Teens Against Turtle Island

Leila found herself walking up the three steps to her friend’s clubhouse. It was an impromptu meeting and a school night. It was troublesome to try not to get caught, especially with her long hair that was easily seen over her bedroom windowsill. Cleopatra and Devontae already sat inside mulling over the latest news of the dirty gym thief.

“Lei!” Cleo called her to the corner where she and Dev sat on slouchy old beanbags. She took her spot with them.

The clubhouse was a sacred place, with three out of two walls lined with bookshelves, beanbags, and wooden chairs, where they’d all put their allowance down to secure. It was simply an old shack on the edge of the forest. They were lucky the electricity and water spout still worked. Repairs were easy DIY projects with their parents’ oversight.

“I still say the dirty gym thief is Mr. Rogerson,” muttered Dev cradling his black bag to him. He lugged it everywhere like some girl or so Joselynne said. Dev’s sister was as much a tomboy as her brother was strange.

He likes ketchup on pizza!

She turned to Cleo and noticed her friend was glaring at Dev during his accusation, leaving her wondering if she had a crush on Mr. Rogerson. Leila hoped not. Cleo wouldn’t dare to cheat on her book boyfriends. Devontae and Cleopatra began arguing animatedly while Leila sat to the side figuring this was not her battle.

“-Well, if you’ve got something better, let’s have it!” Cleo cried finally, crossing her arms and flipping her short hair backward in a huff, or trying, the length wasn’t quite flippable.

All that’s needed is her tapping her foot, and she’d resemble Mrs. Hailey.

Dev let his grip on his bag relax, and he placed his hand within, taking out a withered brown book. The pages were yellowing and some looked burnt.

“I rescued this from the attic of my home. Listen up! Here’s our next big mystery! The legend of the Big Fish Award!”

Leila scoffed but leaned in, taking in drawings of fish and boats and taking in passages from the diary. “The Legend? What do you mean dude? It’s just a normal thing that’s been going on.”

“Based on this, it’s not.” He set it on the table so both the girls could see, and read the first page aloud.

When we asked Timothy Sunbeam where he’d been, all he could answer was the food was good and the place beautiful but nothing else. It was as if he never left! He was gone for a whole three months, and all he could say was the food was good?

Likewise for the whole Sunbeam family. Jeremy returned quite fit, and even Mrs. Sunbeam had a tan, but something was amiss. Little Larry Lu was different. He would not talk, and if anyone mentioned fish, he started bawling like a newborn. Yes, something was amiss. Children don’t lie.

“Hmm,” Cleo frowned deeply, pulling a serious look. “You guys know my grandpa won the trip this year?” she murmured. She took the book in hand, beginning to flip and skim through the pages. “Some of the pages are missing.” She observed before handing the fragile diary to Leila.

She did the same, flipping and skimming, looking for more information.

“Damn, do you think he’ll end up like the Sunbeams?” Dev questioned looking at Cleo intensely to gauge her reaction. She scoffed and rolled her eyes.

“No, this is probably some b.s. someone wrote anyways. Do you know whose diary this is?” she fired back.

Devontae pursed his lips and thought, “Negative 10 reaction,” before clearing his throat to reply. “My great-great-great-grandmothers.” Cleo’s face fell a little, the atmosphere becoming awkward. She felt bad for basically calling his grandma a liar.

Eh… a positive 3 reaction.

“I think we should look into it,” Leila spoke quietly, cutting into the tension that would’ve turned into an argument more likely than not.

“Let’s look into Dev’s great many great grandma first. I don’t trust the validity of her diary and that entry,” said Cleo sniffing

Dev growled. “Hey watch who’s fam you’re talkin’ about like that!! You don’t see me dissing and crapping on your straight-laced behind!”

Cleo narrowed her eyes. “And you’re a scaredy–”

“Enough!” cried Leila. “Guys, our differences are what drove us together! Remember? We were the odd ones out at Sunbeach High til we found one another, so can it! Both of you are bumble-butts anyway“

“I am serious, Lei,” muttered Cleo, but she couldn’t fight with Lei when she spoke the truth.

“I am-” began Dev.

“A scaredy cat?” said Cleo.

“ Scaredy cat is very offensive to me, Cleo. I prefer instinctually enhanced feline to scaredy cat,” said Dev, placing his many great gran’s diary back in his black pack.

“I still want to see validity for that diary,” said Cleo. “My grandpa is participating in this contest, and I’d like to know he’ll be believed if we take this to him. You know how it is.”

“We usually aren’t believed at first,” yawned Dev. Leila nodded her wavy brown hair getting in slight tangles. She ran her hand across it.

“It’s decided then. Tomorrow we go to Dev’s house and interview his parents?” she said.

Cleo nodded while Dev sighed.

“I’ll set it up with Mom,” he said.

—--------------------------------------------------

The next day dawned bright and early for Leila. Summer was fast approaching, and soon she wouldn’t have to rise at six in the morning to catch a one-and-a-half-hour bus ride. Her only saving grace, was that she was not alone in this torture. Dev and Cleo joined her in her misfortunes.

She didn’t remember dressing or eating breakfast before she was out the door. Her mom was at work already, having a customer representative job at a bank nearby. She got off at five pm. Her dad was on deployment across the sea. He’d Facetimed them earlier that week. All she could hear were the bombs falling in the background and shouts of orders. He’d had to leave. It was all well and good. She missed him terribly though.

