The Story of The Seagulls

Chapter 3

Henrik panted after his heroic speech. He stood in his signature pose with his nose towards the sky. He saw himself once again in the mirror and smiled.

Henrik was euphoric from seeing himself in the mirror with the Doff hat on top of his head. His adrenaline pumped through his veins. It made him energetic. He had never felt this exited in years. It was something in him that always dragged him in to these kinds of situations. He wanted to be needed. To be a gentleman for the ladies, a role model for the kids, to fight evil and serve justice. He wanted to be a hero. And he always has been. He was the superman and the Clark Kent. The Doff and the Henrik. A good friend and faithful protector. Two sides of the same coin. He smiled widely. He had overcome his fears of the past enemy, and was ready to fight back. Henrik stepped in to his bedroom again and removed the guitar hanging on the wall. It was one of those old Gibson acoustics. Henrik was no collector, he just wanted a good quality guitar to play on. He had been interested in music seance he was a small toddler. He had played lots of instruments during his later years. By now he was more of a musical genius. He wrote his own songs and covered others.

He Behind the guitar the eye scan was hidden. He placed his face in front of the scanner and blinked when the light beam went over his eye. The computer said in an inhuman voice “Colorblind. Long-sighted. Vision defects at 79%. Welcome, Sir Henrik.” A secret hatch beside the bed opened. Henrik didn't remember that his sight was that bad. He always wore lenses to avoid having to use glasses. His sight was starting to get bad when he was about eleven. From there it only got worse. When he was twelve he couldn't tell some colors apart anymore. That was a bummer seance he liked drawing very much. But he didn't let that stop him. The only time he was actually blind was before he went to bed and when he woke up. He always saw it like a kind of hide and seek game in the mornings when he didn't find his glasses. Sometimes, or well a lot of the times, he didn't like that game.

“Hmm... Orange...” Henrik looked around in the Orange-cave. Albin turned around with his orange mask on. It matched the rest of his orange outfit. “Henrik!” Albin smiled and ran to him. Albin jumped in to Henrik's arms. Albin was kind of like a pet dog. He was always equally as happy to his friends even if he hasn’t seen them in five minutes or five years. Henrik wasn't prepared for the hug and almost fell over. He smiled and laughed. “Hi Albin!” Albin let go of his friend and looked at him from top to bottom and said with a high pitched voice. “How did you get in here?” Henrik sighed and did a face-palm. “We built this cave together. Remember?” Albin nodded. “Ah... right.” Albin started to bite his nails. Henrik hit him in the back of his head and snatched his hands. “Don't.” Henrik simply said and let his hands go. Albin started to bite his lip instead and took it as a dare. Albin had a deal with all his friends that they would hit him if he bit his nails. It would get worse and worse until he started biting the skin around his fingers. The would turn red and disgusting after a couple of weeks and he had to put tape on them so he wouldn't bite them.

“You stop biting or I’ll do it for you!” Henrik pointed an angry finger at his friend as a kind of warning. Albin then bites harder in his lips and puts his hands on his nipples. Chest up and bum out. A provocative pose. “Come at me bro!” Albin said and made a sexy face. Henrik gave up. This was a fight he would not win. “You know what? Forget it.” He drops his warning finger to the ground and sighs. No need in trying to convince his friend. He instead walks over the green glass tube on the other side of the room. In there was his suitor suit and magic wand. He feels the fabric before he puts his shirt and cape on. He then puts his green stockings and black socks on top.

“The shirt is a little too short, otherwise it fits after all this years.” Henrik said and gave himself a proud smile. “Henrik...” Albin sighed. “We've always been able to see your boxers in that outfit.” Henrik starts to blush a little and pulls down his shirt in hope that it will hide his underwear. Albin clear his throat. “Anyways, the seagullers took Wilma and flew north.” Henrik put his black belt on and asked Albin. “Albin, do you even know where north’s at?” He looks at him with an eyebrow in the air. “Pfft! Of course I know.” Albin responded and looked around him in all directions. “Good, then let's move.” Henrik took determent steps towards the hangar. “Wait! You forgot your staff!” Henrik turned around. “No. I haven't” “Then where is it?” Albin talked said in a childish voice. “There in my tights.” Albin scanned Henrik's stockings. “No it's not.” “Yes it is.” “Prove it!”

