The Monster Exorcist Chapter 4

Everything soon fell into place on the third day of school. I remember it as the day I discovered my life was a lie, and the countless secrets which had been hidden from me by my adopted family, finally came to light.

It all began when Isaac decided to approach me. We hadn't directly spoken since the first day, so I assumed he didn't have the guts to face me. I finished my lunch only to look up and find him hovering over my desk like the grim reaper looming over a deathbed.

“Can I have a word with you?” He asked.

I turned around to say look at this guys, Isaac wants a word with me, until I realized this wasn't middle school anymore and my friends had all abandoned me to go to different schools instead.

I suppressed the feeling of being friendless, and rose to follow Isaac as he left the classroom. I wasn't surprised when he failed to start-up a colorful conversation, so I decided to ask the one thing I'd been dying to know.

“So what's going on with you and Annie?” I asked.

“Annie?” He scoffed. “That's a pretty friendly way to talk about someone you barely know.”

“Maybe I don't know her well yet, but I will soon.”

“That's a stupid assumption.”

“Hey! Annie and I obviously have a connection.”

“Yeah, whatever.”

“Dick,” I muttered under my breath.

I was uncertain if he heard me, but he continued moving his mouth regardless.” You should give up on Annie. There's another sixteen girls in the class who are probably stupid enough to fall for your playboy attitude.”

“Yeah but,” I tried to think up a witty response. “What's your problem anyway, is she your girlfriend?”

“No, we're just friends.”

“But you like her right? But she won't go out with you because you're too much of an arse!”

Isaac stopped dead in his tracks, turned to face me, and narrowed his eyes in anger. I didn't think it was possible for him to look moodier, but he quickly exceeded my expectations. “I don't usually beat up idiots because it's not always their fault,” he said. “But for you I'm willing to make an exception.”

“What's wrong, did I hit a sore spot?” I raised my fists and began jumping from side to side in case of any incoming assault. “Come on, bring it!”

Isaac scoffed. “We should probably go somewhere with less people, you don't want to get in trouble with any of the teachers right?”

He had a point. I was smart enough to know that getting suspended in the first week wouldn't be the best start to my high school career.

I followed him outside to the back of the school. There was a small space between the school building and the fence which was beyond the teacher's gaze. I was about to compliment him on his excellent choice of a battleground, until we turned the corner and I realized the terrible mistake I'd made.

Before me stood another four students who were all larger than I was. They looked too tall to be in first year, so I assumed they were in either second or third. There was a tall guy playing on his cell phone, a guy who appeared to be the biggest (and fattest) student I'd seen at school, and one more guy with curly hair who was anxiously kicking the dirt by his feet. The last student was a girl with bleached blonde hair and bracelets (which I'm certain is against school policy). Her face was devoid of emotion, and given the way her hands were crossed against her chest, I wouldn't have put it past her to rip out a crow bar and swing it towards my head.

For the first time in my life (and obviously not the last) I felt the terror of knowing I was going to die. I froze.

“What's your problem, scared?” Isaac hissed. He began shoving me towards them and I was too petrified to fight back.

"So this is the guy you were talking about?" Asked the big guy.

"More or less," said Isaac. "I wouldn't give your hopes up."

Hopes? I thought. Did that mean I wasn't up to standard as a victim?

The guy playing on his cell phone finally stopped and slid it back into his pocket. He was a foot taller than me with thick black hair and dark brown eyes. He also cast an imposing shadow.

“Oh hey, sorry, this is the first time we've met isn't it?” He said, “I'm Tyson Song, I see you've already met Isaac. This guy is Kurt," he pointed to the large guy. "The guy with the curly hair is Laurence, and this girl is Katie."

"Nice to meet you,” I said nervously. “I think." I wasn't sure if it was common for bullies to introduce themselves before they took a swing at you.

“Now, how should we go about this?" Pondered Tyson.

I backed up slowly until my heels hit the fence. His face didn't look aggressive, but that just made him scarier. I was certain he was planning the most effective way to beat my face in. I considered running for my life, but I had a feeling they'd soon catch me.