Among those allowed to leave or rather those who knew of the barrier that spanned out hundreds of thousands of miles around the island were soldiers and the transport company. A war was going on still. She strolled to her favorite blue bench and sat on the rickety thing. It was bound to break soon. Still, as long as it held her she wasn’t one to complain. The bus crawled to a stop on this hot and muggy morning. Same as always. She hopped up the stairs and headed for a side seat where Dev and Cleo were arguing again. She shook her head.

It never ends with them!

“Oh please! The likelihood of that even being possible is nil, Dev!” cried Cleo as she scrunched her face.

“But I dreamt it! All my dreams come true!” cried Dev, flailing his arms by his head.

Cleo rolled her eyes and Leila walked over and sat beside Dev. “What was your dream about? I’ll listen.”

Dev turned bottle-green eyes in her direction and nodded. “I dreamed the goddess of the seas needed me and she took me. There was something else but it’s foggy. Something about Turtle Isle.”

“If you can’t remember it isn’t real! Your subconscious is playing tricks on you, Dev,” said Cleo, as she crossed her ankles and straightened her A-line skirt. I had little books printed over it. It came to her ankles. On each leg, she wore a bangle.

Leila wore a similar skirt, except she had pens and paper as decorations. It was as long, but hers was more bohemian. It wasn’t white, but a nice beige color to blend in more with everything. Cleo loved standing out. Leila did not. They arrived at school and disembarked, where Leila blended into the crowd, while Cleo and Dev stood out.

“Look! It’s the Goonies!” called a boy wearing a red Varsity jacket. Around him, some cheerleaders stood, laughing at the old joke. Leila rolled her eyes and kept going. It wasn’t even a very good one.

“How’s the mystery for the dirty gym thief going? Found him yet?” asked the boy grinning.

Dev paused. “Him?”

The boy grinned. “Well, cat’s out of the bag. It’s me.”

Cleo frowned and Leila sighed tugging both their arms. “Ignore George. Let’s keep going.”

“You’re right who’d want to hang with a slow dick anyway,” said Devontae, causing the people around to laugh and a few to whistle. Dev smiled at a frowning George and started to walk away when George shoved him against a locker. Dev crashed against it from the force. Leila scowled and snuck off to the principal’s office leaving Cleo to watch for Dev.

“Who the hell you think you are pipsqueak?” yelled George in his face as he pinned him to the locker in a chokehold.

“D-Devontae D-Davis. I-I got n-no problem w-with m-my i-ide-entity,” he croaked out smirking.

“George Sunbeam to the principal’s office!”

George growled and slammed Devontae against the lockers one final time. “One day you’ll get yours!” His grip tightened before letting Devontae fall to the floor in a pile of clothes and hisses.

Leila snuck back into the crowd. It had been she who had reported George to the principal. She was generally believed of the three. She watched as George left and Cleo helped Dev off the floor.

“Please leave me to dwell in misery!” he wailed.

Cleo kicked him. “Stop being such a baby and take my hand.”

“NO!”

“There’s spiders on that floor. I think I just saw one pass by. No really! I think-”

“SPIDERS!” cried Dev flying off the floor and clinging to Cleo.

“You can take on a bully but not spiders?” muttered Cleo as she pried him from her, and set him down. He reacted much as if he were that small fanciful dragon he liked to play, and had been dipped in lava. He jumped around and shook his hiney.

“They off?”

“No.”

Now?”

Cleo sighed. “There were no spiders, idiot.”

Leila giggled at Dev’s put-off scowl. “We’re late for class.”

“Crap!” Dev cried, bounding off causing Leila to giggle. First hour had been canceled.

—-------------------------------

School went by in a blur of motion and sound but finally, the three sat in the Davis’s living quarters. It was a rather homey place done in beiges and deep dark colors to offset the light brown walls. Mahogany furniture was placed perpendicular to an LED TV of 48 inches. A coffee table was the centerpiece. The sofa and accommodating couch and loveseat were comfortable and big!

Mrs. Davis sat sipping coffee freshly brewed on the coffee table. She was stretched on the couch a hand-fan in the other hand. Dev approached the woman carefully. No one understood Mrs Davis’s moods. She could be happy or she could be depressed, it depended. Hopefully, they’ll find her well today.

“Mom?” Dev asked tentatively.

“What is it, child?” She raised an eyebrow curious of his demeanor. Dev sighed. Today she was fine. He took his nana’s diary from his pack and showed it to her. Her eyes went wide and she snatched it away.

“How much have you read?” she asked, a slightly desperate tone in her voice.

“Everything. We wanted to ask–” Cleo began, but Mrs. Davis shook the book, screaming obscenities at it, and rocked back and forth.

“Now she knows. Now she knows!”

Dev swallowed and tried to approach his mom, but she would only keep chanting “She knows!” Over and over again.

“Um guys, maybe we should go and leave her be,” muttered Cleo.

“But,” said Dev watching his mom tear the diary apart. Page by page. She tore each out with a volatility that surprised him.

“I’ve got my answer. Let’s warn Grandpa,” said Cleo solemnly as she stared at Mrs. Davis. Leila hmmed and nodded. Nothing else could be done for now.

