Melinda Chronicles: Bonus Chapter One

Kai sat on the altar, his eyes locked on the front of the church and his ears listening closely for even the faintest footsteps, click of the door’s handle, or creak of it’s hinges.

The wait was excruciating, it had already been a couple hours since he called Melissa had called still no sign of either her or the children coming through those great doors.

It was not in his nature to be cynical, but fear had began to wear at his mind and every horrible thing that could’ve gone wrong cycled through his head. Were they okay? Was one of them hurt? Was she now trapped with them? Anger began to set in and he took a deep breath, willing himself to stay calm despite the impulse to hunt down Isa himself and make the monster pay for hurting the people he considered his family.

He had to calm the rage because he couldn’t abandon his post and had to be ready for anything. Whether it be just simply comforting them or treating wounds, it was his responsibility to take care of them and the fight with Isa was Melissa’s.

*creak*

The door began to open and his eyes locked onto the darkness at the front of the church as light from the street lamps out front began to pour in. He anticipated the worst until a nervous voice called inside.

“Uncle Kai? Are you there?”

“I’m right here, it’s safe.” relief washed over him as he nearly bolted halfway up the aisle and watched the two figures slink inside and make their way over.

“Come on, Cream. We’ll be safe here. I promise.” Miles guided Cream up the aisle.

“Are you both okay?” Kai crouched down and placed on a hand on Miles’ shoulder, glancing back at Cream, who was hiding behind him.

“I think so, just a little shook-up,” Miles answered before turning to Cream, “I think you’ve meant my Uncle Kai already.”

Kai smiled warmly at her as she cautiously stepped out from behind Miles and eyed him curiously.

“Yes, her mother is a good friend of mine,” Kai carefully reached his hand out to her, “Is everything okay, Cream?”

“Yes, I’m still a little scarred but I think I’ll be okay.” she stepped close enough or Kai to gently place his hand on her shoulder and looked up at him, “Aunt Mel says you’re like her, I heard Tails call you immortals,”

“That’s correct, it’s why she sent me to protect you.” he smiled, “You trust me to do that, right?”

“You’re friends with Tails and Aunt Mel, and even if you weren’t you’ve always been nice to me and my mother,” she looked down for a moment before smiling at him, “So yes, I trust you.”

She stood on her toes and wrapped her arms around Kai’s neck, and he gently returned the hug.

“I’ll make sure you get home safe once it’s all over and Melissa get’s here, okay?” he said quietly.

Cream stepped back and looked at him with confusion, “I thought Aunt’s Mel’s was Melinda?”

It dawned on him that no-one had likely had the chance to explain things more thoroughly to Cream about immortals yet.

“Melissa is just what I call her because she used that name when I met her. I guess I grew accustomed to it.” he smiled.

“I guess it’s like the way you’re the only ones that call Tails Miles.” she said.

“Something like that,” he laughed, “maybe I can explain if there’s time tonight.”

“Okay,” a look of realization and worry flashed across her face, “Cheese was with me when that bully grabbed me, is he okay?”

“He’s fine, safe at home with your mother,” Kai assured her.

“Thank goodness, I was afraid something happened to him,” she sighed, “at least I know he’s safe now.”

“I’m sure he’ll be happy to know your safe as well,” Kai playfully rubbed her head, “but for now, why don’t we wait in the back where it’s more comfortable and maybe a bit warmer?”

“That sounds nice,”

Kai began to lead her towards the back office until he noticed Miles not moving and turned to face him, “Are you coming with us?”

“In a minute,” he answered.

“Cream, why don’t go ahead and wait for us. I want to talk to Miles for a moment,” Kai motioned towards the door to the office.

“Okay,” she quickly made her way inside.

Kai watched the door for a moment before turning around and crouching in front of Miles, noticing for the first time that he was clutching Melissa's coat in his arms and hugging it, “Do want to talk about it?”

“I’ll be fine as soon as she makes it back,” Miles said quietly, his expression betraying that has was on the verge of tears despite his calm tone.

“Miles, I know you’re afraid and upset. You don’t have to hide it from me,” he reached out and placed a hand on the kit’s shoulder.

MIles’ merely looked away and held back a whine in response.

“I’m worried about her as well and I thought maybe it would help if we talked about it.” Kai said, “I only want to help you make the wait less difficult.”

Kai noticed Miles tearing up and gently pulled him into a hug.

“I’ll be fine, I just need a minute,” Miles said, putting an arm around Kai’s back and taking a deep breath.

“Don’t be ashamed. A warrior isn’t afraid to cry because tears come from love and that’s the strongest emotion you can fight for and the most worthy”

“Thanks, but I think I’m okay now.” Miles sniffed.