"Your name is Michael Matsumoto right?" Said the big guy named Kurt.

"Oh yeah, would it be alright if we took a look at your ID?" Asked Tyson.

I hesitantly reached for my wallet while keeping one eye on them (in case they attempted to make a grab for it), pulled out my school ID card, and handed it to Tyson.

All five of them crowded around in a circle. The curly-haired guy called Laurence didn't fit, so he had to jump up and down behind Katie's shoulder to get a better look.

"Wow you're right, his name really is Michael Matsumoto," said Kurt.

"It’s even written the same way and everything," said Laurence.

It was almost comical to watch them all hovering over my school ID. I used to think I was a pretty cool guy, but I knew I wasn't famous enough to receive that amount of awe. "Hey guys,” I coughed.

“What's so interesting about that card?"

Tyson held it up to the light and turned it back and forth like he was checking for errors. "Sorry, here you go," he handed it back to me. "You wouldn't happen to be related to a different guy called Michael Matsumoto would you?"

"Yeah," I shrugged, trying to think of the best way to explain the relationship between the other Michael and I. "I had an older brother with the same name."

I watched their draws drop open. It's hard to describe their shock in words, so I wish I had a camera. Laurence pounced, grabbed me by the shoulders, and began to shake me back and forth.

"Really! Are you serious? Was Michael Matsumoto really your brother?" His voice was higher than I expected and it almost hurt my ears.

“Shut up Laurence,” muttered Kurt. He then turned to me and narrowed his eyes in suspicion. “You're not making this up are you?”

I attempted to pry Laurence's fingers from my shoulders. “Well actually more like my step brother, his father adopted me.”

“I see, so you were adopted by Able Matsumoto, that's pretty cool,” said Tyson. “But also kind of creepy that you have the same name,” he added.

“So he's not actually related,” said Katie. “That's kind of disappointing.”

“Didn't I say you were going to be disappointed,” said Isaac.

“But if you're the adopted son of Able Matsumoto then you should know all about monsters?” Asked Tyson.

“Of course,” I said. I thought back to all the tales of monsters that Grandpa told me as a child. I found it odd that these people also knew about his monster obsession. I'd never considered that he may have been a well-known monster expert.

“That's good,” said Tyson. “So I guess we don't have to hide that we're exorcists from you.”

“Exorcists?” I muttered in confusion. Unless I'd misheard, I was certain he'd claimed they were exorcists. I pictured all five of them dressed up as priests with a cross in one hand and a bottle of holy water in the other. I'd seen a few movies about possessed people who called upon the help of exorcists to drive out the devil inside, but I never knew that such people could also be high school students.

“So you deal with possessed people?” I asked skeptically. I had a feeling they were either making it up, or it was one of those role-playing clubs were people dressed up and pretended to be fantasy characters.

“Sometimes,” said Tyson. “But we usually exterminate monsters.”

“Oh so you exterminate monsters,” I decided to play along. I once got into an argument with the class nerd who used to believe he was an alien and I didn't wish to repeat the experience. “That's nice.”

“Yeah, pretty much. Hey do you want to see some pictures?” He asked.

“I suppose,” I shrugged.

“Hey Tyson, I'm not sure if you should do that,” said Isaac.

“Relax Isaac. It's cool,” Tyson whipped out his phone and began sliding his finger around the screen. He found what he was looking for and handed me his phone.

I expected to see them all dressed up in fake costumes, but the graphics were exceedingly good and almost lifelike. It appeared to be a giant raccoon, except it was the size of a person. Its teeth and claws were sharp, long, and dripping what looked like blood.

“Hey this is pretty good, that blood looks almost real,” I said.

“Of course it’s real. Man that guy got me good, I have this whole scar now and everything,” Tyson pulled up his sleeve to show me a bandage that extended from his wrist to the elbow. “But you know that chicks always dig battle wounds,” he said while winking at Katie, who in return scoffed and looked away.

No they couldn't be serious, it couldn't be true. I thought. I stared at the pictures, and then at Tyson's arm, then back at the screen, and then at his arm again. I repeated this for almost a minute, until the realization finally hit me.

“MONSTERS ARE REAL!” I screamed.

