Dylan K. Knightly's Story

Caress sat in the apartment building Kimberly had gotten them using her father's on land associates. It had been three weeks since the Destruction, and Caress was adjusting to life on land very, very, slowly. She missed her mother and father terribly, and often got a sad look in her eye when she thought of her life in Syreni. She looked out the window and pictured the buildings she saw as large coral reefs, and the automobiles that poisoned the air as giant smoking sharks. Sighing and leaning her head against the wall, she combed her fingers through her long blonde hair that was once riddled with starfish accessories.

She looked over at the calender and frowned, seeing the date as April 24th. Caress had argued that it was stupid to start at a human school when there was only a month left, but Kimberly would hear none of it. So, Caress had simply pouted and complained to her brother, Dylan. Caress was 17 years of pure princess, and losing her mother and father and all of her kingdom hadn't exactly improved her mood. She wasn't a priss, but lately she had had a bit of a rebellious nature. It was simply her way of ignoring the pain inside her head.

Picking up her blue tie-dyed backpack, she walked into Dylan's room where she knew she would find both him and Kimberly and sighed, leaning against the door. "Are we going or what? If you're going to force us to go to some stupid human school then can we at least be on time?"

Kimberly looked at both of them. "You two look good." She said. "We better get going.. Do I look like a senior in high school?" She said worried the humans wouldn't believe her age. She was twenty-three, but said she was nineteen.

Kimberly smiled at the two. "Just kidding, lets go." She walked out of Dylan's room and into the kitchen to get their lunches. Kim was up all night researching humans regular lifestyle. She grabbed the brown sacs of lunch that had a so-called peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Plus pudding snacks, and juice boxes.
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"I don't know what I'm doing." Kim said quietly so no one could hear her. She closed her eyes for a second getting control of her emotions. "Okay, so Dylan has Algebra II first period. Caress has English. And I'll be in drama?" Her first reaction to be in drama was shock. "What in the world is drama?" she cocked her eyebrow at the piece of paper she was holding.

She gave the other two there schedule's, grabbed her backpack, and headed down to the chrome ford focus Gerry, the kings human connection, helped her get. "Everyone have everything?" This was the kings plan if anything were to happen, and this was how it was going to be.

Caress rolled her eyes when it was decided they would get going. It wasn't that she didn't like humans--in fact, she was particularly fascinated with them. Her and Marie used to sit atop the far out bouy's and watch the humans swim and play at the beach. This was just Caress's way of dealing with bad things--to be a snarky little princess.

Caress watched in concern as Dylen wiped away a few tears. Forgetting her snarkiness, she walked over and put a hand on his shoulder. She knew he felt he had to be king, and that meant being strong and not focusing on his own grief. She couldn't say anything to help, he would only bury himself deeper within. Instead, she simply squeezed his shoulder as a sign of compassion and walked back out towards Kimberly. She handed Caress a brown sac with various human food items in it and Caress recoiled in disgust.

"It looks...sticky..." She said, peering into the brown bag at what she knew was called a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Who would put jellyfish guts on a sandwich? Because that was obviously what it was, it being named jelly after all. She knew humans were odd, but this was a new level of weird. She looked up as Kimberly read off their schedules and sighed. "Well, that should be easy." She said mostly to herself. Looking at Dylan and grinning teasingly, she joked, "Ha ha, you have to do math." Caress herself wouldn't have to take it because it wasn't required for her learning section. They had each had to pick a career path, even though it was highly unlikely they would go to college after this, and Caress had chosen Literature Studies. That meant all english, and specifically no math. She looked at Kimberly when the subject of her drama class came up. "Drama should be fun. You can pick a protective role or something."

They exited the apartment and Caress followed them down to the car, which was still a frightenting concept for her. She frowned as she got in and looked around warily. She was definitely not comfortable with automobiles yet. "Everyone have everything?" Caress looked around and nodded. "Yep, I think that's everything."

