Chapter 1: The Call
Disclaimer: I do not own the Sisters Grimm or any other popular reference used in here. Also, I'd like to apologize in advance if my data is not accurate. I haven't read this series in awhile. Please R&R.
Sabrina's POV
"Saaaaaabbbbbbbrrrrrrrrriiiii iiiiiiiinnnnnnnaaaaaaaa!" Daphne whined, lumbering down the stairs with Elvis and Red in tow. "We're bored." I had been sleeping in the living room on the couch with a book in my hands so, it hadn't occurred to me that it might've been a little dull in Granny's house for an eleven year old with an over creative mind.
"Why don't you study for the beginning of school? August can't last forever," I suggested.
"I can't believe I'm related to you. Is studying your idea of fun?" Daphne asked. I shook my head.
"I'm just saying you're not the best at math and during summer, we tend to forget how to do things."
"That's why we go back to school! There isn't a movie on or something? Video games? I'll even take a coloring book."
"Anything but cleaning and reading," Red added. Elvis whined and licked Daphne's hand like he agreed with the girls.
"I don't know what to tell you guys. I think reading is a great way to pass the time. Maybe you should take a nap so you can stay up all night and watch the 'adult' shows you like," I said.
"Oh! I got a karaoke machine for my ninth birthday," Daphne said getting excited. "We can do that!"
"Karaoke?" Red asked confused. Daphne gave a big dramatic gasp that made me roll my eyes but give the tiniest grin. Daphne's quirks were what made her her and because I was her older sister I found a few of them kind of cute.
"It's, like, the best thing in the world! It's where there's this machine that has music and you sing along with the words and it'll give you points for how good you sing," Daphne obsessed.
"How 'well' you sing," I corrected. Did I have an inner nerd? Yes. Everyone does. Some more than others.
"It's gravy," she continued, ignoring me.
"I don't know. I'm not really good at singing," Red said, looking down and shuffling her feet.
"It's not like all of Ferryport Landing will hear you," I said. "Daphne used to scream at the top of her lungs whenever she used to play. No one said a thing to her about it." Daphne had had a thing for singing ever since her discovery of The Wiggles. Thankfully she didn't really get into those until she was four but she absolutely loved singing.
"Are you sure?" Red asked still shifting from foot to foot.
"If you're worried about Puck, it doesn't matter. I'm sure he has better things to do than watch you guys sing right?" I said.
~0****0000****0~
"I find it hard to believe you have nothing better to do," I fumed, listening to Daphne sing the last notes of This Love.
"I find it hard to believe you aren't videotaping this!" Puck howled as he tried not to roll of the couch with laughter. I scowled and hit him upside the head with my book. He was so annoying and rude. Daphne was trying her hardest and he was laughing at her? Gee, thanks Puck for making my sister feel incredible. Daphne turned to us and bowed. I clapped while Puck tried to breathe.
"How was I?" she asked.
"Fantastic," I said.
"Hilarious!" Puck answered at the same time. He punched him on the arm. Did he even think? Did he even have a brain was a better question.
"It's alright, Sabrina," she said, huffing a little. She had used a lot of breath singing. "I know I'm terrible. You don't have to say I was good like its mandatory."
"I was trying to be a good sister," I said throwing my hands up. "But, yes, you could use a little improvement."
"You should sing," Red said, taking a break from the repetitive encores Daphne asked for.
"Yeah," Puck agreed, "let's watch the glass shatter." I crossed my arms.
"No thanks. I haven't finished my summer reading list-"
"You finished all ten books the first week of summer vacation," Daphne said, "and don't say you have to be somewhere. You barely have any friends." Ouch. True but ouch.
"I'd rather not humiliate myself much less in front of him," I said jerking my thumb towards Puck, "because he'd never let me here the end of it."
"Oh, please. I would never do that," Puck said. I raised my eyebrows. Was there the one in a million chance he was trying to be . . . nice? "I would post a video of this on YouTube, title it 'Worst Singer Ever Beware Eardrums May Burst', and then send it to everyone we go to school with." Nope. He was just being a grade A jerk.
"You shouldn't under estimate her," Daphne said. "I think she's really good."
"That's because you're related to her," Puck said. "Everything she does is supposed to seem really cool to you."
"Hello? Have you been here since we moved to Ferryport Landing?" Daphne asked.
"His tiny brain can't process the 'big words' we use, Daph. Don't take it to any offense. Not only that but he has the attention span of a rock. He's not capable of engaging suitable conversation," I said giving Puck a pointed look.
"Don't hate just because you're a nerd, Grimm," he said. "But it's okay. It's hard not to hate perfection like me." I rolled my eyes.
