Chapter 16 - X marks the Spot

When the bird flew in, Johnny dashed off in search of a broom to kill or capture the intruder. He flung open hall and kitchen closets until he found one, returning only to see Logan's black cat slinking off with the crow in tow. Did any more get in? he asked, lowering the broom from swatting position.

No, only the one got in, so we're okay for now. We need to get this done and quickly. Logan says as he looks at Johnny and Eddard. Looking over at Anna, Logan speaks again. Will you go talk to Gram? Let her know that one of the birds got in and we took care of it. Let her know we're cleaning up and checking to make sure everything is okay.

"Also, those are Logan's friend Eddard and a tattoo artist he found for us," Al adds, answering her question.

A confused Anna is left to deal with their Grandmother and to try calm her down, as the rest of the Hunters lead Eddard and Melissa upstairs in the Monster HQ.
Birds follow their ascent from outside, peeking through any window along the house stairwell, until they get out of their sight in Logan’s HQ.

He looks nervously at the small window and its closed curtains. "This is bad... we’re under siege in here. So, what was Ramon’s hidden thing? Is it here?"

He hastily makes some room on a desk for Melissa. "you’d better get started. Logan, give her something to copy the tattoo. Who’s first?"

"You didn’t tell me I had to tattoo some minors, man. Are you sure their parents will be OK with this? I don’t want any trouble."

"I don't know if I want a tattoo," Al frowns. "I mean, I also don't want to be attacked by birds, but..." She doesn't look very happy about this idea. "Maybe you can just tattoo Ripper and then I always stick close to her. She has fur, so nobody will even see!"

A slamming noise at the window follows, making everybody jump.

"Uh-uh, young lady... you don’t get it. If Ramon had a tattoo, and could hide from the enemy for years... you DO WANT that tattoo, believe me! Or the enemy will always know where to find you!"

Melissa looks frowning from Eddard to the kids, trying to follow.

"But Ripper is my protector!" Al picks up her puppy who barks happily once. "And if she has the tattoo and I'm always with her, that should be enough! Solomon never attacked anyone else in the old folks' home, so maybe it has, like, a range!"

"But if you tattoo me and my parents find out, they'll kill me! My mom is way scarier than Solomon," Al says. She squeezes her puppy a bit tighter in her hug. "They might even take Ripper away."

"What about your little brother?"

We really don't know how, or why, the tattoo Ramon had even works. Or if it'd work on anyone else... Magic, or whatever it was, needed an instruction book. He might've had a voodoo priest or witchdoctor or medicine man put it on him in order to work.
I dunno. Johnny threw his hands up in exasperation.
I guess there has to be a guinea pig, right? he asked. Eddard could try it first since he's an adult and all. If it works on him then maybe we could consider getting it on us... I wonder if it'd work if it was tattooed on leather and we wore it that way??

"He can get Brat tattooed across his forehead," Al says. "Just make sure to let our parents know I wasn't involved."

Logan stands there shaking his head. Your brother can't get a tattoo...of any kind. He goes with anything like that and you know you can kiss Ripper and the Hunters good bye. Given that situation, I agree you're not the most logical choice either. It needs to be someone that keep it hidden and keep it a secret.

Logan looks at everyone that's gathered in the room. Do you guys also realize that the only way to see if the tattoo works is to walk outside...where the birds are. So who's brave enough for that trip?

He rolls up his sleeve,"OK, OK... I get it. I'll be guinea pig. Live dangerously, right?... I'm first up, Melissa. Now Logan: very important. We need this tattoo to be exactly as you've seen Ramon wear it." Melissa nods and sets up two chairs in front of Logan's desk. She starts disinfecting her needle pen with spirit. She sets up a range of ink colours in small containers on the desk.
"Show me what you need tattooed, and where you want it."

Logan points to where on Eddard's arms the tattoos need to go. Showing Melissa the scrap of paper with the tattoo on it, Logan explains what needs to be done. This is where the tattoo needs to go, it needs to be on both arms. Here's what the tattoo looks like.

As Melissa gets to work on Eddard's arms, the bumping on the window of the Monster HQ attic gets more violent, until the glass of the window starts cracking!

Melissa looks worried at the window, pausing her work.

"Don't stop! Carry on! You guys! keep those birds out! Go Go Go!!!"

Johnny casts about, looking for anything to cover the windows.