Kimberly looked at Dylan and smiled. "I don't know either." she said and chuckled. Kim knew what was on his mind and she grabbed his had for a second before letting go and backing out of the parking lot. As she was driving she looked in the rearview at Caress. When she looked back at the road she saw a guy walk infront of the car with a young girl.

Kim slammed on the breaks right then and skidded to a stop. Stopping just before the car hit him. She stared at the man "God, I hate driving." She mumbled and got out the car. "Are you okay?"

Eloise continued walking with him. "That's the high school right there!" She pointed out the largest building of the three. "Aah.." Many people started filling into it. "Maybe I'll see you later today, Neil. I take my morning English class at the high school." "Wow." He was really amazed. He'd done okay in school. Could of been better, but it was alright. "You're a smart one, you know that?" As he started talking to her, a car came speeding towards them. He put his hand out in front of Eloise, pushing back on her chest to stop her. He stepped slightly in front of her, hand on his gun, ready to draw. He didn't pull his weapon, hearing the car screeching to a halt. Neil wouldn't have to intervene with force.. yet. The first thing he did when the car stopped completely, wasn't talk to the driver, but apologize to Eloise for stopping her with his hand. "Sorry." He turned attention soon enough. "Are you okay?" He caught a glimpse of the girl in the backseat and was distracted by her. "Yea.. watch where you're going next time." He would of been more profane, but not with Eloise near.

Neil walked across with her, and bent down to whisper into her ear. "Do you know those people?"

She kept in time with Neil's steps as they made there way to the building, after she told him about her class he responded "Wow. You're a smart one, you know that?" She had impressed him, happily. "Thanks!" She had been told that many, many times but every time seemed as a genuine compliment. "I like reading so it helps...I'm actually reading Anne of Gree-" Eloise was cut short of her sentence by Neil's hand went out in front of her forcing the little girl to stop in her tracks. His other hand went to the side of her waste next to his belt. But, Eloise wasn't able to see or understand why he had moved it there. The car came skidding to a halt and a high school girl stepped out apologizing immediately.

Neil walked Elle to the side walk then came down to her level and asked "Do you know those people?" Eloise took a second to look back at them, looking them up and down she turned back to him. "They must be new or something, I've never seen them before and well...this is a small island." It didn't matter to Eloise who they were so she shrugged it off and stood waiting to see what might happen next.

Kimberly narrowed her eyes at the boy and got back into the car. "Maybe you should watch were you walk next time." she grumbled as she closed her door.

Kim leaned her head back and looked at the ceiling of the car taking a deep breath. "Great way to start the day huh?" she opened her eyes and sat back up facing the road. "Okay." She said reassuring herself as she started to drive.

Finally they got to the high school. She parked, turned of the car, and got out, grabbing her book bag as well. Kimberly opened the back door for Caress. "It will be okay, princ- Caress.. Okay I'm your guy's older sister okay?"

Caress looked at Dylan as he spoke and she nodded, knowing how worried he was about her. "I'll be fine don't you worry--Kim, look out!" Caress gasped as Kimberly slammed on the brakes and Caress was thrown against her seat belt. Kimberly got out to check and see if the guy was okay and when Caress looked she saw him staring at her. She felt uncomfortable under his gaze and turned to Dylan with a frown. "Creepy guy...are you okay?" She asked her older brother, seeing that he had his seatbelt on as well so it wasn't bad at all. This was part of the reason why Caress hated automobiles.

Kimberly got back in the car and they began to drive to the high school. Once they arrived, Caress looked out at the building and pursed her lips. Since Hawaii was an island and mainly covered in hills, it was small. That was okay, it would be easy to run if need be. She got out and looked at Kimberly as she opened the door. "Got it. Let's do this thing."

