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Chapter Text

-×-

In 1868 a small, sleepy town was founded by a man named Nicholas Everlock. He'd later pass away sometime in the 1920s. With him, he took the very soul of Everlock. An absolutely irresistible blue crystal, that he claimed to speak to him in his final days.

He found it in the early days, right in the heart of the old church that hasn't seen human life in ages. 

Over the time Nicholas ran over Everlock, he often spoke to it. Sometimes it would speak back. It'd give him advice for ruling the town as he called it.

Slowly a good man changed.

Eyes that looked like fire had turned to an icy pale blue, sucked of all life. White skin would slowly rot into a shade of gray, hidden by long sleeves and heavy clothes. No matter the weather. 

The more worries his family grew, the more he shut them out.

Only in the last week of his corrupting life did he allow the only survivor of his family to enter. His daughter, Lucy Everlock. She watched the life leave his eyes, and she made sure his dying wishes were fulfilled.

The old church had become a giant tomb, in it he lay in a casket, the crystal displayed in a beautiful and highly protected case.

Time trickled on, and the graves around the church and tomb of Nicholas Everlock grew.

Decades slipped by. The world moved on, and the history of Nicholas Everlock and his family was buried with them.

That was until October 6th, 1978. In just one short week the Everlock Museum would open up, filled with a wonderful staff who (craved for power) loved the history of the town.

They were willing to do anything.

For the history of their town.

And how they mean anything.

In the dead of night, at 2 am the museum was broken into, on a mission to steal the crystal, and learn if the stories were true. That it granted power to those who held it, and harnessed its magic. 

Instead, the thief, a professor at the local university, was restrained, made to witness the horrors of the museum firsthand. 

There was utterly no doubt the museum was cursed. Its attractions, its monsters, they'd come alive once the sun had set. Yet this wasn't any night at the museum. They all held a thirst for blood, a raging desire to kill from claws, fangs, or weapons. What the museum held did not have stardust and mercy in their trapped souls.

"Feast your eyes!" The man snarled, grabbing, and jerking Joey's head over to the glass cases to his right.

A werewolf, a snake-woman, a Gorgan, a vampire, a harpy, and many more horrific monsters of legend and mythology stood there, bashing at the glasses trying to escape. Trying to feast on Joey's blood.

"They all can fight over you, tear you apart, rip you open!" The man snapped, waving a gun around Joey's face. "Wouldn't that be so fun?"

"Please!" Joey begged. "Please, let me leave! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

"Do not beg for mercy!" The man snapped, slapping him hard across his face. "It does nothing!" He growled, before speaking over his shoulder. "The bodies in the basement! Give them to the wolves, the snake woman, and the vampire! Let us show our dear friend here what they can do!"

"Of course, as you request." The woman spoke, disappearing from the room.

"You're sick!" Joey exclaimed. 

"I'm sick?" The man repeated, lowering himself to meet Joey's gaze. "You're the sick one. I mean c'mon! You’re breaking into a museum? To steal an important part of Everlock's history? For what, your own needs? You greedy, greedy man!"

"Better to be in my hands, than the hands of twisted museum employees!" Joey retorted.

The man merely laughed at him. "You're an imbecile for thinking that. We serve the carnival master, in hopes he awakens once more. That he rewards us, for all we've done for him. That he can control his Everlock once more! Let his monsters roam free! We are the town of monsters after all!" 

Joey couldn't help but keep glancing over at the cases. One of the werewolves kept slamming themselves against the case. It was beginning to crack, and Joey did not want to become werewolf food!

"There's nobody to stop us!" The man said coldly. "And slowly the monsters will take over. We already have set loose a few in town, blending in!"

Joey cringed feeling the blade of a knife running down the side of his face. The crimson fluid dripped down. 

"A little help here! Dragging three bodies isn't easy!" The woman snapped. "It's all dead weight!"

"Of course," the man said simply, stabbing the knife into Joey's hand. He sobbed out in pain, watching as the blood came spilling from his hand. 

Joey watched through blurry vision as the man and woman placed a body in front of the glass cases. The monsters inside grow more eager, more hungry for blood.

Out of his line of sight, Joey heard a button get pressed or a lever pulled and he watched as the glass cases slowly slid down into the platforms. The monsters went right for the bodies, tearing into them, blood and organs spraying all over 

Joey felt as if he were going to puke.

"And now you know what happens to those who trespass!" The man came back over to him, tearing the knife from his hand. 

"We're afraid your time is up," the woman said, walking over. "Thank you for visiting the Everlock Museum."

The man stabbed the blade into Joey's chest a dozen times.

One of the werewolves walked over, blood dripping from his fangs.

"What is it now, Atticus?" The man asks, wiping the blood from his knife. "If you're going to ask to feast on the most recent kill, the answer is no. The soul must be extracted first. Routine, as Sarah here said countless times."

"Everlock," Atticus snarled. "I've waited long enough!"

"Arthur, do you hear him?" Sarah asks. "Atticus, are you sure?"

"Oh Sarah, I think it's time. We've got one roaming out there already! What's the pain of another?"

"My son?"

Arthur glares at him, handing his knife to Sarah. "Atticus, no. Dylan thinks you're gone, that Marvin shot you dead in the woods that night."

The werewolf bared his fangs, and Sarah quickly reached for her gun. "Shall we make your death real?"

Atticus stepped back, and Sarah put her gun away.

"Sarah, find Marvin. Get the rest of those we plan to release, and let Marvin prepare them. We have quite the week of carnage and control ahead of us."

"Come along Atticus, it's been a long time since you've been in the world."

Arthur stepped out of the room, hearing leavers flipping, releasing more of the museum's monsters they could release.

He stepped outside, finding himself on a balcony. The museum stood a good distance from the town, he could see most of it. 

With a population of just 10,000 Arthur could not wait for this plan to go into action.

Slowly the town that tried to free itself of its curse would finally see it, and all those Everlock shut out would get their revenge.

And Arthur would be there in the middle.

-×-

"GOOD MORNING EVERLOCK! Today is Friday, October 6th, a beautiful bright and sunny 7 am we have today!" The ever enthusiastic voice of Manny Gutierrez exclaimed. 

For the last year, Manny has been running his own radio show called Everlock's Hours . The show quickly rose to be popular in the town. It started off as a chance to talk with the stars he worked with and show sneak peeks of his work, all those of his job as a Record Producer. Yet the show turned into much more, a chance for Manny to get the space to breathe, and talk about the little town.

He was born in Everlock, raised here for a bit before going to Los Angeles, and came back five years ago after his career as a Record Producer took off. He saw the potential of the artists who resided here.

Everlock was important to him, and he was not letting go of such an important place to him.

"I was talking to someone near and dear to me this morning, of the upcoming October Carnival running from the 10th to the 13th may I add! Of course, the curse of Everlock had come up, and dear listeners I'd love to know, do you believe? Or do you not?" Oh the curse, he hated it, deeply.

"Utterly interested in what you have to say! So give us a call, and we'll put you on the air!" Manny said, walking through the usual stick he'd have to go through at least once a month.

"For now, The Rolling Stones! Sympathy for the Devil!" He cued the song up and tore off his headphones. 

Of the many things Manny believed in his 27 years of life, Everlock's curse was not on that list!

He just found it far too much to believe!

"Manny! Hey! Sorry to interrupt the show, but change of plans with the whole phone call thing, we've got a call from some distressed person. Apparently, Joey Graceffa has gone missing!"

"Another missing person?" Manny asks, crossing his arms. One hand twirling around the chord of his headphones. "Haven't two other people gone missing this month already?"

The station employee nodded.

"God, The Everlock police station is doing a damn good job then," Manny said, his tone seething with sarcasm.

"Well when the police chief is missing, it's kind of hard to run a place functional enough. Apparently, they brought some people out of town! Gave them apartments and all."

"Wilmer's among the missing? Who else? I feel like this would bring in some listens if we talked about this. This seems like quite the hot topic!" Manny's show was his pride and joy, and if talking about shit he didn't truly want to talk about would help it. He was doing it.

"Disco Dancer Colleen Ballinger,"

"Her? Really? Can't believe that bitch went missing. Are we sure she hasn't skipped town?"

"Manny, you're a Record Producer and a radio host, save the Detective work for someone who actually knows what they're doing!"

She was right, but Manny wanted to prove her wrong out of spite. Just because. Plus a little mystery to solve was good once in a while! Who knows what could happen?

-×-

The police station was far from calm, it was hectic, with officers rushing all over the place, and a very stressed-out Detective cooped up in the sheriff's office, who was among the missing.

All morning Safiya had been trying to talk to him, but she'd never get the chance. Always getting shoved off to something else or shut down by him or an officer. 

"Hey! Mat!" Safiya called out, stopping the office door from shutting all the way. "Have a minute?"

"Nope, not at all. Expecting someone!" Mat said, not looking up. His desk matched his mindset perfectly, a frantic mess. Empty coffee cups lay on the floor, papers scattered all over his desk, and pens and pencils laid askew on top. The only thing that wasn't a mess was a framed photo of a woman and Mat from a few years ago. It sat near the corner, untouched by any of the Detective's stress mess as he called it. "Go and do something else maybe? Mrs. Voorhees called again! That's a task!"

Safiya sighed. "A cat that got out in the middle of the night is not a job for an Investigative Reporter! I tell stories and get information man! Do you even know what I do?"

"You're a journalist trying to pretend you're a Detective," Mat said blankly. "Listen, Safiya, you're doing great, but I know you are going to ask about the missing people! It's not your job right now!"

"Fine, but you're missing out man! I know about this stuff! I can help!" Safiya sighed, she slammed the office door shut and walked away. 

"Hi!" A woman said, bouncing up to Safiya, with a camera in hand. "Eva Gutowski! Journalist for The Everlock Events! Could I have a word on these recent disappearances?"

"Sorry, I can't help you out right now," Safiya said, turning Eva down the hallway. "Although the first door on the left, The Detective in there will gladly give one!"

"Thank you!" The journalist smiled, making her way down the hallway.

Safiya smiled and made her way back to her desk. The small radio on the desk next to her playing out the final minute of Sympathy For The Devil. She quickly turned down the volume and slipped into her chair and grabbed her desk phone.

This may cost Safiya her job, but Safiya didn't care. She was going to show the Detective what she could do! Safiya was much more than the journalist Mat saw her as!

Right as she was going to go and dial the number a woman, who Safiya had never seen a day in her life before, set down a newspaper. The front page article about the museum opening. 

"Where is it?" The woman asks. "I've been trying to get my answers for the last fifteen minutes, but all these idiots did was ignore me. So, where's the museum?"

"Not opening for another few days," Safiya replied.

"Not that!" The woman sighed. "Listen, there's been word flying around of some suspicious activity happening at the museum. It's my job to check it out, and make sure everything's going to be okay with your little town!"

"Who are you exactly?" Safiya asks, looking up from the front page article.

"Agent Teala Dunn, at your service." Teala smiled, pulling back her red jacket a bit revealing the gun at her waist. Along it, there was a symbol or logo Safiya was unfamiliar with.

"Well Agent Dunn, I'm afraid I won't be able to help you out," Safiya said, setting the phone down and handing her a pen. "Although, when I can. I'd love to get in contact!"

"I'll be looking forward to it," Teala said, writing down her contact information and setting it down.

Safiya smiled, pocketing the information before going and dialing the number. The ringing lasted for a while before someone picked up.

"Hi! Is this Professor Matthew Haag?" She asks. The voice on the other line confirmed with a hum. "Beautiful, anyway. This is Safiya Nygaard from Everlock's police department. May we talk tomorrow?"

-×-

Teala made her way out of the police station, she passed by countless flyers and other forms of promotional material for the town Carnival. The streets were crowded with ladders, and crossing guards as decorations were hung. 

"Must be quite an event," Teala said to herself.

"Oh, it is," a woman said, stopping Teala. "Everlock is rooted in history, and takes much pride in it! For decades the museum has been gathering this town's history."

"Really?" Teala asks, taking the flier the woman had offered. "What kind of history are we talking about?"

"The kind you can find out. You're not from Everlock, are you?" She asks, her expression is oddly cold. The kindness in her voice is fake, her eyes look lifeless. She's creeping Teala out a lot, and she does not want to know this woman's name.

"No ma'am. Just came in today." Teala answered. "Work purposes."

"What kind of work?"

"A later discovery. Thanks for the flier lady!" Teala quickly turned her back on the strange woman and started making her way down the street. Never in her life did Teala want to interact with that woman again. There was something about her that made Teala feel uneasy.

Sarah watched as the young woman walked away, she turned away, walking in the opposite direction towards the payphone. She slipped in the quarters and dialed the museum number. The phone rang for a bit before Marvin picked up.

"Apologies for disturbing your break," Sarah said, she looked around seeing nobody in sight. "The Society is here, they sent in an agent. I saw the symbol embroidered into the collar of the coat. Inform Arthur, will you?"

Before Marvin could speak, Sarah hung up and left behind the pay phone. As she began to make her way back to her car, she spotted Atticus.

The man locked eyes with her, briefly baring his fangs before a car zipped by him.

"Always a disappearing act," Sarah told herself, getting in her car. "Always a disappearing act with the werewolves!"

