INTO

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Morning came and just like Petal promised, they immediately headed to Clover’s after breakfast.

Their walk to his place was different this time. They exchanged words and at intervals, made jokes and all laughed at it and after close to thirty minutes of walking, they arrived at his place.

Petal stepped forward and took the lead as they did, immediately knocking on his door. On getting no response initially, she knocked again and again until she finally got a response.

"Who is it?"

The voice came from inside the house and they all immediately recognized it to be Clover's. They all remained silent and in return, he opened the door to reveal his face.

"Hello, Clover."

Ignoring Petal's words, Clover eyed them all, his eyes particularly resting on Adam, Miranda, Gwen and Tina. Seeing them, he shook his head and folded his arms at the group.

"Why are you all here again?"

"What do you mean why?" Petal's tone was sarcastic as she replied him. "We have some unfinished business, remember? And come on, won't you even invite us in? Why are you being so cold?"

Still not moving to give them permission to step in, he said, "I asked you a question. Why are you here?"

"I see you don't like beating around the bush," Petal smiled. "We'll go straight to the point then. We're here regarding the same issue we came here for the last time. We need to know a way to open the portal."

He sighed. "I'm sure I made myself clear the last time too. You kids should go home and stop trying to stir trouble you very well know you wouldn't be able to bear the consequences."

"Save us the drama," Stefan spoke up. "Petal decided to give you a chance to think about it. So what's up? Done enough thinking to give us a reasonable response."

"My response won't be changing no matter how long I'm given to think about it," he replied. "I won't be getting involved. If you want to stir trouble and start what you won't be able to finish, you'll have to do it on your own. Count me out."

Petal clicked her tongue, exchanging quick glances with Stefan. "Are you sure?"

"You should go back home."

"One more time, Clover," Petal repeated. "Are you sure?"

"You should leave if you have nothing else to say."

"Alright. Your loss then," she unfolded her arms. "You leave us no choice then."

"Wha- what do you mean?" He said in almost a stutter.

"I can't trust you anymore," Petal moved closer to him to explain. "And that means, I can't risk you knowing this much about us already."

"You kids are-"

"Stefan," Petal turned to face Stefan. "How about you put the old man to sleep?"

"Say no more," Stefan smirked then stepped forward. Ignoring Clover's threats and words, he pushed him inside and shut the door behind them, having just the two of them inside.

"What?" Tina tried not to stammer as she watched in horror. The door was shut and the rest of them were outside while Stefan did whatever with Clover inside. "What's he doing with him? He's not going to-"

"Hurt him?" She cut her off. "Aw, aren't you a softie?"

"I'm not."

Petal laughed lightly before replying. "No, sweetie. He isn't going to hurt him. At least not in the way you're thinking. All he's going to be doing is erase every single memory be has of us. That's all."

"Oh," she let out a sigh of relief. "Oh, okay. Okay that makes sense."

"I'm done," the door was swung open to reveal Stefan with a very satisfied smirk on his face. "He's as good as new. Enjoying his little nice nap."

"Aw, how adorable," Petal said then burst into laughter. "Too bad he brought this upon himself. Anyways, let's go."

The rest of their walk back home was silent with none of them uttering a single word. By the time they reached about half way back home, they exchanged goodbyes and parted ways, Petal telling them to expect their next plan soon.

---

"Why are you all staring at me?"

They had gotten home and instead of doing whatever, the trio were seated in Bernard's living room, all staring at Miranda. She noticed them and tried to ignore them initially but when it got to obvious she just had to speak up.

"Yeah why are you all staring at her?" apparently Bernard had noticed as he strolled into the room. "Did she do something again? Try to cause trouble?"

"Excuse me?" Miranda folded her arms. "I don't appreciate you making it seem like all I do is cause trouble."

Bernard ignored her words and laughed lightly, taking a seat.

"Did you know?" Adam spoke up after a while of silence to Bernard.

"Know what?" Bernard exchanged confused glances with them. "What do you mean?"

"About Miranda," Adam replied him. "She figured out her powers already."

"What? Really?"

"Oh, so that's what this is all about," Miranda burst into laughter. "Y'all are dramatic af. You were mad? About what exactly? Me not telling you guys or what?"

"Did you really?" Bernard faced Miranda. "Congratulations, I'm happy for you."

"Thanks but your congratulations is coming a bit too late," she flashed him a smile. "I've known all along."

"What?"

"Since when?"

"Before we came here," she shrugged. "To be precise, right from junior high."

"What?" It was Bernard's turn to be shocked. "Why did you never tell anyone? Why did you pretend you never figured it out then?"

"Do you even know what my strength is?" She asked him. "I shape shift. I can take your form if I want to. What good would have come out of it if I told you?"

"But still Miranda-"

"If you knew I could take your son's form whenever I wanted, how would you feel?" she shook her head. "Humans have enough trust issues, I'm not willing to be a reason for an increase in it."

"So you were scared of people no longer trusting you?" Adam's voice was lowered as he asked. "Is that why you never told anyone?"

"'Scared' is a ridiculous term to use," she scoffed. "I wasn't scared. I just didn't need anymore drama in my life."

Silence fell between them for a while until Bernard clapped his hands and got up.

"Okay, that's settled. You didn't want anyone knowing so you didn't tell us," he got up. "You all know now so put it behind you and move on."

Replies were stiffed.

"Ah, one more thing," Bernard said before leaving. "Miranda dear, please do not take my form and go around pretending you're me."

"Don't flatter yourself."

"You'd better not take my form either," Gwen spoke up. "It won't be funny!"

"Mine too."

"I don't want mine taken either."

Miranda got up and shook her head. "And yet you all wonder why I decided to remain silent."

"Miranda, come on-"

"I'm going inside for a nap," she cut Bernard off. "It has been a long week so well, thanks."

"I thought you were all going to come with me to my store!"

They all looked at Bernard and exchanged glances. "What?"

"It's a weekend," he defended. "I thought we were all going to work at my store together."

"Um," Tina raised her hand to speak. "Sorry, I can't. I kinda have somewhere to go today."

"Where?"

Gwen looked at Tina and on watching her hesitate, quickly came in. "Not somewhere exactly. We just want to take a walk around to get more familiar with our surroundings."

"The two of you?"

Gwen could guess where Tina had in mind so she quickly nodded, "Yes, the two of us."

"Can I tag along?"

"No!"

"Ouch," Adam said, watching Tina and Gwen reject his offer very loudly. "You didn't have to object that firmly. I get it."

Bernard laughed. "Okay, then. Tina and Gwen are going on a walk. Adam, you and Miranda would be coming with me to work in my store."

"But-"

"No objections!"