.•IT CAN'T BE REAL•.

Chapter Twenty-One: .•for logan•.

   Midnight. Amanda woke up, putting her glasses on. She tiptoed out the hallway. I'm so grounded... Amanda thought. She quietly opened the door and ran out. Lights lit up the area. "I'm so cold..." she told herself. "Same here!" Yvonne joined her. Amanda and Yvonne ran as fast as they could to the train tracks. They saw two lights shine on two dogs. "LEE! JASON! NO!" Amanda ran faster. It was too late.

   "Amanda? Yvonne? Are you two okay?" Lee ran up to hug them. "T-the train!" Yvonne mumbled. "It passed us. We were smart enough to stay off the tracks." Jason walked up. "But how can you see?" Amanda asked, squinting her eyes. "We don't." Jason said. "We hear." Lee added. She tapped her claw on the railing, then on the grass. "Different sounds." Lee's ear twitched. Heaving breathing was heard in the distance. "Junny's here." Jason stated. He shined a flashlight on them. "How did you-" "Doesn't matter, let's get going."

   Landon and Ansley finally arrived. "Get in," Peter unlocked the door to the truck, "Jason and Lee are keeping watch in the back. They have the weapons. Amanda's sitting upfront with me and the rest of you are in the back seat." They nodded, going into their positions. The car started and they were on their way.

   "Why did Logan run off?" Jason asked Lee. "Oh, we– we don't know." Lee looked at him. They both went quiet. "You know..." Jason spoke up, "Bryson went to the tracks because he wanted to make it up to you. He wanted to find Logan. He still wanted to help you even after you rejected him and sprained his paw." Lee looked down. "I know what you mean it was my fault he died." she muttered. "No it wasn't. It's nobody's fault. We can make it up to him by finding Logan, though." Jason stated, "Bryson never gave up, and we won't, either." Lee nodded in agreement. "We'll do this." Lee smiled, "For Bryson."
"For Logan." Jason smiled back.
"And for Rory." Lee looked at the night sky.

   The truck came to a stop. "Get out." Peter turned around, "I'm staying in, in case I need to drive you guys out of this place." Jason grabbed the bat. "Landon, Amanda, and Yvonne, take the knives. Ansley'll get the sharp stick. Lee and Junny will get the guns." Jason directed them. Junny sighed. "Okay." Junny grabbed a gun, "But I still think this is illegal." "Of course it is. Now, if anybody walks outside, our hoodies will go on." Lee told them, putting her denim jacket. "But wait–" "Take my extra." Jason threw a red jacket. "Oh, thanks?" Junny still sounded worried as they walked towards the barn. Lee's ears twitched as the fallen leaves rustled. "Guys, get your weapons ready..." she ordered, walking closer. Jason brought his baseball bat back, ready to swing. The Thing appeared, towering over them. "GIVE MY BROTHER BACK!" Lee shot her gun at the monster.

   Jason flinched as she repeatedly shot the gun. The Thing came forward, although the gun had shot through in some places. It placed its long, spiky leg in front of Jason. Jason whacked it, denting its leg. "THAT'S WHAT YOU GET YOU SON OF A-" Junny shot his gun at it. The Thing lowered itself, its lava lamp-like head looking right at them. Ansley threw her stick as hard as she could, creating a dent in the head. SKRRT. The truck went away. "It controls electricity!" Amanda shouted, while stabbing its leg. Its last crescent-shaped object came towards them. Landon jumped in front of his friends and cut through it. The Thing let out a distorted screech. Jason hit the metal-looking bars on the Thing's head, cracking it. It began to rise, its body charged with electricity. "STAY BACK!" Lee ran towards it, pulling her trigger.

   The Thing fell to the ground, making a loud thud. "WE DID IT!" Amanda shouted, hugging Lee. They all ran over to Lee and gave her a hug. "L-Lee?" a familiar, yet strange voice said. "Is that..." "Lee!" "LOGAN!" Lee screamed, running towards her brother. "I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH I MISSED YOU!" Lee hugged Logan as tight as she could. Logan was covered in mud, and his ear was torn where it bent down. "Are you okay?" Amanda said, hugging her best friend. "I'm fine, I just stole food from the neighboring houses and tried to avoid the monster. If I tried to leave completely, the thing would shock me." Logan showed them his arm, which had burns over it. "Logan! I thought you died!" Landon picked the small dog up, hugging him tightly. "Same here!" Yvonne choked on her breath. "I missed you so much!" Ansley smiled. "I hope you miss my drawings!" Junny patted Logan on the back. "I missed all of you, as well!" Logan smiled. He looked at the small Doberman in the background, his red hoodie on with his fur covering his eyes and his paws in his pocket. "Jason!" Logan ran over to Jason, hugging him tightly. Jason's eyes widened as the fourth grader hugged him, but he soon hugged him back. "Where's Bryson?" Logan looked around. "He's– he's gone. Dead. A train hit him." Jason looked at Logan, watching the pup's expression change. "Oh... I'm sorry..." Logan muttered. "It's fine. He died helping us." Jason out his paw on Logan's shoulder. "Who wants to head back home?" Junny said, exchanging glances with everyone. Everybody shouted excitedly as Peter pulled back up in Chris' driveway. "Heya, kiddo!" Peter messed up Logan's fur. "Sit up front with me." Logan nodded, getting in. "Now, who's going to sit in the back?" Peter asked. "I will!" Junny exclaimed, "I vote Jason does, too!" Jason smiled, hoping in the back with Junny. "Great, get your seat belts on, guys." Peter demanded. They drove back to Florence.