In the same moment as Henrik puts his hands down his his green tights to pick up his magic wand, Max steps inside the Orange-cave. “Whoa! Am I walking into something?” Max held his hands in front of him and slowly backed away. “How did you get in here?” Albin asks again in the same high pitch voice as before. Henrik had now taken hi hand out of his tights and Max was comfortable again.“Well, I was looking for you. And you know you don't lock your front door so, I just walked in. By the way you should really clean that place. I don't understand how Wilma can put up with you.” Albin shrugged. Max continued at the same time as he walked towards them. “Anyways you weren’t home and I found that secret door in your closet.” Albin seemed surprised. “But how did you figure out the code?” Max lifted his eyebrows. “Albin, you serious? The code was o-r-a-n-g-e!” Max looked around. He scanned the large computer screen and the large keypad in front of it. “So this is where you've been hiding...Cool. What does this button do?” Henrik stopped Max from pushing the enormous red button that was on the large keypad in front of the screen. “If you excuse us Max, we have two young ladies in distress.” Albin and Henrik both turned and went for the elevator in the end of the room.

“I'll go with you!” Max ran after his two friends. “Absolutely not!” Henrik stops him. “This mission is dangerous Max.” “It's life threatening.” Albin replied behind Henrik. “But the seagulls took Lovisa! I have to save her!” Shouts Max. Henrik places his hands on Max's shoulders. “Max I know you're upset but-” “You would only be in the way!” Albin said and interrupted Henrik. He then gives Albin the evil eye and let go of Max. “I'm sorry Max but, you’re not strong enough.” Henrik looked at Max with a sad glance. Max shook his head. “Then train me! Make me into one of you!” Max plied. ”Yes! You could be our luggage carrier! Aw, Henrik! Can we keep him. Pretty please?” Albin looked at Henrik with puppy eyes. “Hey!” Max hit Albin on the shoulder. “Well, we could use another anti-seaguller...” Henrik smirked at Max.

“So I'm in?” Max frown turned upside down. “Well I can't train you, and especially not Albin. But I know someone who can.” Henrik stroke his jaw. Albin looked at Henrik. “Twenty?” Henrik laughed. “No, better. Darth Hasse!” Henrik looks in to Max eyes.

“You're in!”

The Story of The Seagulls

Chapter 2

Max snatched as his cellphone rang.

He stared at the vibrating machine a couple of seconds. His iphone was turned upside down witch showed the smiling joker on its protective shell. He gulped and reached for his phone. Who could this be? The one who took Lovisa? Maybe they want money? Or wanted to blackmail him? Max searched his mind for possible suspects. He didn't have any enemies, neither frenamies. He almost forgot the phone and quickly he turned the screen upwards. A picture of a happy boy with dark blonde covering his face and a text saying “Karl Albin Karlsson” lit up on the screen. Max breathed out and answers. It was just his friend Albin. A tall and thin boy who always whore orange clothing. He had the personality of a five year old. He could always bring a happy smile to his face. He gave the impression of “hakuna matata”, no problems. It wasn’t that he didn't take responsibility. He never saw the seriousness of things.

“Hey” Max signed of relief in the phone. “Max! A group of seagulls...They...T-They took Wilma...” Albin sounded chocked. His girlfriend Wilma, a sweet girl with the appearance of a Disney princesses with her long hair and warm smile, had been kidnapped. “They took Lovisa too.” Max sobbed. “Oh...Shit. Damn it...Eh...” Albin thought of something to do. This had never happened. The seagullers had never showed their face Albin moved in with Wilma. He had encounter them before in the past. Maybe it's just luck that they haven’t attacked til now Albin thought. He was after all an anti-seguller. A fighter against the seagull clan. A clan led by a fearsome queen and her followers. They'd destroyed two of his friends life in the past, now they where after him and Max. He wouldn't tolerate this. “I'll fix this.” Albin said and went to his bedroom in the small flat he lived in with determent steps. “What? Albin you can't fix this, let's just talk.” Max sat in the soft couch next to Edvin and stroke his hair back. “I may not be strong enough, but Orange-man is!” Albin ended the call and threw the phone, like he always did, on his bed. He opened his closet, witch was in a terrible mess, and hit the correct buttons on the inside of the door. The back of the closet opened up and the Orange-cave lit up.