“Are you sure? If you need to let it out I’m right here.” Kai said, “It won’t make think any less of you, I promise. I just want to help you”

“Yeah, I’ll be okay,” Miles broke away and stepped back, taking a deep breath, “Let’s go check on Cream.”

Kai shook his head as Miles walked off and wondered how he became so stubborn and why he seemed almost afraid to open up to him. Had he accidently given the false impression that the kit had put on some display of toughness around him?

Maybe he really had gotten a little distant and needed to spend more time with him.
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“Do you really live here?” Cream asked as her eyes wandered around the dusty office.

“Not in this room, my bedroom is up in the attic. I only use this place as a study when I need it.” Kai pulled out the old desk chair and sat down, making sure he could see both the door and the couch where the two children sat clearly.

“Is that why it’s so dusty?” Cream asked.

“I guess I don’t study much,” he smiled, “Though I should to keep up with Miles when science happens.”

Cream giggled and Miles managed an uneasy smile.

“I guess you’re feeling better, Cream?” Kai asked.

“Yes, but I’m still worried about Aunt Mel.” she looked down, “I hope she can beat him like the heroes in movies always beat the bad guy.”

“She’s tougher than she looks,” Kai said, “and she did beat him once before.”

“She told she saved a little boy from him,” Cream smiled, “She’s a hero just Mr Sonic.”

“She is a good person, as long as I’ve known her she’s had no tolerance for bullies and always protected people,” Kai gave Miles a smile before turning back to Cream, “That’s why I always looked up to her so much.”

“Aren’t you a lot older than her?” Cream looked him over with confusion.

“It does seem that way, doesn’t it?” He laughed, “Tell me, how old to think we are?”

“Well, you look like you’re the same age as my mother,” Cream scrunched her face, “I remember Aunt Mel’s 29th birthday, but she looks a lot younger than that. It’s hard to tell though because Foxes and Wolves are so tall and makes you look older, at least to me.”

“She explained to you a little bit about Immortals, correct?” Kai asked.

“Yes, she said you guys heal really fast and if you do get hurt really bad you always wake back up,” she answered.

“That’s true, and it’s also true that we stop aging the first time we get badly injured, so most of us are a lot older than we look” Kai leaned back, “You were correct in a sense about me being around your mother’s age because I was 33 years old when it happened to me. That means I look like I did when I was 33 and always will.”

“So how old are you?” Cream asked curiously.

“I was born in 1772, so that makes me 243 years old.” He grinned.

Cream looked over at Miles, who managed to smile and nod his head yes, “and Aunt Mel is even older?”

“Well, the further you go back the harder it is to keep track of dates but she thinks she was 20 when she was hurt for the first time, so you’re right that she does look very young,” Kai began to explain.

“I thought she looked really young for a mom, like the old pictures of my mother from High-School.” Cream said, “When was she born?”

“As I said, she’s not completely sure because dates were hard to keep track of for the lower-class back then and she was the adopted daughter of a poor farmer. The closest she can get is the early 9th century,” Kai noticed the girls’ confusion, “That means sometime around the year 800, which makes her around 1,200 years old.”

Cream looked back and forth between Kai and Miles, the later of which managed a nervous smile and a shrug.

“That’s a really big number,” she spoke quietly after a moment, “I don’t know if I can even count that high,” she started giggling.

“What’s wrong?” Kai asked.

“Nothing, I just realized why Mr Sonic keeps calling her Grandma,” she smiled.

“and now with Grandpa back there we have the full set.”

Everyone turned to the door and noticed Sonic leaning on the doorway, grinning at Kai.

“Of course, since you said Tails here is sort of like your little brother that might mean I have to start calling her great-grandma,” Sonic laughed, “It just doesn’t roll off the old tongue, though.”

“So I guess that makes us all family, then?” Kai chuckled, “You and Miles are like brothers, after all.”

“A hedgehog, an immortal wolf, and a two-tailed fox. If that isn’t the strangest family I’ve ever seen, “ Sonic smiled, “but I’m a little rusty at this family thing so what do I know?”

Cream giggled at the exchange, attracting everyone’s attention.

“What’s so funny, Cream?” Kai asked.

“I guess now that everyone is friends, even Mr Sonic has a big brother to keep him out of trouble.”

“As long he is doesn’t break a hip, I’m always happy to have more back-up,” Sonic grinned.

“I think I’ll be fine,” Kai chuckled and shook his head, watching Sonic turn to Miles.

“Hey bro, you okay?” Sonic sat down on the arm of the couch next to Miles.

Kai watched as Sonic turned his full attention to the kids, smiling as he thought about how close the truth all that was. Melessa was something in-between a mother and a sister to him, Miles like his little brother despite the habitual use of the title Uncle, and he could see that Melissa was beginning to treat Sonic like a son just as much as Miles treated him like a brother.

One big, strange, slightly dysfunctional family full of love.