—-----------------------------------

Cleo’s grandpa lived in a small bungalow that smelled of fish. It was near the waterfront, a perfect place to fish.

“Gonna catch the big one!” was his motto.

As they neared the house they could see its mismatched shutters. One was a pale blue, the other a rustic orange. Both were shut.

“Looks like your grandpa wants no visitors. Are you sure it’s okay to just drop by?” muttered Dev as he pulled his black pack tighter against him. The house looked neither warm nor welcoming to visitors with its peeling paint and closed shutters.

“Yeah. Grandpa is just a bit private is all,” said Cleo. Leila wasn’t so sure. The three stood on the front porch and tried to look inside through the cracks in the shutters. Leila spotted a big figure by a fire.

“I think he’s in,” she said, letting Cleo and Dev look.

“Either that or his ghost is,” muttered Cleo.

“A ghost? That’ll be no problem for us!” Dev exclaimed.

Cleo rolled her eyes and thought, “Here he goes again.”

“But you know, ladies first..” He said, his eyes looking around warily.

“Dev, really!” shouted Cleo exasperated as Lei rolled her eyes and walked to the door knocking on it.

“Go away! I want none of what you be sellin!” came Grandpa’s reply.

“Grandpa! It’s Cleo! I’d like to–” The door unlocked and a lanky man appeared, stooped over a fishing pole.

Cleo’s grandpa was shifty-eyed and jumped at the sound of a rafter hitting the window. “In here, quick!” he ushered the book club in, frantically waving his hands, before shutting and bolting the door.

“Grandpa? Is everything alright?” asked Cleo, coming to the old man, who wore his wrinkles proudly. He had been a tall man once, but now he stooped over a fishing pole most days.

“Did you come to investigate the contest, Cleo? Those sack of beans cheated me out of a win!” he cried, skimming his hands down the reels of the fishing pole.

“Can you go more into detail, sir?” asked Dev, as he found a chair to prop his pack on. He took a black notebook out. The one where all their notes on cases were kept, and opened to a blank page. He passed it to Leila who had a pen ready. She had the most legible handwriting. Cleo’s handwriting could do in a pinch. Dev’s was only in an emergency.

Cleo’s grandpa leaned back against his daisy yellow walls and took off his boiler hat showing a bald head. “I entered the Big Fish Award Contest given every twenty years or so. Last time Brownsen won the award for the second time!” He smacked his hands onto the tabletop that was against the wall. It was a small reading one that held books and a lamp. He moved to sit on his recliner, his fishing pole thudding on the ground as he used it as a cane. He threw himself on it, making it swing back and forth.

“It was glorious! I had caught THE ONE! You know, the one in your lifetime that you know will get you places? It was that big! I’ve got a photo of it,” he said, pulling a Polaroid from his pocket. It was bent and grainy, but, in the picture, Leila could make out a humongous fish. She passed it to Cleo and Dev as she noted the picture down.

“I took it to the retirement center waiting for the verdict to swing in ma favor but,” he sniffed. “I got back a minnow instead of the king! When I told them they got the wrong fish, they told me to take my fish as I was an old timer and probably couldn’t even remember my name! Them lousy nurses!” He grabbed the recliner with a white-clawed grip. His breaths came in short spurts, and Cleo was afraid he might work himself into an early grave.

“Calm down, Grandpa. We’ve got this,” she said, as Leila kept writing her observations.

“Can we see the minnow?” asked Dev as he glanced at Leila, who nodded.

“Yeah, for research,” she added.

“He nodded. “I keep it by the waterfront. Was gonna try and catch another big one again, but they only come once in a lifetime.”

Dev nodded and straightened from leaning against a wall. Cleo walked over to the screen door, at the back, and Leila followed close behind. The three packed into the back porch, that led to a nice backyard. A cooler with ice was set apart, and inside was a tiny fish.

“Well, we gotta go to the retirement home and see what they say, but I believe the guy,” said Dev, as he took a camera from his pack, and shot a few photos of the fish. It was an old Polaroid camera from his mom’s time. He shook the photo and handed it to Leila, who pinned it within the notebook beside her notes.

Cleo nodded. “We pick up here tomorrow then?”

“Yeah, I’ve got chores and homework,” said Leila.

“Ditto,” muttered Dev as he stared at the waterfront. The water swirled and a pair of eyes could be seen briefly. Leila blinked and they were gone.

“D-Did you see that?” whimpered Dev.

Leila nodded, snapping the notebook shut and passing it to Dev. “Yup.”

Cleo sighed. “We’re tired and joint hallucinated is all. Let’s go.”

Leila glanced back, spotting something swirling away. She wasn’t quite sure what she saw, but maybe they should be careful in their investigation tomorrow.

-—------------------------------

Leila opened the little side gate and snuck toward the back door on her tippy toes. She swore her mom could hear her breathing from this far, and she was late, as she knew she would be. They had to be certain Dev would be alright, before leaving him with his mom. They had stood on the porch for the forty-five-minute wait for Dev’s dad to come home from work at the bakery.

Devontae’s family owned the Davis Bakery in the downtown area. Her thoughts were so involved she didn’t hear the soft footfalls behind her until she heard a voice she’d chatted on Vid Time to.

“Leila Rodgers. What are you doing out past curfew young lady?”

Leila turned around eyes wide. Her eyes took in the tall, sculpted, form of her dad in brown BDUs, with a large frown covering his usually smiling visage.

