Chris and I couldn't tell Karen a single thing yesterday, turns out with Susan being a part of the friend group she is constantly with us at any free time we get. My Dad picked me up after school yesterday so we also couldn't get the chance to discuss it then, thankfully Chris said he would fill her in on everything that happened with the Chimera. I didn't tell my parents about my run in with the Chimera, I thought about keeping them in the loop but decided to handle this my way for now. It's Saturday which means no school, and a usual weekend of my parents keeping tabs on me. I wasn't really bothered with that at the moment, I had three days left to figure out how to deal with my Chimera problem and I wasn't coming up with anything good. Thanks to Susan I know that fire slows its healing abilities and can kill it but how was I going to set the Chimera ablaze, I can't just go over to the Adler's and be like 'Can I borrow your flamethrower?'. The last time I encountered the Chimera, he made it pretty obvious that I was way over my head. I think I'm stronger than him, I mean that punch I landed sent him flying but I got that lucky shot because he was distracted, I doubt he'll stay still next time.
The doorbell rang, I got up from my bed, walked out of my room and stood by the stairwell, my Mum was already at the door, she opened it and I saw Chris and Karen standing outside.
"Hey, Mrs. Powell" Chris said. "We're here to see Fred"
"Come in, he's in his room but before you go up I want to talk to the both of you" My Mum closed the door behind them as they came in.
I could see Karen forcing a nervous smile "I'm guessing you want to talk about Fred"
"Yes I do, don't worry I'll keep it short" my Mum said. "The two of you have been part of Fred's life since we moved to Stowe, even before he became friends with Bobby Stowe, so I know you care about him. I know Fred told you guys everything about his abilities, he also told me you've been helping him to learn how to control them and for that I am truly grateful, he couldn't come to me with what he was going through but the two of you were there for him"
Chris smiled "He would've done the same for us"
"With that said I just want to make sure we are on the same page. No one must ever know about what Fred can do" my Mum said.
"We won't tell anyone" Karen assured her.
"I know right now you are pretty confident that you won't tell anyone, but I speak from experience when I say that times will come when this secret will test you, it will test your resolve to the point where you want to talk to someone about it. When that time comes, and trust me it will come, I want you to remember that there are people that would come after Fred, they would hunt him to the ends of the earth because of what he has in his blood. So I am begging you, no one must know, not your parents, or anyone close, nobody"
"We won't tell anyone Mrs. Powell" Karen promised.
"Same here, his secret will follow me to my grave" Chris said.
"Thank you" My Mum looked up the stairs and spotted me in the corner "You can go meet him now"
I walked back to my room, Chris and Karen came in shortly "I'm guessing you heard all of that?" Chris asked.
"Every word"
"It's nice that your parents know everything now, this way we have more minds to deal with this Chimera situation" Karen said.
With Karen's sudden change in mood and tone it was safe to say my gloomy facial expression gave me away.
"You didn't tell them. You received a threat from a murderous Chimera and you're not telling your parents, why?" Karen inquired.
I grabbed my jacket from the closet "Let's get out of here, I don't want my parents to overhear any of this"
"Fred" Chris called after me as I walked away. I didn't stop, I walked downstairs and Chris and Karen followed me. My Mum was seated in the living room, she was on her laptop .
"Mum, we're heading to Joe's diner for a bit" I said.
My Mum got up "I can make you guys something, you don't have to go out"
"It's Joe's diner Mum, the AMU are positioned across town, it's perfectly safe" I responded.
My Mum sighed heavily "What if you accidentally use your powers in public?"
I raised my right hand and buzzed lightning for a few seconds "I can control it now. We're just going to get some smoothies and snacks and we'll come right back, I promise"
"Okay" My Mum said reluctantly.
We walked out and put a good amount of distance between us and the house before Karen and Chris began questioning me again.
Chris was the first to start "Dude! We've been making some stupid and rash decisions since we found out about your abilities, and now finally your parents know everything. Make us understand why you didn't tell them about the Chimera's threat"
"I've taught about this Chris, I'm just doing the logical thing" I answered.
"Logical thing? Keeping this from your parents is the logical thing?" Karen asked.
"Look at what just happened guys, I can't even leave my house whenever I want without being interrogated. I feel like …."
"For good reason Fred" Karen yelled, she then lowered her tone but I could still feel the anger in her voice. "I don't think you're understanding the gravity of the situation. In the last few weeks you have been chased by werewolves, shot at by an Alchemist, attacked by a Dire Beast and last week we both got beat up by a scary Chimera, we could've died and we still can if we continue on this path of making rash decision and acting on impulse. I can't believe I'm about to say this but we need adult supervision"
I looked at Karen "I understand what you're saying Karen, trust me I am beyond terrified. The Chimera has seen my face, he knows who I am now, he could show up at my house at any moment and with all these powers I can't protect my parents"
"So why won't you tell them?" Chris asked.
"Alright picture this, I tell my parents what happened yesterday, my Mum panics and suggests we move out of Stowe, my Dad might get mad that someone threatened his son and decide to confront the Chimera himself, and we all know that won't end well" I answered.
"Where are we going?" Chris asked, noticing we took a wrong turn "Joe's diner is the other way"
"We're not going to Joe's diner" I said.
Chris and Karen looked at me expecting me to say more "Well? Where are we going?" Karen asked.
"Susan's house" I responded.
"Fred? Why are we going to the Alchemist's house?" Chris asked.
I sighed "That's what I've been trying to tell you guys. I know we're in a pickle, and I have three days till the Chimera comes after me, so I'm taking the best solution I can think of"
"Stop rambling and tell us what you're about to do" Karen said.
"Like you said, we need adult supervision. I'm going to ask Mr. Adler for help"
"Okay, let me start by saying this is a bad idea" Chris said. "How do you plan on asking for help without telling him about your powers?"
"I have to tell him about my abilities"
"Are you out of your mind?" Karen said. "This is exactly what I meant by acting on impulse and making rash decisions"
I looked at a furious Karen "What are we going to tell him? Hmm? That we just happen to know where the Chimera is going to be. We don't' have to give him much detail, like the origin of my powers, just enough so he can trust us"
"This is a bad idea" Chris said again.
Karen stood in front of me, causing me to stop walking "Fred, I literally just stood in front of your Mum and promised that I wouldn't tell your secret to anyone and here you are about to cause your own problem"
"We've grown fond of Susan" Chris said. "But the fact is that they are new to town, there's still so much we don't know about her and her Dad"
"From what we know about the Alchemist so far it seems he's just trying to help" I said.
"You can't be sure of that. He's an Alchemist, if he knows about you he could come after you" Karen responded.
"Stop arguing with me!" I yelled. "I have three days before he comes for me and I'm not going to sit in my room and talk about the problem because that isn't going to solve anything. I need help and I'm getting it, you can either come with me or get out of my way"
Chris and Karen were shook by my outburst, the two of them threw glances at each other briefly.
Chris gently patted me on the shoulder "I can't let you go alone"
I looked at Karen, sincerely hoping that she understands things from my point of view.
"I still think this is a bad idea, but we'll deal with it when the problem comes. Let's go" Karen said.
"Thanks guys" I responded with a smile.