I knew I'd see you again

chapter 10

On the third day, Wirt and Beatrice decided to walk home. Something about today made it seem like a good day to walk home. They were almost half way home when they were stopped by a strange man. "You there! I know you don't know me but I know you. Please! You need to listen to me! You are in grave danger!" The man screams. "Who are you?" Beatrice asks nervously. "Beatrice! It's me! Your father." The man says as he tries to convince them. "What? No! My father has been.....gone for who knows how long. He was destroyed by the- I mean a robbery. He tried to protect us and got shot." Beatrice says. "Would your father know that you turned your family into bluebirds, or that your favorite color is blue?" The man says. "How do you know that? Listen, if you don't leave us alone then I’m calling the police!" Wirt threatens the man as he pulls out his cell phone. "Listen to me! You guys are in danger! The beast has escaped from the unknown! Before he tried to take my place and pass himself off as me, he banished me to this world. He's the only one who can get you home. You need to find a way to get him to get you home!" The man says. "I-I believe you." Beatrice says. "Are you serious Beatrice!? Some random guy walks up to you and you believe him?" Wirt argues. "Yes! Do you know anyone else who knows all this stuff about the unknown?" Beatrice asks. "Fair point. So......How do we get you guys home?" Wirt asks. "We need to find him first. On Christmas day he will show his true form." Beatrice's father explains. "What!? That's like 4 months away!" Beatrice says. "Then you'll have plenty of time to prepare. Next, you'll have to capture him and get him to take you and me back home. The rest is kind of a blur." The father said. "Oh. That's it? I thought there would be more steps." Beatrice said. "We could make some steps for you to keep in touch with my daughter." The father suggested. ''I'll just visit.'' Wirt said. "Well, goodbye." The father says. "You’re not staying?!" Beatrice complained. "Don't worry. I'll be fine." The dad confirms. "No. It's just..... Are you sure you'll be o.k.?" Beatrice asks. "Beatrice. Let’s just go. He'll be fine. If he's anything like you, he'll be able to do anything." Wirt says. The next day, Beatrice woke up with a fever. She began to cough and sneeze harder and harder. Still, when she was home schooled, even when she was sick, her mother would find a way to keep teaching her. So Beatrice got dressed and wobbled outside of the bedroom until Wirt stopped her. "Beatrice, you need to stay home. You’re too sick to go. If you do, it'll only get worse." Wirt said as he began to help her into bed. "No! Wirt. I want to....*Sneeze*...*Sniff*... Come. I need to know how Alice made it out of the land of Wonder." Beatrice said as she started to push against Wirt. "Alice and Wonderland? Where not even reading that book!" Beatrice continued to try and push against him, away from the bed, but it was no use. Wirt was much stronger than her and so she gave up. "Fine! But don't be surprised when you come home to a *Sneeze* snotty room because you wouldn't let me go to school." Beatrice complained. "Listen, my mom will be waiting on you the whole day. Whatever snot you leave in my room, my mom will clean up." Wirt said. Wirt looked at his watch and realized how late it was. "Oh man! I got to go!" Wirt ran out of the room really quickly and then suddenly ran back in. "I almost forgot!" Wirt said as he leaned down and kissed Beatrice on the forehead. "What was that for?" Beatrice asked. Hoping it was what she thought it was. "When I was younger, my mom would kiss me on the forehead when I was sick before she went to work. Since I think of you as part of the family, I thought it would be a good way to make you feel like it." Wirt said. Well, that crushed her dreams. Wirt ran out just in time for the bus to come pick him up and Beatrice limped over to his window and watched him leave.