When Mina walked in, she knew something was wrong. Maybe it was just the electric feeling that had been haunting her all day, a sure warning that something magical was about to occur. Or maybe it was the restless feeling between tales. The Snow White fiasco had been happened little over a week ago, and nothing unusual had happened since then. This unnerved Mina more than being thrust into another tale. The Story had never allowed her a break before. Perhaps it was cutting her some lack? Yeah right. With a shock, Mina realized what was bothering her.

The kitchen was dirty.

Their kitchen was never, ever dirty. Her mom cleaned all the main rooms of the house with obsessive zeal, never allowing any clutter or mess to form. But there were empty cereal bowls littering the table, a Happy Maids apron thrown carelessly over a chair, and the sink was piled with unwashed dishes. Something major must have taken place to stop Sara Grimm from cleaning. Mina took a few cautious steps further into her family's apartment, her hand in her jacket pocket, stroking the leather-bound Grimiore. Then, she heard it. A faint sob came from the living room.

"Mom?!" Mina cried, and raced into the living room. There was her mom, perched on their outdated couch; many used tissues falling onto the floor. Sara looked up as her daughter entered, staring at her with eyes red from crying.

"Mom, what's wrong?" Mina asked, seriously freaked out. Her Mom was usually the calm one who always knew that to do. To see her in such a disheveled state was unthinkable.

"It's Charlie!" Sara sobbed into a tissue, her thin shoulders shaking. Mina's heart tightened painfully, and her breathing caught.

"What's wrong with Charlie?" Mina asked, her hands shaking slightly.

"G-g-gone!" Her mom bawled. "He didn't return from school today, and one of his teachers called and said he never made it to class! He's been missing the entire day!" Mina eyes widened. Charlie was a good student; he wouldn't skip school. Had one of the Fae recognized who he was?

"I've already contacted the police, but they say they can't do anything yet!" Sara cried, wiping her nose pitifully. "But I'm going to police station to see if I can't change their minds. I was waiting for you to get back from school though. Can you stay here and see if Charlie comes back?"

"'Course." Mina said huskily. "You go ahead." Sara nodded and stood, rushing out of the room to grab her purse. Mina followed her mom to the door.

"Don't worry Mom." Mina said, trying to project a strong, comforting image. "Charlie's a smart boy." Sara smiled, though it did not reach her eyes.

"I know he is, honey." She said, and ran out of the apartment. Mina stood rooted to the spot, her tough exterior crumbling. Her sweet little brother was missing. There was no end to the danger he might be in. Mina sunk into one of the chairs in the kitchen, fear coursing through her veins. Absently, she fingered the Grimiore inside her pocket. It heated at her touch, humming with pure magic. A sudden idea enter Mina's mind, and she stood up quickly, fumbling to bring the Grimiore out of her pocket. It had always helped her with her quests, would it help her now? Mina closed her eyes in concentration, clutching the Grimiore tightly.

I need to find Charlie, I need to find Charlie, I need to find Charlie-

Mina opened the book. As she did so, the book changed shape, morphing into a glowing ethereal compass. Mina stared at it excitedly. The little needle wasn't pointing North, but southeast. Mina looked up, and was surprised to see it was pointing towards the front door. She held the compass tightly, her heart beating wildly. This would lead her to Charlie.

Mina strode across the room and grabbed their cordless landline phone. Quickly she dialed her best friend's number, the familiar electric feeling of magic coursing down her spine.

Mina stood on the sidewalk in front of the Wong's Chinese restaurant. She was bouncing on the balls of her feet; from cold or impatience she didn't know. Her frozen fingers clung stubbornly onto the magical compass. Currently the small needle was pointing down the road. It took all of Mina's willpower not to take off without Nan. Who knew what kind of danger Charlie was in because of the Faes while she just stood there? But part of her (the rational part, no doubt), told her to wait. Nan's car would go much faster than Mina's bike, and time was of the essence. A honk startled Mina out of her grim thoughts. A very familiar black sports care was slowing to a stop in front of her. The window rolled down, and Brody stuck his head out.

"Someone needed a lift?" He asked, blue eyes sparkling like the ocean. I could only stand there, gaping like an idiot. Nan leaned over from the passenger seat to look through the window.

"Well don't just stand there!" She chided her speechless friend. "Hop in!" Stirring out of my incredulous state and blushing furiously, I ran out into the street and opened the car door, slipping into the back seat. Nana turned to face me from the passenger seat. She was chewing her lower lip, a nervous habit of hers. She was dressed to kill as always, sporting a thin golden sweater with skinny jeans and matching golden canvas flats. Her long wavy blonde hair was perfect falling passed her shoulders gracefully. If her face wasn't pinched with worry, she could have been easily mistaken for a beauty model.

