Chapter 5:Meeting Hanna Sophia. Floyd’s heart sk
Chapter 5:Meeting Hanna Sophia.
Floyd’s heart skipped a beat as he leaned his head closer to the door. The muffled sounds grew louder until they formed a pattern—three knocks, gentle yet insistent. He took a deep breath, his fingers hovering over the handle. The anticipation was thick in the air, and he couldn’t help but wonder who or what was on the other side. The curiosity was too much to bear, so he swung the door open, revealing a human girl with the most enchanting brown eyes he had ever seen.
Her hair, dark brown as the dryland, fluttered around her face, framing her smile that was as bright as the moonlit night. “Heeeell-” she began again, but Floyd closes the door abruptly. The sudden movement left the girl on the other side looking puzzled. He opens it back again, his nerves slightly frayed.
“-llo!” She finished her greeting, her wave lingering in the air. Floyd closes the door again, his instincts screaming at him to protect the secrets within his home.
“Hey, Branch?” Floyd called out, his voice echoing through the dimly lit corridor of the bunker.
“What..?” Branch grunted from the shadows, his eyes still not fully adjusted to the sudden influx of light from the open door.
“The Human Animal Shape-shifter is at the door,” Floyd explained, his voice low and urgent.
Branch’s eyes widened in the shadows. “What?!” he exclaimed, his body tensing up. He had heard the legends of humans with the power to transform into animals, but never in his wildest dreams did he think he’d meet one.
“The who?” Clay questioned, his curiosity piqued.
Floyd looked back at Branch, his expression a mix of fear and fascination. “What should I do?”
Branch took a moment to think, his mind racing. “Uh, well, don’t let her in!” he warned, his voice a mix of urgency and uncertainty.
Floyd decided to disregard Branch’s advice once more and opens the door for her.
“Can i speak now?” She asked with a grin, raising an eyebrow at the closed door.
“You can.” Floyd nodded, stepping aside to let her in.
“Hi, i’m Hanna. Hanna Sophia. It’s nice to meet you, sir.” Hanna introduced herself and stepped into the bunker, her eyes widening in amazement as she took in the surroundings. The space was a cluttered mess of mechanical parts, tools, and various contraptions, but she saw beyond the chaos to the passion and creativity that had shaped it.
“Excuse my sudden visit, but I saw your song on a stage show and I just couldn’t resist! What a performance! I didn’t know you had a reference of that song but it’s made by ‘Yoasobi’!” Hanna said, her laughter filling the room as she remembered the lyrics to ‘Idol’.
“What a nice voice.” Hanna added, looking around the bunker. But, Branch aims his stick at her, his eyes gleaming with suspicion.
“Not so fast!” Branch growled, emerging from the shadows with a stick pointed at Hanna like a spear.
“Tu patética monstro criatura (You pathetic monster creature), i know your game and I’m not gonna let you hurt anyone here, you pompous cheesy talkshow craplord!” Branch snarled, his stick shaking slightly with the weight of his accusations.
Hanna chuckles, and uses her finger to lower down Branch’s stick. “Mister, if I wanted to hurt anyone here, I would’ve done so already…” She grinned widely, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Branch and Floyd stared at her, their expressions a mirror of each other’s fear.
“No, silly! I’m here because I want to help!” Hanna exclaimed, stepping closer to Branch, her hand reaching out to touch his stick. Her touch was warm, and there was a strange energy that seemed to emanate from her fingertips.
“Say what now?” Floyd’s ears perked up, his eyes narrowing at the human’s audacity.
“I’m here to help,” Hanna repeated, her voice steady and calm. “I heard about your band, and I know you guys are looking for something… something special.”
Hanna trails Floyd into the main room of the bunker, her eyes taking in the chaotic arrangement of tech and parts scattered around. “Wow, you guys are really into the DIY scene, huh?” She laughs, looking around.
“Uh, so… uh, what’s the deal with brown girl over there?” Clay referrred to Hanna, his curiosity overshadowing his fear.
Branch was shocked that his brother didn’t recognize the name. “Wait, you’ve never heard of her before? You’ve been here longer than me!” Branch asked incredulously.
Clay shrugged, his gaze still fixed on Hanna.
“The Human Animal Shape-shifter: one of the most powerful girl beings has ever seen?” Branch muttered under his breath, his eyes never leaving Hanna.
Clay shrugged again, his eyes glancing from Branch to Hanna and back again. “Eh, not big on politics.” Clay said with a shrug.
