11Disclaimer: Same as always, not mine.
"What do you mean?" Fiona asked, "Tell me what's happening!"
"Why don't you just consult that magic mirror of yours?" Bricriu asked.
"My laptop... I haven't even seen it since... Oh, I don't even know when," Fiona groaned.
"I know where it is," Jack told her, "But you're gonna have to trust me to get to it."
Fiona took a step back, looked between her brother, the spunkie, and looked back on the house before saying anything. Reaching a decision, she whispered, "I don't trust any of you. I'll just figure everything out on my own." She then started to walk away from them and towards the rest of Hope Springs.
Jack immediately followed her, but Bricriu only muttered three simple words, "Foolish Little Duck."
When Fi realized that Jack was tailing her, she broke into a run and soon regretted it. One moment she was running through a neighbors yard, the next she found herself nearly stumbling off a familiar rooftop.
Fi spun around and found herself face to face with the same three-headed demon that had knocked her off the roof months ago.
"Not this again," Fi murmured to herself as she cautiously backed away from the creature. She had no idea how to get herself out of this situation... last time this happened, her father was there to save her.
"That's it!" Fi shouted triumphantly. I just have to get to the side of the roof and the monster will disappear when daddy comes, Fi thought.
Trying to remember the exact spot where she fell last time, Fi walked around the edge of the roof. Fear bubbled inside her as she peered over the edge and saw a busy street so far below.
Maybe I am going a little crazy, Fi thought as she climbed over the side of the roof and prayed that her father would come to the rescue.
Fiona held onto the edge as best that she could, but her fingers began to slip. Her heart hammered with fear as she silently willed her father to come for her. Fi's fingers slipped a little more and with a horrible jolt in her stomach, Fiona realized that her father wasn't coming. A wave of panic washed over her and Fi screamed for help as loud as she could. She kicked at the wall and tried to pull herself back up onto the roof to no avail. Her fingers slid a little further and Fiona became certain that she was about to fall to her death. Just as she began to give up all hope of survival, she felt somebody grab her. Her fingers slid off the very edge of the roof as someone pulled her through a window, back into the building. Fi fell onto the floor, thankful to be alive.
"Fiona, what did you think you were doing?" a familiar voice demanded to know. The owner of the voice helped her up and Fi realized that it was her brother who had saved her.
"I-I don't know... The demon thing was on the roof, so I thought daddy would come like last time..." she stammered.
"Fiona, what are you talking about? Did you hit your head or something?" Jack asked.
"I-I'm f-fine," Fi stuttered although she was anything but. She was still shaking from the encounter on the roof and she was too confused to be fine. She kept jumping from one scene to another... like how the spunkie... "Bricriu" Fiona muttered as an idea dawned on her. He must be doing this, she thought, But why?
"Fi, are you sure you're okay?" Jack asked as he put his hand on her shoulder to steady her.
Just as Fi was about to answer, the world began to black out around her as she felt herself moving to another scene once again.
"So are you gonna tell her what happened?" Carey asked back at the Phillips house.
Jack shook his head, "Nah. When I tried to confront her in the first place I found her in, she didn't even believe it was me. She just ran off and that ball of light thingy took her away again. I wasn't about to make the mistake twice, so when I caught up with her I just acted like I usually do and used the necklace to bring us back when she wasn't paying attention."
"Is she still asleep?" Carey asked.
"Yeah, I think all that jumping around from one place to another exhausted her o-" Jack caught sight of his sister entering the living room "-or not."
Fi sat down on the couch and tiredly asked them what had happened.
"You've been out of it for two days, that's what happened," Jack told her.
"Two days? What happened?" she repeated.
"You tell us," Jack told her, "After I grounded you and took your laptop, Carey checked up on you and you weren't there. We found a note saying you left, so we went to look for you. You were missing for a day before Rebecca found you and told us where you were. She said you slipped and fell, hitting your head and you've been either delirious or sleeping ever since."
"That wasn't what you and Carey were just saying," Fi pointed out.
"You were probably just hearing things," Jack said, "You did hit your head pretty hard. Anyway, it's getting late and you have school tomorrow. Just go back to bed."
Feeling exhausted, Fi nodded and did as she was told.
Once Fiona was out of earshot, Carey spoke. "Why didn't you just tell her the truth?" he asked.
Jack shook his head, "She'd never believe it coming from me."
"Well, what if I told her with you? Or that Rebecca girl?"
"No!" Jack exclaimed angrily, "I don't want her to know what happened. You weren't there, you didn't see it. Fi's my little sister, I know her and I know that if she found out what really happened, she'd never let it go. She would just look for a way to go back and get into even more danger. She's better off just thinking it was a dream or something and forgetting about it."
"Yeah, well, Fi always finds trouble one way or another. How's not knowing about this gonna help her stay out of it?" Carey retorted.
"I don't know," Jack admitted, "But telling her certainly won't help. She can't get into any trouble. She just missed two days of school early in the year; that won't look good to the social worker. And if anyone found out that I just let her sneak out after curfew to go to that warehouse... Fi's always gotten herself into danger, but it's especially risky now. I just want to keep her safe."
Carey nodded as though he understood. "I'm really sorry about your mom. You've always seemed to have your hands full, looking out for Fi on the road when your mom was at the studio or something. It must be a lot harder now, having to handle her just on your own. I know if we were a few years younger and I'd have to take care of Clu, I'd go insane. Even though I'm gonna be joining that band and going on tour once my leg heals, you can always call me if you need help or just want to talk. I think that goes for the rest of my family too. If you ever need us, just pick up the phone and give us a call."
"Thanks. I just wish that you guys didn't move... After being on tour all that time, you guys are were like family to me and Fi. But now, Clu's away at college, you'll be on tour once you can walk again, your parents have moved away... I know you want to help, but you can't. Phone calls help, but I don't think they'll fix anything. Me and Fi are on our own now. It'll be hard, but we'll manage just like we always have," Jack responded.
"Still... Try to keep in touch. You know me and Clu will visit whenever we can. And my parents won't just abandon you guys so expect a lot of mail from them," Carey said.
Jack nodded and then yawned. "It's late," he commented, "I'm going to bed. You probably should too."