“Keep your voice down,” hissed Kurt as he looked over his shoulder and scanned the area for people.

“I thought you knew already,” whispered Tyson.

“No, I thought they were all stories.” I felt quite distressed and Tyson had to pry his phone out of my fingers because I refused to let go. “I didn't think they actually existed.”

“Great one Tyson,” said Katie. “Just wait until Akito hears about this. You're going to get grounded,” she added in a sing-song voice.

“Does that mean there's really a raccoon monster, and a naked fox lady who will eat your heart out?!” I asked.

“Geez,” moaned Tyson. “I really thought you knew already. Especially since Able Matsumoto was a well-known exorcist.”

“GRANDPA WAS AN EXORCIST?!”

“What! You seriously didn't know about Able Matsumoto either,” said Isaac. “Idiot!”

“I was only a little kid when he died!”

“I suppose it's not your fault then,” said Tyson. “It's a shame though, Able Matsumoto was pretty famous. He wasn't as famous as Michael Matsumoto, but he still had a good reputation back in the day.”

“Michael MATSUMOTO WAS AN EXORCIST TOO!?”

“Hey will you shut up already,” said Kurt. “I'm pretty sure the classroom above us could hear you. You're almost as loud as Laurence.”

“No one told me that my brother Michael was an exorcist,” I whispered.

“He was the best there ever was,” said Katie. “We have to read up on him all the time.”

“Akito made me write a report last week as punishment for missing my curfew, it really sucked,” said Kurt.

“What were you doing out that late?” Asked Katie.

“I had stuff to do, and then I missed the bus and had to walk the rest of the way.”

“Yeah that happened to me too, but there's another bus that comes from the opposite side of the road, and it goes until about elev-”

“Hey!” I interrupted, trying to get them back on track. “Do you think you could tell me more about Michael Matsumoto?” I always wanted to know more about the guy I was named after. Sis always got depressed if I asked, and sometimes cried. It was like her not so secret weakness.

“Michael Matsumoto was pretty famous fifteen or twenty years ago,” said Tyson. “Some people believe he may have been the strongest exorcist there ever was. There wasn't a monster out there that he couldn't beat. Cats, dogs, raccoons, rats, and pigs all fell before him.”

“But then he was trying to pick up a girl and it turned out to be a fox monster,” added Kurt. “She plunged her hand into his chest and ripped out his heart before he even had time to reach for a protection charm.”

They all hung their heads as though taking a moment of silence. “It's a hard lesson for all male exorcists,” said Tyson.

“That any hot chick could actually be a monster plotting to rip your insides out,” added Kurt.

“It happened to my uncle too,” said Laurence. “He even married her without realizing. One day she got hungry and he refused to go to the convenience store to buy her anything. She was still munching on his leg when they were discovered the next day.”

“Ewww, Laurence that so gross,” said Katie. Her face screwed up in disgust. “I thought I told you to stop telling that story in front of me.”

I stood there with my mouth open in horror. It was like all my childhood fears had suddenly become reality. I used to think that Laurence was pretty annoying, but given what was to occur months later, I now wish I'd paid more attention to his horror stories.

Tyson must have seen the terror on my face because he attempted to lighten the mood. “On a happier note, all exorcists in the area go to this school, so there's no need to worry about man-eating monsters here.”

He patted me on the back and I knew he was trying to console me, but I didn't feel better.

“It's not like we had a choice though,” said Isaac. “I don't understand why we have to go to this dump.”

Kurt groaned. “Not this again.”

“We already went through this Isaac,” said Tyson. “This is the only high school sponsored by the exorcist organization.”

“Yeah it's not so bad man. There's no need to moan about it all the time. You should just relax more,” said Kurt. “Take advantage of the situation.”

“Wait,” I interrupted. “This high school is sponsored by your organization?”

“Yeah it's pretty difficult for us to do well in school when we have to stay up all night hunting monsters,” said Tyson. “It's almost impossible for us to get our homework done in time.”

“And then there's exorcist studies,” said Kurt.

“And weapons maintenance,” said Katie.

