Scratching My Head

Help Has Arrived

Once inside, the girls cringe at the their surroundings. "Geez, this place looks like no one was here in years! Webs everywhere, furniture ruined, and look at all this dust!" Said Amanda. "What would Paul and Derek be doing here?" Asked Odette. "I have a funny feeling, but let's not jump to conclusions." Amanda said. "You're right, they'll probably tell us once we find them." Odette said.

Just so they don't attract unwanted attention, the girls stealthily make their way to the nearest room. The minute they enter, they each let out a gasp. "They're here!" Said Amanda. "We did it!" Said Odette excitedly. But the excitement wasn't to last. The girls approach their husbands, only to notice they're both unconscious.

"We better check their pulses." Amanda said. She puts her fingers on Paul's neck while Odette does the same to Derek. "Well?" Odette asked. "Paul's okay. What about Derek?" Asked Amanda. "He's fine too." Said Odette. "Whew! Now let's unstrap them from these stretchers." Amanda said. And that's just what they do.

Though the boys are free from their binds, they're still unconscious. The girls shake them to wake them up. "Derek, wake up! You're safe now!" Odette said. "Paul, can you hear me? Open your eyes!" Said Amanda.

"I don't get it, why aren't they waking up?" Asked Odette. "They must be under anesthesia." Said Amanda. "I'm sorry?" Odette asked. "Something that puts you to sleep when you're in a hospital, I'm told. Then when you wake up, you're all loopy." Amanda said. Odette cringes. "Wait, look!" She said while pointing at the boys, who are on the brink of waking up. They sit up, but don't notice the girls right away.

"What's going on?" Asked Paul. "Guys, it's us! We're here to get you out!" Said Amanda. "Who said that?" Asked Derek. "Don't you recognize our voices?" Asked Odette. "Hold on, sis, they're probably still under the effects of the anesthesia." Amanda said. "What should we do?" Odette asked.

Amanda thinks for a moment. "I have an idea!" She said. The swan princess puts her hand under Paul's chin and lifts his head towards her so he's facing her before gently pressing her lips to his. A minute later, they release.

Feeling the sleepiness wear off, Paul finally opens his eyes with no problem and smiles at the sight of his wife. "Amanda, it's you!" He said excitedly. He traps Amanda into a tight hug, then Odette comes over to hug her brother in-law.

"Odette, the anesthesia wears off with a kiss! Try it on Derek." Said Amanda. "Okay!" Said Odette. She lifts Derek's face by his chin so he's facing her, then presses her lips to his before releasing after a minute.

Derek opens his eyes after the sleepy feeling wore off of him, and he too smiles at the sight of his wife, trapping her into a tight hug. Then Amanda comes over to hug her brother in-law.

"I thought you'd never get here!" Said Derek. "Which reminds me, how did you find us?" Asked Paul. "We just wandered all around, found a couple clues, then saw your carriage outside. Who brought you here, anyway?" Amanda asked. "Zora and Sybil." Paul said. "The Balcom sisters?" Odette asked. "You know about them?" Derek asked.

Amanda pulls out the fifty year old newspaper she found. "Here, this was on the beach while we were looking for you." She said. "Why would someone keep newspaper from a long time ago?" Asked Paul. "Beats me. But that's not all we found." Said Amanda. She pulls out the locket with Zora's name on it, while Odette pulls out the bracelet with Sybil's name. "Zora owned a locket?" Asked Derek. "And it would appear Sybil owned a bracelet." Said Odette.

"Wait, get this! It says here on the paper that even before the Balcom sisters started their own business, they always had sinister desires of dissecting brains." Paul said. "So that implies they were evil in life as they are in death." Derek said. "They came back from the dead?" Amanda asked. "Creepy!" Odette said.

The boys nod sadly. "They looked like regular people when we met them, but after bringing us here, they looked like their faces were rotting, and their upper limbs were already exposing their bones." Said Paul. "I was already suspicious when I saw how their dresses were ripped, not to mention when Paul mentioned this place looked as if no one was here in years." Said Derek. "Corpses, yuck!" Said Amanda disgustedly. "Agreed! This is worse than the time Rothbart came back to life during Christmastime!" Said Odette.

Footsteps occur from the hall. "That's them! Girls, you better hide!" Derek said. "What about you two?" Amanda asked. "Don't worry, we have an idea!" Paul said. "Huh?" Odette asked. "Trust us!" The boys said in unison. Instead of asking more questions, the girls find themselves a place to hide.