“Albin?...Albin!?!” Max was left alone on the other side of the line. What the hell? Orange-man? Max was stunned and looked at his phone. What the heck is Albin talking about? “I'll fix this”? What the hell was he talking about? Max looked at the passed out Edvin. Max was out of options. He sighed. “Well I guess I need to go to Albin now...Shit.” He left the couch and Edvin behind and headed for Albin's apartment.

Albin smiled when he saw the orange tube protecting his glorious Orange-man suit. Albin got dressed in his dress, stockings and briefs. And yes, in that order. The different pieces of clothing where all orange and looked horrible in the mirror. “Perfect, now I’ll just call Doff!” Doff was Orange-man green sidekick. “Doff! Doff! Orange-man to Doff!” The big display in the Orange-cave still showed the white and lack static. “Doff!” “Albin, stop it...” The low voice answered on the other side. “” I am Orange-man and I call for Doff!” “Albin, I don't do such things anymore...” Albin was starting to get frustrated. “My name is Orange-man, and no you haven't”

“My name is Henrik and my time as a anti-seaguller is over Albin! I'm not the man I once was!” said Henrik and popped up on the screen. He had bags under his eye's which where full of blood vessels. “Just...Leave me alone.” Henrik said and lowered his head. “You are too!” Albin shouted through the small microphone on his laptop. “No, Albin. I've lost everything. I have nothing left to live for...” Henrik held a ring that sparkled in silver in front of the screen. “They took my love from me, it's over.”

Henrik started tearing up. He sighed and a bottle to his lips and drank. “Henrik, is...is that vinegar?!?” Albin shouted in fear. “Maybe.” Said Henrik and took another shot and made a face of disgust. ”Henrik, listen to me. Lovisa and Wilma are in danger! They have been kidnapped by the seagullers!” Albin looked up on the 572 inch screen with a droopy eyes. “Henrik, I need you. I can't make this without you.” Henrik's eyes where still focusing on the ring in between his fingers. “Henri-” The screen went black.

Henrik leaned back in his chair and took a moment to collect his thoughts. The seagullers have attacked again. What did they want now? He didn't want to get involved. Last time he did, it didn't end well. His spirit was broken. Henrik wasn't the kind of guy that rejected a friend in need. But sense that day, he hasn't been himself. He never goes outside, never goes to meet his friends, never to meet anyone. He was alone. He didn't want to be alone, but as soon as people came to him, he didn't want to let them in. He was too afraid he might loose them. A constant fear of human contact always followed him. He just sat alone at home, watching TV, drinking vinegar. He didn't drink alcohol, he knew it was bad for him. So he drank something equally as disgusting.

Henrik grabbed the key that always hanged around his neck. He dragged the chain and it snapped. The small old key was fitted in the drawer in his desk. He opened it and stared at the dusty old hat in the oak drawer. He picked it up and inspected it. It was worn out and green with the blue feather on the side. He felt the fabric and sighed. He remembers the old times. He had everything, friends, a family, a girl of his own. And then the seagullers came and destroyed everything. They turned his brother against him, they killed his love and they broke his spirit. He didn't want that to happen to anyone else. Especially not Albin or Max.

He stood up and went to the hall mirror. He clenched his fingers around the pointy hat and bit his lip. Is this the right thing to do? He wanted to help his friends on the other hand he didn't want to get involved. He placed the hat on top of his blonde hair. He stroked his bangs aside and looked into the mirror. The hat fitted him like it always has. It reminded of Robin Hood with the green look and the feather on top. His negative thoughts ruined the moment. “This is so stupid. All of this is stupid. I'm stupid.” He saw himself as a loser. As nothing.

But he'd had enough. No more pain, no more loneliness, no more sadness. His friends needed him. He would be nothing of use in this condition. He knew what he must become, the hero they needed. Fearless, brave, strong and trustworthy. They needed Doff.