-×-

The comic book store was lined with posters of artists ranging from The Rolling Stones to ABBA. Vinyls joined the decor and sat in milk-crate bins in-between racks of comic books. 

VHS tapes lined up behind the counter, and a small radio sat waiting for the volume to rise to play whatever David Bowie song was on.

Posters of horror movies ranging from The Last House on The Left, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Carrie, and Night of the Living Dead all lined the wall.

There were other films too. Ranging from Grease to Star Wars.

Everlock was quite a town with its love for horror. The cinemas always seemed to play horror films, no matter the season. October is the prime month for all things that fall under the horror or spooky category.

The limited exposed orange wallpaper was beginning to peel, and it would soon be covered up by another poster. 

"Thanks for coming! Have a great day!" Roi called out to the family as they left the store. When the door shut he sighed with relief. He turned around, turning up the volume on the radio. Roi hopped over the counter, Roi grabbed a box full of comics and made his way over to the display stand.

"Zero-G, Zero-G, Zero-G," Roi hummed to himself quietly. He grabbed a copy and set it on the counter before stocking the rest of them on the shelf.

"DAREDEVIL!" 

The store door flew open and Roi quickly turned around, he dropped the comic he was holding. "HIPPIE!"

Jc smiled and he walked over, picking up the dropped comic. "Ooo, the latest edition of Zero-G Man I see!"

"On sale, tomorrow." Roi said, taking the comic from his friend. 

"Ah boo," Jc said with false defeat. "How come you're here and not helping with the carnival or whatever? Aren’t you in it this year?”

"Well, my bike still needs its last-minute fixes" Roi started, locking eyes with Jc before he kept going on. "And I have a few days before I need to go through the ring of fire." 

"At least I didn't break a mirror off."

"Yeah, but you ruined the paint job. I've been having to drive a car Jc, a car. I miss my bike man" Roi said. "But it's fine, extra money is always good to have! How's your skateboard?"

"Still working on it. I changed the wheels recently, and I'm planning on adding sunflower decals."

"I'm surprised you haven't done that by now." Roi said, hopping back over the counter.

"I've become a busy man," Jc said. "Gotta keep my van in good shape, being a bartender isn't that bad."

"Fatman Slims?" Roi asks. "Didn't you get kicked out of that place four months ago?"

"No, almost. Power of sharing dude. It's insane how well it works." Jc said, looking through the records. 

"You just bring good vibes everywhere you go, man." Roi said, throwing the empty box behind the counter. "So, how have you been?"

"I've been alright. Had a really weird nightmare last night."

"Oh, you and I both." Roi said. "What did yours have?"

"Monsters, yours?" Jc answered.

"Monsters." Roi confirmed he kept his gaze on his friend who turned to look through another crate of records. He was going to ask him something but kept quiet. 

The shop doors opened up, instead of a family this time it was a group of boys no older than 13.

They were either going to be his best or worst customers today.

"Roi," the boy in the middle said, he quickly recognized the three as his regulars.

"Sam, Edgar, Alan. What can I do for you?"

"Latest monster hunter one-shot comic," Edgar said, grabbing and shaking Sam. "We want to get him into the good stuff!"

"Vampire and Werewolf stories are sparking around. Gotta keep him safe and prepared!" Alan said. 

Roi glanced over at Jc who shook his head before going to look through the cassette box.

"Rumors or stories?" Roi asks, leading the three boys over to a milk crate dedicated to monster hunter comics, one-shots included. "Knock yourselves out. Michael's tab?"

"Of course!" Sam grinned, rummaging through.

"Rumors we know will be true!" Edgar said.

Roi nodded his head slowly before making his way back to the counter. 

"Really feeding those kids ideas huh?" Jc asks, setting his cassette of the month choice down.

Roi shrugged as he rang Jc up. "Listen, man, their kids. Better to have them know the truth early on so they don't grow up into skeptics, or potential victims." 

"Dude, it's Everlock. People mostly die from these monsters or mysterious circumstances as Mayor Janet says." Jc grabbed his cassette, slipping it into his pocket. "I'll see you later man."

The Hippie made his way towards the doors, they opened up, and the mayor's son, Mortimer Wilson, stood there with a sly grin.

"Hello Jc,"

"Mortimer," Jc said, reaching for his other pocket that wasn't holding a cassette tape. "Pleasant seeing you here."

"Ah well, I'm just here to get a few things for the carnival, at my mother's request," Mortimer said. "Will you be there this time? Or not?"

"Maybe," Jc answered, placing a cigarette between his teeth. 

"Smoking kills," Mortimer said calmly.

"So does your family." Jc snapped back. He quickly ran from the store, and before Mortimer could start some shit. He was always starting shit. Jc may or may not have been an enabler, but still. Mortimer started shit.

-×-

There was 100% no doubt about it, something terribly wrong with Everlock. Jc believed in the monsters, the stories, and the curse. This town was brimming with evil and dark entities.

So it didn't sit right with him when Mayor Janet Wilson and her family pushed it all off. Blew it off like a bedtime story or rumor. 

Janet knew the truth, Jc was learning the truth.

Then there was Mortimer, he was a fine dude. Nothing special about him. Yet he followed his mother's word. Mortimer kept close eyes on those who believed, who were close to making discoveries of history, long ago buried.

The tension was always strong between Jc and Roi with Mortimer. 

He just wished Everlock could accept the truth! But no, it has to be stubborn and live in denial. 

There was danger rising, and the monsters were going to return. It always started with people missing, and nightmares Jc and Roi wouldn't dare want to go through again. 

The two knew what was coming, after all. They had both seen the horrors and monsters firsthand. 

-×-

"Yeah. I'll be home in a bit. Relax, I have my gun." Mortimer said, running his hand through his hair. "Bye!" He hung up the payphone and sighed. 

The streetlights kicked on an hour ago, and Mortimer knew he was going to hear it from his mother. Despite being in his 20s, he was still expected to be home before the lights kicked on. 

He was fine though, no monsters came out and killed him. He only lived three miles away from where he was, it'd be a quick motorcycle ride. 

Making his way to his bike, he looked down, a frown coming over his face. A slashed tire. "Fuck," he grunted, standing up. "Stupid town." 

The streetlights had begun to flicker, and Mortimer heard something rush by him, he quickly turned the direction to where he heard a clattering noise. 

Of course, it came from the alley.

"Who's there?" Mortimer demanded, grabbing his gun. "Did you do this?" He snapped, gesturing to his tire. He didn't know if whatever was there could see he was gesturing to it, but he was pissed!

From the darkness there was laughter.

Anger boiled in Mortimer's chest. "You think this is funny?" He yelled, stepping closer. "C'mon! You're gonna have to pay for a new tire! Don't you know who I am?"

"Dead Meat! Fresh blood!" The voice snapped, a low terrifying growl burning at the back of their throat. 

Mortimer fired his gun into the darkness, and slowly what was lurking there crept out. 

With bright, burning eyes full of rage. With long sharp claws, and a mouth full of teeth and venom. Hungry for blood, feathers lined the monster, and with a terrible screeching squawk the harpy lunged towards Mortimer.

Mortimer screamed as he hit the ground, he fired another shot, right into the harpy's shoulder and shoved it off. He quickly scrambled to his feet, but the harpy was quick, sinking her claws into him.

Mortimer screamed, firing the last of his bullets. 

The monster's teeth came biting down into his neck, and it dragged him back into the darkness. 

Mortimer's blood splattered on the ground, and his body hit the ground with a thud. The harpy screaming out into the dead of night.

-×-

Chapter Text

-×-

It was early in the morning, perhaps a bit too early in Safiya's opinion, but she wasn't going to be the one to complain. Professor Matthew Haag was gracious enough to let her in for a few words before his day of long classes, and police and press interviews. 

Also, Mat wouldn't find out. The Detective would despise it if she got herself involved in this, but missing people was too important to catch up. Especially when it came to Joey Graceffa. The man was a Savant. He was a wise man, perhaps beyond his years. 

Joey, as Safiya would soon learn, was what could only be described as a Philosopher of death.

Safiya thanked the kind employee who let her in, and she made her way up the gothic dark oak stairs heading towards the classroom of the professor. 

Everlock University really had a knack for dark academia.

Approaching the classroom, Safiya adjusted her jacket and gently knocked on the door. The Investigative Reporter waited a few moments, nervously drumming her finger against a pin on the strap of her bag before the door opened up. 

The Professor stood before her, his stone-cold expression melting into a kind and professional smile. "I was expecting you, hello Ms. Nygaard. Apologies if there was any hostility, there's something off about the new security guard here."

"It's no worries sir, and Safiya will do perfectly fine, Professor." She said, returning a smile. "May I come in?"

"I see no fangs, of course." The Professor stepped aside, and Safiya stepped into the classroom. The door shut with a gentle click behind her. "And Matthew, or Matt will work well."

A classical tune plays softly from the radio on the desk. The walls are lined with posters of classic novels ranging from Dracula to Romeo and Juliet.

"Gothic literature and tragedy, popular choices from my students," Matt said, taking a seat at his desk. His hand gestured towards the chair in front of it. "Are you a fan?"

Safiya gladly took it, setting her things down. "Can't give you much of an answer." She confessed. "Haven't had the chance to read any lately. Work has been keeping me quite occupied."

"Investigative journalism. Always a treat to witness." Matt said, raising his glass. "Now I don't want to keep you long, and I know you're here because of Joey, so give me your questions, and I shall answer to my ability." The Professor said, before taking a sip of his drink. The ice clinked against the glass.

"What was he like? That seems like an excellent place to start." Safiya asks as she grabs her notepad and pen, clicking it a few times before preparing herself to write whatever was about to spew from Matt's mouth.

"Joey was a man who wore a veil of mystery." The Professor answered, setting his glass down. "Always finding ways to incorporate the grim in his topics, he spoke of horror a lot. A firm believer in monsters and spirits. A deck of tarot cards was on his desk. Believer in those too."

Safiya nodded, taking note of his response. "The tarot deck, what did he use it for?"

"Really to see how his day or week would go. Always took it light-hearted. Joey put a lot of trust into potential possibilities." Matt answered. "Especially in his final days,"

"His final days." Safiya parroted. "Can you describe what he was like? Was he any different than he previously was?"

"Oh, his final days," Matt said, a hint of despair in his voice. "Normal, for really the most part. His lectures on horror and philosophy. Teaching his students more of the past, showing them that old tape you and I would have watched in high school about the history." He explained. The Professor picked up his glass once more, swirling the ice around. "Joey was fascinated by the history of Everlock, and very excited about the museum opening."

"A good way, or a bad way?" Safiya asks.

The Professor took a sip of his drink before answering. "Really, it all depends on how you see it," Matt said, setting the empty glass down. He adjusted his glasses before continuing. "His love for history was admirable, but Everlock's history? It's messing with dark and evil forces. What lies in that museum is not good at all."

"Matt, what's inside the museum?" Safiya asks, lowering her pen.

"Off the record information," Matt said. "I know how your journalists and reporters can be."

"Off the record, sure." Safiya set her things down. What the hell was she going to learn about? Cult stuff?

The Professor rose to his feet, making his way over to a shelf full of what Safiya thought was just decorative books. Matt scanned the shelf, before grabbing what he needed. He opened up the book, flipping through the pages as he made his way back to his desk. Clearing it a bit, the Professor set the book down, turning it to face The Investigative Reporter.

"Fictional creatures, really?" Safiya asks, looking up from the book. "These are fiction! Told by teenagers around Halloween, parents get their kids to bed. You seriously can't believe Everlock has werewolves, vampires, and human-like snakes of all things roaming the streets!"

Matt blinked. "You don't believe me? Then what could have possibly taken Joey?"

"Serial killers are a great start." The Investigative Reporter said, leaning back in her chair. "There's no proof these creatures even exist!"

"Not even the words of Alex Wassabi?" Matt asks, grabbing a book from his desk drawer. "The Monsters of Everlock, a lovely book." He said turning it over "A harrowing eyewitness tale of Everlock's curse." Matt read from the back, he set it down in front of Safiya. "For you to take, Joey had lent it to me. I was going to return it late tonight, but I cannot."

"So you're giving it to me?" Safiya asks, taking the book.

"You might not believe, and it may remain that way for the rest of your life, but sometimes the skeptic can become a believer," Matt said, quoting the first line of Alex's book. "Listen, Safiya." Matt began.

The Investigative Reporter looked up, gently closing the book.

"I didn't believe in all of this either," he said, gesturing to the two books. "I thought it was all make-believe monsters and mythology. It's not. Everlock is a cursed town, cursed with monsters and myths to come alive. To take back the town, and once more have it in the hands of The Carnival Master." Matt said, his gaze focused on her and his tone quiet and firm. "The end of Everlock is upon the town; it always starts with missing people."

"Right, um, final question." Safiya laughed nervously, she did not want to end on a note like that of all topics. "Joey was a Philosopher in a way correct? How would you describe that?"

"A Philosopher of Death," Matt said, sitting back in his chair. The Professor reaches for his radio, lowering the volume until it is essentially mute. "The shining topics he spoke off. Joey spoke of it as if a person could have a second chance. To return to the land of the living."

