Jade still extremely confused.