For part one
Mrs. Smith rushed to the door when she heard someone there. She hoped it was the cops with some information for her, maybe they had found Archie. Instead she found a young women standing on the other side, “Can I help you?” She asked.
“Mrs. Smith, I Ria Sunctus.” said Ria, “I'm here to ask you some questions about your son's disappearance.”
“Are you with the polices?” Mrs. Smith opened the door wider.
“Not really, I work on cases that sometimes are a little too strange for the police to handle.”
Mrs. Smith shifted uneasily.
“Was there something strange about your son's disappearance?”
“Please come in.” she led Ria inside and offered her tea.
Ria thanked her and when they were both seated she asked, “Mrs. Smith, what happened last night.
Mrs. Smith could not bring herself to look up from her tea cup, “It seemed so unreal. It was like this is some kind of nightmare I can't wake up from.”
“What ever happened I'll believe you.” Ria said in a soft reassuring voice.
“I woke up hearing Archie screaming, my husband and I rushed to his room and he was being carried by some kind of light. As we tried to reach him to pull him down...” she paused to wipe her nose with a tissue, “He floated out the window.” she blew her nose and wiped her eyes as rebellious tears escaped,”
“Mrs. Smith,” said Ria, “I think we know who has your son, and we are going to do everything we can to get him back to you.”
Mrs Smith Sniffled.
“Once we have a location we will...” her phone rang, “Just a minuet, Hello?” it was Jessie.
“Ria, I've found him, he is hiding at boxcar park.”
“I'll meet you there.” she closed her phone.
“Did you find him?” asked Mrs. Smith.
“We think so.” said Ria, “Mrs Smith I need you to stay calm, we are going to go after him, hopefully we will have him home tonight.” She showed herself out.
Box car park was so named because of the old box car that was near the lake in the park.
Ria and Jesse made their way through the marsh over to it. “I don't remember it being this marsh last time I brought Casey here.” said Ria.
“I know,” said Jesse, “about the same time these disturbances started there was a water-main that broke here making the lake over fill.”
“So you think it is more then just coincidence?” Ria pulled her foot out of ankle deep mud, silently thankful that she had worn her knee high boots.
“I don't believe in coincidences.” said Jesse nearly falling as his foot got caught.
Ria caught him, “I do.” the mud squished as she walked, “but any way, do you know how to kill this beasty?”
“I figured your sword should do the trick, it didn't say he was immune to any particular weapon, nor that only a particular weapon would kill him.”
“And the Spites?”
He held up a jar of dust, “A mixture of dried Angel tears, ground heather and eye of newt.” he slid it back into his coat. “It will immobilize them”
“And how do we get the key?”
Jesse paused, “I hadn't thought about that I guess if we kill Kazum we should be able to get the key just fine.”
Ria smiled as they reached the door, she pulled out her sword, Jesse took the handle of the box car door, she nodded. The door slide open and she charged in, to an empty Box car. She sighed, “Jesse."
Jesse followed into the dark empty box car, “but I was sure...”
more to come
For Part I “But why can't I help?” asked Casey in the truck the next morning as his aunt drove him to school. “I told you, you're not old enough.” “But I've been practicing with the quarter mast, and...” “Casey.” Interrupted his aunt, “I told you when you are 12 you can start helping.” Casey folded his arms across his chest and pouted. Ria sighed, “I know it seems like a long ways off, and I know you want to go out and face the forces of darkness, and you will, I promise.” Casey looked out the window not listening. Ria pulled into the parking lot in front of the play ground. “Look,” she said, “how about you talk to your friends, find out who has already been visited by that strange dream.” “Why?” “You said you wanted to help right?” Casey nodded, “Well right now we have to find this wonder boy before the sprites do. If you can find out who has already been attacked then we can narrow down who it might still be. How does that sound?” “Alright.” He said getting out of the car. “I'll be here to pick you up.” She called after him.
Casey hurried out onto the play ground jumping into the line for four square as his aunt drove off. He talked to his friends and classmates when the bell rang and he was seated in his class room he went through the people he had talked to and made a list of those who had had the dream and who hadn't. He didn't need to write them down but it did help him to see where the fairs might have already visited. Mrs. Fitch called roll like she did every morning. Casey answered when his name was called, but then she called a name and no one answered, so she asked the class, “Has anyone seen Archie?” Casey sat up and looked around, he hadn't seen Archie, and Archie was one of those kids who wasn't allowed to stay home, he was always at school but he did have a practice of showing up a few minuets after the bell. And it didn't look like anyone else had seen Archie either. He shot his hand up in the air, “Mrs. Fitch, Mrs. Fitch.” “Yes Casey?” “I need to call my aunt, it's an emergency!” Mrs. Fitch looked at him with disbelief. “It really really is.” Mrs. Fitch sighed, when she had met Ria on the first day of school one thing that she had been most adamant was that if Casey said he needed to call her then Mrs. Fitch better let him call her. “I suppose.” Casey jumped out of his seat and grabbed the hall pass then ran down the hall. Someone yelled, “Walk Mr. Michelson!” but he ignored it. The walk was going to be destroyed if they didn't get there first.
Jesse was bent over a map of the city marking off places where their had been reports of strange occurrences over the past few days. Ria was looking up all the information on Kazum Draug and Sloagdor to see if she could find out where the monster was hiding when the phone when off. “hello?” there was a pause then he handed the phone over to Ria, “It's Casey.” Ria took the phone, “yes?” “It's Archie Smith!” he said. “Are you sure?” “Yes, he didn't come to school today.” “Okay we'll check it out.” “He lives at 322 walnut st.” “You did good Case, I'll see you after school.” She hung up the phone “I think Casey might have found our boy wonder, is there anything in the police reports for 322 walnut street last night?” “Um.” Jesse scrolled through the pages on his computer, “yes here it is, looks like a missing person's report.” “That's gotta be our boy,” Ria grabbed her keys and headed to the door, “I'll go check it out, find out where Kazum had set up shop.”
