Chapter Text
“Dirk, I think…I think I want you to stay with me. Forever.” John said touching the dino boy on his chest. Dirk stared back at Egbert, his scarlet eyes glistened. Dirk seemed to be looking past John. The boy didn't realized it until Dirk had literally made the action of walking past him. “Dirk? Dirk what’s wrong? Dirk please don’t leave!” John called out as Dirk continued to walk past him. Seemingly out of nowhere Jake had appeared behind John, a similar blank expressionless stare like Dirk’s on his face. “Jake, what are you doing here?” John asked. Jake too was looking past him, however the object he was looking at was clearly defined. Dirk. As the realization hit him, Jake suddenly pulled out his twin arms and fired them viciously at Dirk. With a speed as quick as John though Dave could only pull off Dirk dodged the bullets and landed back in the same spot. “You’re a monster! That’s all you’ll ever be nothing more nothing less. It’s my job to hunt down and stuff monsters. It’s what I do after all. I am a connoisseur of bizarre freaks like yourself and you my friend will be the most gracious of specimens.” Jake said with an almost devilish laugh. John had absolutely no clue what was going on and before he could even discern this strange scene Dirk shot off on all fours towards Jake.
Fangs bared, claws scrapping against the dark concrete. “Dirk no wait stop!” John tried to yell but somehow Dirk had run straight through him as he was some strange mist-like hologram. Dirk leapt into the air and body slammed down onto Jake, the sound of gunshots, tearing flesh, and screaming was all Egbert could hear. Clutching his head still confused he could take no more, “Dirk I said STOP!” John yelled out towards the sky. The word seemed to hang on the air for a few moments almost echoing on the empty street. Dirk crawled himself off of Jake who seemed to be dead. “John…I’m sorry. I only wanted to protect-“Dirk started when another gunshot sounded off. Dirk slowly lifted a hand up and placed it against his now bleeding chest. “Haha, thanks for that marvelous distraction Egbert ol’boy. He didn't even see it coming.” Jake laughed kicking the stunned and dazed Dirk to the pavement. John ran to Dirk who was coughing and spitting up blood “Dirk no. Jake why did you-“John began to ask looking up when he realized there was no Jake any longer. The boy was gone, the street was gone.
There was nothing but black and silence.
KUTHUMP!
John fell right off the edge of the couch and onto the hard floor below. Rubbing his head, he gazed about the room confused. There was a noise in the kitchen, the sound of clattering plates and the sweet aroma of pancakes. Pancakes. John hadn't had those in a while. Dad must have been in a really good mood to be making those. Rolling himself over he decided to allow himself to fully wake up on the floor before moving on to the kitchen. “What was that dream all about just now? I hope Dirk’s ok, oh what am I saying I hope Dave’s ok too.” John whispered mostly to himself. In the end he decided it was just some bizarre dream and put his wondering to rest. Almost simultaneously Mr. Egbert came in from the kitchen, standing in the doorway his fatherly apron on. “Good morning sleepy head. Think your awake enough to enjoy some delicious pancakes with your old man before he heads out?” he asked waving a spatula about playfully in the air. Eagerly, but not too much, John nodded and stood himself up. With a mock serious bow, Mr. Egbert bowed fervently as John entered the kitchen. This made the teen giggle as he sat down at the pre-prepared table. Not soon after John sat down did his father sit down across from him. “So tell me John, how’s life treating you? Anything interesting happen this week?” Mr. Egbert asked pouring some syrup from the bottle at the center of the table onto the fresh hot pancakes on his plate. John did so also and immediately began eating.
“Well, not much really. Classes have been pretty slow actually. Kind of glad it’s the weekend now.” John began still munching on his pancakes the whole time. Mr. Egbert nodded and politely took a bite of his own pancakes. “That’s good. Anything else happens, something special you want to tell me about. More specifically the claw marks all over the hallway and the floors?” he then asked with a cunning smirk. John chocked slightly. He’d completely forgotten about the horrible mess Dirk had made. Not to mention the ghastly appearance of his own room. Oh how he feared what his father’s face looked like when he witnessed that horrid scene. John began to sweat a bit now, he tapped his foot on the floor complacently and his eating had slowed considerably. With a heavy sigh John placed his fork down. He sat up straight and looked his father in the eyes. “Dad, I want to tell you the truth and no matter how crazy it sounds could you please believe me?” John asked now tapping his fingers together. Just when he was about to speak his cell buzzed around in his pocket.
“Dave thank goodness you called, oh it’s important, oh my, gosh he did what! Ok I’ll be over quick!” John said hanging up his cell. Quickly John rose up from his chair and rushed over to the door. “Sorry Dad. Dave said Bro was having a real funky stomach ache and asked me to accompany him to the hospital. Haha, funny how that happened just now. Um, we’ll have to continue this interesting conversation some other time.” John speedily muttered as he rushed out the front door. Of course there was NOTHING wrong with Bro. John had just made the whole arrangement up, talking over Dave’s actual sentence. Was that even Dave? Just as the thought began to process John felt a stinging pain at the back of his head. He’d been struck by something fierce and it hurt! “Ow! Why would you do that Da…JADE?” John cried out realizing who he had the honor of addressing. Jade had a pretty upset look on her face, like beet red and fuming from every pour red. She was tapping her foot on the ground, her arms folded as impatiently as she was. John opened his mouth to speak but it was too late, she had already begun her rant. “Ok John, I want the truth. The whole truth. First I tried to text you yesterday about something super important, today I tried calling you to see if we could finish that craft project at your place, OH BUT NO! You John Egbert decided to ramble over my entire sentence and ONTOP of that you hung up in my face! So why John? What is it that is probably so unimportant that you must avoid me at every turn?” Jade raged before finally taking a break only to wait for John’s response. He felt sorry really he did. John never meant to ignore Jade, heck he didn't even know the poor girl was trying to contact him and about the project he’d totally forgotten about that.
Once more John tried to speak when his cellphone went off again. Jade’s already furious glare began to increase. “Um, that’s probably Dave. You don’t mind if I answer it right?” John asked cautiously. Jade gave a heavy exasperated sigh, “Sure John, answer your stupid cellphone. It’s not like you haven’t been ignoring me all since yesterday.” She groaned. John gave her a sympathetic half smile before answering his cell. On the other end before John could even say “Hi Dave what’s up?” the familiar sound of ripping and tearing claws being raked against the walls and furniture was heard loud and clear. Dirk was howling or crying out in the background and the only other voice that could be heard was Bro’s saying, “Damn it Dave could your stupid wife answer the phone HER KID is driving me nuts!” John could hear. At this point Jade had gotten close enough herself to try and eavesdrop on the conversation, if there HAD been a conversation rather than noise. “Um Dave? You and Bro alright over there?” John asked pretty much already knowing the answer. A short moment of silence crossed over, either Dave had died or Bro had gotten Dirk to settle down. “Oh thank goodness I put you on speaker. John this thing misses you. It is literally climbing up the fucking walls, and as freaking cool as that may be, I don’t think Bro can afford the bill our landlords gonna give us when he sees this.” Dave began. Jade stared at John genuinely confused but decided to hold her questions. "So the sound of your voice seems to have momentarily soothed him but I don’t know what he’ll do when he realizes you’re not in the house, once he’s done searching for you in the cabinet under the sink. Egbert. Get. Over. Here. NOW!” Dave finished firmly than for once hung up in John’s face. John stared at the phone for a moment than back up at Jade who held up a hand. “Save it! Dave sounded like he needed help. WE should probably go see what’s up.” Jade said still a hint of irritation in her voice. John nodded and the two rushed off down the street.
John knew Dave needed help. How much help was the question?