"Like, revival?" Safiya asks.

"Along those lines. He also saw death as a curse, and in Everlock, it somewhat is. If there has been anything I have learned in my years of living in this town, it's that anything is possible in Everlock."

The Investigative Reporter would end it at this. She wrote down the last of what she needed, and packed all her things."

"Thank you for your time, Professor," Safiya said, picking up the book.

"Of course. A pleasure to speak to you." Matt said, opening his classroom door for her. From the hallway, there was a hum of an unfamiliar classical song. "Oh, and enjoy the book. Tell me what you think of it when you return it. It's a signed copy, I'd like it back."

"Sure. Thank you for lending it to me." Safiya said, stepping out of the classroom. The door shut gently behind her and The Investigative Reporter made her way down the hallway and the staircase she trekked up. Safiya really didn't expect the interview to go that way, but what she learned she could use some of for the finale.

Although the question of what the HELL did I get myself into? Was going to linger around for quite a bit. 

Seriously, what could Safiya expect?

-×-

Sundays were never that busy for Roi. Half the time he spent the day re-organizing and unloading shit. Or laying on the counter listening to Everlock Hours, or reading whatever novel Alex Wassabi has published. 

Jc was also here, but he was always here.

"Oh shit!" Jc exclaimed.

"What's up, man?" Roi asks, looking up from his book.

"I just realized you can make toast in a toaster oven!"

"Jc, man, how do you just realize shit like this? It is in the name!"

"I just use it for like fries, or whatever else I want" Jc answered, lowering his lit joint.

"You have a toaster oven? Dude you live in a van. Where do you have room for one?" Roi asks, marking his page and shutting the book.

"Who said I own one?" Jc asks.

"Jc, have you been using my toaster oven?"

"You gave me a key to your place. So, yes. Sharing is caring my guy. I let you use my van. I use your apartment. Seems fair." The Hippie said a growing grin spreading over his face.

"Dude! Have you been the one watering my plants then?" Roi asks. "I thought I was doing great at keeping them alive!"

"You deserve an award for being the best and worst plant dad." Jc laughed.

The shop doors opened up, and before Roi could even throw on his best customer service voice, a shrill shriek from Mayor Janet shattered the air.

"It's them!" Janet snapped. "They were the last living people my boy saw!"

"Uh, what's going on?" Jc asks. 

"My son is dead!" Janet wailed, her grief was terribly strong. "You two were the last he saw alive! I don't know what you've done, or what conversations you held, but I know. I know you two are partly responsible for my boy's demise."

"Mortimer is dead?" Jc asks.

Roi looked over at Jc.

"Clawed to bits!" Janet sobbed. "A nasty wound on his shoulder and throat too!"

Jc looked over at Roi.

"Arrest them!" Janet ordered, looking at the officers she dragged along.

"We can't arrest them for a murder we don't know if they did, but we can bring them in for questioning." The officer said, turning his gaze away from the distressed Mayor. "Please make this easy for me and just come along. Just a few questions, that's all I ask you to give us your time for."

"Uh, let me lock up first." Roi said, his gaze falling on Jc. Despite looking quite calm about this whole thing, he knew Jc was internally freaking out over this. Roi was also speaking the honest truth. 

Mortimer had it out for those who believed, and now Mortimer was dead. He could understand Janet's grief, she was his only child, and really only family. He felt bad for the mayor, but really at the same time, Roi did not want to be accused of a crime he and Jc had nothing to do with.

It was quite clear whatever killed Mortimer wasn't human, Janet even admitted it in her own way. He was clawed to bits, and a fair amount of Everlock's monsters had claws.

Whichever one killed him, Roi really didn't want to come across it. 

-×-

Jc had found himself in an interrogation room, his first time in one actually. Wasn't as cool as movies and TV made it to be.

The door opened up, and of all people to walk through the door it had to be a Detective.

"Jc,"

"Detective, or does Mat work?" Jc asks, leaning back in the chair as the Detective sits across from him. 

"I see you've hardly changed. Nice hair dye though." Mat said. "Now, I'll get to the chase, I know you don't want to be here, and I don't want to keep you long." He said, sliding a folder over to him before opening it up. "Do you know what caused these claw marks on Mortimer Wilson?"

Jc did not want to spend his Sunday morning looking at crime scene photos, especially the ones of a dude who didn't really like him in a morgue somewhere. Yet he was, and he was going to complain about it all he wanted to when he got out of here to Roi. 

Roi let Jc talk about whatever, whenever, no matter how fucking weird or obscure it was. It was a solid friendship.

"Yeah no, I got no idea what the fuck that is," Jc said, looking up from the photos. He closed the folder, sliding it back over to Mat. "Bear possibly. I dunno."

"You and I both know these are not from a bear. What monster did this? Werewolf? Snake-person? Dinosaur skeleton for all that I care about!" Mat said, opening the folder and placing a different picture on top before sliding it back.

"Dinosaurs were real man," Jc said. "Aren't they gonna be in the museum?"

"Of course dinosaurs are real, but their skeletons certainly can be alive and real too! Walking and creaking around in the dead of night, waiting to attack!" The Detective exclaimed. "Jc, you know these creatures. Who has done this?"

"I'm not sure," Jc confessed, he looked up yet still avoided Mat's eye. "A bear, coyote, something! It's got to be one of those!" The Hippie could feel Mat's gaze burning into him, the determined Detective trying to search him for any lies, or hidden truths. "Listen, man, I seriously can't help you." Jc closed the folder, sliding it back over to him.

"Jc," there was nothing light-hearted in his tone. Mat sat down, slowly sinking down the chair in an attempt to meet his gaze. "I know the truth. I know what you and Roi keep hidden. About what happened in the summer of 72."

Jc's head snapped up, he swallowed nervously as Mat sat up. The Detective rested his hands on the folder.

"Now, tell me how to figure out what caused these claw marks that killed Mortimer Wilson." Mat requested firmly. 

"Roi could probably tell you what made those marks. He's better with stuff like that." Jc answered. 

The Detective smiled at his success. "Thank you Jc," he picked up the folder and walked over to the door. "I'll be back in a bit."

"Looking forward to it." Jc lied.

"Quite glad," Mat said, not catching Jc's lie.

×

"Harpy," Roi said, closing the file and handing it back to Mat. "Is that all?"

"Harpy?" Mat asks. "How can you know that?"

"I know my claw marks." Roi shrugged. "Werewolves are longer, and usually on the torso or arm. Also the neck bite. Too small to be a werewolf, too large for a vampire, a snake-person there would be discolored skin and the veins would be a different color." He explained.

"You know your stuff," Mat observed. "I applaud you and your brain."

"I like knowing dangerous things."

"I do hear you've become quite a Daredevil," Mat said. 

"Detective, I always have been one. Now, can I go? I left the shop locked up, and probably have my regulars waiting for me at this rate."

"The door is yours," Mat said, gesturing to it.

Roi got up, making his way out of the interrogation room. The sound of Mayor Janet's voice caught his attention.

"Whatever serial killer is out there! I want it reported!"

"First off, I can't decide what to put on my show! I'm a Record Producer with a radio show. That's it! Second off, I have to wait until it's in the newspapers first."

"Is there a problem over here?" A woman asks, stepping between the man and the mayor.

Roi figures she's got it sorted out, but upon seeing the book tucked under her arm, he decides to stick around for a bit. He needed to wait for Jc anyway.

"No Sophia,"

"Safiya." The woman quickly corrects. "Now Mayor, I understand you are in a lot of distress over your son, but please. Leave this man alone. I have no idea what he is here for, but I assure you. I can figure it out. Plus, I saw the Detective working on this."

"Where?" Janet asks, seemingly forgetting the Record Producer.

"Down the hall, take a right," Safiya answered, far from a stranger from kicking people onto him.

"What a bitch. Can't even say your name right." Manny said.

"Not the first time. Now, can I help you with anything?" She asks.

"Can you tell me anything about the murder?" He asks.

"Nope, I just found out when I walked in here five minutes ago. Some weird serial killer if you ask me."

"Not a serial killer!" Roi exclaimed. The two looked over at him with puzzled looks.

"Some kind of animal then?" Safiya asks.

"No," Roi said. "How can you think it's an animal or serial killer when you're holding Alex's book!" He exclaims. 

"This?" Safiya asks, looking down at it. "I was given this by some professor Joey worked with."

"It's so much more than that!" Roi exclaims. "Real, eye-witness stories, all about the horrors of Everlock! From vampires to possession to mummies!"

"Sounds like fiction," Manny said, crossing his arms. "Are you like this dude's number one fan?"

"I'm his childhood best friend!" Roi corrected. "Do you two seriously not believe what's going on with Everlock?"

"And are you trying to get things that need to be kept under wraps leaked?" A new voice asks. 

"Hello, Teala."

"Hi, Safiya." Teala smiles at them. "Come with me, before you three unknowingly get information leaked to the public."

×

The people in Everlock were either paranoid to the point she thought someone was going to die from it. Or reckless and couldn't give less of a shit about the curse because they couldn't find it believable.

Teala found herself in a room with both of them.

"Oh hey, Roi,"

"Hi Jc, what are you still here for?"

"Mat never let me go. What about you?"

"Told him it was a harpy and he let me go."

"A harpy?!" Teala exclaimed. "A harpy, in here, in Everlock. What else do you have in this town?"

Roi and Jc bounced off of each other with their answers. There was much more to this town than Teala had expected. 

She better get a raise for this mission.

"And you said that this Alex guy has experiences with these?" Teala asks, taking the book from Safiya's hand. The Investigative Reporter didn't seem to mind.

"Yeah," Jc answered.

"How can I get in contact with him?" She asks.

"I could take you!" Roi beamed. "I know where he lives, and we were really close when we were kids."

"Perfect!" Teala beamed. "Mind giving me a ride?"

"I have a motorcycle, it's currently being fixed up right now. 

“You’re car?” Jc asks.

“Slashed tires, now I have to pay for new tires too!” He sighed. “I’m so close to getting rid of it. Sell it for parts.” He answered before returning the question. “Jc, what about your van?" 

"May or may not have woken up with a slashed tire, and missing mirror also." 

"What the hell did you do two do to your van and car?" Safiya asks.

"Not what we did. What something else did." Jc said. "I take care of my van! I'm not reckless with it."

"I have a van," Manny spoke up. "I don't mind helping out with whatever you guys got going on."

"Really?" Teala asks. 

"What about you?" Jc asks, looking over at Safiya. "Coming with us?"

"Oh of course, but only if it means helping find the missing people," Safiya said. "This was Joey's copy after all." She added taking the book back. "The Professor I spoke to gave it to me."

"So, when do we take this drive to meet this mystery Novelist?" Manny asks.

"Tonight I can work with. It's not too much of a drive. I can give Alex a call. Tell him we're coming! Give him time to get prepared for us!" Roi said. "It's only 9 am. We can be there before 11 if we leave in an hour!"

"That works," Manny said. "You guys?"

"Ideal," Teala answered.

"I have nothing better to do," Jc said, leaning back in the chair.

"I feel like I don't have much of a choice at this point, do sure!" Safiya said, shoving the book in her bag.

"Perfect! I'm gonna go call Alex!"

"I have a phone you can use," Safiya said.

"I'll see you all in an hour. I have a few calls to make, myself." Teala said as she opened the interrogation room door.

"I'll pick you guys up at Fatman Slims," Manny said.

"What's that?" Teala asks.

"The best diner and bar Everlock has to offer!" Jc said.

"You only say that because they allow you to smoke in there." Roi laughed.

"Real chill place. Except for the time that the snake got loose in there and bit Roi." Jc said.

"Haha yeah. I was in the hospital for a whole day." Roi said. 

Teala was going to ask no more questions. She bid the other four goodbye and made her way to the nearest payphone. A written list of monsters in Everlock tucked in the safety of her jacket.

Chapter Text

Manny didn't know what he agreed to by being the chauffeur for four random strangers. Yet as promised after an hour he rolled up to Fatman Slims, down to the dot to be exact. Rolling down the passenger and his window he poked his head out.

"I only have one other seat, the rest of you will be thrown in the back and cling for your lives." He said, unlocking the passenger side door and the sliding door.

"It's a three-person bench." Roi pointed out.

"I like my space," Manny answered. "Now c'mon! Before I go and change my mind!"

The passenger door opened up, Teala claiming it as her own with a winning smile as she threw her seat belt on after closing the door.

The back door slid open, Jc climbed in first, followed by Safiya much to Manny's surprise, and Roi followed after sliding the door shut.

"I'll add seat belts later," Manny promised, not knowing if it would be an empty one or not. "Now, where are we going?"

"I got a map!" Roi beamed. "The roads we need to take have all been done in red pen, I just have to find it first." He added, searching the inner and outer pockets of his jacket.

"Roi, you gave it to me," Safiya said, opening her bag. She set down Alex's book carefully before digging around and pulling out a neatly folded map. 

"Look at you and your bag of wonders," Teala said, happily taking the map. 

"I'm on the clock, it's with me everywhere," Safiya answered. 

"Does anybody know? That you are with us?" Jc asks.

