As soon as the door swung open, there was Jerry, lounging on the couch with a contract in hand, earbuds dangling from his ears, grinning at Finnian. "Finnian, long time no see, buddy."
Finnian slammed the door shut, immediately storming into another bedroom.
Holy smokes, Larry was here! He was fiddling with a pocketknife, grinning ear to ear. "Hey Finnian, missed me?"
Finnian had caught on by now. He stood at the door, taking deep breaths before bellowing, "You bunch of troublemakers, get out here, now!"
Door after door opened, and everyone except Leopold lined up in front of Finnian.
Smiles were plastered on their faces, but their eyes were full of schemes.
Dawson burst out furiously, "Do you have any idea how much your funeral cost me? Pay up!"
Jerry looked genuinely baffled. "Finnian, what's with the fake death stunt? You're breaking our hearts."
Daniel, fists pumping in the air, yelled, "I ditched so much stuff to come back for your supposed passing, nearly got myself killed on the road!"
Eric, counting on his fingers with a sinister tone, added, "I almost blew myself up in the lab trying to figure out what killed you, and here you are, alive and kicking!"
Donald was grinding his teeth. "Fun to fake your death, huh? You know how long it took us to crawl out of the mental scar of your 'death"?"
Brian, frowning deeply, pointed outside to a husky tied up. "Finnian, you owe us an explanation."
Larry clenched his fist, threatening, "If you don't clear things up, I'm gonna let that dog tear up your vegetable patch on South Mountain."
Gary was livid at the mention of the vegetable patch, saying, "Those plants were my blood, sweat, and tears under the scorching 95-degree sun!"
The eight disciples surrounded Finnian like debt collectors from hell. Poor Finnian felt his brain swell.
not around, or his wailing would have pushed Finnian over the edge! Vivienne was relishing the drama downstairs, sipping
stay with her so easily
not keep tabs on him alone,
see him
sitting next to Vivienne, casually draping an arm
eyes in the back of
fists raised, egged them on.
better
fists sank once
Vivienne's shoulder but pulled her
"Where's Leopold?" Percival inquired.
Vivienne said with gravity, "He mentioned
must be that mission
Percival was convinced the ancient
by sending Leopold into
wine glass, yawning. "Keep an eye on Finnian tonight. I'm
do, mission accepted," Percival assured, affectionately ruffling her hair before
back!" Came the chorus from
an eye on Finnian. He's on
10 feet out the door, Finnian's escape was blown by Percival's words,
his ears. The karmic payback of his youth was coming to
ever take on so many
Especially Vivienne!
disciples, and now
Utterly exasperated.
his disciples,
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