“You make it sound as if it’s alive.”

“It is. There is something far greater at work here than what the human mind can process. It’s ancient, it’s old, and it’s powerful. Some say it’s God, others say it’s fate, but whatever it is, it can’t be stopped.”

“What about Charlie?” Mina asked. Her brother was back in the kitchen and this time he was putting on every single piece of costume he owned; layer after layer. A Spiderman suit, Batman’s utility belt, and what looked to even be a Dr. Who scarf and hat.

“So far the story isn’t interested in Charlie, not when it has you.”

“So as long as I live, Charlie is protected?” Mina looked over at her brother and felt her heart grow with a single-minded determination to protect her brother.

“Yes...honey, look at Charlie. He’s not strong enough to protect himself from the fate of the Grimm Story. I can’t lose you and I can’t lose Charlie. You two are all I have left of your father.” Sara grabbed a few tissues from the box on the beat up coffee table. She picked at them, tearing them apart.

“Mom, I want to try and stop it.” Mina didn’t know where her courage came from, but as soon as she said it, she knew it was true.

“No! I forbid you. Nothing strange has happened since the field trip, right? We still have time to run.” Sara looked at Mina and she could see the sliver of hope in her mother’s eyes.

“Mom.” Mina said, packing as much meaning into that one word as she could.

“It’s too late isn’t it? What happened? What’s been happening?”

Mina mentioned practically riding over a dog and donkey and was shocked when Sara blurted out, “and a cat and rooster,” before Mina had even finished. Sara blushed. “I’ve read up on my tales. Anything else? Tell me exactly what happened on the tour.” Sara demanded and Mina did. “Oh, this sounds bad; it sounds like it could be another story, but I don’t know which one. It may already be too late. Well, at least that stupid book hasn’t appeared, yet.”

“What book? Grimm’s Fairy Tales?”

“Mina trust me, it’s better if we don’t discuss this anymore. Words have power and it makes it that much easier for the Story to find you.”

“What about the book?” Mina asked again.

“Again, it’s better to not to mention it. The book is called The Grimoire. It’s the final piece of the puzzle. Once it’s found you you know it’s too late. You are officially part of the Story’s tales. Only problem is, other things are looking for the book as well. So it’s best we leave before either of them find us.” Sara stood up and looked around the small living room, furnished with only a sofa, television, and a small rocker. A rarely used fifteen inch TV was in the corner nestled against a few tattered books given to them by Mrs. Wong. There were hardly any personal items in the home, and Mina finally understood why.

“Mom, I’m not leaving,” she said.

“Yes, you are. Think of your brother.” Sara blinked at her daughter in disbelief.

“I am thinking of Charlie, and that’s why I’m not leaving.” Mina could feel herself begin to cry again, and pushed back at her tears with the back of her sleeve. “I’m going to stop this. I can do this. I will do this, for him, for you.”

Sara started to shake her head but Mina continued angrily, “Mom, you can either help me, or hinder me, but one way or another the Story is going to catch up to us.”

Sara sat down again and looked at her hands folded in her lap. Tears slowly slid down her cheeks to land in wet drops on her khaki pants. “I don’t know if you can fight it. I wish we could postpone until you are older, stronger.”

“I’m both, Mom. You did great, but now it’s my turn to take care of the family. But I’m going to need your help.”

Sara wiped at her own tears, and nodded her head in understanding. “Okay. What do you need me to do?”

Chapter 6

Walking to school the next morning, Mina felt like a completely different person. She had answers to questions that had been plaguing her for years, though not all of them. She knew why her family moved so much, why her mother always discouraged her from trying out for sports, from submitting to her school paper or trying to get noticed in any way. She felt as if her crazy teenage life now had meaning, a purpose. She was a Grimm, and had a legacy to uphold. The fate of future generations of Grimms depended on her to finish the Story and break the curse on her family.

Mina had plenty of time to think over everything as she walked to school. She had told her mother about the mix-up at the Carmichael’s and the fate of her bike, but had convinced her not call up the Carmichael’s in a fit and to let it go.

“Really mom, it was my fault, not theirs. I left the bike in the middle of the driveway. Plus, I wouldn’t have been there if your boss Terry hadn’t gotten the families mixed up.”

“I don’t understand, there’s only one Carmichael family. And you said they weren’t expecting us? Pretty strange.”

Mina darted out of the door the minute her mother picked up the phone to call her boss. As soon it started to sprinkle, she wished she would have checked the forecast.

A tingling sensation on the back of Mina’s neck alerted her that she was being followed. Picking up her pace, Mina kept her head up and tried not to make eye contact. She was preparing to bolt when a car pulled up next to her and rolled down its window.

Mina wasn’t sure what to expect, robbers, kidnappers, perhaps someone that was going to ask for directions and then force her in their car. What she didn’t expect was the polite way with which the driver asked, “Need a ride?”

“No thanks,” Mina shot back. She picked up her pace, refusing to look at the driver. The rain started to come down in bigger droplets, making her squint.

“Mina…please.”

Mina’s head turned in surprise to see Brody Carmichael driving alongside her in his SUV. She faltered in her footsteps but kept moving. How did he find her? How did he know where she lived? She knew her phone number and address were unlisted.

“Mina, I’m so very sorry about your bike. It was an accident.” Brody looked apologetic. Mina kept walking. “The least you could let me give you a ride to school. It’s raining.”

It was raining, hard.

Mina blinked the rain out of her eyes and shivered. Whether it was from the cold or the idea of sitting less than a foot from Brody Carmichael, she wasn’t sure. But when her teeth started to chatter Brody darted out into the rain and ran to the passenger’s door to open it for her. “Get in, before you get sick.”

Mina bobbed her head in answer and slid in, her wet jeans sticking miserably to the leather. Her hair was now soaking wet and large drops of water were dripping onto the seats of his car.

“I’m sorry.” Mina’s teeth chattered out when Brody ducked back into the car.

His large hand went to the console and turned on the heat. He twisted in his seat and reached behind him to pull a clean shirt out of his gym bag. “Here, use this.” He took the shirt and gently tried to wipe the water from her face.

Mina jumped from the touch and he held out the shirt in a peace offering. “Sorry,” she said again.