Halloween, a day that so many looked forward to and loved for one reason or another. Trick-or-treating, partying, pranking, or staying home and watching movies, however you celebrated the holiday almost everyone was doing something on that night.
And tonight was one that Lincoln Loud would forever remember.
"You ready Son?" Rita said from outside his room.
"Yeah, I think so." He said, checking himself over.
Lincoln was sixteen years old, and he was now the oldest of his siblings still living at home. He loved Halloween, but at his age trick-or-treating wasn't as fun as it used to be. He could have supervised his younger siblings as they went around collecting candy, but he had other plans.
He came out of the room, dressed as a zombie Spider-Man. More specifically, a zombie Miles Morales. "How do I look?"
"I'm kind of wishing you were still at the age where you wanted to be cute instead of gory. But then again at least you're not trying to be overtly sexy like some of your sisters were at this age."
Lincoln's phone gave a notification, prompting him to check it before responding. "That was Ronnie Anne, she's just got into town and will be at the school soon."
"Then let's get you there. It's not good to make a girl wait, even if she's not your girlfriend." Rita told him.
Lincoln mentally grumbled, remembering a talk he had with Ronnie Anne a few years ago.
–Flashback–
It was a Saturday and a thirteen year old Lincoln was in Great Lake City hanging out with Ronnie Anne. Lori had gone over to spend the day with Bobby and he managed to convince her to bring him along so he could do the same with his friend too. Though to do so he'd have to give up half his saved allowance to Lori, so he'd have to budget extra carefully today.
Ronnie Anne had been happy to see him since they usually were forced to interact over phone or facetiming. They spent the day having fun in various ways and near the end were just sitting on the roof of Ronnie Anne's house.
"I wish we could do this more often." The Hispanic girl said as she looked over the skyline of the city.
"Does that mean if I asked you to be my girlfriend this time you'd say yes?" Lincoln asked, testing the waters.
Ronnie Anne froze, looking awkward. "Lincoln, it's not that I don't want to, but we live 300 miles apart from each other. That's a six hour drive one way, minimum. And neither of us can drive. We'd be lucky to see each other more than once a month. You can't keep asking Lori to give up her Saturday to drive us around, and I can't ask Bobby to do the same."
"What about buses?" Lincoln asked.
"It's still the same. The distance takes up too much time. Lincoln, I'd like to be with you, but until one of us can drive or move closer to the other, I don't think we can be girlfriend and boyfriend like that."
Lincoln sighed and frowned. "This sucks. Having to wait until we're almost done with high school to be together."
Ronnie Anne was surprised to hear him say that. "You'd wait that long?"
"You're my best friend." He assured her.
Ronnie Anne blushed and turned away. "It's unfair to make you wait for an opportunity that might never come. I… I don't want to force you to spend all your teen years waiting for us to have our problem solved."
"Ronnie Anne? What are you saying?" He asked, getting a bad feeling from this.
She turned away more, looking like she was trying not to show how hurt she was. "Lincoln, if things change and we can be together like that without the distance getting between us, and we both still want it, then yes, I'll be your girlfriend. But until that day comes, I don't want you to feel like you have to wait. So… so if you find another girl you like before then, go ahead and ask her out instead."
"Why would I do that?" Lincoln asked.
"I don't want to be the 'girlfriend from Canada' you say you have just to avoid being teased. If there is a girl in Royal Woods that you can actually date, you shouldn't have to turn her down just because of me."
The white-haired boy gave her a hug from behind, making her tense for a moment but she relaxed into him.
"You'll still be my first choice." He whispered, making her smile.
–End Flashback–
Since then, the two have remained platonic friends able to see each other in person once every month or two. It was difficult, and intercity buses had been used more than once when a sibling or parent couldn't bring one to the other, but to this day they still remained good friends. Awaiting the day when 300 miles no longer separated one from the other.
Now, Lincoln and his mother went to his high school for some holiday fun. The gym was decorated to fit the holiday and there were several students already inside wearing costumes and getting comfortable.
"Don't worry, just because I'm chaperoning doesn't mean I'll be watching you like a hawk." Rita assured her son. "If anything, it's Lucy I should be doing that to."
"Let's just hope she doesn't get arrested for having a meetup in a cemetery." Lincoln commented, aware of what his thirteen year old sister would be doing tonight. Like him, she chose not to go trick-or-treating with Lynn Sr and the others, and so her friends were doing who knows what at the Royal Woods graveyard.
"Lincoln!"
The aforementioned boy turned and saw one of his close friends come his way, making him smile. It was Stella Zhau, dressed as a vampire in a red and purple dress. Her hair was done up in a bun instead of hanging down, and the dress exposed her shoulders and cleavage.
"Hey Stella, you're looking good."
"Thanks, it was Blake's idea."
Hearing that made Lincoln's smile drop a little. For years, ever since Stella was old enough to be actually interested in dating, her family had put a halt to any notion of her having a say in the matter. This was made quite clear to Lincoln when he was fourteen years ago.
–Flashback–
"Lincoln, a word with you." Stella's father said when he saw the boy after school.
"Yes Mr Zhau?"
Mr Zhau waited until his daughter was out of earshot, and when he confirmed this he looked rather stern, like a teacher about to give out detention or worse. "Listen, I don't mind you being friends with my Stella, but there's no way you're going to ever be anything more than that with her."
Lincoln blinked. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me. I know you and those other boys have been wanting to be in a relationship with my daughter since you met her. I need to tell you right now that that's not going to happen. Don't ever think about asking her out, the answer will be no."
Lincoln was confused but also offended. "Isn't that her decision to make?"
