Rock salt

I get up from the ground. I thought that shotgun blast would have blown a hole through me. But there is not even any blood on me. It still hurt. I better see if the others are okay.

"You're making a mistake, Lupin! We can't just leave Caleb lying here!" Victoria says.

"We can't go back. That's exactly what that Van Helsing woman wants us to do." Lupin doesn't stop running as she talks. She, Victoria and Nemo have left their high heels behind and are running barefoot.

"But--" Victoria says.

"Fine, fine! I'll explain, just keep moving. As a matter of fact, he's not that badly hurt." Lupin says.

"What makes you so sure?" Victoria asks.

"That woman... She's not the killer type." Lupin says. "Did you see the casino guards after they had been shot? There wasn't a single drop of blood on any of them. Using a shotgun from that close a range would have torn them to pieces. Her guns are most likely loaded with low-powered shells, or rock salt. Basically she's seasoning you, not killing you. It might break a bone, or knock someone ****, but that's it. A homunculus such as Caleb will be fine."

"Amazing, Lupin. You were able to observe so much in those hectic moments." Victoria says.

"Yes, yes. You can shower me with praise once we're all back home safe." Lupin says. "I think we've gone far enough."

Right after that, Van Helsing appears directly across from them. "You're admirably quick on your feet when on the run. I'll give you that much."

"And you're admirably quick at following me, I'll give you that, Van Helsing." Lupin says. "I'll ask you once more: Where is the monster?"

"Would you believe me if I said I don't know?" Lupin asks.

"If you want to waste your lives, that's your decision." Van Helsing says.

The four women stare each other down, unmoving, as the tension fills the air.

"I see. But I'm not stupid enough to tell you anything when you're pointing a gun that can't even kill anyone at me." Lupin says.

"Is that what you think? I see." Van Helsing levels her shotgun at a nearby tree and fires. There is an explosion, and the tree falls. "If you don't die from that , you'll very much wish you had."

"She blew up a tree." Victoria says.

If she shot me with that thing, it might have blown even me to pieces!

"A miniture grenade, I see. I take it you have a variety of shells for use in various situations?" Lupin says.

"It's nice that you pick up on things so easily. So make your choice. Tell me where the monster is, or you die." Van Helsing says.

"Let me ask you something, mademoiselle. What are you going to do once you've found this monster you're looking for?"

"I'm asking the questions here." Van Helsing's shotgun is pointed directly at Lupin's chest.

No one is able to move.

If anyone does anything suspicious, she might pull the trigger. Van Helsing is unmistakably in control of the situation. Van Helsing is focused on Lupin, Victoria, and even Nemo.

Maybe there's a way I can do something to save Lupin. I pick up a rock and hold it tightly. This is all I have. I run from the bush, and without saying anything, I charge at Van Helsing, drawing back my arm with the rock in it.

Van Helsing turns and effortlessly blocks my **** attack with the barrel of her gun, knocking the rock out of my hand.

I hurriedly back away from Van Helsing.

Her gun is pointed straight at me, not wavering even a millimetre. "Don't. Move."

I freeze, rooted to the spot.

"Caleb! What are you doing?!" Victoria asks.

"Lupin saved my life. I can't just stand by and watch this." I say.

"That's no reason to... No, I pushed your too far. It's my fault. I appreciate your courage. Thank you." Lupin says.

"Mr. Caleb. So badass!" Nemo says.

Van Helsing narrows her eyes and looks me up and down, as if sizing me up. "Hm... I definitely hit your centre mass. You're sturdy one, if you could get up and catch up with us so soon."

"Run!" Lupin shouts to distract Van Helsing, but the woman clubs her with her gun. Lupin falls to the ground. "Gah!"

"Lupin!" I shout.

"A poorly executed plan. Now keep quiet, Arsene." Van Helsing's piercing blue eyes are directed at me. "Who are you? Another member of Lupin's band?"

"The monster you're hunting is me. Just don't hurt them, please." I say.

"You're the monster?" The woman who had done all this with a flat expression all this time, finally shows an emotion: surprise.

"Yes. I'm the monster. Why do you want me?" I ask. "I'm not lying. What do you want?"

"I heard you possess a Philosopher's Stone. Give it to me." Van Helsing says.

"I can't do that." I say. "Even if I do have the stone, if I give it to you, I would probably die."

"What? Explain." Van Helsing says.

"I've been told that this stone is what I have instead of a heart." I say.

"Who are you?" Van Helsing asks.

"My name is Caleb. Victoria Frankenstein and Septima Pretorius are my mothers."

"Septima's creation?!" Van Helsing asks. She appears to be in true shock. "Could it be you have a connection to that woman?" A connection? What could she mean? "Change of plans. Tell me everything you know about Septima Pretorius. I need to find out the secrets of a certain woman. Whether she is truly immortal or not. I need to be sure."

"Immortal?!" I ask.

"Hey! What the heck are you talking about?" Nemo asks.

"Silence. I am speaking to this boy. If you truly connected with Pretorius, tell me everything you know." Van Helsing says.

"She is one of my mothers, but... I'm sorry. That's all I know." I say.

"No matter. I have plenty of ways to find out what you know. You're coming with me." Van Helsing says.

"You... What are you doing with him?" Lupin asks.

"He'll be a bargaining chip. I can use him to lure her out." Van Helsing says.

