INTO

CHAPTER TWELVE

The previous day, they all got home later than usual. They headed straight home instead of their original plan to visit the workshop first. It was late already and they were positive Bernard would have left the workshop.

Luckily for them, they were welcomed with only the smell of freshly cooked food- no questions from Bernard. Lucy just hugged Gwen, collected the rather unfashionable bag she took to school and ushered her to the table to eat. During dinner, there was obvious tension in the air and it seemed like even Bernard and Lucy were extremely mindful of the words that came out of their mouths. They went to bed in silence, all barely speaking to each other.

Now, morning, Bernard announced their going to the man be believed should know a way out.

"Eh? Right now? Today?"

"Aw, have you gotten so attached to school already you don't want to miss it even for just a day?"

"No, it's nothing like that," Gwen said, Lucy's face falling. "I just didn't know we'll have to use a whole day."

"It's not that far," Bernard joined in, holding a pot. "I just want us to get there as early as possible."

"Um, what's his name?" Adam asked the question they've all had on their minds but have been too scared to ask. They were going to the man Bernard said should have answers to their questions and were only few hours to getting busted or not.

"You'll know when you get there. What's the rush?" was all Bernard said, increasing their fears. "Right. I wanted to ask. Why did you guys get home so late yesterday? Where were you?"

"Oh," Miranda got up. "We just walked around after school. To get familiarized with this area...a little."

"Hm, okay," he replied, taking out a plate. "Sit so you can eat."

The room was filled with an unusual silence as they filled their plates. As if it was pre-planned, they all finished eating at the same time, Adam getting up to transport the now dirty dishes to the kitchen.

Bernard led the way, the rest of them tailing him. Lucy noticed the frequent nervous glance they exchanged as they walked, all unsure of where they were headed.

They knew they were busted when they were halfway there. It was the same road, same path and same weather. The twists and turns were the same and the green fallen leaves still looked like frogs whenever Gwen looked at them.

"How do you know Clo- the man?" Miranda asked as they opened his wooden gate to his compound. The compound looked exactly the same except that it now felt suffocating.

Bernard's reply wasn't really one she was expecting. "He's just someone everyone around here knows."

"Can we trust him? Enough to reveal our actual identities to him?"

"Hopefully," he faced Adam. "Pro tip, don't trust anyone around here easily. Around here, 'trust' is just another word humans use to manipulate."

Bernard knocked. After a very short while, the door opened revealing Clover. Unlike the previous day, he didn't ask who it was before opening.

"Hello," he greeted his eyes on Bernard. "Oh, Bernard it's you."

"Yes, it's me," Bernard didn't exactly smile. "It's been a while."

Bernard shifted so Clover could see the crowd behind him but they all shifted with him, Bernard only seeing his familiar compound.

"You have company," Bernard commented noticing em.

"Yes, they-"

"Come in," he said, not bothering to see the familiar guests.

They got in, sitting around the familiar living room. Clover sat directly opposite Bernard, an extremely nonchalant look on his face.

"So, Clover, i-"

"Wait a minute," Clover cut Bernard shut his eyes fixed on Gwen. He stared and shook his head at her for a while before doing the same to Adam, Miranda and Tina.

"So you're also part of this madness?" he now faced Bernard. "Did you kids really think bringing him over will change my mind?"

"What?" Bernard looked extremely puzzled. "What are you talking about, Clover?"

"What?" Clover asked. "Didn't you- Wait a minute."

Clover rested his back, his eyes meeting Tina's. He looked at them and the look on their faces made him laugh. "Wait a minute, Bernard. I'm sorry. Why are you here? To ask on opening the portal?"

Bernard was obviously surprised and he wondered why the kids didn't look or act surprised. "Yeah...how did you know?"

"Because these kids were here yesterday to ask me the same thing," Clover dropped the bomb. "What exactly is this about?"

"You guys... Adam, Miranda, you guys were here?" he asked and the look on their faces were all he needed for a reply. "Why? How do you even know him? Are you guys hiding something from me?"

"I'm particularly surprised by you," Clover said, ignoring Bernard's ongoing interview. "You even fell in love and got married to a human. And still, you want to get rid of them."

"What?" Bernard was perplexed. "Get rid of humans? Adam? Miranda? What is this about?"

"Dad," Adam finally spoke up. "Um... it's... it's a long story. Can we please explain when we get home?"

Bernard looked at Clover who seemed extremely uninterested in his confusion. "No. Explain it to me right now."

"Dad-"

"I'm waiting."

Adam exchanged a nervous glance with Gwen and sighed. "The thing is, some kids at school asked us to join them."

"Join them? For what?"

"To get rid of humans," Miranda replied, Bernard gasping, Clover shaking his head. "They needed more Drezpires in their gang and we decided to join them. Actually, it was Gwen's idea but it was our voluntary decision at the end."

Bernard was speechless and Miranda continued. "We did it to find a way out of here. They wanted to open the portal and we also need to."

"I can't believe you guys," the disappointment was glaring in Bernard's voice. "We'll talk about this when we get home."

"So, why are here?"

Bernard turned. "Actually, Clover, this is my son, Adam."

"Your son?" Clover eyed Adam. "How's your-"

"That's why we're here," Bernard replied. "Yes, he's a Drezpire and he originally lives in the human world."

"Then?"

"He opened the portal. The portal was opened, yes," Bernard repeated seeing the way Clover's eyes widened. "You know about the curse, right? He fell in love with an human. Caesar was awakened, he tried to kill her, in the process they all got involved and Adam had a strong desire to just leave and be with me."

"Just a strong desire? Oh, his strength is his desires."

"Yes," Bernard nodded in affirmation.

Clover sighed, examining the situation. "So what you're saying is... other than Adam, they're all humans?!"

Bernard bit his lip. "Other than Miranda, yes. Miranda's his cousin. My niece."

"Wow!" Clover exclaimed. "Humans in Movillster. Do you even know how risky that is? And Lord, you had the guts to associate yourselves with Drezpires who have strong desire to get rid of humans. Wow, i can't believe this."

They nodded sheepishly in response.

"Wow," Clover was obviously still in awe. "So, Bernard, what do you want me to do? Why are you here?"

"The portal was opened already," Bernard began. "So yes, it's definitely possible to open it again. But how? Do you have any idea how?"

Clover was silent.

"Clover, please. Do me this favor," Bernard pleaded. "They shouldn't even be here in the first place so please give me a chance to make things right."

"Things had gone wrong ever since we decided to mix with humans," Clover's expression was cold. "You can't make things right just by sending them home."

"Of course," Bernard muttered. "But at least, let me try. These kids did nothing wrong. Please?"

"There's nothing much I can do," Clover replied, escaping Bernard's gaze. "The portal has never been opened since forever no matter how much they tried. Yes, it was rumored that a strong Drezpire with desires as his strength would be able to open it but it never happened. Adam opening it is a first."

Adam didn't know if he was supposed to feel honored or not.

"But," he continued from his short pause. "For Adam to open it, it must really be able to be opened one more time. "

"So, Adam having a strong desire to open it is all that should be needed to open it?" Bernard asked.

"I'm afraid not," Clover burst Bernard's bubble. "Many Drezpires with the same strength as Adam have tried but it never worked. Yes, the strong desire to open it will be needed but it'll have to be a really really strong desire."

Bernard sighed, feeling very little relief. He might have wanted Adam to stay behind a little longer but more than that feeling, he wanted him to stay safe.

"And," Clover said, killing the short-lived silence. "A little piece of advice from me, stay away from those kids. Petal is more dangerous than you think and Tyler, he's stronger than you think. He can't only just erase your memory, he can control your mind too."