“I'm Doff. I'm this city's protector against all seagullery. I rather die then let somebody’s friend, family member or loved one be taken from them!” Henrik panted after his heroic speech. He stood in his signature pose with his nose towards the sky. He saw himself once again in the mirror and smiled.

The Story of The Seagulls

Chapter 1

An early Sunday morning Max woke up to Lovisa, his girlfriend, giving him a warm kiss on the cheek. It's wet and smells like coffee. He opens his eyes to see her smiling face surrounded by her long brunette hair. She drags it out of the way and says “Good morning love. Time to wake up.” She goes out to the kitchen and starts preparing breakfast. She places bread, butter and ham on the wooden table. Max sits up in bed and gives out a big yawn. He rubs his eyes and menages to put some clothes on. He sits by the kitchen table where a cup off steaming hot coffee awaits him. He drinks slowly and mutters “What time is it?” Lovisa smiles and says “It's 13:46 honey.”

Max stares out of the window and gaze upon the sunbathed Swedish city where people where chatting and laughing on there way to the beach. It felt more like 01:46 to him. Lovisa is reading the newspaper while Max is preparing a ham sandwich for himself. He chews on his food slowly and is, on a steady phase, waking up. Lovisa points on an article about a tame seagull and sends the paper to Max. “I want one of those.” Se says and drinks a gulp of her cold coffee. She always drank her coffee with two bits of sugar and lots of milk, so it ended up cold.

Max reads and takes another bite of his sandwich before Lovisa says. “Max” with a calm voice holding his hand on the table. He looks up at her with half open eyes and his cup of coffee in the air, half way to his mouth. His long dark brown bangs was messy and living it's own life. Max was always tired in the morning, or well always during day time. He liked to live during the evenings and nights. He would stay up playing or hanging out with is friends. He liked sleeping, a lot, but the bad part was waking up.

He met her pleading big green eyes. Her face was worried. Lovisa never made one of those faces, unless it was for jokes. She had one of those faces which you could make into a cartoons. She would always overdo the features and almost stretch her face to the point of braking. But she never made this face, the serious one without the puppy eyes or the saggy lip.

Max answered with a simple “Wut?” It was one of those “what” witch you couldn’t tell if he asked what you meant, what you said, or if you said anything. Lovisa bit her lip. “I need to tell you something.” Max face was now even more questioning than before. “Yeah?” He started to get nervous. Was this serous or one of her little mind games? She sighed. “Max I’m...Pregnant.” She turned her head. The words cut trough her soft lips like a knife. Max blinked and opened his eyes and stared at Lovisa before he smiles widely. “I'm going to be a father? I'm going to be a father!” He screamed out loud with his hands in the air with the coffee mug in his right hand. “Lovisa ...I...I don't know what to say I...” His happy smiled faded as he looked in her eyes. “Lovisa...we didn't ...” His frown grew. “I'm sorry...” Her words where small and she tilted her head in shame.

“You lied to me!” Max shouted and smashed the cup on the table. “Who's? Who's is it!?!” He roared. Lovisa covered her face with her hands and started to sob. Max made an angry face and stood up. He barged away to the windowsill. “You could have at least used a goddamn condom” Max said calmly with a disgusted face. He was furious and brokenhearted at the same time. He wanted to scream out and cry at the same time. Such betrayal, from the closest to him. He didn't want to believe her. She would never do such a thing. Not even if her life depended on it. Is this the same Lovisa he knew? She must be playing a trick on him. Yes, that’s it! It's a joke! Max waited for her warm smile and laughter to fill the silence. She used her acting skills on him and it worked. He wanted her to say it was just a joke. Why isn't she saying anything? Max heart was racing. He feel the blood flowing through his wains and his heart beating in his chest. The paper article on the table was now drenched in coffee from the broken mug on the table. The picture of the seagull was sagged and deformed.

“W-Why?” Max voice quivered. “Was it the guy or me? I-Is this my fault?” He begged that it was something that he'd done. He didn’t want to hate Lovisa for the rest of his life. He wanted it to be his fault. His mistake not hers. But how could it be his fault? Max thoughts ran through his mind. “It's not your fault honey” Lovisa walked over to Max to comfort him. “Don't call me that!” He moved over to the sink to avoid her touch. Lovisa stared out of the window. She kept quiet. What could she say? She would only make this harder for him. “Say something!” Max turned to her. Lovisa covered herself with her arms in fear that Max would hit her. Max backed away. He had scared her.