"What?! You'd better explain yourself, in a way we all understand, you trigger-happy weasel!" Nemo says.

"Shut up. It's none of your concern." Van Helsing says.

"Van Helsing, I have a suggestion." Victoria nervously raises her voice. "It seems you are not in fact chasing him under orders from Progenitor. And you mean to hold on to him in order to get information on a certain woman. If you aren't with Progenitor, there is a better way. Progenitor is trying to find us, and we're also trying to track down Septima's secrets. And Caleb is a key component to discovering Septima's motives." Victoria looks straight at Van Helsing as she continues. "What you're after will be at the end of the path we're already following. There's no need to use him to lure anybody out."

Van Helsing's stern expression doesn't change. "What are you proposing?"

"Let's collaborate. Now that you know our objectives, we can help one another out." Victoria says.

"Victoria?! What are you talking about?!" While Nemo shouts, Lupin silently watches Victoria.

"Are you telling me that you're willing to help me with my own objective?" Van Helsing asks.

"Yes. Our goals aren't mutually exclusive. As long as we're of use to one another, we should remain in cooperation." Victoria says.

"And what can you do for me?" Van Helsing asks.

"You'll see once you join us. These women are extremely capable. I think my knowledge will be of help, as well." Victoria says. "I have some insight into Septima's research. I can be of assistance if you're going to look into her secrets."

"If I deem you useless, I'm going to have to take the boy with me." Van Helsing says.

"If you must. But I will protect him with all my strength." Victoria says. "Now based on these conditions, let me make the offer again. Van Helsing, you should cooperate with us!"

Van Helsing narrows her eyes slightly and look at us all, as if to evaluate us. "I'm going to have to decline your offer. I don't need you people slowing me down." Van Helsing looks down at all of us. "I'm taking him. End of discussion. Come with me, and don't resist."

With her gun still out, and in this intense situation, the only thing I can think to do is obey. I start to walk towards her.

"Hold up, who are you calling slow?" Lupin stands between me and Van Helsing. With nothing but a smile, she's standing up to a woman with a shotgun pointed at her.

"I'm calling all of you slow. The three of you together couldn't protect him from me." Van Helsing says.

"Is that so? Why don't you save that judgement for when you actually take him?" Lupin asks.

"Fine. I'll kill you and take him over your lifeless body." In an instant, Van Helsing has both of her guns trained on Lupin.

However, Lupin still smiles confidently. If she keeps this up, she's going to get herself killed. Lupin dead. What an awful thought.

"Lupin, don't worry about me." I say.

"Just watch. You'll get to see this ruffian in shock once I defeat her." Lupin says.

"Say goodbye, Arsene Lupin." Van Helsing's finger tenses.

"Lupin!" I say.

The gun goes off, and I shut my eyes. But I don't hear a scream, or a sound of a body falling. I slowly open my eyes in fear, to see Lupin standing completely unhurt, and Van Helsing's gun lying smoking on the ground.

"An explosion...!" Van Helsing says.

"Behold, the magic of the great thief! See, aren't you surprised?" Lupin asks. "Victoria wasn't babbling just to convince you, Van Helsing. She was distracting you."

"Pretty much. I knew Lupin would figure out something as long as I could buy her some time." Victoria says.

"What the... Why does nobody include me in these plans?!" Nobody responds to Nemo's question.

"Now a magician never reveals his tricks, but I'm no magician. Here's what I did." Lupin raises her hand to display a tiny metal ball. "This is one of the balls from the roulette wheels in the casino. I took them before we started running. I put some adhesive putty on them, and kept them handy. I figured I'd stuff them down those shotguns and disable them."

"When did you... Did you do both guns at once while you distracted me?" Van Helsing asks.

"I did the first when you hit me, and the second while Victoria was talking." Lupin says. "Aren't you lucky you weren't hurt? That was a fantastic explosion."

"Tch." Van Helsing says.

"Wow. I didn't even notice." I say.

"A great thief always catches people off guard, working from the shadows. This was a piece of cake." Lupin says. "I have an uncanny hatred of losing. Being beaten is just not my style."

"You lowly cutpurse." Van Helsing says.

"'Great thief', if you please, mademoiselle."

"Van Helsing, I'll say it again. We want you to cooperate with us." Victoria says.

A tense silence goes on for some time.

"Fine. Count me in." Van Helsing says.

I suddenly relax, not even realising how tense my body had been while waiting.

It seems the fighting is over.

"Thank you." Victoria says.

"Phew. Good grief. Thanks to my hard work, the day has been saved once again. Did you catch all that, Mr. Caleb?"

"You didn't do anything." Lupin says.

"I'm asking just in case. Are these women truly capable? I'm talking to you, Dr. Frankenstein." Van Helsing says.

"Oh, so you know who I am." Victoria says.

"Of course I do. I recognise your voice, and that unique strategy of using chemicals in battle. You're unmistakable." Van Helsing says.

I inhale sharply, and look around at Lupin and the others.

These people are all so reliable.

If I stay with them, we can overcome anything.

"Caleb, are you all right?" Victoria asks.

"Yes. I'm fine." I was just thinking about how I could trust all of them. But it would be too embarrassing to admit it.

A monster. Even if I am a monster, these people are genuinely concerned about me.

They consider me a friend.

And I feel the same.