"Nope," Safiya answered. "They won't bother looking anyway. Everlock's police station sucks. It's just everyone constantly clawing for an ounce of respect. Doesn't help Wilmer is a raging alcoholic."

"Well was seems far more correct." Roi pointed out. "There's no way that dude is still alive. How long has he been missing?"

"Four days, but he's still considered missing until we do end up finding something like a body part."

Manny glanced back, he could see unsure expressions on both Jc and Roi's faces. Those two knew something, and Manny was not going to find out what.

"Alright!" He said gently, slapping the wheel. "Let's go meet some Novelist!"

"Hey! His name is Alex, and he's the best Everlock has ever seen!"

"I gotta ask, how is he even alive?" Safiya asks, ten minutes into the drive after her silence since they left. "I mean c'mon, outrunning werewolves, punching harpies, killing a vampire! Real or not this hardly feels logical. I mean aren't these monsters that live here incredibly strong?"

"Quite easy to learn their weaknesses." Roi answered. "Have you not been to the monster section in the town library? Lots of survival stuff in there."

"I always thought it was the fiction section," Manny said, turning right at the light. "Just a really big one."

"You're a non-believer," Jc said, laying his arms and head on the bench. "What are your thoughts on all this?"

"Bitch if you do not sit the fuck down I will crash this van. I have insurance. I will put it to use."

"Okay," Jc sank back and Manny pressed his foot against the gas, zipping down the empty street before easing into the speed limit. 

"Now, to answer your question. I just don't care, I ignore it. See nothing, know nothing. Not my problem."

"Well it'll be your problem when you have a werewolf after you, and nothing to keep yourself safe!" Teala exclaimed.

"A heavy-duty flashlight works! I know from personal experience." Roi said. "Werewolf had no idea what was coming!"

"You, you fought a werewolf with a heavy-duty flashlight," Teala repeated. "Fight any other monsters?"

Roi shook his head. "Nah, I stay locked up in my apartment when the monsters come out. It's rare nowadays anyway, but I don't know how long that's gonna last anymore."

"What do you mean by that?" Teala asks.

"It's strange, people going missing, getting killed in the dead of night. It was always a rare sighting since Everlock was protected by something, but now that's not really happening anymore. It's like a switch was flipped."

"When did that all start?" Teala asks. "Everything suddenly becomes the opposite?"

"Couple of weeks ago, I think," Jc answered.

"What happened a couple of weeks ago?" Teala asks. Jc and Roi shrug, Manny can see the frustration in her eyes.

"The museum!" Safiya exclaimed. "Its opening date was released a couple of weeks ago after the final exhibit or piece was placed in. Since then it's just been final touches and last-minute preparations." She explained. 

"That sounds strange," Teala said.

"Are you suggesting the museum is causing Everlock to be weird?" Manny asks.

"Not weird, just kicking into its curse mentioned by those two." Teala gestured to Jc and Roi. "Oh take a left at the next stop sign by the way."

"It's a museum!" Safiya exclaimed. "Full of dead things and history from the town."

"And history built off a curse!" Roi exclaimed. "There is something in the museum, and whatever it is, it's responsible for Everlock being the way it is."

"And with how things are going. Probably going to be up to use to stop it!" Jc exclaimed.

"Us?" Manny asks while taking the turn Teala informed him of moments ago. "What do you mean by that?"

"Well, we are all currently driving to some novelist's house to learn more about Everlock's monsters and you know. You two agreed to come!" Jc said. "Feels like a nice little team going on."

"C'mon Manny, be a team player!" Roi exclaimed. "Aren't you just a little curious about what this town holds?"

"I am," Manny confessed. "But I care more about my life really. Curiosity kills the cat, and I will not be the cat!"

"Turn right!" Teala exclaimed, grasping onto the handle of the door as Manny made the sharp turn into a very long driveway. They arrived at their destination!

"Ow!" Safiya exclaimed. "Manny, add seat belts as soon as possible. Will you?" She says as they drive up to the house. "Nearly slammed me and Roi into the door."

"Still alive!" Manny said, throwing the van into park.

×

Roi made his way up to the door, the others following behind. He knocked at the door, waiting patiently for Alex to let them in.

The door opened up, a wide smile coming over Alex's face. "Roi!"

"Hey, man! These are the others I was talking about. Jc, Safiya, Manny, and Teala!" Roi said, pointing back to each person as he said their name. Jc was the only one to give a vocal greeting, just a simple hey.

"It will be lovely to meet you all," Alex said, looking over at them. "Please, come in! Roi has told me you all have important matters to discuss with me." The Novelist said, stepping to the side.

×

Jc stepped inside the house, quickly being met with artwork of monsters alike, mostly depreciating their demise. A vampire was being stabbed with a stake, a Gorgan was being decapitated by a sword, a werewolf was shot with a silver bullet in the heart, and a harpy was being slain with a bow and arrow.

"Catching your eye?" Alex asks, coming up to Jc who looked as if his soul were going to leave his body. "Apologies for scaring you. I didn't know you were so invested in the art."

"You're all good man. You got uh, quite a painting collection."

The Novelist laughed, patting Jc on the shoulder. "That's exactly what Roi said! You two really rubbed off each other these last five years!"

"Guess so," Jc shrugged. "He's a really great guy. I'd do anything to keep him safe, and I know he'd do the same."

"That's what Roi is," Alex agreed, a look of pride bright on his face as he talked of his oldest longest friend. "He's a protector."

"Yeah, anyway uh, I'll be in with you guys in a moment. I don't want you keeping the others waiting." Jc said, glancing over to the living room and hearing the record producer's laugh come from it.

"Good, we'll be in the living room." Alex made his way towards the living room, leaving Jc alone.

His gaze shifted back, falling on one specific painting.

"Jc!" Roi's voice called you. "You coming dude?"

"Yeah!" He called back. "On my way." He added more quietly. Tearing his gaze from the painting he made his way over to the living room, taking a spot on the couch between Teala and Roi.

"Ah, I see you brought a copy of my book." Alex acknowledged, catching sight of his novel peeking out from the Investigative Reporter's bag. "An autograph?"

Safiya shook her head. "Not mine, a Professor and co-worker of Joey's gave it to me. I only got through the first three chapters. You wrote a lot of hatred towards vampires I've noticed."

Slowly, a faint look of grief came over the Novelist. 

"I've had quite the history with vampires." Alex got up from the chair he was sitting in, making his way over to a locked cabinet. He quickly put in a code and opened the doors. It was lined with weapons.

"This was the very stake I used," Alex said, grabbing the large weapon, dried blood aged into it. 

"You killed a vampire?" Manny asks. "Any specific reason why?"

"Manny, it's a vampire. A bloodsucking monster!" Teala exclaimed. "Wouldn't you kill it if you came across one?"

"I don't know what they are like!" Manny exclaimed. "I don't go walking around Everlock with a neon sign that tells vampires and whatever else to come at me!"

"They killed my former partner," Alex said, placing the stake back down and closing the cabinet. "Good friend of mine, Tana, painted that in her honor." He added with a gesture to a painting over his fireplace. "She was killed just a few years ago."

"Alex, why do you write of the monsters of Everlock?" Teala asks. "Of all things, you write of tragedy, and these evil monsters that took over your town."

"They have not taken over, and they won't." Roi started. 

"People need to believe," Alex began, casting a glance at the two skeptics who sat on his loveseat. "Or else, it can lead to death. It's what happened to Gabbie Hanna, heart clawed out of hed chest served on a golden platter."

"Wasn't she that actress who died like four years ago?" Jc asked. The name sounded familiar, but not enough for him to care. He wasn't a fan of the movies she starred in.

"Yes, werewolf last I heard. I've also heard people say it was a Promethean man or automaton, hell vampire too!" Alex listed. "It's a mixing mash really of what I heard."

"Werewolves and vampires. You mention those a lot, are those like the most popular monsters here?" Safiya asks.

"Well, werewolves and vampires can blend in better to the blind eye." Alex pointed out. "For others, they can gamble with it in the dark. Those guys can manipulate and transform their appearances."

"When night hits, they can shed free, and the others can come out. Because nobody goes out after sunset in Everlock." Jc said.

"But that's going to change, isn't it? I mean, the carnival is this week." Manny pointed out.

"Filled with bright lights, and crowds of people." Roi explained. " A never-ending day,"

"Is that why that slogan is always on the promotional stuff for it?" Safiya asks. 

"I always saw it as a never-ending day of fun. Not an actual never-ending day." Manny confessed.

"Well you know the real reason now," Alex said. "Now, why exactly did you guys come here?"

"Mortimer Wilson, the mayor's son, he's been killed," Safiya explained. "The night after Joey Graceffa goes missing, a couple of days after Colleen Ballinger does also."

"What killed Mortimer?" Alex asks, leaning back in his chair.

"Harpy, and from what I've gathered, you said you had many experiences with monsters," Teala said. 

"And curses," Alex added. "I've had people in my life, close to me, be affected by curses before. Witches mostly, but those can be reversed. Witches are quite separate from Everlock, they've been around longer. Their own thing."

"What about Everlock?" Teala asks.

"The curse of Everlock is always building. It's growing stronger, more powerful each year. Those affected by it, they will begin to change. Grow restless, angry. I don't personally know much of the curse, I pay more attention to the monsters and surviving."

Jc had done well following along, mentally adding to the conversations with his opinions, but now his brain was working on questions.

"Alex?" He asks, the Novelist turns to look at him. His gaze practically burned into him. Jc fights the urge to shift from the discomfort of his gaze. "Where can we learn more of the curse?"

"I'm unsure. The museum isn't opening for another few days, and the library holds nothing."

"I think I know a place," Safiya said. 

"You?" Roi asks. "What could you have in mind?"

"Can I borrow your phone?" She asks, standing up.

"Out in the hall, on the left side of the wall."

×

"Okay, allow me to get this correct. You want to break into a missing dead man's classroom, for what? Information we might not even find!" Teala exclaimed as they pulled out of Alex's driveway hitting the road once more.

"Not breaking in," Safiya corrected. "Matt has a spare key to Joey's classroom, when I spoke to the professor he told me Joey knew a lot about Everlock's history, and if I am correct, which I will be. We can get more information on this curse!"

"You sound very sure of yourself," Jc said.

The Investigative Reporter looked over at him. "I am very sure of myself. I'm hardly incorrect about things, and I will go above and beyond to get my point across."

"Are you saying you believe in this stuff now?" Manny asks, his gaze staring her down in the rearview mirror.

"No, I find this all very hard to believe, but I can allow myself to be open-minded. Listen, if I was given the opportunity to travel back in time, I would." Safiya answered.

"What about you?" Teala asks.

Safiya has a slim idea of what his potential answer could be. She can see it in his eyes, that he's still strongly skeptical about all of this, but it could be stemming from fear. Fear of something Safiya can't place. It could be the unknown, the dark, or death. There are endless possibilities.

"When I see it, I'll believe it," Manny answered. Safiya could get behind it, and from the expressions of the other three, they could too. "

-×-

"Wow, this place is a lot fancier than I expected." Roi admitted as they made their way down the hallway, turning into Joey's classroom. "Now it looks like a Halloween store." He added on quickly.

The walls were lined with posters of horror movies, the skeletal transformation of a human to a werewolf, and a poster of different eyes of different monsters hung over Joey's desk. Locked up in a kiero cabinet lay a dagger. Vials of fur, scales, and blood. Jars of taxidermy littered a shelf to the left of the door, and back of the classroom. Scribbled on the chalkboard were the last remains of Joey's last lecture.

The Crystal of Everlock.

"Oh yeah, because a Halloween store definitely sells real werewolf fangs!" Jc said, gently placing the jar down.

"Dude, did you see the werewolf claw out in the hallway?" Roi asks.

"Can you two stop talking about fake taxidermy for five minutes?" Manny asks, tearing his gaze away from the informal poster of a mummy. Roi thought it looked neat, but the nervous Record Producer did not.

"I can appreciate how organized he was," Safiya said, walking over to a large labeled bookshelf. "Occult, Magic, Witches, Vampires!" She informed the others. 

"Anything on what we came here for?" Teala asks, making her way over to the desk. She opened up a drawer, and Roi joined her, catching sight of a deck of tarot cards. "Didn't she mention these?" She asks quietly.

"Yeah, a Savant is the last person I'd expect to be into that stuff." Roi said, picking up the box. "But Joey wasn't exactly your typical college Philosopher dude." He added, gesturing to the room they stood in.

"Oh! Unexplained might work!" 

Roi looked over, seeing the Investigative Reporter catch sight of the section. Her hand trickled around the section before she grabbed one. 

"Whatcha got?" She asks, turning to them.

"Roi and I found the tarot cards you mentioned on the ride here," Teala said.

"Oooo, are we drawing cards?" Manny asks, coming over. "That's always fun!"

"Are we really fucking with the dead man's tarot cards?" Jc asks, joining the record producers' side. 

"It's a tarot card Jc. What's the worst that could happen?" Manny asks. "We can place it back, apologize, and thank Joey for allowing us to use it, and move on! Always apologize to the dead, that's the respectful thing to do."

"Matt did say Joey used his tarot cards a lot," Safiya said, looking at the box. 

"For what?" Roi asks, his curiosity captured.