Neil had played nicely with the group that tried to run him over. They didn't want to play so nice though. "Maybe you should watch were you walk next time." He was ready to go. The thought of taking the drivers head, and just smashing it against her seat brought a smile to his face. Even a small laugh. He wouldn't do that though, not with Eloise near. He kept cool and calm, something hard for him to do. Instead of going berserk on the driver, he simply turned to Eloise. "Wicked smaht ain't they?" Although he hadn't bashed any of the people in the car, he made sure to have some fun. As they passed, he put his hand on the car, letting his fingers trail along the glass in front of the girl he'd gazed at. With a chuckle he kept walking. They're so lucky they got this kid here.

Neil wasn't sure if she was going to leave, or if he'd even see her again. He had a hunch that they would meet again though. As he was contemplating what to do, a limo pulled up to the school. Going to her level again, he asked. "Guessing you don't know anything about them either?"

Dylan was lurched forward, out of his laughter when Kim had slammed on her breaks. "Ugh." He grumbled under his breath as he watched the two interact with Kim for a moment before she got back in the vehicle. Turning back to see Caress he gave a sigh of relief. She was ok, but he still had to ask. "You ok CarBear?" A concerned but caring smile was upon his face. He faced back around and looked at Kim, "You allright?" He asked for just a moment, before reaching his hand out and placing it gently on her hand.

"I don't need anyone gettin hurt is all." He mumbled slightly, "You're the only family I do have left, and I want to keep it that way... well... until we get older, then yeah.." He coughed before dropping his hand, his eyes going wide at seeing the building in front of him. "Nice School." He said in awe, before he noticed the long black limo. Seeing the woman who stepped out his jaw literally dropped. "Interesting woman." He mused after a few moments.

"Let us learn of this life no?" He asked with a gentle smile, his eyes never leaving the girl from the limo, not even when she joined her friends. She was just gorgeous, then again, Dylan had only seen her back, and her profile.

Kimberly walked out of the theater with her eyes as round as pool balls. As she was walking down the hallway she noticed Caress and Dylan.

She walked up to the two and leaned against the lockers. "How were your guys' first class?" She asked her voice exasperated. Kim luckily didn't have to kiss anyone but she did have to play a part for Romeo and Juliet. As soon as the kissing scene came the bell rang. Literally saved by the bell.

If Kim would have had to kiss the boy he would have turned mer and would have been bonded to her for life. Of course she would never let that happen in a million years, but just the thought made her skin crawl.

"Oh, thank god! The creepy guy we had in that class was there and he gave me a tissue which was nice but I still think he's creepy but he was acting really nice and then this one girl asked me all these questions about some stupid golden bridge that apparently is really tall and I'm supposed to have walked on it, and oh my gosh breathe, Caress, breathe..." Dylan's sister was soon embracing him in the hall. "What?" Before she answered she spoke to him again. "Oh, and I forgot to get my schedule from Kimberly, so I have no idea where to go." "Well, she's right there." Their guardian had just left class herself, and approached them. "How were your guys' first class?" He didn't need to think about it much. "Awkward." He was glad to at least be with people he knew. "What do we have next? You got the schedule."

Caress looked towards Kimberly who had made an appearance. Suddenly, there was a loud blaring bell and when she looked around, there were hardly any students roaming about. "Ugh. Great. Now we're going to be late. Kimberly maybe it's best if we just take our individual schedules so it's easier to get to class." She looked at their guard, who had an odd look on her face most likely from class, and looked around to make sure no one was listening. "I don't know about you guys, but I hate being on land. Everybody stares at me and not one nice person has talked to me. Just creepy/nice guy and Eloise, the guppie girl who looks way too young to be in a high school." She sighed and leaned against Dylan. He had always been a source of comfort for her, even in Syreni. He was even more comforting now when he was the only family she had left. "So, Kim, where's our next location of torture, and how soon till we can get there?"

"So, Kim, where's our next location of torture, and how soon till we can get there?" Kim took out the sheet of papers she had forgotten about. She unfolded the first which was hers, then Caress', finally Dylan's.