“D-Dev’s mom,” she stuttered as if that explained everything. “C-Cleo and I decided to wait with him for his dad. His mom isn’t doing well today,” she said, swallowing. Her hands worried themselves on the hem of her flowy shirt.

“Hmm. Mrs. Davis still having her moods?” he asked and she nodded.

“Well, then you’re excused, but don’t do it again. Now come say hello,” he said smiling and she broke in a run, leaping at him. He caught her and groaned.

“My back! Lei, you are 15 going on 16. You are getting way too old for this!”

Leila giggled and hugged him. “Welcome back, Dad!”

He kissed her forehead and let her down. “Come on, you can tell me all about your day.”

Leila nodded but grabbed his hand scared he would vanish again. She started talking about her day, the fight, what she did during it, and then the mystery. They stood on their small porch talking about his adventures with the Company and the strife he helped others survive. The bombs. Everything she could handle.

“War has never been pretty, Lei and there are no victors only victims,” he said as they sat now staring at the stars. It was late and she resolved to do the one math paper tomorrow morning. She was acing that class anyway. One missed homework–

“Well, I’ve kept you long enough. I know Mrs. Franklin still gives homework out every day, so go and do it,” he said grinning.

She groaned. “But dad–”

“Did I ever tell you the one about when I grounded you, ’cause you didn’t do your homework?” he said, staring plaintively.

She sighed and stood dusting herself off. “Alright, geeze. On it!”

“And no lip!”

Leila scowled but marched up the stairs, to her room, to do Math.

—------------------------------

Cleo sat at her dining table sipping on her juice.

“So Cleo, what have you been doing today? Have you studied for the in-school spelling Bee?” asked her mom as the family ate.

Her father chimed in. “Yes and have you thought about what your essay for history will be about? It’s due in a few days.”

Cleo sighed staring into her water forlornly. It was always this way. “I’ll go do so now,” she said rising from her seat and discarding her plate in the washer. She walked up the stairs, the wall littered with her accomplishments. Somehow she still felt empty.

Walking to her room, she slammed the door frowning, and sat on her bed. She flopped back and daydreamed about a world free of obligations. After some time she opened her eyes, and walked to her backpack. She pulled out her notebooks and pencils, before piling them on her desk and taking a seat. Then picking out the first one, she began to write.

—------------------------------

None of them could focus the entire school day, each one riled up and ready to begin exploring. During lunch, they found themselves in the corner of the library, secretly munching on snacks they had brought, and leafing through the notebook.

“Ok, so Gramps knows Jack, a nurse at the retirement home, our next subject,” said Cleo munching on a bag of crackers. Lei nodded, shifting through the notebook. They had a part where they had written all local business, times of office, rules of entrance, etc. She flipped to a crisp lined page that had a picture of the retirement home and under, times.

Dev leaned in, swallowing a bite of ham and turkey. “It says they have an open house on Thursdays. So…today! And they let in basically anyone from three to five.”

“Yeah otherwise we’d have to ask for clearance and that could take weeks,” muttered Cleo as she too peeked at their Holy Book of Investigation.

Leila grinned. “Maybe they’ll display that mummy again.”

Cleo also grinned.

Dev glared. “Funny guys. Seriously, I’m not afraid of an old mummy face. It can–”

“Anyway, are we in agreement for this afternoon then?” asked Cleo as she searched her bag for crackers and found it empty.

Lei sucked on her tootsie pop. She was addicted to these things. She popped it from her lips and smiled. “Alright.”

“As long as there ain’t no mummies,” muttered Dev nodding and Cleo rolled her eyes while Leila shrugged.

“Ya never know,” she said smiling.

At half past three, the book club walked down the streets of Turtle Isle, to the Retirement home set right off the waterfront for those that wanted to fish. The Gray Forest covered it to the west, where the only rolling hill rose like a mountain and overlooked Turtle Isle. The sea broke surf upon its rocky shore and was Turtle Isle’s only true tall point.

The retirement home was a long, wide, white building with ceiling-to-floor windows and many terraces and balconies. It stood about two stories high. The three stood side by side, simultaneously nodding before going up the few steps and signing in with one of the onsight nurses.

“So where do we start?” Dev asked, looking at the two girls, decked in their usual apparel of long patterned skirts and Graphic T’s that somehow matched. Cleo rolled her eyes, “Jack. Were you not paying attention earlier?”

Leila snapped her fingers. “Let’s not start guys, especially not in front of all these elderly people. Okay?” She muttered just for them to hear.

All around them were the elderly with their families. Several were at a flat Bingo table and were conversing with each other. The room was big and round offset by the big windows that led to a terrace hung with Christmas lights. All around them chatter, laughter, and generally good feelings abounded. An austere man wearing a fishing hat, and checkered pants glared at them as an orderly brought a smoothie to him.

“Mr. Brownsen. Drink,” he said smiling politely. Brownsen grabbed the smoothie and splashed it in his face. He sputtered and reached out for a napkin to dry his face and clear his eyes. Another nurse walked to the table and placed a napkin in the first’s hand.

“That was a good daiquiri,” he said grabbing the empty cup.

Brownsen grumbled.

“Jack you are wanted at table two!” cried a portly woman as the man placed the cup on a full tray.