"Silly stuff, to see how his day or week would go," Safiya answered.

Truthfully, Roi wanted to pick a card. He was quite curious about what he would get! The others seemed to also, even the two skeptics to his left.

"Do we shuffle them?" Teala asks. "I'm not really good at shuffling cards."

Jc held his hand out, and Roi smiled as he handed them over. Jc learned the skill a couple of years ago. At first, Roi hated it because he'd use his magical shuffling abilities to cheat at Uno. 

"Alright, who's going first?" Jc asks, looking around.

"You shuffled, have the honors of going first!" Roi exclaimed.

"If I pull death I'm gonna fight someone," Jc said, setting the deck down.

"You can't fight for shit man," Roi said.

"Thanks, man," Jc said as he pulled his card. He turned it around, a wonder wheel was printed on it along with a non-human skeleton locked up to it. Roi couldn't place it, but neither could Jc. A later investigation. "The Wheel of Fortune." He read, turning it back over. "Sick,"

Manny went next, grabbing a card and turning it around. A skeletal hand was wrapped around the hilt, a crown at the top. "Ace of swords," he read, turning it over to himself "I'll take it."

Roi took his turn next, he grabbed the card showing it off to the others before turning to face it to himself. "The Sun," he read, before glancing at the image. A vampire was burning off into a skeleton. "Not what I expected, but I'll take it."

Safiya grabbed her card next. Turning it to show a skull with ten sticks surrounding it. "Ten of wands." She said after flipping it to herself. "Cool."

Teala took hers last. A surprisingly tall skeleton stood, grasping onto two sticks that stood on the ground on the sides of the skeleton. "Two of wands." She read and looked over at Safiya.

"I'll look up the meanings later," Manny promised. "I have a book of tarot buried somewhere in my endless record boxes. I seriously have to get rid of some, line them in my studio at the station."

Roi would happily hear Manny talk about interior design more, but a terrible scratching came over the door from the outside and Roi's blood went cold. An uneasy feeling rose in his chest. 

"What was that?" Jc asks, taking the words right out of his mind.

"I don't know, but I'll go check," Teala said, making her way toward the door.

Manny looked down at the desk, quickly grabbing a letter opener, and rushed after her. "You are not going alone!" Manny exclaimed as the two disappeared out the door.

"While we wait for them to come back, we can keep looking in here," Safiya said, making her way over to the desk she placed the book on.

×

Teala would have been perfectly fine on her own. Although she appreciated Manny's kind, but unneeded gesture. She had a gun! Manny had a letter opener. 

Perfectly safe hands.

"Did you see what was on the door?" Manny asks.

"Yes Manny, claw marks," Teala replied, following the rustling sound. "I wonder who let a vampire in."

"Vampire? They have claws?" Manny asks, more curious about the surprise design choice. "Wait, how do you know it was a vampire?"

"Joey's classroom," Teala said, gesturing back to it. "Guy really liked his monsters and what-not."

"I do not want to know what that guy's house looks like." Manny shuttered. 

A rustling noise had begun to grow louder, followed by a thud and a terrified scream.

"Oh shit," Teala ran towards it, Manny screaming after her before following her.

The Super Spy threw open Matt's classroom door, and a terrified dying scream came from the Professor. A vampire hung upside down, a mouthful of sharp and bloody fangs in her mouth. Her eyes were a bright vibrant red, large claws sank deep into the professor's shoulder. 

"VAMPIRE!" Manny shrieked upon seeing the feasting monster.

The vampire let out a terrifying shriek as she launched herself off the wall. 

"RUN!" Manny grabbed Teala's shoulder, quickly pulling her towards the door, and he broke out into a run. "Was that an actual vampire?!"

"Yes!" Teala exclaims, she quickly grabbed a few bullets that had a red glow around them. Loading them into her gun.

"YOU HAVE A GUN?" Manny asks. "Since when?"

"Always!" Teala stops dead in her tracks, she quickly turns around with her gun raised, directly at the vampire.

She let out a terrible cry and Teala fired her gun, sending the bullets right into her.

Smoke came from the bullet holes, and the vampire let out a crying scream of agony as the cold dead skin around her burned up before she burst into dust.

"What the hell did I just witness?" Manny asks.

"A vampire dying," Teala said, emptying her gun. The shells falling to the ground. "Sunbeam bullets," she said, picking them up. "Perfect for vampires!

Manny looked terrified. "What else do you have?"

"I got Wolfbane bullets!" Teala beamed, pulling back her coat revealing a line of six bullets resting in a pocket. "I haven't gotten to use them yet though, so I'm unsure of what they do."

×

Jc watched as Safiya and Roi poured over that book, despite being a skeptic as claimed many times, she seemed quite invested in it. Jc was going to make the mental note to make a bet with Roi to see how long that'll remain.

"Everlock cinema," Jc said, catching sight of tickets laying on the desk. Part of him felt bad for going through Joey's personal workspace, but something terrible happened to him and will happen to others. "Didn't that place shut down in the sixties?"

"In 1966, a terrible fire broke out, killing five people I think," Safiya explained. "Why are you asking?"

"Joey has a ticket for it," Jc said, holding it up. "Calliope and Andrea, whoever they are."

"Calliope?" Roi asks. "She works at the carnival! She does fortunes and seances if I'm correct!"

"What kind of carnival do you work at?" Safiya asks.

"Spooky one is my best answer." Roi said.

Jc had more questions but found it would be a while before he could get his answers. The sound of a gun firing rang out in the halls.

"What the fuck?" Safiya looked over to the classroom door which opened up, Manny stumbling in looking scared out of his mind.

"They're real!"

"What's real?" Roi asks. "Dude, what happened? Are you okay?"

"He'll be fine," Teala said walking in. "Your professor friend won't be though, he uh, a good chunk of his neck is gone." She added looking over at Safiya.

"Matt's dead?" Safiya asks. "What? Teala, are you being serious?"

"THERE WAS A FUCKING VAMPIRE!" Manny cried out. "She killed it! With her magical bullets!"

"There was a vampire?" Roi asks. "Is that what clawed at the door?"

"I'd like to go back to the bullet part," Jc said. "I feel like we kinda glossed over that!"

"Oh! Sunbeam bullets!" Teala said, reaching into another pocket and grabbing another one. "These are wolfsbane bullets! They're used against werewolves!"

"Well put it away!" Roi exclaimed, pulling Jc back. "Please,"

"Wolfsbane is also toxic to people," Jc added quickly. "We'd like to remain alive, and not violently ill from it, thanks."

"You two will be fine," Teala assures them, placing the glowing blue and purple bullet back. "It's only dangerous when fired!"

"Teala, what kind of agent are you?" Safiya asks. Jc has a lot more questions now.

"I'm an agent for the Society Against Evil, a group of elite monster hunters who help save the world from damnation," Teala explained. 

"So, is that why you came here?" Manny asks.

"Yes, and listen, I don't usually ask for this, but with the vampire Manny and I just faced. I don't think I'll be able to do this by myself."

"Are you asking for us to become monster hunters?" Roi asks.

"Only if you're alright with your life being in danger!"

Chapter Text

-×-

"FUCK!" Marvin screamed out, rising to his feet as he watched a light go out on a board with dozens of other lights. All of them are neatly labeled with a name. 

"What are you screaming over this time, Marvin?" Sarah asks, coming from the hallway. "Arthur and I could hear you from the seance room! My salt circle has been ruined I hope you know.”

"Allison has been killed!" Marvin exclaims. "Sunbeam bullets!"

"Sunbeam bullets?" Arthur asks, coming around after hearing his co-workers' exclamations. "Marvin, you must be joking!" She exclaims. "Sunbeam bullets are only used by Society Against Evil members!"

"You didn't tell him?" Sarah snaps, smacking Marvin with a newspaper she quickly rolled up. "I told you to inform him!"

"I didn't think you were serious!" Marvin confesses. "Society members haven't stepped foot in Everlock since the 20s! How on earth could they have possibly caught wind of what was going on?"

"We've been quiet." Arthur points out. "We have not crept out in the middle of the night and killed, and only now have brought out Everlock's creatures again."

"You have a point. We have been working hard in the museum." Sarah points out. "And we did go big for our return, I knew we shouldn't have gone for an Everlock celebrity!"

"She had it coming," Marvin shrugs. "But what do we do about the society agent? If she’s here, then they must be planning something on us!”

Arthur looks out the door, making his way over to it. The man peeks his head out into the hallway before returning to his colleagues. "We have the crystal and we have monsters eagerly waiting to go back out there."

"Especially Atticus," Sarah points out. "He's our strongest, and with the magic of the crystal. His strength grows!"

"But not to full capacity, another remains out there, and as long as they walk Everlock Atticus cannot do what we truly need him to do!" Arthur reminds her. 

"So what do you suggest?" Sarah asks. "Tear that whole damn town apart for another werewolf? Hire another werewolf hunter after the last one had his heart clawed out!"

“His lung tasted like cigarettes,” Marvin said sadly.

"We use them too. Whoever they are. There's a blood moon the night the carnival opens, that is when we strike!" Arthur says, a twisted grin coming over his face. A blood moon, a full moon, and the power of Everlock's crystal. 

The town will never know what was coming for them. One werewolf was bad enough!

-×-

"Did you know werewolves are affected by more than a full moon?" Manny asks, lowering the book Roi had happily lent him.

"Really? I didn't know that, I was just told full moons." Teala said, setting her cup of tea down. "Thanks for the information, I'll keep that in mind for the upcoming blood moon!"

"When is it?" Roi asks, lowering his cup of coffee.

"The tenth I'm pretty sure," Safiya answered. "Today's the eighth right?"

"I'm confident so, yeah." Manny nodded. "We can ask Jc when he comes back with the coffee pot."

"Who knew Fatman Slims had an excellent breakfast menu," Safiya shrugged. "Always thought of this place as just a bar, and where sad people go when their marriages fall apart."

"An old regular of mine Cindy came here a lot," Jc said walking over. "Then she was found murdered behind the back. Anyway, whatcha reading now?"

"Book on werewolves. After yesterday and seeing a vampire turn a Professor into a midday snack I've been reading up on what you guys mentioned. I don't want to become monster food."

"Understandable." Teala nodded. "What else are you learning?"

"Harpies, Zombies, Gorgons, the Minotaur, really whatever I can find that Everlock is home to. Did you know the four-faced funhouse man is real?" Manny says.

"Really now?" Safiya says sarcastically. "Manny, that's a carnival urban legend. You can't really believe that he's real!"

"You'll believe me when you have a fishhook in your gut," Manny replied. 

The Investigative Reporter rolled her eyes. "Thanks for that. I'll be sure to haunt you."

"Dude, when's the blood moon?" Roi asks. "Apparently there's one this week."

Jc shrugged. "Dunno, you usually keep track of the moon shit. I'm usually preparing for safety." 

"Well figure it out later!" Manny exclaims. "Don't we have to meet up with Andrea and Calliope today?"

Jc looked over at Safiya, the Investigative Reporter quickly caught onto what his gaze was meaning and inched over, leaving him some space to join them. 

Setting the coffee pot down on the table next to their booth he took a seat with them. "Yeah in like two hours! 12 pm, it's what the tickets say." He said. "But aren't the cinema doors locked up? How are we going to get in?"

"Leave that to me," Safiya answered. "Mat has a locking picking set for some reason and I snatched it up when I went to talk to him last night about Matt Haag being murdered last night."

"What did you say it was?" Teala asks.

"Nothing, just told him he was dead and I came from the crime scene. I'm waiting to see what the death reports say." Safiya answered. "Did he really have a chunk of his neck missing?"

"I saw his blood and muscle dripping from that vampire's mouth!" Manny exclaimed. "I thought I was going to be sick! My fear was just that powerful I suppose."

"Well, you did better than most! Most are sick seeing something like that for the first time." Teala said, patting him on the back.

"Oh yippee," Manny said sarcastically. "I can't believe I agreed to be a monster hunter!"

"I can't believe Safiya agreed to be a monster hunter!" Roi exclaimed. "I mean, you don't believe in this, but here you are!"

"Open-minded." Safiya corrected. "I don't know what exactly you two saw, but whatever it is. It got Manny to believe, so I'm no longer a skeptic, but I can stay open-minded."

"Are you saying what I think you're saying?" Jc asks. "Are you going to admit you're wrong?"

"No, I'm never wrong," Safiya quickly shot that down. "But I can admit this, there's something really weird going on with Everlock."

-×-

Atticus knew more than what he was showing off to Arthur, Sarah, and Marvin. It was quite cruel how clever the three were, he always had to figure out ways to outsmart them. He would, of course. Atticus had an advantage, the whole werewolf thing. 

They were just human after all! 

They were also cannibals.

Over the 25 years Atticus had spent trapped with the werewolf curse, he learned to harness it. To control it, but only for his son. A promise for him, and how Atticus promised his son the world. Dylan was everything he had, and his teenage boy was so much like his mother. His heart aches for his late wife Gwen and their son. 

To Dylan, he has no parents. His mother had succumbed to sickness and his father was shot dead by a werewolf hunter.