“Damn it!” He walked out of the room. What did just happen? It all felt unreal. Max felt a ball of ice in his stomach forming, his hands where shaking, head was pounding. He wanted to hit pause and click restart like in his games. Mission failed. Restart or abort mission? He could do neither of those things. He swore. He calmed himself down. I need to sort these things out. He couldn’t stand the tension. He gained some courage and went back to the kitchen to find Lovisa standing on the windowsill in front of the open window. Lovisa turned her face Max standing in the door opening. “Goodbye Max.” she said the words lightly and let her legs bend under her. Max felt everything moving in slow-motion as he started to run towards her. Lovisas soft hair covered her face when she disappeared from Max sight.

Max placed one foot on the windowsill to jumped after her but he could not as he was stopped by two arms around his chest. He lost his momentum and was dragged inside. Max tried to get lose. “Let her go! The seagulls got her now!” Max recognized the voice as one of his friends. It was Macklemore, or to be more precise, it was Edvin. Edvin was one of Max's best friends sense a long time back. He looked a lot like the artist Macklemore with the same haircut and polar bear fur coat. Max looked up to the sky and saw Lovisa being kidnapped by a flock of seagulls. He pleaded out for her. “Lovisa!!!” He got out of Macklemore's grasp and pushed him to the wall. “What have you done to her?!? Was it you who made her do it!?! HUH?!?” He almost lifted his shorter friend of his feet. “Jesus Max. Calm down!” “Why!?! Why would I do that?!?” Max screamed like the building was on fire. “I don't know what you're talking about! It must have been Edvin!” Macklemore tried to catch his breath. “I don't care that your schizophrenic Edvin. Just tell me whats going on!”

Max's friend Edvin had been schizophrenic all the time that he knew him. Some times he was a really nice guy and other times he was troubling, almost scary. His name real was Edvin, but at times when his alter ego sneaked up on him, then he became Macklemore. It was a character he had created to hide himself from his bad side. When his bad side got the better of him he could pass out or even do things he wouldn’t remember later on. When that time came and Macklemore was in need, he always wore a polar bear fur coat. It was almost like a shell he could hide in. He described them as two persons that he could become. But Max didn't care, he was always Edvin to him. Or the little jumping salmon, which was yet another name he had given himself. He respected his decease, but now he hadn't time to argue with him.

Max started to freak out. “Tell me or I’ll kill you!” Max tightened his hands around Macklemore's neck. The poor boy desperately clawed for Max's weak spot, the nose. He got a good hit on Max and he backed off with his hands covering his face. Macklemore panted and felt his sore neck. “I need to talk to you Edvin” Macklemore backed away from Max and made a stopping sign with his hand. “Not now Max. I'm too weak to become Edvin right now. I only have one 20 peace in my pocket” Max frowned. Macklemore often said that. As a kind of excuse. And every time Max wanted an explanation, he never got one. He didn't know what it meant but it didn't matter now. Max knew that if he took his coat off, he would become Edvin again. He ignored his friend warning and started to pull his coat. “No! Max! Please!” Macklemore was terrified and pulled his coat closer to him. Max knocked his friend down with a right hook. Macklemore flung to the floor. Max went after him and managed to take the coat of him.

Edvin who was left on the floor without a coat cringed to a fetal position. Max lifted him and stared him straight in the eye. “Where are they taking Lovisa?” Trembling, Edvin turned his head to the sink beside Max. He was pale. Max let Edvin go as he pulled himself to the sink. Max was chocked as Edvin threw up. He realized that he had been too harsh and started to comfort Edvin. He took the kitchen towel wipe his mouth when Edvin was done. “Are you okay?” Max turned Edvin's face to him. His eyes rolled back and Edvin passed out in Max's arms. “Shit...”Max lifted him and laid him down on his living room couch.

Max breathed out. “What the hell is happening?” he whisper to himself.

Max snatched as his cellphone rang.