"We should be safe here," said Gabriel, his body beginning to shift back to normal.
"Woah, dude," said a random guy on a nearby bench, rubbing his eyes in disbelief. "You were just a huge dragonfly."
"Who, me?" said Gabriel, playing it off. "I think you're just seeing things. A human can't be a dragonfly, dude."
"You're right. I'm definitely tripping... I need to stay far away from this stuff."
The man stumbled off. Once the man was gone, Gabriel took off again
Gabriel landed in a field, where another man who was clearly high, was laying back.
The man rubbed his already-red eyes. "I need my home... and I need my bed. I'm never drinking again. I need my home and my bed," he mumbled, before staggering off.
"That was close," said Jai-Lee, catching her breath.
"I know," said Gabriel.
"Turn back into that dragonfly thing! There's no one around."
"Okay," said Gabriel, focusing.
But... nothing happened.
"What's wrong?" asked Jai-Lee.
"I don't know. I'm trying to, but I can't. I don't know why," said Gabriel, confused.
"That's strange," Jai-Lee muttered.
Then Gabriel's phone began to ring again.
"It's my mom," he said.
"Answer it."
"Mom, I know, I'm sorry, I lost track of time."
"Get an Uber right now and meet us at the restaurant," said Nicole firmly.
"Okay, Mom. See you soon."
Gabriel looked at Jai-Lee. "I've gotta go. We'll catch up at school tomorrow."
"See you there," said Jai-Lee.
***
As Gabriel arrived at the dinner, fashionably late, his mother greeted him with open arms, hugging and kissing him.
"Better late than never," said Daniel.
"Really, bro? We're doing this again?" said Gabriel, rolling his eyes.
"What?" Daniel laughed.
"Gabriel, over here! Over here!" called Robert, signaling his son over.
"This is my oldest son, Gabriel," said Robert to his colleagues.
"He's the spitting image of your wife," one of the scientists remarked.
"Looks like your father," another added.
"Now that I think about it—I do see your father in him," said a third.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, regardless of who you look like," said one, and they all laughed together.
Suddenly, Robert's phone started to ring.
He reached into his pocket, it was the local police department.
Robert froze. His heart sank.
No... he wouldn't... would he?
No—if he sold me out, that would implicate him, Robert thought, snapping out of his daze.
"Hello?" he answered, cautious.
"Is this Robert James?"
"Speaking."
"This is Jesse from Chaseville Police Department. There's been a break-in at your lab…"
Before Jesse could say another word, Robert cut the call off and bolted from the restaurant.
"Is everything okay?" asked Nicole, but he didn't respond. He ran straight past her, jumped into his car, and drove like a man possessed, blowing through red lights, weaving through traffic, racing toward the lab.
When Robert arrived, the police were still there, and he could see his building was a mess.
"What happened here?" said Robert to the police.
"Robert, I take it?" said Jesse. "I was hoping you might know who would do something like this."
Robert paused for a moment, wanting to blurt out Derrick's name, but he knew if he did, he would put his family in danger because no matter what, Derrick would take him down with him.
"I don't have a clue, officer. I'm a family man, a person of good standing who just focuses on his work and family. No one would have any reason to do something like this. Am I able to go inside?" said Robert.
"Unfortunately, it's an active crime scene, so at the moment, no," said Jesse.
"I just need to see if my dragonfly is still there. Please, officer," said Robert.
"Wait there," said Jesse before getting on his comms.
"Did anyone find a dragonfly in the…?"
"Positive," replied Kieran. "The dragonfly was found, in a case. It's okay."
"Okay, I'll let him know," said Jesse, turning to Robert. "The dragonfly has been found in its container, safe and sound. One of my officers will bring it right out for you."
"Thank you," said Robert, letting out a sigh of relief.
"Robert, it's best that you go home. There's nothing you can do here. But take my card, if you can think of anything, even something little, give me a call. Even the littlest of things can help with our investigation," said Officer Jesse.
"I will," said Robert, taking the card from Officer Jesse.
***
"What the hell happened in there?" said Derrick.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you, boss," said the leader of the op.
"Try me," said Derrick.
"There was a huge dragonfly guy… boy…I dunno. He was fast, lightning fast. Took us off guard, knocked us all out. When we came back, we started to hear police sirens getting closer. We had to get out of there ASAP," said the leader of the op.
"Hmm," responded Derrick.
"I told you that you wouldn't believe us," said the leader.
"If I didn't see it with my own eyes, you're right, I wouldn't have believed you. But I did see that thing flying out... with a Chinese girl. So today's your lucky day. Now let's get out of here," said Derrick.
***
The following morning, Gabriel woke up refreshed.