“On it Amanda,” he said placing down a water instead and some pills. “I want to see these gone first.”

Brownsen growled but grabbed the pills and zoomed them down with the water.

Jack nodded. “Good boy. I’ll be right back.” He walked toward a side table and set down the plate of drinks he carried.

Cleo sighed in longing while Leila blushed. “That’s Jack?” she asked watching the tall, fit, twenty-some-old, or so he looked anyway, serving a family of six. The elderly woman was blatantly flirting with him and he was only laughing it up with the rest of the family!

Dev nodded frowning. “Seems like it. What are we gonna ask him guys…guys!”

The girls shook their heads and stopped watching, blushing. “About the contest mostly,” said Cleo fixing her clothes and hair, getting an eye roll from Dev.

Leila searched for the list of questions she created before leaving home. She checked her pockets, found a few leafed paper notes with questions, and smiled. “I prepared these before we arrived at school.”

Cleo took them, making herself the spokesperson of the group. Try as they might, however, they couldn’t get close to Jack, as he was caught between bussing tables and giving the elderly their meds. Dev sighed and slumped down on the chair near Brownsen who was still glaring at them. He ignored him and glanced at his watch.

“Almost time to go and nothing done or learned about the Big Fish contest,” he sighed slouching in his chair, and tapping his pencil over a notebook he brought. He liked to keep extensive notes on their already impressive bundle just in case something happened to the first notebook.

Brownsen raised his brows. “Big Fish? I can tell ya all about it.”

Dev brightened up and flipped his notebook open. “Really! What can you tell me? I don’t got the questions on me but anything is good.”

Brownsen grinned showing yellowing teeth. “Would the size of my fish interest ya?”

Dev’s face fell and Brownsen chortled. “I oughta know that contest in an out now that I’ve won it twice. Poor kids don’t know what they, really doing with me. God have Mercy on ’em.” Brownsen muttered and Dev glanced up catching a sincere look of worry on Brownsen’s visage.

He put down his pencil. “Aren’t they going for a vacation?”

“Vacation my foot! They gonna fight in a war! They gonna be used in the war by Her!” cried Brownsen getting louder and louder and scaring Dev with his words. Her. Just as he was going to ask Brownsen some more, a fit male in his forties walked over and gripped him.

“That’s enough hassling of a poor old man, son.”

Dev growled. “I wasn’t hassling anyone. He started screaming nonsense on his own. I didn’t get to ask a thing.”

“Dev!” cried Cleo from where she was sitting beside Leila. They were questioning Jack who was glancing in his direction.

“I think you kids need to leave. Open house is officially over,” said the man glaring at him.

“Let me go then,” Dev nearly yelled. He kept calm by a miracle as Cleo and Leila grabbed him and started for the door.

“The shack in the Gray woods…by the Harrison cave. Look there,” rambled Brownsen as the man slipped a needle into him, and gave him a dose of calming meds. Brownsen struggled and then he was out.

“Pay no heed to the ramblings of a drug-afflicted old man,” said the man as he walked away. The saying ‘or else’ wasn’t needed but heard just as loudly as Dev, Cleo, and Leila made for the retirement home’s double doors.

—-----------------------------

“What were you thinking questioning Brownsen!” cried Cleo as Dev kicked a rock on the boardwalk. They had come here to get their bearings before going to their homes.

Dev shrugged. He wasn’t at fault! He glanced at Leila who was going over his notes. It was true the man had started rambling halfway through and he had written everything down for convenience’s sake, but some left him wondering. There was a war going on and…Her. Who in the devil was Her?

He turned to Cleo who was muttering and going through their notes with Jack. It was a dead end and she knew it. “I’m gonna take a look at the shack and cave later tonight. You are welcome to join,” he said gathering his black pack and starting toward his house. He really hoped they would join, otherwise he might chicken out.

Leila glanced from his notes and sprung from her seat. “Of course! Dev! WAIT! UGH!”

She turned to Cleo who glanced from her notes. “What?”

Leila continued staring.

“What!” cried Cleo slamming the notebook closed.

“Both of you need to grow up–especially you Cleo! What happened wasn’t Dev’s fault and you know it.”

Cleo shot up from the bench and poked Leila in the chest with her finger. “He ruined an investigation–”

“No he ruined your chance at a date but Jack was probably gonna say no anyway. Besides being too old for you, he flirts with grandmas Cleo. Wisen up,” Leila said, rolling her eyes and backing from a sad Cleo.

Cleo sighed and swiped a hand through her hair. “Fine. I’ll apologize.”

“Good. See ya tonight!”

Cleo sat back down to stare at the water. For a moment she saw something flicker in it, she leaned in looking closer only finding her reflection. A melancholy look sat on her face, she let out a deep sigh and shook her head. She shouldn’t have been trying to flirt with a grown man anyway.

“Dev?” Cleo whispered, clicking on her flashlight. “I bet he chickened out..” She muttered as she tilted the light around only to find tall grass, rocks, and vines hanging from trees. The mouth of the cave was more than ominous, it made her skin crawl but she still delved inside. Leila moved on ahead leaving the scowling duo. The shack had been a bust, but from the smell of this cave, something was there. Something probably dead.

Dev swung his flashlight this way and that. “This cave stinks.”

“You think there might be a dead body?” asked Cleo nervously rocking on her toes and back to her heels.

