Chapter Text
Two days later…
Stephanie sat at her desk, relieved to be back in school without worrying about anything interrupting and making a huge scene. Yet, she was bored and tired all the same. She answered the questions on her paper, ready to go back home and continue living life as relatively normal. Once she’d finished her paper she submitted it and laid her head on the desk. She looked up at the clock every now and then, before laying her head back down. She dozed off. Then she was startled awake by the last bell of the day, and watched as her classmates swarmed for the door. She gathered her backpack and her purse and followed suit.
She pulled out her phone as she walked and dialed for her mom. “Hey, Mom.” Stephanie chirped. “Flash and I are on the way home.” Stephanie assured. “Okay, Stephy, we’ll see you soon.” Stephanie walked out of the school and shivered at the fresh autumn air, taking sight of the yellow leaves falling in groves. She sought out Flash’s car before racing up to meet her best friend. “So, Flash, how’d everything go today?” Stephanie asked. “It’s gone good. Tired.” Flash replied. Stephanie laughed. “Well, it beats fighting a serial killer, a group of ghosts or being trapped in a supernatural maze, at least.” Stephanie laughed. “Let’s not forget Puppeteer.” Flash added. Stephanie laughed awkwardly. “Yeah. Good old Puppeteer.” Stephanie added sarcastically.
“Has Reginald said any indication of coming back to our realm yet? Anything on his family back in the Spirit Realm?” Stephanie asked. “Because I haven’t heard from any of them.”
Flash shrugged, his eyes still glued to the leaf-covered road ahead. “I haven’t either. I don’t think anyone has.”
Stephanie nodded and leaned against her seat. She tried to act unbothered, but she was genuinely curious about them. As the car stalled in the drive of the house, Stephanie got a very strange feeling. Something was wrong, and she didn’t know what.
Whatever it was, it was new.
“Stephanie, are you coming?” Flash asked.
“Uhh! Yes! Sorry, Flash!” Stephanie called, running after him for the door.