"Okay, Caress, looks like you get biology. Dylan and I seem to be in Anatomy together. Then we all have study hall together. Caress has P.E., Personal Finances, lunch, Chemistry, Parenting, World History. Dylan has English, P.E., Lunch, Chemistry II, American history, then Art. I have P.E, Chemistry II, Lunch, Personal Finance, American History then English." Kimberly finally finished rattling off their classes and handed them their sheets.

"Now, try to have fun, and behave please." She said to both. "I'll see you in P.E, Caress." She looked up at Dylan. "Ready?"

Caress rolled her eyes and took the schedule from Kim. "Fun. On land. That's laughable. Bye, Ky!" She said, using her nickname for her big brother. She was the only one that was allowed to use it so she might as well. She walked away from her group and towards Biology, looking around the halls until she found the appropriate classroom.

Sighing, she looked inside the window, and didn't see creepy guy or Eloise. That was good, wasn't it? Well, it would have been nice for Caress to have seen a familiar face, but oh well. "Let's get this party started, Caress." she whispered to herself. She opened the door and walked in to the classroom to see a very unhappy looking male teacher.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't our very new and very late student. You must be Caress Knightly, yes?" Caress nodded dumbly, looking around the class to see everyone staring at her and chuckling. Great started to your first day, Caress.
"Well, Ms. Knightly, I'll give you a pass today but in the future if you are late to my class you will be sent to the dean's office, clear?" She nodded, wondering what a dean was. It wasn't like she could ask anyone without drawing attention to herself. She filed away the question to ask Dylan later, because surely he would know. "Alright, then, take a seat next the the window and let's get started." Caress moved over to the window and sat, ignoring the teasing stares of her classmates.

Oh, Ky, I hope you're having a better day than I am.

"Okay, Caress, looks like you get biology. Dylan and I seem to be in Anatomy together. Then we all have study hall together. Caress has P.E., Personal Finances, lunch, Chemistry, Parenting, World History. Dylan has English, P.E., Lunch, Chemistry II, American history, then Art. I have P.E, Chemistry II, Lunch, Personal Finance, American History then English." "Oh boy..." Anatomy? Why do I have to spend more time here? At least I have Kim.. "Fun. On land. That's laughable. Bye, Ky!" He blushed at the nickname being said in public, but more over in front of Kimberly. "Yea, I'm ready." Walking to class, he held the door open for his guard, at least sending small messages to her.

Class ended as soon as it started, nothing really interesting going on. He was paying more attention to Kim. "You look good today.. well you do everyday... uh.. cute shoes?"

Kim looked at Dylan as he opened the door for him. "Thanks. Shouldn't I be doing that though?" she asked playfully. Kimberly walked into the classroom and found her and Dylan a seat. The next half hour was nothing but learning the insides of a frog. Kim's eyes grew large and her stomach turned. "Ew." she mummbled.

Finally the bell rang and Kim stood up and waited for Dylan. As they walked into the hall way Dylan spoke. "You look good today.. well you do everyday... uh.. cute shoes?" Kimberly looked up at Dylan and cocked an eyebrown. "Thank you?" she blushed. She decided that Dylan must have a fever because he has been acting weird.

The rest of the day passed uneventfully to Caress. She was introduced in every class and in every class not one person talked to her. What was it with land people that just seemed so...antisocial? Although, Caress noticed that everyone talked amongst themselves when the teacher wasn't looking, so it wasn't like they didn't want to talk. They just didn't want to talk...to her. This saddened Caress, up until the point when she met Kimberly and Dylan outside at the end of the day and began walking to the car. "Is it just me, or did those school bells freak you guys out, too?" She asked, huddling close to Dylan to avoid the swarming onslaught of humans.