Dev glanced at her. She sounded nervous, but he was still pissed off at her for taking Jack’s side. He wasn’t even mad that she screamed at him. He was used to that, but Jack? Nope, he couldn’t forgive that. Still, his mom had taught him better when she was better than she was now, and so he idled over to her and gently took her hand.

“Don’t worry Cleo I’ll protect you.”

“And if it’s a ghost?” muttered Leila as she shone her light on a spot on the floor and wrinkled her brow.

“Then–” he started as Leila bent over and picked up a bunch of loose papers folded neatly. The edges were torn and the pages had a yellow tint to them. She opened them and read the pages.

Timothy Sunbeam got married today. He changed his name to his wife’s Timothy Brownsen and he never spoke about that summer tho he visits pap for his meds. They were prescribed after he came back from his vacation. The sun did some damage to his body. I didn’t believe that for a minute.

Leila turned to a different page where a family tree of the Sunbeams started. She traced a line to her grandad. Cleo also had a grandad with Sunbeam blood in him.

“Hey Lei! You’re related to them! You too Cleo! Is there nowhere these guys haven’t spread?” asked Dev as they kept glancing at the tree.

“You don’t have any Sunbeam in you, Dev,” said Cleo as Leila shifted to another page, this one with tear spots.

Had I known I wouldn’t have had you near Her. Now you are a slave to her I am sorry my dear Kimmy. Mommy is sorry. So sorry! Please do all you can to escape Her. Hide your children. I have seen the future and it is a sad fate that awaits your daughter Miranda. Heed my words child. Hide him. Hide De–the page had been torn at that precise spot and Dev shivered. These were his many great-grandma’s missing diary entries.

Dev stood and stalked further in the cave while Leila and Cleo watched. Leila poked Cleo.

“Did you apologize?”

Cleo sighed and shook her head.”I haven’t found the time.”

Leila gestured with her head. “Now is a perfect time. He needs a friend. I’m going to record these pages in my book. Go and TALK to him.”

Cleo raised her hands in the air in an I surrender gesture. “Alright. You win. I’ll find him.” She walked further within the cave, swinging her flashlight around her. It smelled worse here.

Further along, she found Dev nearly jumping out of his boots as her light illuminated his pacing figure.

“Leila?” His voice was tipped with happiness but also caution. “Oh..” Then disappointment, as he lifted his flashlight to see Cleo’s short hair and olive skin. He turned away and began to trudge further into the cave.

Cleo rolled her eyes, “Dev!” She was only met with the sound of his footsteps. “Devontae!” She called.

“WHAT?!” He snapped turning to face her. “What do you want, Cleopatra??” He sighed.

Cleo flinched, surprised at his outburst and use of her full name. “I just…Wanted to apologize okay? I shouldn’t have freaked out at you like that. I’m..sorry. Um, and Liela will be here soon.”

He was quiet for a while before simply saying, “Okay.” Then continuing his walk.

Cleo huffed and began walking quickly, catching up with him. “What’s your problem?!”

“Nothing.” He grumbled. “Why don’t you just leave me the heck alone and go bother Jack or- or just some other dude!”

Cleo scoffed. “Oh my God, are you Jealous?!” Cleopatra had never seen Dev turn so fast and she nearly bumped into him.

“I’m not jealous!” His voice cracked a bit. “I’m just- You just… You make me so angry!”

Cleo stepped back, “Dev-”

“Shh! Did you hear that?”

They both stood quietly suddenly hearing what sounded like muffled yelping and struggling before a long silence. They both began running towards the opening of the cave.

“Leila!” yelled Cleo. There stood Mr. Rodgers with a sleeping Leila in his arms. He looked mighty pissed.

“Pray tell me what are you kids thinking coming into a bear cave. Alone without adult supervision?” he asked shifting Leila’s sleeping form.

“We only want to solve the Big Fish case!” said Dev stepping in front of Cleo. Something wasn’t right. A chiming sound sounded from Mr. Rodgers and he slid his hands in his breast pocket plucking out a cell phone.

“Yeah?”

“Bring them.”

The phone call cut off and he sighed. “Soldiers Bravo, Delta, Omega, and Tango. Get the kids.”

From the shadows materialized four soldiers who corralled Dev and Cleo. Dev swung his flashlight at them and prepared to run with Cleo but the soldiers were faster tackling both down and snapping cuffs over their wrists. Dev kept struggling tho and Cleo bit her assailant causing a yelp to come from the soldier dressed in black.

“Permission to knock targets out sir?” asked the soldier shaking his hand and glaring at Cleo who smirked and made to bite him again.

Rodgers sighed. “Permission granted.”

“Wha–” was all Cleo got out as her air supply was cut off in a choke hold. She thrashed but was soon out.

“Hey!” cried Devontae as he evaded the soldier’s hands, but then something was bludgeoned against his head. Now he had a major headache. He closed his eyes and feigned unconsciousness.

“See, simpler now let’s go,” he heard Mr. Rodgers say, and then they were moving.

—-----------------------

Dev grunted as they were dumped in a dark room. At least he thought they were all there. He heard Cleo’s distinct snort and Leila’s groan. He knew those by heart, so that answered his question. Yes, they were all there. A light switch was turned on and he blinked the spots from his eyes, sitting. He could make out a blurry Cleo rubbing her neck. Leila was also starting to sit.