"Please get your head out of the clouds and come back down to Earth." The phone rang and everyone turned to get it. I don't know why but it was like a competition between Daphne and Puck to see who got the phone first. "No! I'm the most responsible one here so, I'll go get it." Granny and my parents with Basil had gone grocery shopping for an end-of-the-summer barbeque tomorrow. Since the whole put-the-oldest-in-charge didn't work in our house (because Puck was thousands of years older than me), it was Sabrina-doesn't-blow-things-up-so-she's-in-charge.
I reached the phone first anyways although I had to give Puck a satisfied smirk. Okay, so I was equally guilty with participating in childish games like this. Sometimes. I pressed the answer button and put it to my ear.
"Hello?" There was no answer but some static in the back. I pulled the phone away to check if I had pressed the right button. "Uh, hello?"
"Seven Grimms, their days are done.
Knock them down, one by one.
First is you and then your sister
Then the missus and the mister
Brother dearest and granny old
Loving uncle, your day's been sold.
Your life's been short
But don't hide in your fort
Because the last of your string
May be cut short."
The person on the other line hung up and left me standing there, very scared. Yes, my family was threatened a lot since the Everafters of this town couldn't escape until all us Grimms died. I was quite used to it as was Daphne and Granny didn't really care but . . . I still didn't like the idea of Daphne being threatened. Who was this person? I didn't even bother to check the caller I.D. I stared at the phone, wondering if I should tell Daphne. My parents and Granny definitely had to know. And why was Uncle Jake included in the message? He was somewhere in Europe and couldn't bear to be near Briar Rose's grave.
"Sabrina? Who was it?" Daphne asked.
"Huh?" I said turning around. "Oh, it was a wrong number."
"Then why do you look scared?" Puck asked.
"No reason. I . . . thought I saw something in the kitchen. Probably came from your room. God knows what's in there." I shook my head, trying to be convincing. Puck grinned proudly. Worked on him.
"The Trickster King is proud of his living space!"
"Go crawl back to it," I said shooing him away.
"Whatever. You guys are boring anyway." Puck spread his insect-like wings and flew upstairs. I would've normally rolled my eyes and call him a show off but I needed to write down that message so I wouldn't forget.
"I need a pen and paper," I said starting to search frantically around the living room. Granny always said she was going to clean up all the books but never ever did therefore it was always a mess. Even Goldilocks couldn't tackle it which was seriously saying something.
"What for?" Daphne asked.
"Just help me find them!"
"I always carry a spare pen with me," Red said pulling a pen out of her jean pocket. I took it gratefully and looked for anything to write on.
"There's a blank piece of paper in this journal," Daphne said, holding up a dusty book. I took it and ripped it out. Daphne gasped but I ignored it and scribbled everything down. When I was done, I set down the pen and read over the threatening message.
"Can I read it?" Daphne asked trying to peek over my shoulder. I quickly folded the paper and stuck it in my pocket.
"Nope. For my eyes only," I said.
"You shouldn't have torn that page out. Granny's going to notice," she warned.
"I don't think Granny Relda will mind when she knows my reason." Red took her pen back and just as she did, Granny Relda, Mom with Basil in her arms, and Dad came through the door with grocery bags.
"We're back!" Granny sang.
"I told you nothing bad would happen this time," Mom told Dad. She rolled her eyes at him then turned to me. "He can't seem to trust you. He still thinks you're seven."
"It was better then," Dad said.
"Sabrina, can you hold Basil while we put the groceries away?" Mom asked. I came over and took my brother without question. He gurgled and blinked his green eyes.
"'Brina!" he said cheerfully. I smiled and gave him a hug.
The thought of Basil getting hurt too was also unbearable. No. I would not let that happen. I didn't care if I was supposed to be the one to go first or last. Every single Grimm was staying here whether that caller liked it or not. Even so, the deep metallic voice still rang through my head. It was smooth but also sounded like a cat's claws being scraped against a chalk board.
"Um, guys? I . . . I have something to show you," I said quietly.
"Can it wait?" Dad asked.
"We're a little busy, liebling, but we'll be happy to look at it after this," Granny promised.
"It's a matter of life or death saying that I'm the first to die." The adults stopped doing what they were doing and looked at me with wide eyes.
"I guess we should discuss this now," Mom said. "Daphne! Red! Please put away the groceries. We need to go talk to Sabrina in private." Daphne paused with the karaoke microphone in her hand.
"Can I please just sing Bad Romance first?" she begged.
"Right after that," Dad said. Daphne gave us a thumbs up and we all transferred upstairs into the empty Mirror room. It was a sad room but this was urgent. Dad made sure the door was locked tightly and that no one was listening. Puck was bound to overhear us since he wanted to know everything he wasn't supposed to.