Truth be told, Atticus was dragged to become a museum exhibit and a monster of Everlock that roams the streets at night. There was a chip buried deep in his arm, but nowhere near anything vital. In case Marvin missed putting it in, or Arthur and Sarah needed to use terrible force to get him to do what they needed.

As a human Atticus was just a poor terrified man, who wanted nothing more than to be a father. To keep his son, his world safe. Yet when the moon was full or bloody, the monster that cursed him was just far too strong.

And right now, he needed that strength.

Somewhere in this museum was what Atticus needed to help him claw the chip out. The thing was a ticking time bomb that tracked his every move. It's how Sarah and Arthur kept finding him, and stopping him from getting just a bit too close to Dylan for him to learn the truth.

Taking a right down the hallway Atticus could see the lights had gone out, and a faint blue glow from underneath a door.

"Bingo," Atticus said quietly. He made his way toward the bright blue light, he'd only last three small steps. Slowly his eyes changed to a shade of bright gold. His fingernails sank into his fingers, before slowly breaking out into long, sharp, monstrously dangerous claws that dripped his blood from where they tore through the tips of his fingers. His teeth grew longer and sharper, and the painful headache that followed the start of every transformation had begun to settle like dust.

Stopping in his tracks, Atticus held his arm out that had that annoying flickering red glow. He needed to act quickly before it began to flicker faster, informing the three serial killer museum employees Atticus was not where he was supposed to be.

Those assholes were stacked with bullets, but not even their strongest ones could take down a werewolf affected by the Crystal of Everlock.

Hanging his claws over where the chip was, he slashed at his arm muffling his pained cries as he bit down onto his hat, his fangs sinking through, tearing it. He slowly lowered his claws in, holding back a pained howl as he searched around for it. 

A terrible growl formed in the back of his throat as he finally pinched the tracker between his nails, and wanting to get it over with he tore it out. A pained muffled mix of a howl and scream escaped him as his blood splattered to the ground. Dropping the tracker to the ground he quickly stomped it out.

As much as Atticus wanted to step forward, to allow the werewolf side of him to heal the wound he couldn't. Atticus was succumbing to the creature enough as it was.

Turning his back to the glowing door frame, he made his way back, slowly his werewolf features disappearing.

He had a wound to tend to, like a human being.

-×-

The group arrived at the old abandoned Everlock Cinema at 12pm on the dot. Manny's van was parked a couple of blocks down the road at some crystal shop.

"Alright according to the back of the ticket, we can go up to the side door and knock three times." Roi said, guiding the group.

"Shit really? I was really looking forward to using Mat's lock-picking set." Safiya said, dropping it back in her bag.

"Use it another time!" Jc said. "You'll probably find a time and place to use it!"

"Girl, you are bold for stealing from a Detective," Manny said, standing as far away as possible from the door. The Record Producer did not like the idea of this at all. Who the fuck even does seances 'n shit like that in an abandoned theater anyway?

"He's a bit of a bitch sometimes, it's not like he'll miss it. That man probably has more laying around. Quite the collector from what I observed." Safiya said. "Also a big Lazarus guy, no idea why, but a discovery for another day. For now, let's find out what's going on here!"

Roi, being the Daredevil he is, knocked three times on the door, and slowly it creaked open by itself.

"The spirits invite you in!" A voice called out, Roi happily followed and stepped inside followed by Jc.

"Those two wouldn't last five minutes in a horror film," Manny said, watching them go in.

"Oh absolutely, they are the first kills." Safiya agreed.

"It'll be one hell of a double-opening kill." Teala agreed. "Maybe it'll be golden chainsaw worthy."

×

"Whoa, take a look at these movie posters!" Safiya exclaimed. "The Clowns Here Kill Part 2, Venomous Affections, The Man With No Name, Funhouse, Control Issues!"

"Interesting titles!" Manny agreed "How come I never heard of these?"

"Because they are not movie posters." A voice said, the group flinched or jumped from fear. "Apologies for spooking you all. My friend Andrea and I here have a knack for that!"

"Calliope! Hi!" Roi waved, and the woman, Calliope waved back at him.

"What do you mean by that?" Manny asks. "This is a cinema, and those are movie posters if I ever saw them."

"As Calliope said, they aren't movie posters. They're proof of monsters. The people who ran this place believed, wanted to show the world, but before they could. Mayor Janet shut it down, and these posters are stuck in here until further notice." Andrea explained, joining Calliope's side. 

"But the clowns?" Jc asked, pointing back at the poster. "Part 2?'

"They kill in life, as humans, and they kill in the afterlife. Just serving as The Carnival Masters’ demonic pawns." Andrea explained. "So it was displayed as part 2! They killed a couple of hippies a few years ago."

Everyone glanced over at Jc before looking back at Calliope and Andrea. "What the fuck was that for?"

"Now, I must ask, why are you all here?" Calliope asks.

"We found tickets for this theater in Joey Graceffa's classroom," Safiya answered.

"The Savant who died recently?" Andrea asks. "I should add prophetic dreams to my resume."

"Is that why you came here?" Calliope asks.

"Well, we also drew tarot cards, and we were wondering if you could tell us what exactly they mean," Teala said. "Manny, our friend here, didn't exactly get a chance to tell us what they mean yet. We were wondering if you could."

"Along with a couple of different things." Roi added. 

"I will gladly come with me. We can go somewhere less haunted." Calliope said. "The spirits are quite curious of you all."

"Did she say less haunted?" Manny asks. "Did I hear that correctly?"

"Yes, you heard her right, now c'mon! We got tarot cards to learn about!" Teala exclaimed.

×

There was something unusual about this group that stepped into the theater. Andrea was used to the strange and unusual, she herself even calls herself strange and unusual, but the people who sat before her. 

There was something dark lurking in one of their shadows, and whatever it was. It was far from human. It was monstrous.

"Do you all have the cards?" Calliope asks.

Andrea watches the group nod, each of them reaching into different pockets of their jackets and pulling it out, the backs facing Calliope.

"Lay them down, and then you may reveal what they are to me one by one. I shall give you all an explanation of what they mean."

"I think one-on-one would be better." Andrea pointed out. "These cards can reveal things people like to keep hidden from others."

"Ah, you're right. I do not need a re-make of that group I had two weeks ago."

Andrea could see the curious confusion in the group. "Story for later, anyway, who wants to go first?" 

×

"Hello Roi," Calliope said, lighting the many candles around the room. This had to be a fire hazard.

"Hi, Calliope! This is a fire hazard!"

"I can put them out later," Calliope said, taking a seat across from him. She gestured to the chair between her and Roi, which Andrea gladly took.

"Now, what card did you draw?"

Roi quickly reached back into his pocket and handed Calliope his card.

"Ah, The Sun." She acknowledged taking the cars from him. "Upright can mean success, positivity, vitality. Just a few examples, but reversed it shows how overly optimistic you can be. How you feel down and can struggle to see the brightness life holds."

"Vitality?" Roi asks, taking the card back staring down at it. "What do you mean by that?"

"Roi, you're going to help keep these people alive. To help them survive."

"Alive?"

"Roi, you and your new and old friends are going to be facing some of the worst Everlock can hold. You're a Daredevil aren't you?"

He nods, placing the card back in his pocket. 

"Although Roi, as brave as you can be, always ask yourself if you can go through with what your brain plans. I've seen how you work, how you face danger every day. You're really going to be facing it now."

"At least I know what I'm doing!" Roi said, getting up. "Also, how hard can monster hunting be when you know their weaknesses?"

×

Manny made his way into the room, a good portion of the candles had been blown out except for the ones on the table that surrounded a book. 

"Manny, please, take a seat and give me your card." Calliope requests in a kind tone.

Manny takes the seat Roi had sat in, and he handed her the card he drew. "Ace of Swords,"

"I can see. An interesting card." Calliope says, taking it from him. "Upright it shows you have breakthrough ideas and realizations. It can show intellectual potential! You have responsibilities and power. Although reversed it shows you re-think a lot and seek clarity, you can miss evidence and information."

"Realizations? Like what kind?"

"Of truth, just to name an example. The spirits told me you are quite new to learning of Everlock's truth." Calliope explains.

"The Monsters are real." Manny connects. "That I've been avoiding the truth from fear."

"Fear is alright to have," Andrea adds. "Fear helps people survive, and you're a strong guy! Use that fear as power. Do not allow it to get the best of you."

"Have you fucking seen those things?" Manny asks. "I watched a vampire turn a guy into a snack! A literal snack!"

Manny watches the two girls exchange a glance before Andrea steps out of the room.

"Where is she going?" He asks. "Oh my god, please don't bring a monster in here!"

"She won't," Calliope assures him. "We have survival guides also, and a notebook full of monsters and their weaknesses. Something that is always good to have in hand. Your fear is stronger than you, but you can learn to channel it to power."

"How would I do that?" Manny asks, taking the notebook from Andrea when she returns.

"You'll learn," Andrea tells him. "I was afraid to, but there's something you need to know about Everlock's monsters. Most of them were human too."

"And being human is a monster's greatest weakness, but your greatest strength!" Calliope adds. "You and your friends will do quite well in your journey of monster hunting."

×

Teala did not like this theater at all. There was something about it that made her spine chill. Possibly the projectors still flickering to life for a few seconds before dying again.

Also, the fact that spirits apparently roamed the place. A haunted abandoned theater was really how Teala wanted to spend her day.

"We'll make this nice and quick," Andrea says. "We can tell you don't want to be here. Not many people would choose to spend their day in an old haunted theater forgotten for a few years."

"I'll do Vampires, Werewolves, whatever myth comes crawling out of a book, but I draw the lines and ghosts and demons," Teala said. "They all breathe, and I can see them. I enjoy fighting the monsters I can see."

"That's quite fitting with your card," Calliope observes.”Two of wands.” 

"How so?" Teala asks, leaning into the chair, curious about what this woman has to say.

"Upright your card can mean future planning, like monster fights for example. It can also mean progress, decisions, and even discovery."

"The goal of my job, why I'm even here at Everlock in the first place," Teala says, more so to herself, but feels comfortable with that conclusion as she watches Calliope nod.

"What about the reverse?" Andrea asks.

"Personal goals." Calliope simplifies. "Focus on that, personal goals can always help us out. It also brings fear of the unknown, a lack of planning."

"Fighting demons and ghosts, because how the fuck can someone fight something like that?" Teala asks herself. "Seriously, I've seen what demonic possession does. It is not pretty at all!"

"Hey second either of those things show up, give me a call so I can just pack my stuff and leave. I don't do ghosts, demons, or creepy little kids." Andrea said. "Please?"

"I'll be right there with you." Teala was not going to hide her fear, fear to her can be used as a weakness when unnoticed. Yet noticed, and thrown out into the world, she was going to turn fear into the strength of running away. 

Because sometimes you just need to run.

×

There was nothing normal about this town, theater, or literally anything in Safiya's life right now! It was like her life was twisting from a crime movie to a horror one. 

"Ah, I see we're going from two of wands to ten of wands!" Calliope beams, handing Safiya the card back. "Are you and Teala familiar with each other?"

Safiya shakes her head. "No, but she's really nice. I like having her around."

"For a group of monster hunters you're all alive, so keep it up," Andrea said. "I've seen groups before, they keep dying, at least one."

"We haven't even really been, I'm not going to open this box up, Calliope may we please get this started?" Safiya asks. 

"Of course, now upright this card shows burden, extra responsibility, hard work, and completion." Calliope got right to the point, it was something Safiya could appreciate. "Yet reversed it's doing it all, that you will carry whatever the burden is and you will release it." She adds on. "Now if the spirits are correct, you work with the Everlock PD, correct?"

"Yes," Safiya answered.

"You often work alone."

"Yes."

"Alright," Calliope nods. "Cards aside, listen to my words very carefully, please. You don't have to work alone, those you have joined forces with are here to help you out!"

"Why are you telling me this? I can be a team player!"

"You can be a team player, but can you be a team member?" Andrea asks. "Think of it like that." She shrugs. "Because you are really in for one hell of a ride. I've read some articles you helped work on, and all I can say is good luck. You are entering a new world, one very unfamiliar from the comforts of denial."

"We'll all be fine." Safiya gets up, stepping out of the room, as she goes to close the door it quickly slams shut on its own.

"Alright, doors shutting on their own. I can't believe I've spent my day in a haunted movie theater." Safiya told herself, making way back to the group.

What a week this was turning out to be for her.

×

Jc stepped inside the room. "Hi?"

"I was wondering when you were going to show up," Calliope said, gesturing to the seat he quickly took. "I've been looking forward to it. Now, before we start. I must ask, how did you get wrapped up in this? You were always so lowkey, not one to be involved. Trust me, I've seen Janet trying to talk to you."

"Roi," he answers. "He uh, he became a really good friend of mine these last few years. We do a lot together, I guess monster hunting can be added to the list now and all." Jc laughs. "I will admit, this is not how I expected my week to go."

"Trust me, I'm thinking the same. This week really has been throwing us all off." Andrea said, sinking into a chair. "So, shall we get this going? We got lunch in ten minutes." She adds the reminder looking over at Calliope.

"Yes, of course. Your card please." Calliope asks. Jc hands it over to her, watching her reaction. "The Wheel of Fortune. From the top of my head, my mind comes to change."

