Chapter Text
Some time after the ending of season 2
Everything changed once I managed to meet everyone from the outcast tribe.
Originally, it was a tribe for Hydes only, but over time, other creatures joined, including Ms Capri and some hybrids who have yet to awaken their powers. It's all located in a house in the South, where everyone is welcome regardless of their circumstances. There are only 3 rules to follow:
1. You are not allowed to talk about the tribe outside the house.
2. No normies allowed.
3. Never betray someone from the tribe.
The house I currently call my home has 4 floors, and technically, 20 people live here; however, in reality, some have separate houses and only visit occasionally. The top 3 floors have rooms for sleeping, and the 2nd floor is where the kitchen and common area are currently. My room is on the top floor, which has only one room and a large balcony. Lately, I often spend my spare time in the underground, where the werewolves' chambers are, currently, right next to the music room. At first, Ms Capri suggested I try different instruments to distract myself from my mother's death, so in my first month, I started learning about music and trying different instruments. I started with piano, then trumpet, and at some point, I even tried violin, but it didn’t feel quite right. And then, I tried guitar.
The moment I started to play guitar, it felt like I could play anything without limitations. From soft to raw beats. It was captivating. I adjusted the strings one more time and started to freestyle. For the longest time, I have been trying to recreate my favourite song, but something is still missing.
“Tyle-e-er”
Only if I knew what it was.
"TYLER! Are you deaf? It's dinner time!" Vanessa shouted at me, waving her skinny hand in front of my face.
"I am not sure I want to eat right now. Maybe go without me." I said with a fake smile.
"Cmon, Tyler, you said the same thing during lunch," the brown-headed girl protested.
"Tyler, my maaan!" I looked behind, and a boy twice my size started hugging me from behind.
"Mike, I told you not to call me that!"
"Ok, ok, Zombie boy. I think Vanessa is right. You have been at it for hours. I know it's Sunday, but C'mon man..."
"Okay, okay, fine ."
"Thanks, Mike. I was starting to lose patience. By the way, I have an announcement to make, and Tyler should hear it!" Vanessa said dramatically.
"What are you up to again? Don’t tell me you took an animal from the shelter again." I said with amusement.
"I wished! Only if I could live there, that would be a dream come true! Well, Helloween is approaching, which means that we can go around and about without worrying about being caught by the police." She paused while we were walking through the stairs and then continued ", And I heard there is going to be a performance. You could perform with your guitar in front of everyone and even win a prize."
"Don't be silly, I am never doing this!"
"You are never doing what?" Ms Capri interrupted us. She stood right in front of us in the hallway with her luggage in hand.
"I was trying to persuade Tylor to perform during the Helloween event that is happening. He could dress up, and nobody would recognise him!"
"I think this is a great idea, Tylor. You should do it or at least think about it. You are truly gifted." Ms Capri said, which made me feel nervous. It’s not the first time she says that. From my time here, I learned that hydes are creative creatures, which is probably why I can pick things up quickly, like coffee art and cooking. Many hydes that live here do activities like drawing, crafting, and dancing when they are not working. I wonder if my mother was also gifted when she was in her prime. She used to cook a lot but never mentioned anything about other hobbies.
"I am sorry, did I upset you? You don't have to do something you don't feel like it." Ms Capri said, and all eyes were on me. Was I that obvious just now?
"No, no, you haven't. I just need to think about it."
"Okay, good. By the way, I will be away for a while. You can use my library card if you need anything." She handed a small card to Vanessa.
"Ms Capri, where are you going?" Vanessa asked, pointing at Capri's luggage.
"I am going to look out for an old student of mine. Let's say she is in a tricky situation. I will be back, hopefully, next week. Well, I won't be keeping you. Talk to you later!" Once she left, we continued to the kitchen. We picked some stew with veggies and beers and sat down. I was so busy eating that when I looked at Vanessa, I noticed she was staring.
"Is everything okay, Vanessa?"
"Yes, I just worry about you sometimes. You have no master, and don't train with others who are without masters. You also barely talk about your past."
"Okay, cool. Ask me anything."
"How did you meet Ms Capri?
"It's a long story. After my mother died, she offered for me to come here. She was a teacher in the town I am from, but I was not a student in the same school. We met on the day of my mother's funeral."
"That's unfortunate. I met Ms Capri at a wedding." Mike said while Vanessa kicked him behind the table.
"I see. I know Mike's master is in prison, and I am yet to become a hyde, but how did you become without a master?"
"I killed her. She manipulated me and made me kill a lot of people. If I have the chance, I would do it again."
"Wait, are you joking? I can't even touch my master without permission. How did you do that?"
"Mike, keep it down!" Vanessa said.
"Can you teach me? It must have been so hard!"
"Wait, you are not disgusted by me?" I looked at both of my friends, surprised.
"Why should we? We all know that for one to become a hyde, they have to be abused first. I don't know about you, but I still have scars from my master when I was 9 years old. These scars will never heal!”
I looked at Mike, and I couldn’t help but feel pain in my chest. I went through so much pain. I could never imagine what his adoptive father did to him. “I am so sorry.”
“Don’t worry, it’s in the past,” he gave me a small smile, and continued eating.