"What do you mean life and death starting with you?" Mom asked, worry lines forming around her face.
"The phone rang right before you guys came home and whoever it was gave me a message. I wrote it down so I wouldn't forget," I said pulling the paper out of my pocket. I handed it to Granny Relda who read it loud in a grim voice.
"Seven Grimms, their days are done. Knock them down one by one. First you and then your sister, then the missus and the mister. Brother dearest and granny old, loving uncle your day's been sold. Your life's been short but don't hide in your fort because the last of your string may be cut short."
"Did you recognize the voice?" Mom asked. I shook my head.
"It sounded metallic and I didn't check the caller I.D. I'm pretty sure the number was withheld anyways. I'm sorry," I said.
"No. You did the right thing by telling us and writing it down, liebling," Granny said, patting my shoulder.
"Do you think it's the Scarlet Hand?" Dad asked.
"No, they wouldn't dare step up to the Grimm family now," Granny said.
"Honey, could you go check on your sister and Red? Make sure their game is done?" Mom asked. That was code for: please leave while the adults discuss what to do next. I was going to protest. I was fifteen after all and without me they wouldn't have any of this information but if it was something beyond my knowing or even Granny's it was time for me to go.
"Okay," I said obediently. Mom held her hands out for Basil so I gave him back. Mom had been very possessive over Basil ever since she had gotten him back. No one messed with her about. I walked out of the room and closed it and literally came face-to-face with Puck.
"Ugh!" I cried, pushing him away. "Were you spying?"
"No, I was admiring the door," Puck said sarcastically. "It seems yet again that you and you're family are in trouble. Since you're the first to go, it looks like I'm going to have to protect you again." He rolled his eyes like it was such a burden. I wasn't going to tell him but it actually was a burden to hang with my family. Everyone was always trying to kill us after all.
"You're not at all concerned this person was threatening Granny Relda? The woman who gives you food, clothes, and shelter?" I said.
"Yeah, it would be a bit upsetting if the Relda went but there's always the house," Puck said. I punched hit hard on the shoulder. He clutched it. "Ow! Why?"
"You're such a . . . jerk! I won't go any further than that." I started stalking down the stairs but my steps were drowned out by Daphne and Red's wailing in the karaoke machine.
"That's the best you got, Grimm?" Puck asked teasingly.
"I don't like cursing but for you I just might make an exception." I started doing Daphne and Red's job by putting away all the refrigerator items.
"Thank you so much. I feel touched."
"If you don't leave right now I'll show you how it feels to be hit," I growled clenching my fists.
"I don't know why you're getting mad, Grimm. You know I'm always saving your butt from trouble that you stir up. There is lots and lots of proof of that. You can ask almost anyone in town," Puck said. I was ready to rip that grin off his face. It irritated me to the point where I would cuss him out in front of my dad and not care.
"Go do something besides bothering me because I have a lot to worry about," I said shoving the ice cream in the freezer violently.
"And what would that be?" Puck really must've been retarded.
"I just had someone call and threaten to kill me and my family. Why do you think I'm worrying?!" I hadn't noticed Daphne had paused the game and was listening to Puck's and mine's conversation.
"Who's threatening to kill us?" Daphne asked.
"I don't know but Grimm's the first to go," Puck said. I kicked him in the shin and in return he pushed me so hard I fell on the ground.
"Were they serious or were they the kind who only talked the talked?"
"The adults are upstairs discussing it now. That's what the phone call was for," I said rubbing my head.
"If they're putting us in a certain order, who's next? After you?" Daphne asked nervously.
"You," Puck answered. If he wasn't so dirty, I would've bit his ankle and hung on like a leech. Instead I made an attempt to trip him but Puck was paying attention so he dodged my assault.
"Me?" Daphne's face slightly paled.
"What makes this person any special then from other people who wanted to hurt you?" Red asked coming over.
"We don't know," I said getting up from the floor. "But since it's a threat from someone we don't know, we need to take it very seriously."
"Maybe we should keep you in a plastic bubble so you won't hurt yourself," Puck suggested.
"I think we should put a rope around your neck and then hang it from a tree," I retorted. Granny came down the stairs, slow and steady for her age.
"Sabrina? Liebling?" she said.
"Right here, Granny," I said.
"Ah, yes. We decided to take precautions and have Puck keep close to you until we figure out who this mystery caller is." I groaned and smacked my head against the counter while Puck didn't really change his attitude. He knew it was coming.
"I don't know how many more times I can do this, old lady," he said. "Grimm can never seem to stay out of trouble."
"It's not my fault who I am," I mumbled.
"That's all, liebling. Please take this seriously," Granny Relda said. And so began the story of the disappearances.
Reminder: R&R!