The Grims

Chapter 19- Fire

"Okay, so we agree on the costumes?" Abigail asked.

"Zombie pirates, really? I've seen those in my nightmares. I don't need to see them in real life as well," Cima joked.

"Come on, the whole theater group is doing it. The deader, the better," Abigail said cheerfully.

"Fine. I guess I'll get the costume I had last year ready to go again." Cima rolled her eyes.

"It's going to be fine. This year, we'll be in a group costume thing," Abigail assured her.

"I'm sure it will be," Cima said as she parted from her friend. "Pirate zombie. Zombie pirate. What could be better than dressing up like the one I love?"

Cima walked home, Dixie already there, eating dinner with her father. She sat down, eating and finishing early, before going back upstairs. It was early in the night. She shook her head, ready for bed. Lay back, close your eyes, hands on your stomach, listen to the sounds of the wind.

Something grabbed her arm, and she instantly covered her belt. She went to grab the wrist of the person before realizing who it was.

"Of all things, love," Cima groaned.

"I thought I would surprise ye," Gonner said, sitting on the bed.

"Not when I'm about to go to sleep." Cima smiled, letting out a light laugh.

"Ye don't trust me?" Gonner frowned as he looked at the hand covering her belt.

"Of course I do! I've always trusted you. I didn't know it was you, that's all," Cima assured him, sitting up.

"Do ye still love me?" Gonner asked.

"Worlds aside, of course I still love you." Cima smiled, taking off his pirate hat and setting it aside. "Why in the worlds would you ever think I didn't anymore?"

"We've not seen each other in a long time, princess. I thought you fell for a living scallywag and forgot all about me," Gonner explained.

Cima pointed at her corkboard, specifically the packet of poems opened to a specific one. "Exhibit A." She then motioned to her sword. "Exhibit B." She then motioned to him. "Exhibit C."

Gonner smiled and pulled the girl in for a kiss. She happily kissed him back. His hands were on her waist, and she was holding his shoulders contentedly.

"Cima?" Dixie knocked on her sister's door, making the two quickly break apart.

"Yeah? What's wrong?" Cima asked. "Did something happen?"

"No, Isis is here," Dixie said, opening her door.

"And we have a lot to tell you," Isis said, frowning.

They started walking into the woods, Gonner and Isis filling them in on Peroshka. She was trying to tell the zombies that Nebulosa had changed, that she wanted to do better. Cima and Dixie didn't believe that in the slightest.

"I don't believe that Nebulosa suddenly wants to do right by the zombies," Dixie said.

"Something's up," Cima sing-songed.

"Totally agree," Isis added.

"I'm sure she be up to this devious plan, and then this whole important message thing be a cover-up," Gonner explained.

"Time is running out! We've gotta find the third element!" Isis exclaimed.

"Now?" Dixie asked, surprised.

"Yes, now. She's going to kill us if she finds out from Peroshka or anyone else that we've been trying to find and restore the essence. We need to act fast," Cima retorted.

"The element of fire is associated with arid places. Its color is red, and it resides in the south," Isis read.

"Our graveyard!" Gonner said, startling Cima.

"Sweetie, keep it down," Cima whispered to him.

"Let's take a break before Isis the parrot burns me brains with TMI!" Gonner said dramatically.

"You will need endless determination to find it, and its magical entity is the salamander," Isis continued.

"Isis, have ye ever heard of the word silence?" Gonner grinned.

"Come out, zombie."

"Be quiet. Someone's coming," Dixie shushed them.

"Probably those bozos you told me about that told you Peroshka was back," Cima whispered as they hid.

"I'm certain this play is plagued with zombies. Our plan is fail-proof, no doubt about it. Why are there so many cats disappearing in Boneville?"

"Uh, because the dogs are hungry?"

"Because there have always been mutts, and the cat population never changed."

"Then who?"

"The zombies."

"Peroshka. I bet you the main course is going to domestic cats of Boneville," Cima said, looking at the three of them.

"The living dead are so crazy about cats."

"That's nice."

"No, stupid, cats are their favorite food. If we want to trap one of those zombies, all we have to do is lure it with a tasty cat. When the zombie comes for the cat, we'll ambush it!"

"We'll burn it with our torches!"

"Trap a zombie with a cat? How lame is that?" Dixie rolled her eyes.

"Dixie, it's how zombies survived. You just hadn't been in the zombie world long enough to realize that," Cima reasoned. She looked over at Gonner and saw the hungry look in his eyes. She grabbed his collar, getting his attention. "Hey. We have self-control, right? I taught you the difference between impulse and necessity, remember? Just like with stealing, now with food. We don't need the cat, we only want it because it's there, right?"

"Right." Gonner slumped.

"Stay focused," Cima said, letting go of him and giving him a small kiss on the cheek.

"Come out, zombie. I know you're there."

"I have an idea," Dixie said as Cima nodded.

She blew into the pot she was carrying, creating a howling sound. The three boys ran away as Cima smiled, standing next to her sister. There was a poof and Cima immediately grabbed the salamander out of instinct.

"Self-control, huh?" Gonner slung an arm around her shoulder, smiling.

"It was instinct." Cima glared at him playfully as the salamander petrified.