Chapter Five (#5); The Parent Attack
952 Words
DIAMOND KURT SEEMED TO BE UPSET. He walked Citrus home, his face wiped of expression. He rang the doorbell and in a couple minutes, Citrus’ parents were there.
“Citrus has something for you. Don’t you, Citrus?” His tone said that Citrus had better give them the note.
“I went to Kurt’s and stumbled across Mr. Dakota,” Citrus explained. She didn’t grab the note which was hidden deep in her pocket.
“Yeah. I get that. But what’s with the outfit?” Citrus’ father asked, his voice deep and rumbling. It was clear he was in charge.
“Science project. She must wear it at all times for a week. Now, the note, Citrus?” It was obvious Mr. Dakota was annoyed and exasperated so Citrus reached into her pocket, just below her tool belt. She pulled out her note and gave it to her mom, who skimmed it.
“Ah, okay!” Citrus’ mother, Georgia exclaimed. “If it has to do with science, anything’s fine!” Citrus hated this side of her parents. They always claimed that ‘anything with science was fine’ and it was annoying. One time, Citrus tested them. She’d said, “So if my death was involved with science, would that be fine?” Her parents had stood there in uncomfortable silence. She added, “If I was kidn*pped and it had to do with science, would that be fine?” Her parents had shifted their feet and started talking. “We-” They were interrupted by Citrus. “If any of you died and it had to with science, would that be fine?” Her parents had then sent her to her room, grounding Citrus for the month. Citrus hadn’t brought it up again.
Does Diamond Kurt run Kurt’s? Citrus thought, realizing that Mr. Dakota’s agent name was Diamond Kurt. I wouldn’t put it past him. Citrus’ dad took the note and skimmed it as well. His face went blank as he took his daughter’s hand and led her inside.
“Thank you, Mr. Dakota!” Citrus’ father waved to Mr. Dakota and shut the door. Citrus’ mother followed, her face also blank.
“Citrus. We need to talk,” Carol Goldstone said to Citrus. Her words weren’t cheerful and they sounded like someone else was speaking. Her voice was rough and bumpy.
“Yes!” Jeremy Goldstone agreed in the same voice. They each took a step forward. Closer to Citrus. Citrus waved her hand in front of her parents face. They didn’t blink.
“Mom…? Dad…?” Citrus asked cautiously. They didn’t respond. They pushed past Citrus and into the kitchen. They came back with scissors.
“Chop, chop!” Carol exclaimed, still talking in the weird voice.
“Yes! You have a scheduled surgery!” Jeremy said, lunging for his daughter. Citrus sidestepped. Her parents weren’t doctors. What was going on? Citrus took off her anklet and it changed into a sword… Before she realized that these two were her parents. Instead, Citrus ran out the door, just missing a scissor cut. She hoped Diamond Kurt was still out.
“Mr. Dakota!” Citrus yelled, looking for him. But he was nowhere to be found. And her parents were quickly gaining on her.
“Choppity chop chop! Don’t you want to cook?” Her mother asked. Citrus closed her eyes and ran like she never had before. Her eyes flashed citrine orange.
No. Citrus realized. Not orange… Gold. Citrus kept running, her parents behind her. Then Citrus realized that she had no idea where she was going. She had made a few lefts at corners, and she knew she had made at least one right, but she couldn’t retrace her steps.
Darn it! Citrus thought. She turned and realized that she had lost her parents too. She should have been glad, but that meant she had no idea where her parents were. Citrus’ eyes were still stained golden-orange and the edges were still red and black, so it was tricky to see. Then her parents rounded the corner, their hair sticky and wet. Their eyes were sullen and black around the edges. It was as if rain had ruined their black eye shadow. Except it hadn’t rained. And Citrus’ parents didn’t wear eye shadows. Not even her mom. The scissors were gone and her parents looked tired, exhausted, and confused.
“Citrus, honey? What… What…?” Citrus’ mother asked.
They don’t remember. Citrus realized. They don’t remember chasing me for maybe a mile with scissors. Great. Just… Great.
“All I remember is walking you inside. Then a sting in my head and everything faded away.” Citrus was glad her parents were at least talking in their regular words now. Citrus wasn’t good at lies. Or coming up with lies on the spot, for that matter.
“You were taking a nice, long, jog,” A ghostly voice whispered into Citrus’ ear. It sounded familiar. Citrus turned, but only a wisp of white smoke was there
Weird… Citrus thought, narrowing her eyes. She turned back to her parents who were waiting patiently.
“We were taking a long jog!” Citrus exclaimed. Her parents also narrowed their eyes, not believing her lie, but saying nothing.
“Where are we?” Citrus’ father asked, looking around for a street name or something. There was nothing.
“Gresham Corner…” The same ghostly voice whispered. Citrus rolled her eyes.
“We’re at Gresham Corner,” Citrus repeated to her parents. Luckily, Citrus’ parents knew the way back from Gresham, so they arrived home safely. But Citrus was still questioning what had happened to her parents.
- Writer
