In a dark room, an elegant office dominated by a large oak desk and flanked by auspicious shelves of books, a man in a labcoat was giving a report.

“So we’ve managed to increase production by nearly thirteen percent. Unfortunately, our distribution channels are still too low for what we’re making. I’ve got tons of the stuff lying around the lab.” he said.

“I see.” The man across the desk said, pressing his fingers together. “But that is just the regular batch, correct? What about the special accelerated formula?”

“Difficult to produce in large quantities, as of now. My recommendation is to ship them to the leaders of your little fan clubs.” the doctor snorted. The man lay back.

“A standard recommendation. Not a bad idea, Dr. Howard, but not an original one. But I still want to replace the normal batch with the improved version as soon as possible. Understood?”

“Completely, sir. And the excess Taboo?” Dr. Howard asked.

“I’ll have a word with Rohir in shipping and Melanie in marketing. If I light a fire under their asses they’ll move it quick enough.” the man said confidently. “You are dismissed.”

“Thank you sir.” Dr. Howard nodded and left. The man watched him go absently, then opened a drawer and took out a velvet pouch. Sprinkling the powder inside on the desk, he arranged it into a bizarre formation that hurt the eye to look at, twisting into weird patterns not known to the normal three dimensions. When it was done, he clapped his hands and began muttering in a harsh, foul tongue. The light powder immediately turned black, then began to glow a color not found in nature, somewhere between red and purple. The sigil he drew began rearranging itself, a circle within a circle and V’s capping the top, bottom, and right, with a lowercase g heading into a spiral on the left. The man began to tremble, sensing eyes upon him.

"Why have you called upon me this time?"

“I have the news about the accelerated Taboo. It has been completed, but cannot be produced in large quantities yet.” he said.

"Very well. Increase the channels you already go through. We must prepare as we wait for the stars to align, if the Gate is to be opened." he heard, and nodded.

“I will do everything in my power to usher in the Nexus. I am your slave, lord.” he said.

"As it should be. I shall persuade those of the lower realm to assist you. They are so devious." he heard, then the glow faded and the presence departed. The man smiled wickedly.

“Thank you. Your will be done, Lord Riepaimva.”

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“So, we know he can make zombies.” Riley said, looking down at the asphalt in thought.

“He has the power to cure cancer. Or brain tumors, at least.” Connor added. “What else?”

“He’s got at least two assistants, the lady you saw and that Nightfang guy.”

“Hmm. If we could find one of them, they could lead us to him. But she wasn’t that old, so I don’t think he was either.” Connor said, the information swirling like a cyclone in his mind. “He presumably popped up around here twice, so he probably lives here.”

“D’you know how old he was?” Riley asked eagerly. Connor contemplated.

“Can’t say for sure, but I wouldn’t put them higher than early twenties. In fact, he came to the hospital on a school night. It doesn’t disprove that he couldn’t have just gone to work or a college class late, but around that time was when the high school was under reconstruction. It’s more likely he’s a student there than not.” he deduced, chin on hand. Riley jumped up and pumped her fist in the air.

“Yeah! I knew tracking you down was the right choice! Okay, so we’ve got a high school aged guy, living in town and friends with a blond haired girl, about his age would you say?” she inquired.

“Yeah, I don’t think I’ll ever forget them.” he said.

“Right, so with a blond girl, and/or a pale guy. Presumably a vampire.”

“What makes you say that?” Connor asked. She rolled her eyes.

“’Cause that’s what he was in the play, duh. They made it seem like it was all an act. Dunno why, though. Anyway,” she grinned, folding her arms. “We now have a suspect!” She started laughing boldly, drawing strange looks from the other children on the playground. Connor merely shook his head; he had a feeling he would be doing that a lot from now on.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vanessa sighed as she pulled into the driveway, Riley bouncing non-stop in the seat beside her. As soon as the car was off, Riley rocketed into the house to drop her bag off and took the stairs four at a time to get down again.

“ByesisloveyougonnagoplaywithConnorupthestreetbye!” she said, but found herself held back by her collar.

“Hold it. Who is Connor?” Vanessa said sternly.

“Oh, he’s a boy who lives a couple blocks up the street. We met during lunch, and he said it was okay to come over. We’re gonna play explorers” Riley said innocently. Vanessa scowled; far too innocently.

“Really. And how come I’ve never heard of this “Connor” before?” she said sternly. Sometimes it was difficult being the responsible older sibling.

“’Cause we just met today, silly.” Riley said, rolling her eyes. “He’s cool.”

“Hmm? Do my ears deceive me?” Does my little sister have a boy~friend?” she asked in a singsong voice. Riley recoiled in horror, and Vanessa had to struggle to keep from snickering.

“Ew! No, gross! He’s a boy!” she protested, and Vanessa couldn’t help but let a small smile crack through.NO wonder her mother did this when she was younger. “Well, he’s a boy, but he’s pretty cool for a boy, so we’re gonna play.” Riley continued, digging in her pocket. “I got his mom’s number, so you can call and check if you want, ‘kay?” She handed Vanessa the number, and Vanessa stared at it. Normally, she would’ve called her mom, then the number, but after today…

“Fine. Be home by six, okay?” she said, stuffing it in her pocket for later. This was getting to be hard to keep up.

“’Kay!” Riley said and ran off.

“Watch out for cars!” Vanessa called, then closed the front door and shuddered. Alone. While it was a relief that she no longer had to keep it together, be strong in front of everyone, she was also shaking with nerves.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. That didn’t happen. Of course that didn’t happen. Snow, a blizzard in Craven Falls? In May? Ha. R-Right.” she reassured herself, trying to suppress the memory of that white-furred creature creating a snowstorm. “No. It didn’t happen. It didn’t.” She grabbed a glass of water in a trembling hand, then went up to her room. Finally.

She rummaged in her sock drawer, looking for the only thing that could get her through today. They always said drugs were bad for you, but medicines were drugs too, right? And everyone needed a little help now and then.

Her hand found the plastic bottle, and she eagerly swallowed one of the little red tablets within.

“Wahhhh. That’s better.” Vanessa sighed, flopping back onto the bed. She could feel her head start to tingle, the colors of the world growing slightly softer and more comforting. She looked out the window, softly mumbling to herself. Blazing spring sun, the smell of fresh grass, even the moon was out early, a full circle in the blue. All in all a beautiful picture, with no weirdness whatsoever. Everything was normal. Nice, normal, completely sane and rational and expected. She waved as Riley ran by with a little blond boy. Nice and pleasant.

Just as she wanted.