The words hung in the air, the sound of harsh breathing underplaying their lingering effect, then Gwen sprung to her feet, hands braced on the edge of the table so it wobbled beneath the force of her adamance. “No!”
Dan’s hands clenched on the paper, crushing it, until Kim reached over and carefully unfolded his fingers enough to remove the bundle from his grasp.
She placed the pile on the table and smoothed it with her hands. “I’m sure this doesn’t mean what…”
“Yes, it does!” Ivan rose to his feet. Possibly faster than Gwen had. Definitely with more impact. “Yes, it absolutely fucking does!”
Kim’s hands stilled on the paper. Breathing slow and steady through her nostrils she sought control. Despite the attempt the pages under her hands started to smolder. Dan yanked them away, tapping his fingers along the curling edges that were turning beige.
Ivan’s hands clenched on Siobhan’s bag. “We have her bag! We have her hair flowers! We have a fucking story. She’s been taken!”
Prairie just rubbed at her temple. Looked down and rubbed at her temple. Until she might have rubbed some skin off. Maybe a lot of skin off. Gwen dropped her drama to run around the table and put her arms around Prairie from behind, chair and all.
Ben jumped up and ran for the foyer. The door swung back on its hinges, smashing into the wall, at the thrust of his intent. Patti stood up, looked around the table with stark eyes, and followed Ben, muttering something about knowing the area so she could help.
Above the bar Sass followed Patti’s progress, lunging at the edge of the shelf and giving out a loud peep. The sound stopped her. She pivoted, stomped to the bar and grabbed Sass, then clutched the mouse to her chest as she charged out of the room.
Ivan threw the strap of Siobhan’s bag over his chest. It sat high, barely clearing his armpit. He didn’t seem to notice or care. “Let’s go.”
Prairie nodded. And nodded again. Then rose on unsteady legs. Gwen released her grasp on Prairie and straightened, then gathered up her plunger and propped it on her shoulder.
“Point the way.”
Moving slowly, Prairie stepped up to Ivan and took the flower wreath from him. “I’ll hold on to this until we get her back.” When Ivan looked down she gave an encouraging nod and laid a soft hand on his arm. “We will get her back.”
Kim nodded. “It’s what we do.” She didn’t let a seed of doubt creep into her conviction. This is what they did. Just this time it hit a bit closer to home. This time someone had taken one of theirs.
With Ivan in the lead they hurried from the pub. Ben and Patti weren’t in the foyer so they continued outside to find the two searching the area in front of the pub. Jeff was helping while Rich, the other guard, kept his watch at the door.
“I am so sorry, Patti.”
Patti wanted to blow at Jeff. She rubbed the hand not holding Sass against her breastbone. Why was this hitting her so hard? It wasn’t like these people were her particular friends. They’d gone on an adventure together, was all. They’d maybe bonded over the threat of mutual death and the relief of fighting free of it, but whatever. That wasn’t a lasting *friendship*. They knew each other from the pub and stuff but… Why did this feel like a dull spoon was digging at her chest? It wasn’t like they were…
Sass rubbed their head against Patti, seeking comfort or giving it or maybe some combination of the two. Patti very carefully loosened her fingers so she didn’t crush the mouse and brushed her finger over Sass’s head.
Ben literally kicked rocks. Kicked them so hard they sailed across the road to settle on the sidewalk on the other side.
“Dan?” Ivan seemed to have taken control of the group in Siobhan’s absence. “Do you see anything?”
“On a busy street? In front of a busy pub? I see plenty of things.” Frustration seeped into Dan’s tone. He dragged a hand over his face as he stared at the ground, like it would suddenly give him some clue. “None of which will help us.”
“She entered the foyer.” Jeff said. “I don’t think there’s anything out here.”
“Of course there isn’t,” Dan snapped, then swallowed and softened his tone. “This isn’t on you. Sorry I made it seem like it.”
“It’s okay. I get it. She’s a nice lady. Always has a kind word.” Jeff shrugged. “I’m going to go back in. Maybe someone in the kitchen saw something through the pass.”
“Thanks,” Gwen muttered as the large man passed her. He looked down at her, rolled his lips, then nodded and entered the building.
“Prairie?” Despite his obvious fear and frustration, Ivan’s voice was soft as he looked down at the small woman at his side. “Can you find her?”
Prairie’s soft smile was everything. “Of course I can.”
She said it with confidence but inside of her she was afraid. So afraid. What if whatever it is that directed her Magick to find the others failed this time? Nothing suggested it would but it was hard being confident when she was so scared. What if she looked into the Spiritis and found Siobhan there? Not a void of footprints. Siobhan. All the secrets and all the sorrow that she was meant to bear witness to and this was the one that could break her. If she had to put Siobhan’s finger bone on her necklace she… just…
No. Prairie firmed her chin and her resolve. Not happening today. No.
“Screw this!” Gwen declared before Prairie could step into Spiritis. “We all know where she is. That stupid house!”
Prairie patted the air, as if she could calm it. “I could… check?”
“Why?” Gwen turned abruptly and the look in her eyes chilled Prairie to her core. “Why! Why waste your energy? We know that damned house is screwing with us!”
“Gwen is right.” With no further explanation, Ben turned on his heel and started marching down the sidewalk, the marsh and the house crouched there clearly his destination.
“What if we’re wrong?” Prairie asked Dan very quietly as she fell into step beside him, trailing the others who strode off with purpose for the swamp.
“Do you think we are?”
Prairie grew quiet for a moment then in a soft voice said, “No.”
Enter The Woods 