Hellfire On The Other Side

Chapter 52

   Shane lays on his bed, tossing his HVK coin in the air and catching it repeatedly. "I can't believe that there's more VKs like me," he says. He sits up and puts the coin in his pocket. "Hero Villain Kids. Who would've thought?" he chuckles. "I should probably check that last sheet of paper. Maybe something's finally changed." He grabs the paper off of the nightstand and checks the last sheet of paper. "No way! Finally!" he exclaims. The final line has been revealed. "However, be mindful, young hero. This task cannot be completed alone," it reads. "Huh. I assume this is referring to the HVKs. But I'll read more into that later," says Shane. He sets the paper down on the nightstand and heads downstairs into the living room.

   Charlene sits on the couch, watching TV, until she notices Shane. "Hey, Shane! I heard you shouting up there. What's got you all frantic?" she says. Shane sits next to her and kisses her. "Oh, I'm just excited because I finally uncovered the last line," he says. "Oh! That's great news! How'd you do it?" says Charlene. "It's a pretty long story, Char," says Shane. "I don't think we have the time for it right now." Charlene pouts. "Harumph!" Shane lets out a small laugh, then says, "Aww, c'mon, Char. You know that we have better things to do right now. You've gotta teach me how to swim, remember?" He winks at Charlene. She smiles back at him. "Give me a moment. I need to get my swimsuit," she says, heading upstairs. "I'll be waiting by the pool!" says Shane. Shane snaps his fingers, changing him into swimwear, then heads into the backyard.

   Shane stands by the pool, occasionally sticking his foot in it. "Is Charlene trying to find one of her more revealing swimsuits or something? What's taking her so long?" he says. He sits on the edge of the pool, his legs submerged in the water. Charlene sneaks up behind Shane and hugs him. "Ah, there's my little blonde beauty!" he says. "Yeah, that's me!" says Charlene. "Why don't you take a look at my swimsuit, tell me what you think?" Shane leans back. "Hmm, judging by the fact that the only skin I can see is your head, part of your arms, and part of your legs, I'm betting that your mom made that," he says. Charlene rolls her eyes. "No, I just didn't wanna overwhelm you," she says, stroking Shane's face. She sits next to him. "So are you ready for your first swimming lesson?" "You know I am, Char!" Something brushes against their legs. "Did you feel that, Shane?" "Yeah. Did you rub your foot on my legs?" "I'm pretty sure I'd know if I did, Shane." "Weird."

   Suddenly, Shane is pulled underwater. "Shane! Okay, who are you, and why are you messing with us?!" shouts Charlene. Shane pokes his head out from under the water, breathing heavily. "The heck was that?!" he says. "Look, I don't know what kind of joke you're playing on us, but don't think I won't send a surge of energy through this pool to find you!" After Shane's threat, a woman around the age of nineteen with flowing ginger hair and wearing a two-piece swimsuit emerges from the water. "Sorry! Just wanted to have a bit of fun before I introduced myself!" she says, nervously. "Didn't think you'd scare so easily." She blushes. Charlene looks at the woman, then at Shane. "Do you know who she is?" she asks him. Shane shakes his head. "I am just as confused as you are," he says. The woman smiles. "Oh! I'm Allara. Daughter of Ariel. Nice to meet you!" she says. "Nice to meet you, too, Allara," says Shane. "But don't scare us like that next time, okay?" Allara giggles and nods her head. "Aren't you gonna join us, Char? The water's nice," says Shane. Charlene smiles and jumps into the pool with a splash.

   "So, Allara, what are you doing here?" Charlene asks. "I just wanted to congratulate Shane on joining the HVKs," says Allara. "What's an HVK?" "Hero Villain Kids. You didn't think that Shane was the only one, did you?" Allara swims through the pool with ease. Being the daughter of a former mermaid does have its benefits. "So you're telling me that there's an official group of VKs that are heroes?" Charlene asks Allara. "Yes! And Shane joined it just last night!" Charlene smiles. "Is that the long story you were talking about, Shane?" she asks. "Part of it," Shane answers. "How did you find out about this, Allara?" "The same way I got here. My boyfriend, Sully." "Who's Sully?" Shane asks. Just then, a man in his early twenties with dark brown hair emerges from the water. "That would be me," he says. "I'm Sully, son of Ursula. I saw you back in Paris during the event that we HVKs are calling 'The Liberation'. Of course, I told Allara about you, and she wanted to meet you." Shane and Charlene look at each other. "The son of Ursula and the daughter of Ariel dating. Never would've guessed," says Shane. Charlene chuckles. "Yeah. But it's really cute," she says.

   After a long swimming session, Allara and Sully make their way back to their home. "Shane, when were you gonna tell me that you joined a group of people like you?" Charlene asks. "While we were swimming, actually. Guess those two beat me to it," says Shane, chuckling. "Well, I'm glad they showed up, because I don't know how to swim, either," says Charlene. Shane laughs. "Then why did you agree to teach me to swim?" Charlene blushes. "Because I wanted an excuse to hold you closely," she says. "And that's why I love you so much, Charlene," says Shane. He swims over to Charlene, pulls her underwater with him, and kisses her. Once they re-emerge, Charlene giggles. "Well, now you can finally achieve your ultimate goal. And I bet the HVKs are gonna be the ones to help you," she says. "Yeah. And with Markus and the others in hiding, it looks like all we have to worry about is Frollo," says Shane. "Let's hope he's not too much of a challenge." Charlene scoffs. "He's old and frail. What can he really do?" she says. "Good point, Char. Now, I'm exhausted. I think we should get out." "No, I wanna swim until it's dark," says Charlene. Shane smirks. "If that's what you want," he says. Shane and Charlene spend the rest of the day in the pool until the moon is at its brightest.