It was Claire.

Chapter 22

Or what used to be Claire. She had aged considerably within a few weeks. She no longer looked to be in her thirties but now eighties. Her hair had turned grey, her skin wrinkled and covered in sun spots. She had lost weight, too much of it, till there was barely a trace of the beautiful woman Mina had met once before

“This is your fault,” she spat at Mina, gripping Mina’s head and slammed it again against the wall again, proving that her body had aged but her strength had not diminished. “I was perfect, timeless, until you showed up at my bakery. Who would have thought that an actual Grimm would walk through my doors? I’m honored, really, to be included in the infamous tales, and maybe if I had fed on an earlier school tour, I would have noticed you. Believe me, if I had, you wouldn’t have survived long.”

Mina shrank away from Claire’s touch. Jared had said that she would eventually age and die, but Mina had thought it would take years, not days. It made her wonder even more at the depth and power of the tales.

“I’m sorry; I had no idea about the power of the tale until days later. You have to believe me.”

Claire studied Mina closely. “I believe you, sweet child. But you see, we still have a problem. I don’t want to age. I want to stay young forever. I want it to go back to the way it was before you showed up at my bakery.”

“I can’t. I don’t know how to reverse what was done.” Mina trembled with fear. The men that surrounded Claire stepped forward, flexing their fingers, eager for the violence to begin.

“Nonsense, you can. I’ve been told you’re the chosen one, and you have the Grimoire. You have the power to change the tale.”

“I don’t,” Mina cried out.

“You do!” Claire grinned evilly. “And all I think you need is some proper motivation. Bring them in, Lonetree.”

Mina didn’t know what to expect and was surprised when a red-haired boy she’d never seen before drug in a compliant Savannah and Pri. They looked somewhat dazed and confused, but unharmed. The girls sat at Claire's feet immobile, as if under a spell.

“Let them go!” Mina struggled against Grey Tail, but he grinned and squeezed Mina’s arms tighter until they felt like they were about to break.

“I loved my husband,” Claire spoke softly. “Do you know what it’s like to outlive a loved one? Do you?” She screamed the last question.

“Yes,” she cried. “I do. And I’m sorry.”

“NO, YOU DON’T!” Claire’s face froze for a moment, and then she started to laugh maniacally. “I used to feel cheated that they didn't inherit my longevity. But then I realized, I was meant for much greater things. Like stopping the likes of you.”

A beeping noise interrupted Claire's rant. She pulled a cell phone out of her purse and answered in a language Mina had never once heard. Even from a cruel old woman like Claire, her voice sounded breathy, melodic and mesmerizing. Mina could barely hear the voice on the other end, gruff and clipped. With a sharp click, Claire hung up the phone and studied the girls in front of her and Mina.

“Tell you what, Mina. I will let you choose who lives and who dies. I only need two of you and the Grimoire. You can't say that I'm completely heartless. I'm giving you a chance to save your own skinny neck.”

Mina stared at Savannah and Pri's unresponsive bodies and contemplated what Claire was saying. The two shallow girls seemed completely unaware of their surroundings, staring ahead blankly. Pri might have even let loose a little drool. If Mina named her enemies, she could turn over the Grimoire and still live. But she could never be that manipulative, or that heartless. This was her battle, and she knew she couldn't complete the tale only halfway. There had to be an ending.

Mina had to think quickly. Maybe Claire thought they were still trapped in the Hansel and Gretel retelling. She didn't know that the Story had moved on and lost interest in her. If Claire didn't know that Mina was now rewriting Red Riding Hood, then that could be to her advantage. But she was going to need help. Looking to her left, Mina caught Nan's angry glare. She only hoped Jared would come in time.

“Sorry, Nan, but I choose us. Let Savannah and Pri go. Nan and I will go with you, but not here. We need to know that the rest of the students will be unharmed.” Nan whimpered, but Mina tried to relay through her eyes that everything would be okay.

A cackling laugh erupted from Claire’s cracked lips. “You fool. I knew you would choose to save your friends. You Grimms are so predictable.” Claire walked forward and through – literally through --Savannah and Pri, who disappeared into thin puffs of smoke. Illusions, the girls were illusions. Simply one of Claire’s Fae tricks.

Claire roughly gripped Mina's chin and pulled the stage curtain to the side so she could see the real Savannah and Pri on the dance floor, arms waving above their heads, carefree and obviously alive.

“You made your deal, and so you’ll come with us. It's easier when you don't fight it. But I'm warning you, any tricks and it won't be the students who are harmed, it will be your mother and brother.” She turned to Lonetree and Grey Tail. “Take them both, we need to leave. Now! I can feel something. Something is coming, and I don’t like it.”

Snapping jaws answered Claire, doubly grotesque as the wolves were still in their human form. Mina had only a moment to struggle before she was lifted into the air and then hauled over Lonetree’s shoulder, which smelled of nicotine and sweat. Mina tried to scream but his shoulder dug deeply into her stomach, cutting off her breath.

Nan fought harder and spouted incessant derogative remarks at her assailant, until he knocked her unconscious. Mina cringed at the sound of fist hitting jaw.

Mina suddenly smelled a whiff of wet dog, and found it disorienting to be coming from the back of a fully dressed man. Think, Mina, think. How does this story end?

Footsteps, car doors opening, and Mina felt herself falling to land on the metal floor of a delivery van. Scrambling to gain footing, she tried kicking at the man crawling in next to her in the van. Mina opened her mouth to scream and an old rag quickly filled her mouth, followed by rope around her wrists. She pushed herself into a sitting position in the far corner of the truck.

“Just in case you get any ideas.” Lonetree hissed into her ear. The van dipped as more people clamored in. Mina saw them lower Nan's unconscious body next to her. The engine turned over and they were moving. Out the back window she could see the brick gym slowly getting smaller as they pulled away. What now?

As the van chugged along, Mina heard the distant hum of a far off motor and barely gave it any thought until it grew louder the closer it came. She almost cried with relief when she saw a familiar black motorcycle pull up behind the delivery van and spotted Jared’s shock of dark hair. The bike disappeared around the side of the van, and Mina mentally cheered for her hero. Jared would save them. She listened for the sounds of a struggle, but she was quickly slammed into the side of the van as it swerved quickly to one side. Either they were trying to cut Jared off, or run him over. The van hit its brakes and this time she was thrown against the driver’s seat. She struggled to her knees and could see Jared out the front windshield. The driver picked up speed once more, to position the van next to Jared.