“So the organization donates money here to help us pass high school,” said Tyson.

 I thought that sounded nice. I couldn't help thinking that it wouldn't be so bad if someone paid the school money to give me good grades, but then I realized what that would mean.

“Wait! Isn't that bribery?!” I yelled

“No of course not,” said Tyson. “But now that I stop and think about it.”

“Are you seriously saying that you don't have to do your homework?” I asked.

“But it's not like we don't want to, it's just not always possible,” said Kurt. “But Isaac here is the family smart arse so he always gets everything done.”

“Great going Isaac, you're making the rest of us look bad,” said Katie. “Now Akito expects us all to finish our homework.”

“I had to stay up until three!” Said Laurence.

“Well, maybe if you didn't spend so much time doing your make up in the morning, you'd even get to school on time Katie,” muttered Isaac.

“What would you know Isaac? Do you understand how important looks are to a girl, what would everyone think if I arrived at school with no make up? It would be social suicide.”

“But he does have a point Katie. You have spent a lot of our funds on hair products,” said Kurt.

“What's that supposed to mean?” She snapped.

“Nothing, I'm only implying that we could buy other useful things with the money you spend on hairspray.”

“Like what Kurt, hamburgers?”

I watched as they slowly fell into an all out argument. Tyson attempted to intervene, but his voice of reason couldn't be heard over Katie's shrill insults. Isaac stepped back, whipped out a set of flashcards, and began memorizing them like nothing was happening. Maybe he was used to this sort of situation.

The cogs in my head began turning. So the exorcists didn't have to follow the school rules. Did that mean that if I joined them, I could also sleep until nine and not have to worry about handing my assignments in?

“Hey, hey!” I yelled while trying to get their attention. “Do you think that maybe I could also become an exorcist?”

Part of me already expected to be shot down. Like the time I tried to join the cool group in elementary school. What I didn't expect was for them to all stop arguing and begin simultaneously laughing.

I felt confused. “I don't get it, what's so funny?”

“You, an exorcist?” Laughed Isaac.

“Check this out,” said Kurt. “It looks like Michael Matsumoto, suddenly wants to be like, wait for it, Michael Matsumoto.”

“I'm sorry to disappoint you,” laughed Tyson. “But not just anyone can become an exorcist, there are conditions.”

“Really! Like what?” I asked skeptically. It couldn't be that hard, the five of them didn't look that special.

“Condition number one,” he held up one finger to emphasize his point. “You have to actually be born into an exorcist family. Not adopted into one.”

“But-”

He cut me off. “Condition number two, you need to possess the minimum requirement of spiritual power. Just because your parents are exorcists doesn't mean that you can be too. And condition number three, you have to begin training from age five.”

“There used to be another condition saying that only men could join, but they've eased up on this recently,” added Katie.

“Five, isn't that a bit young?” I couldn't imagine Sophie having the attention span to begin training for anything.

“But it's necessary for the development of spiritual power,” said Tyson. “You need to begin training while your body is still pliable. If you wait a few more years it's already too late.”

“Which is why it's already too late for you, even if you meet conditions one and two,” nodded Kurt.

“Yeah but,” I stuttered. “It might be impossible to become an exorcist, but maybe I could do something else. Like carry your weapons, or take better pictures with your cell phone?”

Tyson was quiet for a moment and began to mull it over. “I suppose you could be our slave if you really wanted, but the guys back home don't like to involve normal people in exorcist affairs. They like to keep everything as secret as possible. We would all get into a lot of trouble if they ever found out.”

I felt deflated. A wonderful opportunity to increase my fun at high school suddenly appeared, and was then mercilessly ripped away from me. I was in the middle of thinking up another way I could be useful to the exorcists, when the bell rang. It was the end of lunch time.

“We should all get to class, you wouldn't want to be late,” said Tyson. He made a shooing action with his hands and the others turned and began to make their way back. “And one more thing,” he grabbed me by the collar and shoved me against the fence. “No matter what, don't tell a single soul about what happened here today. If you breathe one word of this to anyone I will personally make your next year of high school a living hell,” his eyes were cold and serious, and I had no reason to doubt him.
 

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