When they reached the car, Caress looked around and saw that there was literally no one around. Not a soul in sight and not a sound to be heard. "Jeez. They cleared out fast. At least in Syreni there was always some kind of sea creature within range. But this is just plain creepy." She shuddered and looked around, feeling an unnatural stir to the air. There was an odd energy taking place in this area, and it was seriously creeping Caress out. "Hey, guys, maybe we should hurry up a bit. Or just walk. Walking works, too. I'm seriously getting freaked out, here." She didn't know what it was, but she felt a weird, burning sensation on the back of her neck and she swore she felt a pair of eyes on her. She swallowed and looked around again, completely unprepared for what happened next.

After Eloise, Lucy and Neil had finished there plotting Eloise had ran back to school. (As all the events had taken place before lunch had even began) So Eloise was leaving her 5th grade class room, by herself. She went out the the playground, which sat next to the elementary school, just across from the high school. Not many kids where play, most began to make there way home. Eloise set her back pack down next to the monkey bars and then, as any kid would do she swung across them making her way to the platform. The little girl ran to the highest part of the playground and looked out over the parking lot. There was Caress and her 2 friends. Eloise waved to them and then slide down the slide. She needed to wait for Neil to get there so she didn't approach them yet.

"So Lucy, what spy gear do you got around here? Sorry, just making sure you didn't forget!" Her backpack was thrown on the table, and Lucy glanced to Neil. "Take care of her." He went with Eloise, knowing they'd bothered Lucy enough. "And Neil, non-lethal only." as they left.

"There, that oughta do... trackers, man stoppers, deterrents.. all you should need." There was more he could of given her, but he wasn't going to hand the fifth grader a handgun. If she asked, he'd let her, but he wouldn't mention it if she had no interest. "Oh, and this." He managed to find a pack of the tropical gum she asked for. Tossing it to her, he closed the bag. "There, good to go." With that, they left for the capture.

Making his way to the school, he waited, soon got bored, and decided to wait on the roof. He'd changed clothes before he left to be a bit more comfortable. Khaki shorts and a black t-shirt were easier to move in. He saw Eloise waiting on the playground, and soon the mer had left school. "Is it just me, or did those school bells freak you guys out, too?" overhearing Caress. Observing her, she started to feel weird. Great, already on her toes "Hey, guys, maybe we should hurry up a bit. Or just walk. Walking works, too. I'm seriously getting freaked out, here. " Even better, they're on foot. Thinking over his options.. he went for it. Tying a handkerchief around his face, the bandanna covered his nose and mouth, a black cap on top of his head. Ha, a bandit

Neil's attack was swift, he had to be. He didn't want them to have any clue of what happened. He didn't worry about Caress running away after he bopped her on the back of the head. He pummeled the others, and kicked one to the ground. Returning to the target, he brought her to the car he drove over. "Come on." Neil couldn't just bring her back on foot, too many witnesses and it'd be awful suspicious.

Bringing her to an empty room, he started to talk to her. Just the beginning of the fun he'd have. "Ah.. a little princess huh? You look it.. oh don't worry now, you and I are gonna have a lot of fun here. It's just a little playground."

Caress screamed as a masked man came at her. She screamed at Dylan, who didn't seem to realize what was going on until it was too late. She couldn't reach Kimberly, and then she was on the ground, the world spinning around her. She put her hand to the back of her head and felt blood. It was like watching everything in slow motion as this guy came forward and attacked them all. He kicked Dylan to the ground, and subdued Kimberly, which wasn't easy to do. He was obviously skilled. Then he was coming towards her, lifting her up and putting her in a car. She groaned, unable to move as she faded in and out of consciousness.

She must have dozed off, because when she became aware again, she was in a foreign room, laying down and when she tried to move, she found herself restricted. She turned her head frantically, seeing the guy next to her. It was the guy from this morning in class! The one who had seemed nice! She felt sudden tears start to stream down her face. How could I have been so stupid? Caress looked up at him as he spoke, but she only caught the end of his sentence. "...you and I are gonna have a lot of fun here. It's just a little playground." Caress bit her lip and looked at him with terrified eyes. "Who...who are you? What do you want with me?"