"Anyway, why do you want to know more about me out of the blue?"
"Well, we have been hanging out, and I also want to know more about Capri. To me, she has been acting really fishy. One day she is here, another day she is travelling. I have a strange feeling about her ever since I met her."
"How did you meet her?" Mike asked.
"It was all very strange. It was on the day my sister lost control at the hospital where she was staying. One moment, my sister was calm, and the next, she lost control and started killing people. After I gave my statement to the police, we met and started talking. I don't know, it seems she is always at the right place at the right time."
"I have been used many times, yet she has always been treating me nicely." I had a sip of my beer.
"I know, and I feel the same. But maybe we should look into this just to be sure? The older hydes never talk to us and are all busy with their work. And the hybrids are always away parting-."
"Vanessa, what are you suggesting?"
"We should spy on her. She leaves constantly and acts strangely around her friends. I think they may be up to something! Mike, what do you think?"
"Well, I think it's a bit crazy. Because of Capri, we have a place to stay and a roof over our heads. We shouldn't bite the hand that feeds us."
"Okay, fine, what about you, Taylor?"
"I don't know. I-"
"Fine, then don't get in my way!" Vanessa stood up, took her tray of food, and left us behind angrily. Mike looked at me, mumbling "Women" in a mocking way while looking at her. He looked in her direction long after she left.
We spent a little time chatting, and then I went back to my room. The whole thing about Capri does seem a bit odd. Yet, she never betrayed me. She is actually the most honest grown-up I've ever had in my life. Tornhill druged, abused, and lied to me. My mother tricked me. And my father... He never told me anything. All he did was investigate bad people and spend his free time drinking.
Vanessa probably doesn't know how to investigate someone. But Wednesday was so good at it.
I lay down on the bed trying to think. I never understood why she didn't kill me. "I missed..." I guess I do miss her sometimes. But why would she miss me? I was horrible towards her. What would she do if she were here right now? Curse me? Hit me? Kiss me?
"Only Wednesday knows what Wednesday wants," I shouted into the empty room.
All the time we spend together searching for the hyde, investigating. Looking for clues, making progress.
"You should do it, Tyler", I heard my father's voice, and opened my eyes. His figure was in the right-hand corner of the room. "You like a good mystery, you are drawn to it."
"I am done with mysteries, father," I said, angrily.
"We both know this is not true. It's in your blood."
"Don't compare us! We were never the same!"
"You are right. You don't have to be like me. Ignoring the signs, turning a blind eye to what is right in front of you. You get to choose who you become." I glanced one last time at where my father was standing, but he was no longer there.
Maybe, this time. I should do what he wants. Maybe this time he will leave me alone.
I got up to my desk and pulled a small screwdriver from my drawer, which I used to build my bed when I moved in. I walked out of the room, all the way until I reached Capri's office. It was locked as expected.
I looked around. It was late, and everyone had already gone to sleep. So I kneeled and started rotating the screwdriver until the lock clicked. A child's play. A shame Wednesday is not here to see me.
I walked into her room. Surrounded by pictures on the walls, I couldn’t help but take a look. One of which shows her appearing younger, standing next to her parents and smiling. Another picture on the wall was of her teenage self with an attractive boy beside her. Curly, dark hair, and quite tall, I wonder where I have seen this face before. I continue towards her desk, snooping into all the messy paperwork she left behind. Bills, newspapers of performances, and news about missing creatures. Nothing relevant. I go behind the desk and open her drawers. Nevermore files, after another, and I freeze.
Right in front of me, I see documents with black capital letters "Willow Hill Psychiatric Hospital". I have a look, and I see my name on it. Tyler Galpin, notes by Dr Rachael Fairburn.
I read the context of the pages, and it has all the notes from Dr Fairburn. My eating habits, my psychotic episodes. How often I slept, how often I talked. How could she keep this away from me? She knew about me long before we met. Who exactly is Ms Capri? A friend, or an enemy?
I turn page after page and pause, trying to use all my senses, which is hard after the last beer I had. Immediately, I shut the drawer when I heard a noise coming from far away. Someone is approaching.
I messily put back everything that I took out of the drawer and rushed out the door. I close the door and forget to lock it behind me. There is no time for this.
I run on my tiptoes and try to “keep myself in check”. I can feel the rush inside my throat. I can feel the noise getting closer. All the way until I get to my room and shut the door behind me.
My legs are shaking. I haven't felt this alive in months! I rest my head on the door, trying to breathe. But I can’t relax yet, because the noise is coming closer and there is no way I would get caught now. I jump towards my bed and hide the files under it. The knocking comes moments after, and I open the door. And at the door it's standing, Mike?
"What's wrong? Do you need anything?" I try to sound casual.
"I just. Could I stay with you tonight? No questions asked?" His words were quiet; you could barely hear what he was saying. His eyes were looking down, and his hands were in his pockets. With every second, the smell of alcohol was getting stronger.
"Sure, you can come in." I let the blue-eyed boy into my room, hoping I would manage to have a look at the files tomorrow. I put my hands into my empty pockets. Deep down, I feel I have forgotten something important, but there is no time to think about that.