“All this for a fish,” muttered Cleo glancing around. The room had a lot of boxes and one big air vent.

Leila met her eyes and then Dev who was grinning. “We only need to take off these cuffs,” she said jiggling her handcuffs.

Cleo snorted. “Check my left boot for my lock picks. I bet they didn’t search us.”

Dev bent down and removed her boot shaking it. A pair of lock picks came out. “Yes!”

“Not so loud Dev,” muttered Cleo as he slipped her boot back on her foot. Both blushed.

Leila interrupted the cute moment and grabbed the picks undoing her cuffs. She caught them before they tumbled to the floor, which for some reason was marble. White marble.

Expensive tastes.

“So who’s next?” she asked, brandishing the picks like swords or daggers.

Cleo grabbed them and picked her lock but when they went to unlock Devontae’s they found him free. Looking at the cuffs found them bent. Cleo lifted an eye.

“You know how I hate being tied up,” he muttered blushing.

Leila picked his cuffs up and glanced at the metal. Some force had twisted them to this degree but what? “Yeah,” she muttered, shrugging and placing the cuffs back on the floor. They walked to the air vent and undid the lid.

“Y’know this all seems kinda too easy,” muttered Dev as they shuffled through the air ducts. An alarm sounded through the compound.

“All Personnel on Hand. Targets have escaped. I repeat targets have escaped.”

Cleo turned her butt to Leila and glared at Dev. “That’s because you couldn’t help tempting fate! Now let’s move!”

Leila swatted her butt and she jumped shifting back into position.

“If you’d have farted, I’d have died Cleo,” she muttered, leading the group forward and chuckling.

Dev chuckled along with her. “She’d have killed us both.”

Cleo rolled her eyes. The Ducts led to an air vent right outside where the only one around was what looked like a five-year-old in a ratty blue dress and sandals.

The teens eased out of the ducts and out of the air vent that was located out the side of the building compound. Dev stood and took a whiff of air scrunching his nose at the fishy smell.

“We must be near the water market,” said Cleo as she stretched. Dev blushed and looked away as her shirt rose slightly against her stomach showing her belly button.

Leila nodded. “My bag was left at the cave or else my dad has it. I sure hope not. Our whole investigation is there!”

The little girl came closer humming a very familiar song to Dev. It was a song passed down from his great-great-great-grandma to his great-great-grandma and on down to his mom. A lullaby. It made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He turned to the little girl who gazed at him calmly and murmured the words.

Dev growled. “How do you know that lullaby?”

Cleo went to clock him over the head but Dev had already moved and grabbed the laughing child. “Answer me!”

“Dev! What’s gotten into you?” Cleo asked as she walked over to the still-laughing child.

“You were always a perceptive one Devontae,” she said as golden streaks of power encircled her and ran through her making her grow. Light encompassed the alley and the teens had to look away from the brilliant glowing female now grown. She had luminescent skin and glowing obsidian hair but her intelligent blue eyes took in everything. Her style of dress resembled what an Amazon would wear.

Dev stepped back gasping. “You’re Her aren’t you?”

The being smiled. “Indeed. You children have no idea what your investigation has caused me. People are once more curious in a contest that was a second thought!” She spoke dramatically and sounded exasperated. “ It is a necessary thing I do to keep everyone safe and no one especially the children is harmed. Unfortunately, they are needed to test and make the demigod amplifiers used to protect this world from the other less accommodating Gods.” She said as though it was the greatest honor to humans.

Leila shook her head. “I don’t get it. Why are the Gods fighting?”

“Quarzacotl left great weapons in some of his cities. Turtle Isle is one such city…” She paused to gauge the children’s reactions only finding mild worry and curiosity among their faces

“Demigods protect the city as us gods cannot touch other God’s holy places or interfere in mortal affairs,” she said, stretching her fingers and smiling.

“Dev. You have demigod blood running through your veins which is why Miranda tried hiding you from me without giving up her demigod status. It didn’t work, and now I need you to become the next demigod of Turtle Isle and protect the weapon. You would need training, of course, so five years in the god realm would be needed.” Her smile was somewhat sly.

Dev scowled. “I don’t get a say in this?”

The Goddess smiled wider, slicker “Oh, you do. I’d talk to your mother. She’s fine today and will remain so. If you choose to come I will stop using Turtle Isle citizens as demigod amplifiers tho not the Sunbeams. They have a contract to uphold.”

“Half of Turtle Isle is related to the Sunbeams,” muttered Cleo.

The goddess smiled. “That is my offer.”

“I-I’ll talk to Mom,” said Dev.

“Grab my hand and I shall take you,” said the Goddess.

“Dev! No!” cried Cleo as she watched him take the goddess’s hand.

He glanced at her and grinned. “Be right back!”

With that, he and the Goddess disappeared in a flash of light.

Leila crossed her arms and thought through this. There wasn’t much that could be done! Even she wasn’t liking their odds, and there was no way three introverted teens could take on a Goddess!

Cleo screamed. “That boy! Always in trouble!” She stomped her foot before collapsing a few tears rolling down her face.

Leila kneeled and pulled Cleo into a hug. “Hey! It’ll be ok!”

“No, it won’t! He’ll leave and I’ll never get to tell him…”

Leila smirked. “Tell him what?”