“Ugh.” Branch groaned and began to tell the story of Hanna, the human with the power of animal shape-shifting. “Years ago, Hanna Sophia discovered she could transform into various creatures at will. It was a gift, but also a curse. Humans feared her, ostracized her, and soon she found refuge among the animals of the forest. Her days were spent learning from the wolves, the crows, the bears—each creature had something unique to teach her about the world and herself. Humans started calling her “The Human Animal Shape-shifter”, as lazy as that is. Many whispered she was a witch, a monster, something to be feared. But she knew she was different, and she was determined to use her gift for good. But one thing’s for sure: She’s got a sense of sniffing out secrets like a wolf, and she’s as persistent as a cat with a laser pointer.” Branch narrates with a touch of admiration in his voice.
“Are you done? She looks like a cocoa cutie babe!” Clay chuckled, not catching the gravity of Branch’s words.
“Well, i don’t trust her! I only trust Poppy.” Branch stated firmly, his eyes narrowing at Hanna.
“To be fair, do you trust any woman? Any women? Women?” Clay smirked, poking fun at Branch’s well-known distrust of anyone outside their immediate group.
Branch grabs Floyd by the shoulders, his eyes burning with urgency. “Floyd, listen to me. You can’t believe this human! She isn’t just a happy girl! She’s a story writer! Pure good! She can’t be redeemed… And is most likely looking for a way to destroy everything we’re trying to do!” Branch’s voice was filled with tension, his grip on Floyd’s shoulders tightening.
Floyd looked into Branch’s eyes, searching for any hint of doubt. “I… we don’t know that! Look, I know she’s good, and I know she probably doesn’t wanna change, but the whole point of this is to give people a chance!” Floyd’s voice was earnest, his belief in second chances unshakeable.
Hanna is looking at the portrait of his grandmother, Rosiepuff. She couldn’t help but feel drawn to the warmth and kindness that seemed to radiate from the painted eyes. The colors were vibrant, a stark contrast to the metal and wire that surrounded them. She reached out to touch the frame, her eyes never leaving the image.
“To have faith things will be better! How can I turn someone away? I can’t. It goes against everything I’m trying to do. Everything I believe in.” Floyd’s voice was soft but firm, his eyes never leaving Branch’s.
Branch sighed, his grip on Floyd’s shoulders loosening. “Just… trust me. I can take care of myself!” Floyd pleaded, his gaze unwavering.
“Floyd, whatever you do, do not trust her,” Branch whispered fiercely, his gaze flickering towards Hanna, who was now examining a broken gear with curious fascination.
“Don’t worry, I picked up one thing from John Dory! ‘You don’t take crap from other people!'” Floyd said, his voice carrying a hint of defiance. He stepped away from Branch, moving closer to Hanna.
Floyd’s heart pounded like a drum solo as he leaned closer to the door. The muffled sounds were getting louder, transforming into a rhythmic pattern: three knocks, gentle yet insistent. He took a deep breath, his fingers hovering over the handle. The anticipation was suffocating, a swirling vortex of curiosity and apprehension. Who or what could be on the other side? The suspense was unbearable, so he threw open the door, revealing a human girl with the most captivating brown eyes he’d ever seen.
Her hair, dark as the dryland, danced around her face, framing a smile as bright as the moonlit night. “Heeeell-” she began, but Floyd slammed the door shut with a resounding thud. The sudden movement left the girl on the other side looking bewildered. He opened the door again, his nerves frayed.
“-lo!” She finished her greeting, her wave lingering in the air. Floyd shut the door again, his instincts screaming at him to protect the secrets hidden within his home.
“Hey, Branch?” Floyd called out, his voice echoing through the dimly lit corridor of the bunker.
“What..?” Branch grunted from the shadows, his eyes still adjusting to the sudden influx of light.
“The Human Animal Shape-shifter is at the door,” Floyd explained, his voice low and urgent.
Branch’s eyes widened in the darkness. “What?!” he exclaimed, his body stiffening. He had heard the legends of humans who could transform into animals, but never in his wildest dreams did he think he’d actually meet one.
“The who?” Clay questioned, his curiosity piqued.
Floyd looked back at Branch, his expression a mixture of fear and fascination. “What should I do?”
Branch took a moment to process, his mind racing. “Uh, well, don’t let her in!” he warned, his voice a mix of urgency and uncertainty.
Floyd, ever the rebel, disregarded Branch’s advice and opened the door once more.
“Can I speak now?” she asked with a grin, raising an eyebrow at the closed door.
“You can.” Floyd nodded, stepping aside to let her in.
“Hi, I’m Hanna. Hanna Sophia. It’s nice to meet you, sir.” Hanna introduced herself and stepped into the bunker, her eyes widening in amazement as she took in the surroundings. The space was a chaotic jumble of mechanical parts, tools, and various contraptions, but she saw beyond the mess to the passion and creativity that had shaped it.
“Excuse my sudden visit, but I saw your song on a stage show and I just couldn’t resist! What a performance! I didn’t know you had a reference for that song, but it’s made by ‘Yoasobi’!” Hanna said, her laughter filling the room as she recalled the lyrics to ‘Idol’.
