Ash and Meg

Ash took the gargoyle out of Wake’s hands again and ran her finger along the crack, proving to herself it was there. “Why do you think it’s here? Maybe it followed you?” Ash passed it back to Wake.

“As good as any reason, I guess.” Wake grabbed a water out of the trunk and got into the car to sit, leaving the door open. He took a drink. “I wonder how often magicians know the Bob they move, without even realizing it.”

Ash felt a chill at that idea, and took a seat on the other side. She set the statue down between the seats. “I don’t like that idea, nope, no sir.” She suspected it was true.

“Alright,” Wake took one more swig and put the water down. “Now what. We’ve got a Bob in real fucking life. And that clerk guy knows her?”

“Vic, yeah, seems like it.” Ash looked around, trying to shake off the eeriness of night. “I mean … I always wondered who the Bobs were. I had theories. But now I sort of wish I didn’t know.” Ash strained, wincing as she put a hand to the side of her head.

“Ash?” Wake ducked his head to look at her. “What’s going on?”

“It hurts again,” she wriggled, trying to escape.

Wake looked around. There was no sign of the Breach nearby. No tremors, not even a glow in the distance. The power trick was working, so what was wrong with Ash?

Wake looked toward the power station and startled. Meg was next to the car.

Wake got out and slammed the door. “Are you doing this to her?”

“It’s not me, it is me. It’s not. It is.” Meg’s spin increased, a faint glow growing around her.

Ash got out of the car. “Meg,” she held her head with one hand and reached out with the other.

Meg brightened and blinded the parking lot. Wake started around the car toward Ash, when he was knocked back (punched back, stay back). “Ash!” He tried to reach out, but instead put his hand up to shield his eyes.

Ash stammered back. “No, Meg, wait—” a cracking sound exploded through the air as the light bloomed out from Meg’s center, knocking Wake unconscious. The light collapsed back in.

Wake remained on the ground next to the car as night settled in.