“That I like him, alright!” cried Cleo, sniffling and Leila whooped.

“Knew it!” she cried, sticking her tongue out and sticking her hand in a peace sign

“He’s gonna leave though!”

Leila bit her lip and thought hard of anything that could save her friends. She knew for a fact Dev liked Cleo, but far be it for her to tell her. This was coming from him!

“What if we went with him?” she asked, smiling.

Cleo’s eyes shot up and she smiled. “Yeah! Yes I mean we could ask. What’s the harm in it?”

Leila nodded. They’d wait. Dev wouldn’t leave without a goodbye. Then they’d pounce.

—---------------------

Dev stumbled out of the vortex of light and right into his mother’s arms. She pulled him against her crying.

“You’re alright! You’re still here!”

He shook her arms off and glared. “Not for much longer! Why didn’t you tell me?”

Miranda gazed at him with equally green eyes and sighed. “Let’s head inside and I’ll explain.”

Dev nodded and followed his mom to the living room, sitting on the couch. She turned to him.

“This started long ago with your great great great grand pap who fell for the Goddess of the sea. She bore a son and he became Turtle Isle’s first demigod. They were happy for a while but she had a duty she passed to her son, when she bore him, and like a curse every demigod born of that line,” she said, hands shaking and eyes gazing into space.

“Your great great great grandma had the sight, something that was passed to me. We’ve seen the future and so I tried to hide you as best as I could. If a demigod is not told of their origins, they don’t manifest until they are twenty but fate is cruel and She has found you anyway.” Miranda placed her hand on his face and caressed his cheek.

“You must go for all our sakes, Devontae,” she finished kissing his forehead. A few stray tears glittered on her face and Devontae wiped them away. He hugged her, nearly squeezing the breath from her.

“Don’t cry, mom. It’s only five years.”

“You never come back, Dev.” she cried. “You never return!”

Dev pulled back and rubbed her back. “I will. I promise.”

His mom looked up and smiled weakly, her eyes watery. “Stop making promises you can’t complete, and go.” She pushed Dev off the couch and shoved him to his feet as a swirl of light flashed into being and the Goddess stepped forward.

“Ready to leave?” she asked, smiling.

“Can I say goodbye to my friends? he asked. He wasn’t leaving without confessing to Cleo, and saying goodbye to Leila.

“Of course.” She took his hand and they were gone again back to the alley.

The two girls stood and quickly dusted themselves off as the light faded. Cleo stepped forward pulling Dontae into a hug while Liela approached the Goddess.

Devomtae hugged Cleopatra back tightly, his arms on her waist, hers around his neck. Cleo never cried but her tears wet his neck. His heart swelled with love and pain.

“Cleo…I like you. I’m sorry that I’m such a coward. I could only tell you now when I’m about to leave. But please…wait for me.”

She had half the mind to interrupt but let him say his piece, after all, she wasn’t sure if the Goddess would let them go with him. “Dev, I like you too. I promise I’ll wait…If I have to.”

She pulled away, wiping her eyes and turning, nodding to Liela. Dev was confused until their long-haired friend spoke.

“Let us come with him. We’re Sunbeam bloodline.” The usually shy girl said strongly.

The Goddess smirked and laughed a heavenly but mocking sound. “Fine but there’s a catch.” She paused, allowing anxiety to creep up the teen’s back like spiders. “Only one of you gets to go, and I shall decide–hm. Yes, I’ll ask a question about Devontae. Whoever gets it right can come but you also have to be quick! Here-” she waved her hand, a buzzer appearing in each girl’s hand.

“If Dev, as you two like to call him, were trapped would he prefer to deal with being in water without a floaty for a few minutes or being in darkness and not being able to find the door for a few minutes?”

Neither of the girls wanted to hit the buzzer, it felt like a betrayal.

“I-” Dev attempted to speak up, but his lips were sealed by the goddess.

The Goddess laughed as though she was having too much fun. “If you don’t answer we’ll have to find out the hard way. I already know the answer.”

Cleo buzzed. “Be in water without a floaty, he knows how to swim.” Her forehead was damp, not just from the island heat but fear.

“Leila. Your answer?”

“I guess I’ll go with being in darkness..”

Drama filled the air before the Goddess reached toward the girls and took…..

Lielas hand. Dev shook his head frantically, his voice muffled behind his sealed lips.

“I know Dev, and he would never want to be trapped in a dark room!” Cleo spat harshly.

“You’re right but I asked which one he couldn’t deal with.” She smirked, a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

“No, you didn’t! You said what he would rather deal with!” The tears were already spilling over Cleo’s cheek as the realization sunk in that this lady didn’t care. Leila stayed quiet already knowing the Goddess had made her decision.

“Ah well, Potato Patatoe!” She waved her hands about and let out a chuckle. “Either way, Liela’s coming with me. Don’t worry though, it’s for a reason, one I cannot reveal.”

Cleopatra never thought she’d lose both of her friends in one day.

Devontae never thought he’d be upset learning that he has unlocked powers or that Cleo reciprocated his feelings.

Leila never thought she’d leave the island without one of her best friends……

The Goddess took Leila to say goodbye to her parents who cried, her father begging the Goddess not to take his baby girl, but the decision was made.

Devontae and Liela took the Goddess’ hands, and found themselves in Heaven but yet their own personal Hell.