“What a nice voice,” Hanna added, glancing around the bunker. But, Branch pointed his stick at her, his eyes gleaming with suspicion.
“Not so fast!” Branch growled, emerging from the shadows with a stick pointed at Hanna like a spear.
“Tu patética monstro criatura (You pathetic monster creature), I know your game, and I’m not gonna let you hurt anyone here, you pompous cheesy talkshow craplord!” Branch snarled, his stick trembling slightly with the weight of his accusations.
Hanna chuckled and used her finger to lower Branch’s stick. “Mister, if I wanted to hurt anyone here, I would’ve done so already…” She grinned widely, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Branch and Floyd stared at her, their expressions mirroring each other’s fear.
“No, silly! I’m here because I want to help!” Hanna exclaimed, stepping closer to Branch, her hand reaching out to touch his stick. Her touch was warm, and there was a strange energy that seemed to emanate from her fingertips.
“Say what now?” Floyd’s ears perked up, his eyes narrowing at the human’s audacity.
“I’m here to help,” Hanna repeated, her voice steady and calm. “I heard about your band, and I know you guys are looking for something… something special.”
Hanna followed Floyd into the main room of the bunker, her eyes absorbing the chaotic arrangement of tech and parts scattered around. “Wow, you guys are really into the DIY scene, huh?” She laughed, looking around.
“Uh, so… uh, what’s the deal with brown girl over there?” Clay referred to Hanna, his curiosity overshadowing his fear.
Branch was shocked that his brother didn’t recognize the name. “Wait, you’ve never heard of her before? You’ve been here longer than me!” Branch asked incredulously.
Clay shrugged, his gaze still fixed on Hanna.
“The Human Animal Shape-shifter: one of the most powerful beings the world has ever seen?” Branch muttered under his breath, his eyes never leaving Hanna.
Clay shrugged again, his eyes glancing from Branch to Hanna and back again. “Eh, not big on politics.” Clay said with a shrug.
“Ugh.” Branch groaned and began to tell the story of Hanna, the human with the power of animal shape-shifting. “Years ago, Hanna Sophia discovered she could transform into various creatures at will. It was a gift, but also a curse. Humans feared her, ostracized her, and soon she found refuge among the animals of the forest. Her days were spent learning from the wolves, the crows, the bears—each creature had something unique to teach her about the world and herself. Humans started calling her ‘The Human Animal Shape-shifter,’ as lazy as that is. Many whispered she was a witch, a monster, something to be feared. But she knew she was different, and she was determined to use her gift for good. But one thing’s for sure: She’s got a sense of sniffing out secrets like a wolf, and she’s as persistent as a cat with a laser pointer.” Branch narrated with a touch of admiration in his voice.
“Are you done? She looks like a cocoa cutie babe!” Clay chuckled, not catching the gravity of Branch’s words.
“Well, I don’t trust her! I only trust Poppy.” Branch stated firmly, his eyes narrowing at Hanna.
“To be fair, do you trust any woman? Any women? Women?” Clay smirked, poking fun at Branch’s well-known distrust of anyone outside their immediate group.
Branch grabbed Floyd by the shoulders, his eyes burning with urgency. “Floyd, listen to me. You can’t believe this human! She isn’t just a happy girl! She’s a story writer! Pure good! She can’t be redeemed… And is most likely looking for a way to destroy everything we’re trying to do!” Branch’s voice was filled with tension, his grip on Floyd’s shoulders tightening.
Floyd looked into Branch’s eyes, searching for any hint of doubt. “I… we don’t know that! Look, I know she’s good, and I know she probably doesn’t wanna change, but the whole point of this is to give people a chance!” Floyd’s voice was earnest, his belief in second chances unshakeable.
Hanna is looking at the portrait of his grandmother, Rosiepuff. She couldn’t help but feel drawn to the warmth and kindness that seemed to radiate from the painted eyes. The colors were vibrant, a stark contrast to the metal and wire that surrounded them. She reached out to touch the frame, her eyes never leaving the image.
“To have faith things will be better! How can I turn someone away? I can’t. It goes against everything I’m trying to do. Everything I believe in.” Floyd’s voice was soft but firm, his eyes never leaving Branch’s.
Branch sighed, his grip on Floyd’s shoulders loosening. “Just… trust me. I can take care of myself!” Floyd pleaded, his gaze unwavering.
“Floyd, whatever you do, do not trust her,” Branch whispered fiercely, his gaze flickering towards Hanna, who was now examining a broken gear with curious fascination.
“Don’t worry, I picked up one thing from John Dory! ‘You don’t take crap from other people!'” Floyd said, his voice carrying a hint of defiance. He stepped away from Branch, moving closer to Hanna.