"Gabriel, come on, get a move on, you're going to be late for school!" shouted Nicole.
"Okay, Mom! I'm coming!"
But as Gabriel started to walk towards his door, he caught a glimpse of himself in the wardrobe mirror.
"ARGHHHH!" he screamed at the top of his lungs.
Robert came rushing down the corridor. "What's wrong, son?" he said, trying to open the door.
Gabriel noticed the door handle turning and quickly grabbed it, pushing back against Robert's force.
"What's going on, Gabe? Are you okay? I heard the scream, let me in," said Robert.
"I'm fine, Dad. I'm fine!" said Gabriel.
"Let me in," Robert insisted.
"No, Dad! I'm not decent!" responded Gabriel, irritated that his dad had chosen today of all days to get involved in his life.
"Boy, we're both men here, it's nothing I haven't seen before!" said Robert, trying again to push the door open. But Robert was really struggling, not even able to get the door to budge an inch.
"When did you get so strong, boy? You been hitting the gym?" said Robert.
"Nah, Dad, it's just the James genes, I guess." Gabriel knew he had to butter up his dad's ego to distract him—and it worked like a charm.
"Okay then, boy. I'll see you downstairs," said Robert.
"Alright, Dad," responded Gabriel.
Gabriel immediately ran to pick up his phone, FaceTiming Jai-Lee.
"Gabe, I'm not ready yet. I'll just meet you at the gates," said Jai-Lee.
"Jai, look at me. Look at me, Jai."
When Jai-Lee looked over at the phone, Gabriel was transformed.
"WHAT?! You figured it out? Nice!" said Jai-Lee.
"No, Jai, I literally took a stretch, and the next thing I know, I see myself in the mirror and I'm transformed. Do you know how close I was to my family seeing me like this?"
"Maybe they should know. Maybe your dad can help you," said Jai-Lee.
"Jai, have you never read a comic or watched a superhero movie? Rule number one is: never tell your family. It puts them in danger, and we've already had people try and kill us," said Gabriel.
"You're right," said Jai-Lee. "My bad."
Gabriel let out a deep breath and tried to relax.
"Now for the bug problem, I can't go out like this."
"Gabe," said Jai-Lee, "I don't think the world's ready for a large human bug."
"Gabe," said Jai-Lee again, "I think it would be the shock of their lives."
"GABE!!" shouted Jai-Lee.
"What? What?" responded Gabriel.
"You've changed back!"
"What? Really?" said Gabriel, touching his face before going over to the mirror. "Thank God for that."
"But we need to figure out how to get this transformation thing under control, Gabe."
"I second that," said Gabriel. "I'll see you at school, my dad's calling me downstairs."
As Gabriel made his way downstairs, his family was at the table eating breakfast.
Robert's phone started to ring. As he answered it, it was one of the builders hired to fix the lab.
"I need you to come down and sign some papers," said the builder.
"Now?" asked Robert.
"The sooner the better," responded the builder.
"Okay. I'm on my way," said Robert, cutting off the call.
As Robert got up from his seat, his gaze fell upon Daniel.
"You with me now?" said Robert with an authoritative tone.
"Dad, do I have to? I can just wait here until you're done," said Daniel.
"You must think I was born yesterday. Leave you here so you can play games? Not a chance. Get your coat and get in the car. Now."
"Alright, alright, Dad, I'm going."
"Any chance you can give me a lift to school?" asked Gabriel.
"I'm not heading that way, son. Your school's in the opposite direction. And Gabriel, how could you let your brother get suspended?" said Robert.
Gabriel nearly choked on his food. "Me?" he shouted.
"Lower your tone, boy," said Robert.
"I'm sorry, Dad, but you're blaming me for a whole human being's actions? That's hardly fair," said Gabriel.
"He's your younger brother, and you go to the same school. You should be watching over him and making sure he keeps out of trouble—is all I'm saying," said Robert.
"Dad, as much as I get what you're saying, high school is a big... maze. Also he's in junior high. It's a different building. And it's hard enough to navigate yourself, let alone for two people. But I'll do my best to keep an eye on him as much as I can," said Gabriel.
"Thank you, Gabriel. That's all I ask," said Robert.
"I don't need a babysitter, Dad," said Daniel.
"Clearly you do, fighting, skipping class, and now getting suspended? Clearly the people you surround yourself with are bad influences. So yes... your brother will be babysitting you."
"Gabriel got into a fight and I didn't see him get this treatment from you," he said in a sullen tone.
Robert turned to glare at Gabriel who in turn glared at Daniel.
Daniel didn't say another word. He walked out of the house and waited by the car.
"See you later, son," said Robert to Gabriel.
"Bye, Dad," said Gabriel, as he headed out to school.