SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES, henry mills

chapter two

CHAPTER TWO
AT YOUR SERVICE

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Every step that Josie and Nicholai took down the bizarre new streets revealed more of their neighbours curiously poking their heads out of their doors to see what had happened. And between those she recognized were those she did not, the residents of the new houses sandwiched between the familiar ones, also curious about what had happened, what had caused the quake.

A few of the neighbours that she was more familiar with called out to her, asking her what was going on and if they were safe. Josie assured them as best she could that they would figure out what had happened and everything would be fine.

At the end of the block, they came to the house of Mrs Jones, an older woman that her mother was friends with. She had lost her husband a few years back to an attack on a blood moon and had gone to Josie and her family for help. Now, Mrs Jones went to the local market and had tea often with Luella. Mrs Jones was currently standing on her small front porch, looking around confused.

"Oh, Josie, dear, thank goodness. What has happened?" she asked.

"That's what we are endeavouring to find out," Josie told her as the two detoured to her porch.

"But, my dears, where are we? I'm so confused," Mrs Jones said.

"I know. We all are, but everything is going to be fine," Josie assured her, giving the older woman an assuring smile despite clutching her crossbow tightly in her hand.

"Where's your father, darling?" Mrs Jones asked.

Josie immediately froze. That was the question she wanted more than any other. She could care less about where she was if she had her father by her side. Before Mrs Jones could see Josie's internal conflict, Nicholai spoke up.

"We split up to cover more ground," he explained. "You know Mr van Helsing, always thinking of the wisest strategies."

"Oh yes, you're quite right. He's a clever one, that Abraham," Mrs Jones agreed.

"We better be off now, Mrs Jones," Nicholai said, guiding Josie to take a step back down the stairs. "We have lots of ground to cover and many mysteries to solve."

Mrs Jones agreed, waving them off to keep to their search. They continued down the strange roads for some time and a block or so away from Mrs Jones' house, Nicholai stopped Josie and turned her towards him. He had a concerned look on his face that made her sigh. She knew that look all too well and was dreading what he was going to say to her.

"You are okay, right?" he asked.

"Why would I not be?" she questioned.

"Your father is missing, we have no idea where we are and because of who your father is, you believe it is your responsibility to figure it out. That is all a lot to deal with so I ask again, are you okay?"

"I am fine, Nicholai," she assured him.

"That was not the impression I got when you froze up in front of Mrs Jones."

"I do not fre—"

"You did, so please, Josie. If you are not okay, you can tell me."

She sighed and looked away from him, looked around at the mismatched streets of the home she was so familiar with. After a moment, Nicholai grabbed her arm again and she looked up at him.

"No," she admitted. "I am not fine. I have no idea where my father is or who lured him out of the house. And that worries me not only because he is my father, but for my mother and sister as well. If he's gone, I have to figure this all out on my own."