Chapter Eight

Johji smiled slyly as Cleo as if he knew something Hector didn't which he did. Cleo smiled back in the same cunning way. Something was going between these two. Hector was dying to find out.
Cleo leaned out and looked at Hector. “Hello Hector.”
Hector's bones felt chilled. How did she know his name? Surely Stu had mentioned him once or twice but still how did the kid know what he looked like. Something was defiantly strange about these kids; something not normal.
Stu found himself in the rain, running. From what he was running from he did not know but he didn't care. Mounts of confusion piled in his head. He didn't know where he was or who he was. Was this real? Was it all a lie? Was his life a lie? He was utterly lost. His hopes had crashed. He fell to the ground, crying softly. Lost in his wails he didn't notice the rain was stopping. He was no longer outside but he was in a warm, stone haven. Too wiped to notice, Stu had fallen into another deep sleep. Unknown to him, someone was watching him. He was an old man with a well known title. As Stu slept, he sketched Stu's outline and added more features. Stu stirred thus waking up.
“Aw, you're awake my subject.” the man said. “What do you think?” He showed Stu the portrait he had made of him.
“Why sir! That looks like Da Vinci did it himself!”
“Well of course it is for I am Da Vinci! Now would you like to join me and my colleagues for some tea?”
Stu was speechless for he was honored to be in the presence of the world renowned artist. He scrambled to his feet. Da Vinci led him down the snug corridors of his stone castle. They entered a huge study where he found two more famous artists. He looks around to see many works of Da Vinci walking around; the Mona Lisa, the anatomy and the Testa Di Giovinetta. The other two artist were Van Gogh and Picasso. Some of their pieces also walked around. Stu saw another table full of provisions and realizing his hunger, charged towards it. He stuffed his face until he had his fill. As he sat down to rest, his eyes wandered around until he saw someone at the window. He stared back at the figure. She was surely an odd looking thing. She was covered in white and black stripes, almost like a zebra. Despite the rain, she smiled and waved at him. Stu waved back which made her smile even wider. She was interesting; he liked her.
“My friend,” Picasso joined him. “Why are you gazing out the window?”
“Oh I was just looking at an amazing creature! She's----” He abruptly stopped when he noticed she had left.
“Come my friend, that creature you speak of will have a bad influence on you!”
“That's what they said about Arobi.” Stu whispered melodiously.

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