Dylan didn't realize what had happened, until it was too late. He had been pushed out of the way only that his sister, his darling sister had been taken. Rage filled his emotions as he looked around for her. "Care!" He called out, his blue eyes full of worry. Who did this?! He couldn't see who it was.

He refused to cry though, that's one thing he didn't want to do, though he was worried, and scared. Caress was the last relative he had. The last family he had. "Why her!" He screamed out, feeling panicked. He himself wasn't thinking clear. He looked over at Kim and grabbed her arm. "Come on.." He growled, trying to pick her up.

He finally got her in his arms, and ran to the ocean, that had been near the school. Letting Kim's feet touch the water as he laied her down, he wiggled out of the shoes and jeans, and shirt leaping in the water he grew his tail back. It was time he had some underwater help. Lifting his head above water, he looked at Kim.

"Come on! We need help!" He wasn't going to deny how good it felt to be a merman again, that's for sure, but his thoughts were on his sister. He needed more than his and Kim's eyes. He needed the whole ocean to help.

Eloise watched the event unfold in front of her. She started at the bottom of the slide and when she saw Neil coming she ran and grabbed her back pack. Eloise ran and hid behind a near by car and waited. There was screaming and she didn't like it. Neil was being aggressive with every move. She suddenly didn't want to be there in that moment. Little kids weren't supposed to witness violence. Yet the fact that the Mer people had killed her family made her angry at them, and hate them. She pulled her legs up to her chest sitting behind the car. Then she squeezed her eyes shut waiting for the moment to be over.

Eloise saw Neil bring Caress to the car. She didn't want him to hurt her. But she didn't want to Mer people to kill any more people... She wan't sure what she wanted anymore. Then with her eyes open Eloise unzipped her back pack. She needed to put trackers on the two others in case they ran off. But to be honest she was to scared to approach them, to scared that she might cry at the site of her parents killers.

She peaked around the side of the car and Dylan and Kim then quickly turned her head back. They where running to the ocean. Eloise got up and on the other side of the building, took a short cut. Now they had gotten in the water, and taken off many layers of clothes. Making it harder to put a tracker on them.

Kimberly could sense the eyes watching them. But it was to late to react. She felt herself being attacked from the back and say Caress being hit over the head and Dylan being pushed out the way. The masked man and herself were battling, the man was being overly agressive then she felt herself being over taken as she felt a blow to the head. Kim stumbled back falling on her behind. She was dazed seeing star fish. Then she heard the cars ignition and the sound of squealing tires.

Kim groaned and felt herself being picked up and carried to the ocean. Finally, her feet felt water and she heard Dylan's voice.
"Come on! We need help!" Kim blinked a few times and stripped. sliding into the water regrowing her tail. "What the hell just happened?" she asked. She felt like she failed everything she knew. She let her guard down when it was suppose to be bullet proof. Kimberly was pissed. And whoever was responsible was going to pay.

Neil took a seat in front of Caress, and she looked away, disgusted. "You sick bas--" She was cut off by another woman entering the room, and then they were yelling at eachother. "You're awful... shocking a princess. Be gentler with the lady? We need her intact." Caress took the skittles that Neil handed to her and looked down at them. When she thought he wasn't looking, she sneaked a couple of the red ones and then put the bag back. Skittles were her favorite.

When Neil sat back down, Caress handed him the bag. "This is ridiculous, you know that right? You've tortured me for no apparent reason, and you still haven't told me what you want with me. Whatever it is, it's not going to work. I've heard of the kind of experiments you do, and when my brother finds out, you won't even remember who you are." She threatened him, hoping the threat of her her brother would scare him. It tended to scare a lot of people. Nobody touched her in Syreni because they knew Dylan would come after them. Hopefully, Neil was the same way.