"Any news about Charlie yet?" She asked fretfully. Charlie was like the little brother she never had and Nan was extremely protective of him. I shook my head sadly, and she groaned. Brody reached out and clasped Nan's hand comfortingly. I tactfully resisted the urge to forcefully wrestle them apart. I suppose I was still a little jealous of Nan. After the Snow White incident, the two of them had gotten together. I tried to be happy for both of them, I really, truly did. Neither of them remembered how Brody and I used to be together, so I couldn't hold their new relationship against them, right? Unfortunately, my reasoning didn't keep me from being jealous as they stared into each other's eyes.

"Hey, no worries." Brody said to Nan consolingly. "We'll find him. Where to?" Brody asked, turning around to give me a reassuring smile. My stomach fluttered under his gaze, my tongue thick.

"Oh." I mumbled, berating myself internally for sounding so stupid. "Uh… forward, I guess." I added lamely, staring down at the compass. Brody complied, and started down the road.

"So… what's that you've got there?" Brody asked after a minute, glancing in his rearview mirror at the compass in my lap.

"It- it will show me where Charlie is." I said, not exactly answering the question. Curse Nan for bringing her boyfriend along! I couldn't think properly with him around. No doubt they were probably out on a date when I had called.

"That thing is going to help us locate Charlie?" Brody asked again, as if making sure he had heard correctly.

"I'll know the place Charlie is being held at when I see it… I hope." I stuttered. "I'm sorry, I can't really explain it."

"I see." Brody said, but he sounded doubtful.

"Hey, if there is one thing I've learned, it's to trust Mina's judgment." Nan scolded her boyfriend. I glowed with pride at my best friend's support. Nan continued on. "Besides, Mina's hunches have never failed me before. She was the one that told you that kissing me would wake me out of my coma, right? Now how predictable was that?" Brody flushed with pleasure at the memory of their kiss and nodded in mute agreement. The silence that followed was thick. I was left with the awkward feeling of being a third wheel between my ex-boyfriend and my best friend. I wanted to sink into the Italian leather seats and disappear. The compass needle suddenly turned direction. I sat bolt upright, my heart racing. Charlie.

"Left!" I screamed.

"What, here?" Brody asked, confused.

"Yes, here!" I yelped. Brody growled in frustration and turned the steering wheel sharply. I was thrown up against the car door with a muffled 'oof'.

"Sorry!" Brody apologized, glancing over Nan and me. "Warn me a little earlier though, could you?"

"Sure thing!" I squeaked, mortified. This only lasted a second though, because the compass needle spun around again.

"Right!"

"Write what?"

"Right!" I shrieked, leaning into the front and pointing wildly down one street. Brody turned, cutting across traffic recklessly. Nan screamed, covering her eyes, but peeking between her fingers.

The rest of the half hour went similarly. It might have been comical had we not been in mortal peril. Between the compass's constant spinning, Brody's stomach lurching driving, and Nan's nerve grating screaming, I was beginning to feel sick. It was a miracle we didn't get pulled over by a cop or cause a wreck.

At last we found ourselves cruising through a seedy part of town. The houses were shabby with boarded up windows, and stray dogs wandered aimlessly around. Brody leaned over Nan and locked her car door nervously. I was staring at the compass accusingly. Was it really showing us the way to Charlie, or just getting us lost? I glared at it.

"Come on." I hissed. "Please." At my words, the needle started spinning uncontrollably, pointing at nothing in particular. My heart leapt. Charlie was near.

"Stop the car." I commanded, my voice rising in excitement. Brody pulled the car over and took the keys out.

"Are you sure?" He asked, looking at Nan and me.

"Positive." I affirmed. I stepped out of the car. We were right in front of a dingy apartment complex. A tall chain link fence topped with barbed wire surrounded their parking lot. The only trees were already stripped of their leaves, despite that it was still early in the season. The broken concrete slab and swing set which served as a playground was abandoned, the rusty swings creaking in the icy breeze. The whole place reeked strongly of cigarette smoke. Brody had also gotten out of his car on the opposite side and was staring at the broken down apartment complex. His expensive designer brand clothes went in stark contrast to our surroundings.

"I don't like it." Brody said immediately. "It's not safe here. We should call the police."

"Charlie's in there somewhere." I said. "I'm going to go scout the place out."

"Are you crazy?!" Brody asked. No way am I going to let you go in there. You'll be mugged within seconds!"

"I'll be fine." I assured him, slipping the Grimiore into my pocket. "If I don't return in ten minutes, then you can panic. Watch Nan." I sprinted away before Brody had time to argue.