"Change?" Jc questions. "What kind are we talking about? Money, or not?"

"Upright brings karma, luck, destiny you could even add. It can show a turning point, and it is." Calliope explains.

Jc looked down at the card, his gaze shifting back to her.

"Reversed, it's bad luck, a resistance to change. It'll break cycles, well you will." She said, "All of you have chosen cards that have been decided by fate. There's a reason you all got what card you did."

"Are these cards like a warning?" Jc asks.

"That will depend on how you see them," Andrea answers. "It will all depend on you."

-×-

"Alright, what's the game plan now?" Manny asks as the group exits the theater.

"Well with the blood moon coming up. Werewolf research!" Teala exclaimed. "I'd like to know more about Everlock's werewolf."

"You'll find no books, not on ours at least." Roi said.

"You can find newspaper articles though, probably." Jc shrugged. "I remember seeing a fair amount of werewolf coverage in the paper. There’s a whole archive of them in the town library."

"Well, we don't need to go to the paper," Safiya said. "I have something better!"

"What exactly do you have?" Manny asks.

"How about the woman who wrote the werewolf articles?" Safiya says.

"You know the woman who wrote about Everlock's werewolf?" Jc asks. 

"Who else do you know?" Roi asks. "Werewolf hunters?"

Safiya shook her head. "Everlock doesn't have a werewolf hunter," she pointed out. "Also, are we forgetting that I'm an Investigative Reporter? I know people! Just like how Teala here knows people!"

Manny, Jc, and Roi all exchanged a cluster of looks all over the emotional range. 

"Do you have a gun hidden also?" Manny asks. "Or, any weapon?"

"No? Manny, I go undercover half the time for a story scoop. What the fuck? Why would I have a gun?"

"To kill a man who's harassing you?" Teala asks. "Although I am quite glad to know that now. I feel like we can use that later on."

"I feel like I'm going to lose my job because of this," Safiya said, crossing her arms.

"Maybe, but we're saving the world. Now, can we go and meet the author of these werewolf newspaper articles?" Jc asks. 

"Yeah, I'm quite curious about whoever has written about this." Roi agreed, he sounded less enthusiastic and more tense.

"To my van!" Manny proclaims, holding up his keys with a bright orange fluffy rabbit keychain. "His name is Gregory! He brings me good luck!"

"Gregory is very lovely," Roi said.

The Record Producer smiled at him and started making his way back to the van, quickly jumping into a conversation with Teala and Safiya.

Jc was going to trail behind them, but Roi quickly stopped him by tapping on his shoulder.

"What is it?" Jc asks, looking back at his friend. A nervous expression washes over Roi, making him feel a bit nervous. "You alright?"

"Look," Roi pointed over to the other side of the street, Jc's gaze following after his friend's direction gesture.

Standing underneath a streetlight a man stood this, hands shoved deep into his pockets and an all too familiar hat covering most of his face.

Yet Jc knew who it was all too well.

"Hey!" Teala cries out. "Are you two coming?"

Jc blinks, watching as the man disappears in broad daylight. An uneasy feeling blossomed deep down.

"C'mon," Jc says quickly, grabbing Roi's hand. "We can worry later."

"Jc, how soon will later be?" Roi asks.

The Hippie hates to ignore him, but he does. The last thing Jc needs to worry about is his and Roi's past coming and getting involved this early.

Chapter Text

-×-

October 31st, 1974, 2:19 AM

On a table sat a lonesome gramophone, playing out a song, creaking with static with the recording from the cylinder. The song echoed throughout the bare halls. The wallpaper was peeling and the floors always seemed to creak. The wind howled, tears that grew too close to the forgotten house, scratching against the windows. Shards of glass littered the ground. The fabric was scattered throughout with broken tables, shelves, and whatever else was there. Some furniture was torn, large claw marks tearing through cloth revealing the springs and inside of the couch and recliner that sat awkwardly.

As the song continued, a terrible howl soon joined in, drowning it out. The floors had begun to creak, and the terrible dragging noise came from the hallway as the werewolf walked down the hallway.

His claws scratched and scraped whatever came their way, the monster breathing heavily as he walked through the old rotting house. The old place was left to be taken over by time. In the 42 years since life last lived there, nature and the monster had done their number.

The werewolf may have lived and it may have breathed, but the look in his eyes was lifeless as he wandered these halls. Like a lost soul, like the lost soul he was.

"We'll make this nice and easy," a man's voice said, In the daytime it was kind and warm. Yet when the sun went down it became like the fall and winter night, so terribly and bitterly cold.

The werewolf stopped, spinning on his heels and digging the claws on his feet through what remained of the carpet. Breaking through the mold that formed underneath. 

The man, a hunter, held his rifle up high, right at the werewolf's chest. "I may not say the same about your wife."

The werewolf let out a terrible growl, lunging forward, slashing his claws at the hunter's arm. He tore through the fabrics of his jacket and shirt, blood quickly staining both. The rifle fell to the ground with a clatter.

The hunter brought his fist to the werewolf's chest, ripping his arm from the grasp of his claws. He needed to avoid the mouth full of terribly sharp fangs at all possibilities.

Reaching into his back pocket he grabbed onto his pocket knife, firmly grasping it in his hand.

"You won't win!" Atticus snarled, forcing out the words.

The hunter stabbed the knife into his abdomen, all the werewolf could do was flinch and step back to rip the pocket knife out. 

"I'll hunt you down until your last breath!" The hunter snapped. "I will not rest until you end up dead!"

"And it won't end with me!" Atticus laughs, it sounds more like a forming growl than words and human laughter. "Out there, out in Everlock is another!"

Not too far from here, deep in the woods somewhere a second werewolf was out there. The howl traveled with the wind toward the house.

"Enjoy the hunt!" Atticus laughs, jumping up through the large holes in the floor from decades of weather exposure and no human care. Atticus claws at the second floor, lifting himself before vanishing from sight.

The werewolf hunter looks out a nearby window, watching as Atticus runs into the woods.

He wasn't going to leave until Everlock's werewolves were dead! London and Paris can wait!

-×-

Present Day (1978)

"Alright, I'll be quick. You guys just stay here, and out of sight!" Safiya said, zipping up her bag.

"Oh yeah, because I can definitely keep my big orange shade van hidden! Let me just press the invisibility button!" Manny said sarcastically. "Can't we come with you?"

"And get hammered with questions from a detective? No thanks, I'll be in really quick and out with Eva!"

"Can this be considered kidnapping?" Roi asks. "I mean look at it from an outside perspective, a big van, luring a woman to it. Shady stuff."

"She's not coming against her will!" Jc exclaims. "Right?" He adds quickly. 

"Roi, I, guys I know Eva! She'll happily come along, she's made a great career out of this stuff so far!" Safiya pointed out. "Listen, just five minutes. I'll be back with Eva!"

"But is it?" Roi asks as Safiya shuts the sliding door. "I don't want kidnapping under my list of crimes! I already have trespassing!"

"Trespassing?" Teala questions. 

-×-

Safiya slipped inside the station, scanning around for any sign of the journalist or her signature salmon coat.

"Hey, man! Watch it!" A man snapped and Safiya looked over to where the distressed voice was coming from. "You have to believe me! The mermaid! It was her! She killed them! It wasn't me!"

Mermaid? How could a mermaid possibly make its way to Everlock? The only body of water was a lake! She'd have to ask the others if mermaids could survive a lake. If so, what other kind of body of water could they handle? What would a mermaid do in a pool? Apart from being incredibly upset over how confined it is?

"Safiya?" The journalist walks over, tapping her on the shoulder

"Eva!" Safiya quickly turns around. "Okay cool, you found me, we gotta talk!"

"About Jesse?" She asks. "He's talking about mermaids in the lake again, not the first time he talked about monsters in bodies of water that travel through pipes."

"Through pipes?" Safiya asks. "How is that possible?"

Eva shrugs. "Mermaid magic, anyway, what's up?"

"Oh! Right well, I need you,"

"Safiya!" 

Alright, how many more people were going to interrupt her thoughts or words by calling out her name? Safiya turned around, watching as Mat briskly made his way over to her.

"Where the hell have you been?" Mat asks.

"Out," Safiya answered. "Working,"

"You don't have any tasks at hand," Mat reminded her. "What could you possibly be working on?"

"My job,"

"Which is?" Mat really did not give up. Fucker.

"Getting and writing my stories," Safiya nodded. "What about you? What have you been doing?"

"Investigating what the hell is going on with this town, and also trying to figure out where you've been going! You haven't been going behind my back and doing the one thing you aren't supposed to do, have you?"

"What are you, her boss?" Eva asks. "If anything, wouldn't you two work together?" She adds on. "Because if you aren't, I don't think you should be too worried about what exactly she's doing her job, but should be worried about the Outlaw over there about to break through your handcuffs!"

"He's what-" The Detective turned around, frantically making his way over to him. "Hey! Hey!"

"Alright, he's gone, now what's up?" Eva asks. 

"I need you to come with me into a not shady van," Safiya said blankly. "Please."

"What?"

"Monster hunting?" Safiya added on, unsure if that would get the journalist to agree.

Eva blinked, it was clear she was confused by it. "Yeah, okay, lead the way. I will ask, monster hunting? You?"

"It's a long story, Also what do you know about mermaids and lakes?"

"Nothing!"

-×-

Eva had no fucking clue who these people were. Truthfully, she hardly even knew much about Safiya. The Investigative Reporter was a total mystery! A mystery that just kept growing, how did someone like her of all people get wrapped up in monster hunting?

Now they were having a meeting in the town's diner about her werewolf articles.

"So, how exactly do you write about werewolves?" Manny asks, she quickly learns all their names, how did a record producer and part-time radio host get involved?

"My personal source," Eva answered as she set her bag down on the table. "He's quite the help." She unzipped it, handing a copy of an article she wrote. 

"Bram Stoker?" Roi asks. 

"Is that the author of Dracula?" Jc asks. "He's still kicking at it? And your werewolf dealer?"

"Bram Stoker died over 66 years ago in 1912" Safiya pointed out.

"Cover name," Eva explained. "Ever since I first started my werewolf reports four years ago, he asked to remain anonymous for reasons."

"Well, we need to know who he is!" Teala exclaims. "Please, Eva. For Everlock."

The Journalist considered Teala's words. The hunter was a kind man, but he could be rough when needed. Yet thousands of lives were at stake right now, and the town needed its monster hunters.

"There's a cabin in the woods that belongs to Oli White. He is a big game hunter, he is the one you will need to speak to." Eva said after looking around, to make sure nobody was listening in. 

"Oli? Isn't he a big game hunter? For like, deer, and bears?" Teala asks. 

"He is!" Eva laughs. "But it's another code name. Something to throw the other press and such off. It's why I write Bram Stoker for the werewolf articles." She explains. "It's also to keep some people calm, humans are very afraid of monsters and can only take so much monster information at a time. Sometimes it's better to keep them prepared by having cover names and codes to protect them."

The Journalist reached into her bag, pulled out a small notebook, and flipped to the end, a small polaroid tucked between two sealed pages. She turned the Polaroid around. Oli was standing over the body of a dead werewolf. "The bear attacks and such I report? Really werewolves. The town's most common monster. Besides vampires and demons, they always take different forms. Clowns mostly."

"It's all werewolf?" Teala asks, hanging the Polaroid to Roi who quickly hands it to Jc.

"Correct, although for a bit it really was whatever else lives in the woods. Everlock was genuinely quiet, but not for long with everything picking up recently."

"It's like something from a horror film." Safiya shivered, taking a better look. "Why not speak the truth?"

"It's Everlock," Eva said, taking the picture back. "It has Its believers and non-believers." She added, looking at Safiya. "Also, as mentioned earlier, people are very afraid. We don't want to throw the town into mass panic now do we?"

The Investigative Reporter shook her head.

"Now, as I was saying. The town has been quiet, almost normal, but the museum is changing that."

"The museum?" Roi asks.

"I've been writing and keeping an eye on the museum and its progress. I can't explain it, but there is something wrong with it." She says. "I've been sneaking a couple of photos when I'm nearby, but I don't have them with me at the moment."

"Have you been in it?" Teala asks.

"No, I just hide nearby, snatching what pictures I can. There's always these three people there. I think they're staff, the two men always have guns on them. I'm unsure of what the woman has if she is even armed." A chill runs down Eva's spine at the thought of the museum employees who looked like they hardly had any life in their eyes.

"Back to the werewolf and Oli thing, Mind sending us in his general direction?" Roi asks. "We need all the advice we can get,"

"The lone cabin in werewolf woods, you'll find his residence. I'd be careful, when the door opens you'll have a shotgun in your face." Eva explains. "Personally two of you should go,"

"What about the other three?" Manny asks. "What should they do?"

"You didn't hear this from me, but Mayor Janet has copies of every main attraction in her office," Eva whispers. "Those museum employees are terrible at being discreet."

-×-

"I'll head to the woods to meet up with Oli, Who's coming with me?" Safiya asks as the group exits the diner. "Why are you all looking at me like that?"

"Why the fuck do you want to walk into werewolf woods?" Manny asks. "Do you want to die? Or worse, become a werewolf?"

