JP - Locked in the Basement

“Then what do you wanna do? We can go outside and try to get somewhere when the rain stops…” Fang suggested. “Maybe walk to a place to do something?” He was trying to make things seem chill and relaxed. If this guy left, what would they do? He was a clone of that freaky guy…

“Is there a library or bookstore we can walk to?” Caneclone asked.

“Uhm…” Fang blinked. “Let me look.” He went and grabbed his old laptop that made snails look fast.

Caneclone waited patiently, watching Fang.

Fang stared at the screen as it took a good five minutes to search for them.

Lola merely walked up and showed Caneclone her phone. There was a library at least a 30 minute walk away from them.

“Thanks, Lola…” Fang said, embarrassed.

Caneclone perked up. “Let’s go.”

“Then when it stops raining we can go.” Fang said. He already hated himself for this idea. Why am I so stupid?!

“Oh.” Caneclone’s shoulders sagged again.

“Do you want to risk getting struck by light…” There was a loud crack as lightning struck nearby and the power suddenly went out, leaving them all in darkness. “...ning?” Fang sighed heavily. “Lola…”

Lola held up a hand and formed a small ball of light for them.

Now he could not even watch TV. Caneclone’s shoulders tagged still further.

Fang sighed again. “I’ll get the lanterns…” Getting up, he went to the door that led to the basement.

Lola settled the light down on a coaster and looked at Caneclone, gently patting his arm.

Caneclone sighed. “I guess I’m just starting to feel restless.”

Lola tilted her head and grabbed her notepad, writing. ‘Is there anything I can do to help?’

Caneclone thought for a moment. “Do you know Gelf?”

‘Not personally, no.’ Lola wrote. ‘I just know she’s part of Meta Underground. She’s also getting married.’

“Do you know her fiance?” Caneclone tried.

‘Only that he’s a very nice man that treats her well.’ Lola wrote, not willing to give out a name yet.

“That’s good.” Caneclone said. “I really want to meet her to thank her.”

Lola nodded in understanding. ‘Maybe you will get to one day. I can’t control what the others do.’ She wrote. It was obvious she was getting too comfortable around this guy.

As for Fang…well, he stupidly locked himself in the basement. “Oh, for the love of…”

“I’d like to meet more metas, be a part of the community. Maybe help with the Underground… There’s a lot I can do.” Caneclone said.

‘What can you do?’ She wrote in reply, curious.

“I can manipulate my skin. I could go under cover, spy for them or something.” Caneclone said.

Lola stared at him in confusion and tilted her head to the side. ‘How? You look normal to me.’

Caneclone turned his skin orange and pink striped with soft-looking fur.

Lola blinked and hesitantly touched the fur, shocked at how soft it was.

Caneclone’s skin reddened slightly at the touch.

Lola jerked her hand away, worried she had hurt him.

“See? I can be useful.” Caneclone said, making the fur longer and fluffier.

‘Are you gonna turn into a giant ball of fluff?’ Lola wrote curiously, but jumped when a loud clap of thunder made the house shake a bit.

“I can if it’s useful.” Caneclone said, frowning at the thunder. “Where is Fang?”

Lola blinked and wrote. ‘Didn’t he say he was gonna get lanterns from the basement?’

“I think so.” Caneclone went over to the basement door and tried to open it.

Lola followed, holding up a small orb of light as thunder roared above them again. The door didn’t budge at first, being so old as it was, but it eventually jerked open the second time Caneclone pulled on it.

Fang was behind the door, holding onto three lanterns. “Thanks…” He said, pointed ears twitching as he blushed. “I dunno why it locked.”

“Strange” Caneclone said, stepping back so Fang could come back upstairs.

“Yeah,” Fang said with a sigh and handed him one of the lanterns. Lola slid a ball of light in it. “So you can get around the house without tripping over anything.”

Lola took her own and headed to her room after making sure everyone had light to take with them. As long as they didn’t go too far from the house the light would stay strong for them.

“Thanks.” Caneclone said. He was still bored so he started looking around the house for something to do.