CHAPTER 2 Introductions

It felt like hours before Agnes first smelled the scent of food for the first time. Dim lighting was now somewhat visible through the tree lining. Lights! A house! She smiles as she walks into a gigantic clearing, in the middle of it was a huge wooden house, with a indecipherable shaped vehicle beside it. The forest seem to go around it, ignoring a dirt road that led to this building. She has been enclosed by the forest for so long, it felt great not to be crushed by plant life, even by the slightest. The outline of the house was like a big house that was combined with a shack with a pointed roof, with like a sign? It was too dark to see. That was not what she wanted to think about right now. The food smell was coming stronger from this place.

Agnes began to run/limp towards the home, even if everyone left, she is sure she can sneak inside and grab a bit of real food, not nuts and berries. This would be her last resort. Its for a good cause... She lifted a foot to heave herself up the stairs, this continuous walking has taken a toll on her. Food was all the poor girls mind was focused on. Pulling up her weight upward was really pulling her muscles. She eventually pulled herself up the three stairs and walked across the porch. She eyed a grayish couch that lay on the porch, it looked so comfortable, and yet filthy, and grew more tired as she looked at it.

Agnes looked up at the door window, she was to small to look through. She lifted her fist, readying her first knock. What if im not welcome? Or they send me away? There must be more to this, more of a city someplace close. She could go there. Agnes heaved up enough courage to knock once. No answer. She tried again and waited. Behind the door she heard the squeaking of footsteps against the floor boards. The girl held her breath, waiting for the worst to come. The knob turns and the door creaked open and an old man appeared at the door. A strange sound came from what she could guess came from a television due to how loud it was, quacking? And laughing? Children are here!

The man laughed and took a sip of the brand-named soda in his hands that was blocked, so she couldn't see. His wife-beater shirt was stained with various stains, all of different colors and sizes. He also wore some blue and white striped shorts, quite a bit of body hair was visible, causing Agnes to twitch slightly in disgust.

"Sorry, but we are closed." His voice was like a radiation to dwindle her hopes. She looked up at him, but he didn't even glance at the young, hungry child. He seemed to be preoccupied with something out of view.

While he spoke, Agnes peered inside. The smell of the tomato sauce wasn't here anymore, Now that I think of it, I haven't smelt here since I got here. Now the aroma of salt and butter was hanging in the air, like a teasing her like a dog. She saw various items on shelves, relics, and a vending machine! Agnes's mouth opened to say something but something interrupted her.

"Gruncle Stan! Hurry! ITS ALMOST PAST THE COMMERCIALS." A high pitched voice called, calling the old man from the door.

He didn't even look at me! Whats more important then even looking at who's waiting outside?! Agnes growls, but her thoughts were interrupted by an ongoing conversation from inside. It was muffled, but sounded like that small girl from a few moments ago, and it sounded like arguing with the elder. The door swung open again, this time a small girl, about her age, was standing in the door frame.

"Welcome to the Mystery Sha-" Her voice trailed off as she saw Agnes, filthy, skinny, and sort of off. "Oh, a...are you okay...? How did you get here...? What's your-"

The girl's voice trailed off to the back of her thoughts as she rushed Agnes inside. She couldn't get over the smell of food, that is all she really wanted. Then she'll go. She looked around for the old man she saw, Stan? But he was nowhere to be seen. Finally she looked at the girl, her hair and bangs were held and formed by this pink headband. Her sweater, wait... a sweater in the summer? Whatever... Her sweater had a poorly stitched, 'Mabel' on the front of it. 'Mabel's' eyes held concern as this she looked at her. The television has gone silent, no more quacking.

"Uncle Ford!" She called, her brown locks swung as she looked into a hallway, nearly hitting her in the face. A few moments of Mabel picking at her long, red, very messy hair, balled together by pine needles, dirt, insects and other outside elements, came a grown man. He was looking into a greyish paperback book with no image on it, he looked more fit then he did just a few moments before.
"Hey! You just don't just close the door on me! I needed your help... Jerk..." Agnes growls at him dryly, clearly angry, but she was almost certain that she has the wrong person, her face flushed from embarrassment.

Ford looks up from his book to give a questionable look to her. His expression quickly changed, "Who's this, Mabel?" He asks, now Agnes knew she had the wrong person, his voice isn't as gravely as the other one was.

"No, that was my Grunkle Stan. This is my Grunkle Ford, he will help to figure out whats wrong with your eye." Mabel says with a reasurring smile, her hands were cupped with pine needles and other elements. Agnes really likes this girl, and to have her just almost waltz into her home, looking how she looks. Wait, my eye? Whats going on with my eye? It doesn't feel any different...

As Mabel left to throw away the muck, Agnes put a hand in front of her face, she could see it just fine. She moved to to her right, could still see it just fine. She moved it to her left, she couldn't... see it? Her heart started to race, what the heck is wrong with her eye? She pawed at it for a few moments, she couldn't even feel the fingers in the surrounding areas. Ford sighs and kneels down to her eye level to examine it.

"How did you get here?" He says simply, his tone made her uneasy.

"I... I..." Agnes was, again, embarrassed to say anything at first, a few moments have passed and Mabel hasn't come back. She didn't look Ford in the eye as he waited , as soon as she looked away, his hands forced her to look back at him. "Hold still, go on, tell me."

"I smelled food, sweet breadish dough and tomato sauce... Pizza! I smelled pizza!" She blurted. "I was lost in the forest for about 3 days... I only was able to survive on these..." Agnes took out a small handful of berries and nuts and showed him, they were covered in dirt. "... My town was overcome by a huge flood, caused by a dam that blocked off a major river. The wall broke. I lived with my two older brothers at the time, but I haven't seen either of them after it happened."

"I see... but, how did you smell pizza when we didn't even order any? And you don't seem fine, are you sure you are?" Ford asks, he grabbed her left hand pressed a finger on it, making his thumbprint red and then quickly goes back to her skin color.
"I am! I don't like water that much, it's not a thing I don't think I can overcome so easily." Agnes said matter-o'-factily , and looked around, but it was hard to, all her eyes focused on was the stockpile of chips and sugary treats. She was still wondering where that other man went to, and the Mabel girl.

Ford stood up and nodded, he took the book he held and folded it under his arm, "Im sure the kids will be fine to share some food with you." and then he left after looking at her for a moment longer.

Wait, kid's'? More then one? Then were is the oth- She looked behind her, Mabel was there with that same smile again, she held an assortment of clothing, as in a sweater, some shorts, and a towel. "Wait... you don't mean... I just really came in here for food..." She muttered, blushing lightly at the thought of Mabel seeing Agnes freak out over the idea of water.

"Don't be silly." She insisted, handing the clothing to her, Agnes held it, but made sure that most of it didn't touch the clean fabric. "You need to be taken care of, look at you! You are so skinny..." Mabel sighs.

"T...Thank you..." Agnes mustered a smile, to be honest, she did think this was all a bit to strange, and to be moving a bit to quickly. Did she even go to ask an adult? Or is that what she went to go do? Oh well, I really hope they are nice people...