"I don't have a death wish, but we have a job to do. The town's at stake!"

"Well, have fun walking in there! Manny and I will be breaking into the mayor's office to steal some file copies!" Teala exclaims, She looks over at Roi and Jc. "Now, which one of you wants to commit a crime with us, and which one wants to go and walk into the scary werewolf woods?"

"Jc you wanna go into the werewolf woods?"

"No,"

"Do you wanna go and break into the office of the mayor who hates half of her town residences more than anything?"

"Fuck no!"

"Alright, I'm going with you. Jc will go with Safiya to speak to this Oli guy." Roi finalizes.

-×-

"Why were you so willing to walk in here? The literal second nickname of this place is murder woods. Not as great as werewolf woods, but still stands."

"Choosing to ignore a lot of this is helping me out with bravery," Safiya answers, leaves and twigs crunching under her boots as they follow the old lanterns hanging in the trees. Some are more broken than others, but all still have light bulbs in them that will light up once the sun sets. "You could have done something easier, but here you are."

"You clearly don't know Janet and I's history."

"Well, we're all learning about each other. A fun little unraveling mystery if you ask me."

"I'm high most of the time, Roi willingly jumps through a ring of fire on a motorbike, Manny's an over enthusiastic radio host, Teala's cool as fuck, and you are a very stubborn skeptic who is terrifyingly smart."

"That's just the simple versions of us," Safiya laughs. "There's more to everyone, I'm sure of it."

"Then what's there for me?" Jc asks, taking his steps backward, perfectly matching his steps to not accidentally trip and fall.

"I can see you're quite calculated," Safiya observes. "Light on your feet, so you hold some speed. Why, though? Beyond me."

"I'm a man on the run!" Jc jokes. "No Detective can catch me!" He laughs, turning his heel and tripping over a hidden wire under some leaves, An arrow shoots down just inches away from where Jc fell. "WHAT THE FUCK,"

Safiya rips out the arrow from the ground. "Hunting arrow,"

"Drop it! What if it's laced with something?"

"If you want to fire something laced, a bullet is your best bet." Safiya offers her hand to Jc. He doesn't take it, instead, he gets to his feet by himself. 

"I'm not trusting any arrow that comes flying from the trees by a dude who hunts werewolves for a living! Did you know wolfsbane is equally toxic to humans? It can make you incredibly sick, or kill you!" Jc brushes the dirt off his hands on his jeans. 

"Tell me about it later, we're here!"

Jc looks over, seeing the cabin. "Creepy, if an old dude opens the door I'm booking it for my life. I've seen horror movies."

"Thanks," Safiya says sarcastically. She makes her way up the creaking stairs and knocks on the door. She looks back to see Jc standing at the bottom of the steps, leaning on the railing that's falling apart. 

Talk about a fixer-upper.

The door flew open, a shotgun right in Safiya's face, and she quickly stepped back.

"Who are you?" The man demands he's younger than expected, yet the faint look of terror and focus in his eyes make him look far older. "How did you two get this location?" He demands.

"Safiya I think we should go," Jc says, urgency and fear in his voice.

"Eva Gutowski, the journalist. A mutual friend of ours." Safiya answers. "You have werewolf information, we need it."

He lowers the shotgun. "Eva?"

-×-

"Ready to steal from the world's bossiest mayor?" Manny asks, throwing his van into park. "And that's just being nice,"

"Alright. Manny you can keep Janet occupied, Roi can stand guard, and I can get what we need." Teala plans out. 

Manny and Roi break into laughter, the super spy rolls her eyes. "What's funny?"

"Me? Distract? Gladly, in any other circumstance!" Manny exclaims. "You'll need me to play security guard."

"I'm better with handling Janet," Roi adds. "Manny will be better at throwing and knocking out a few punches. I'll happily throw myself at anybody, in any dangerous situation, but if I need to throw a punch? I'll leave it to the strong man, I'm not one for physical violence."

"Wow that Hippie had just, really rubbed onto you." Manny laughs.

"He's a good close friend of mine," Roi hums. "I rubbed off on him, he's rubbed off on me. Mutual, it's what friends do."

"Right," Teala nods. "Now, are we going to steal a copy of confidential documents or what?" She asks. "Because the longer we are here I feel like the more we'll be painted as suspicious."

"I'll go in first, distract Janet and whoever else is sticking around and you guys can sneak in, get what you need, and get out!" Roi plans, for a last-minute plan it's not half bad.

×

Roi makes his way inside, Teala and Manny waiting by the door, hiding behind a tall potted bush in a very cartoon-like way. It reminds him of a Scooby-Doo episode, except this was his life.

"Hey, Janet!" Roi beams, making his way over to the mayor. "Got a minute?"

"Roi?" She asks, turning around to face him, her back to Manny and Teala. Perfect! "What is it?"

"I was just wondering about the tiger and the ring of fire." He says, leaning on the receptionist's desk. "Are we still doing that?"

"A tiger?" Janet asks. "There was nothing in the carnival planning about a tiger guy!"

"Really?" Roi says dramatically. "Are you sure? I definitely put my tiger guy name down,"

"You know a man who owns tigers?" Janet asks. "Who? I must've missed him," she says looking down at the folder in her hand, It's stuffed with pages of contacts for all things related to the carnival. 

"Uh, David," Roi trails off looking over Janet's shoulder and watching as Manny and Teala rush by and turn down the hall to the mayor's office. "Joel," he adds quickly. "Yeah, David Joel. Mixed up with Billy Bowie a lot! Then David Bowie and Billy Joel!" Roi goes on, waving his hand around as he speaks.

"I'm not seeing David Joel or Billy Bowie." Janet sighs. "Fuck, am I getting behind on things again? God this is becoming a stressful disaster!"

"Wait! Ha, David is no longer my tiger guy. Sorry about that Janet, although a tiger chase on my motorbike through a ring of fire sounds fun! Although I don't want the tiger to get hurt, do they make flame-resistant suits for tigers?" He asks. He's quite curious about this now. "I don't want the tiger to get hurt,"

"I don't know Roi!" Janet exclaims. "Discover this yourself, I have a lot of work to do, and I'd love to talk about this carnival with you, but I don't have time for this! I have to get to my office!" Janet turns her heel on him, and makes her way down the hall.

Roi quickly rushes after her. "I can help! I can gladly help with whatever you need help with! What can I do?"

"Roi! This isn't carnival business! I have to plan my son's funeral, and find the monster who murdered my son!"

"Monster? Like actual real-life monsters? With fangs and claws! Eyes of the void with evil in its veins?" He asks.

Janet scoffs. "A serial killer, a human!" She corrects. 

"Are we sure about that?" Roi asks, his smile dropping as he sees annoyance bleed into anger. 

"Roi! Someone killed my son! Have sympathy!"

"You do have my condolences," Roi says. He's somewhat telling the truth. He couldn't care much for her dead son, but hey! She didn't know that much.

-×-

How that convinced Jc is quite beyond him, but here he was, sitting in the cabin of a werewolf hunter who was currently preparing them a cup of tea as if they were old friends.

"Milk? Sugar?" Oli asks.

Jc looks away from the taxidermy werewolf head that had been staring him down. "No thanks,"

"So, how long have you been a werewolf hunter?" Safiya asks.

"Since '69," Oli answers. "Started this when I was 19. A family thing, my parents, my grandfather, and both great-grandparents were werewolf hunters. It's a whole legacy thing." Oli explains. "That one up there was my first," he says pointing to the head that stared into Jc's soul. "Tradition started by my grandfather to do the whole werewolf taxidermy on the first kill. I even turned the silver bullet into a charm to add to the necklace, a family heirloom being crafted and added to."

"That's uh, nice?" Jc says hesitantly. He found it a bit cool, but mostly grim. There were always human sides to werewolves. Always a human life being taken too. 

Jc was aware of the cure though. Of course, there was a cure, Most people knew of the werewolf cure, but it's impossible to get the final thing needed.

The werewolf gem.

"So, Oli, what can you tell us about Everlocks werewolf?" Safiya asks.

"Well, which one do you want to know about?" Oli asks, taking a seat in a leather chair. His ankle resting on his knee. "There's two out there."

"Right, well which one is more dangerous?" She asks.

"They're both equally dangerous," Oli answers. "Hell burns in the yellow eyes of the monster. Although, Atticus, who has been around far longer is who you'll need to look out for. I've been hunting him since I started this." He admits. His foot falls to the ground as he leans into his chair. "He's been around for a long time, anger building up over the years. I'm unsure of his human self, but there is no empathy in his heart."

"Werewolf heart," Jc clicks, he sits up and Safiya gives him a confused look while Oli gives him a nod of agreement.

"What's a werewolf heart?" She asks.

"It's when even as a human, the werewolf mentality stays. The desire for blood remains, the eyes hold a faint yellow hue too." Oli explains. "It's like part of them remains only in darkness, and no light reaches them."

"It's only for certain werewolves though." Jc cuts in, Safiya's attention falling back onto him. "For those isolated for long periods, or forced to hold the werewolf form for a long time, right?" He asks for confirmation.

"Correct," Oli says. "You know much about them."

"You'll be surprised by how many people do, dude." Jc deadpans. "This town doesn't have monster hunters!" He looks over at Safiya. "But it will now," he looks back at Oli. "We're getting this handled,"

"You don't know what you're getting yourself into," Oli says. "Monster hunting is a dangerous, dangerous job. Especially if you don't know what you're doing, and are learning all this now." He gestures over to Safiya.

Jc looks over, seeing a notepad page full of just about everything Oli talked about. "She'll be fine." He says quickly. "We're all alive so far!"

"Who exactly is in your little team?" Oli asks.

"Me, her, my best friend, a radio host, and a super cool SAE agent."

The Big Game Hunter blinks. "Oh, Everlock will burn."

-×-

"If you see Janet coming, knock three times and I'll jump out the window!" Teala plans as they hurry down the hall.

"How do you know there will be a window?" Manny asks.

"I saw it when we pulled up! Janet has a homemade banner in the window. Must've been when she was running for mayor!" Teala answers. "I like to keep my eye out for things, you never know what will help."

"I'll come to you when I need a good eye!" Manny says.

"Be safe, and keep your eye out!" Teala says as they approach the door.

"Be quick!" Manny exclaims as Teala slips into Janet's office.

It's chaos, but organized chaos. Much like Teala's own desk back at SAE headquarters. She can respect organized chaos.

Looking around, Teala makes her way to the pile front and center on the desk, skimming through the names. It's all carnival-related things! 

"Why do you need four files dedicated to catering? How many popcorn and cotton candy stands can one rent?" She asks herself quietly moving onto the stack next to it. "Boring business shit, not what I need!" She digs through the next pile on the desk, finding nothing in it. 

Opening the drawers She just finds a collection of ugly beige ascots, polaroids of her dead son, and way too many fashion magazines stuck in the 50s. "There's so much beige in this room I miss the bright colors of the early 70s," she tells herself quietly. She wonders if this is why Jc's fashion is stuck at the beginning of the decade. 

A question for Teala to ask later.

Continuing her hunt for files Teala opens the bottom left drawer revealing a jack in the box. "Why would Janet need a children's toy?" She asks herself as she picks it up. 

A once locked drawer pops open and Teala nearly screams, her hand flying over her mouth. "What the shit Janet?" She asks herself quietly.

Teala sets the toy down and the drawer flies shut.  "Oh that's curious," she picks it back up and grabs the first file on the top. 

Opening it up Teala is met with a picture of harpies.

"Oh, these are coming with me!" Teala shoves the toy into her bag, grabs as many files as she can, and shoves them into her bag. 

Only five don't fit, but Teala can worry about them later.

The three back-to-back knocks come at the door and Teala quickly beelines for the window, She cracks it open as much as she can and drops her bag out, before worming herself out.

Teala drops to the ground and she quickly scoops her bag up and books it towards the van. As she comes around the corner, Roi and Manny are already in the van.

An angry security guard is right after them.

"Drive!" She exclaims to Manny, as Roi throws open the side door.

Manny doesn't need to be told twice, he's taking off, and Teala is running after them. She catches up quickly, throwing the bag inside and practically launching herself in too.

Teala hits the back of the bench seat, and Roi quickly closes the door.

"Never do that again!" Manny exclaims. 

"That was so cool!" Roi beams.

"Thanks!" Teala grabs the bag and begins looking through the files she grabbed. "Vampires, Mermaids, Harpies, Zombies, no, no, yes! Werewolf!" She quickly opened up the file, skimming through it.

"Is this it?" Roi asks.

"No, five were left, but I didn't have enough space." She answers. "Holy shit,"

"What is it?" Manny asks.

"This, this is impossible!" Teala exclaims.

"What is it?" Roi parrots. "What's it say in the werewolf file?"

"Atticus, he has a son," Teala answers. "Had, actually."

"So?" Manny asks.

"Who died 46 years ago," Teala adds. "He was born in the Victorian Era at some point!"

"Atticus, the werewolf, the werewolf who has been in Everlock for years." Roi connects. "Who should have been dead way before the 1930s? He's still alive?"

"We need to get Jc and Safiya, and we need to get some answers quickly." Manny declares.

What the fuck was up with Everlock?