Ash and Meg
Ash took the gargoyle out of Jake’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 Jake.
“As good as any reason, I guess. But how is it here. I watched it turn to dust.” Jake 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 knew the Bob they move, without even realizing it.”
Ash felt a chill at that idea, but suspected it was true. She took a seat on the other side, and set the statue down on the dash. “I don’t like that idea. Nope, no sir.”
“Alright,” Jake 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?” Jake ducked his head to look at her. “What’s going on?”
“It hurts again,” she wriggled, trying to escape.
Jake looked around. There was no sign of the Breach nearby. No tremors, not even a glow in the distance. The power trick seemed to be working, so what was wrong with Ash?
Jake looked toward the power station and startled. Meg was next to the car.
Jake 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. Jake 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, and knocked Jake out. The light collapsed back to a point, and disappeared, along with Ash and Meg.
Jake remained, unconscious on the ground next to the car as night settled in.