TWO
I had complete and total déjà vu- breaking into someone's house again in the middle of the night- except last time I had broken into a Uni apartment, not an actual house in plain suburbia.
'Stop.' I heard the click of the shotgun mask the voice, the face hidden in shadows.
I dropped the paperweight and stood straight. 'Is that you Johnny?'
'Who wants to know?' The voice was deep and harsh- like someone who smoked twelve packets of cigarettes a day and hadn't died yet.
'Johnny, it's good to see you again man!' I took a step forward but he raised the gun to my chest.
'I've never shot a girl before- but with what's going on in the world, I suppose there's a first time for everything. Now who are you?' He snapped. 'And don't try anything funny, or I will shoot you.'
I held up my hands and faced him full-on, blowing my blonde hair out of my face. 'My name is Bellatrix Grimm, you worked with my father, Don Grimm. I need your help again, Johnny.'
'Bella?'
'The very same.' I smirked.
'It's been so long Bells!' He lowered the gun and turned on the light- I refused to wince. Johnny's face was a mix of scars and burns- the result of a run-in with the Doctor. It was a different mission, a different time. I refuse to reminisce.
'You were barely four feet tall last time I saw you!'
'It's been awhile, I'll admit.' I stepped forward. 'Now, I need your help again, I'm afraid to say.'
'Of course!' He dropped the shotgun in the umbrella stand and sat in a massive cracked leathery armchair that had seen and forgotten its good days before I was born.
'What can I do for you? After you and your father saved me from that Pagan Scarecrow God when you were only sixteen,' He laughed to himself. 'I'm forever in your debt. Where is your father anyway?'
Pushing some papers out of the way, I sat on the desk and started fiddling with the paperweight- a clay sculpture of some sort of monster, I can't remember what sort now.
'See, that's why I'm here. I last saw Dad a few nights ago...saying he was going on another hunting trip, under something... massive. Just...massive. I haven't seen nor heard anything for weeks now- needless to say I'm worried.' I said, looking up. 'He left his car with me, if that means anything to you.'
'Well, uh...you're still on fairytales, aren't you?'
'But I'm open to change.' I smiled.
'Where's your mother?'
'Sittin' in the RoadHouse till I called back.'
'And your brother...Dexter?' He asked.
'Dexter, yeah. He's, uh, he's at University- Bond, I think, I'm not sure. He...he's with Ruby.'
'Oh good.' Johnny smiled. 'And they're doin' alright? Dexter not interested in continuing the family business?'
'After what happened to Ruby?' I muttered under my breath.
'What?'
'No, he's not. Do you know anything about what happened to Dad? I want to talk to him.' I said.
'Aren't you worried?'
I turned to the long, open window (I opened it. Front doors are so amateur) and saw Dana standing amidst the bushes.
'Hey Dana! Haven't seen you since the Chubacabra in Sydney.' I smiled.
'You were what, eighteen then?'
God I hate talking about my age.
'Yeah, yeah.' I muttered.
She stepped through, then sat on the arm of Johnny's chair. They're complete opposites- she's tall, willowy, with long brown hair that constantly seems to be playing in a breeze; while he's stocky, short, has a shock of red hair and is covered in scars and burns.
But if they could find a way to make themselves work together, then who am I to judge?
But ew.
'Aren't you worried?' Johnny repeated.
'Me? Nah, I don't get worried- especially not about someone like my dad.' I waved a hand. Worried? Please. Try scared out of my mind. Not that I'd ever admit that, but...
'Well sorry kid, but I haven't heard anything. He hasn't spoken to me for a few months now, and when he did he was asking about some Curse Boxes.'
'Curse Boxes?' I asked, trying to keep the disappointment and frustration off my face.
'Actually, as a matter of fact, I did hear something from Don.' Dana said. 'He was going after the Crossroads Demon, something about a deal and a debt- for you.'