"It doesn't matter, the decision is made that there are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. You don't need to know why. The same goes for the other boys too. Stella is off limits, period. She's going to date a boy that's good enough for her, and frankly that's just not you."
Lincoln frowned. "With all due respect sir, unless Stella herself says that to me and I see the words come out of her lips, I don't care what you think of me."
"What do you care? Don't you have a girlfriend in another town?" Mr Zhau challenged.
"It's not about that. Stella's my friend and I don't appreciate you treating her like she can't make her own choices."
"You'll understand when you're older. For now, just keep your distance."
–End Flashback–
Since that day Stella's still been his friend but there was this expectation to not get too close to her. The same went for the rest of the Action News Team, so it wasn't like Lincoln was being singled out as the only boy not good enough for her. Then one day she told them all that her parents and extended family were making her go out with a boy named Blake Hawthorn, who attended another school in another town. Naturally Lincoln said she didn't have to do it just because her family said so, but Stella said that it was best if she went along with it at least until she was 18. She refused to elaborate why.
"Where is he?" Lincoln asked, having only seen the guy once or twice in all this time. Blake didn't seem to like being around Stella's other friends, though she made it clear that he was not going to keep her away from them.
"Where's who?"
Lincoln turned and saw Ronnie Anne Santiago, dressed up as a zombie Spider-Gwen. Seeing her made him feel better.
"Glad you could make it." He told her.
"Like I would miss this after going to all the effort to get us matching costumes."
"Hi Ronnie Anne." Stella said to be polite.
"Hi Stella." Ronnie Anne said back to be polite too.
'I always feel awkward when these two are in the same place at the same time. It's like they both want to get territorial yet won't.' Lincoln thought.
"Well I'll leave you two alone. Have fun Lincoln." Stella said before walking off.
"Is everything okay with you guys?" Ronnie Anne asked when the other girl was out of earshot.
"So far, but it's weird how she's going along with what the other guy wants. It makes me wonder if maybe she's starting to warm up to him."
"If he's not a bad person, would that really be so bad?" Ronnie Anne asked, leading him towards the snack table since she wanted a drink.
Lincoln shrugged. "I guess I'm just bothered by how her family is controlling her like this. But I'm more bothered that she's going along with it. I thought she was better than that. I mean, you'd never let your family decide for you like that."
Ronnie Anne made a gesture to look away, not wanting him to see the smile threatening to grow at hearing that.
"Where's Sid? Wasn't she coming with you?" Lincoln asked.
"I think she's still in the bathroom. It's a long drive here, we both needed to freshen up."
"Tell me about it." Lincoln muttered.
"Hey Lincoln. Nice costume." Sid said joining her friend not too long after. She herself was wearing a Yoon Kwan costume, one she had clearly gone to a lot of effort to make accurate to the original source. Her hair was probably the only thing that was distinctly Sid.
"Same to you Sid. Too bad you don't have the rest of the band."
"Sheesh, is there a single girl in this place that isn't showing off her cleavage like a billboard?" Sid asked, looking around at everyone currently attending.
"The two of you." Lincoln pointed out.
"You answered that awfully quickly." Ronnie Anne replied.
Lincoln fidgeted. "Can we pretend I didn't answer that then?"
Ronnie Anne and Sid giggled but said nothing.
Not far from the dance, a group of young teens were gathered in a forested area. There were five of them, arranged to form a pentagram with each of them holding a candle. Standing in one of the five corners was Lucy. While still a goth and the quietest Loud, she was starting to grow out of her shell a little more. She wore a black tank top over a white long-sleeve shirt and a black skirt with gray stockings. Her hair was still the same, though longer now hanging to her waist.
"Is everyone ready?" She asked, and she got nods from her friends. At her signal, one of them lit a fire in the center.
"On this night, Samhain, may the thinning of the veil between our world and the next bring us closer to the darkness." Haiku said in a chanting manner.
"Lux non est bona, obscurum non est malum." Lucy added with a solemn tone. The other four repeated it.
The wind picked up for a moment, making them briefly wonder if it was a sign or a coincidence. Either way, Lucy took out a bag that had dried leaves in it and scooped out a handful, some of it crumbling in her hands, before she tossed it into the fire. Almost immediately the fire grew in size and popped more before turning purple. Smoke billowed from it as expected, but it lingered above and turned to mist.
Without instruction, the five goth kids stepped closer while maintaining formation and inhaled the smoke.
Lucy swiftly felt a little loopy but also emboldened. It was like how Lynn would describe an adrenaline high, or how Luna would refer to as 'in the zone'. In this state of mind, numerous visions came to her, but one stood out the most. One clear as day, and horrifying.
Lucy gasped and broke formation, with the smoke vanishing as if forced to. This snapped the others out of their trance.
"What's going on?" One of the goth kids asked.
"I have to get to my brother. He's in danger."
"Are you sure?" Haiku asked.
Lucy nodded and began to leave in a hurry, offering no other details. This left the other goth kids to clean up what they had started and figure out what to do next.
Back at the dance, things had been going normally. Everyone was there and having fun. Lincoln had a few dances with Ronnie Anne and even one with Sid so she could feel included, but for the most part they had been playing games and socializing. Ronnie Anne did have other friends in Royal Woods she didn't get to see in person so much too, even if he was her favorite. He didn't want to hog her time.
At the moment Lincoln was taking a break and sitting down, sipping on some soda and watching the others. Clyde was somewhere he couldn't see, presumably with Chloe, while Zach and Liam were replacing a jack-o-lantern that had gotten accidentally smashed by someone falling over. Rusty was flirting with a girl Lincoln didn't know the name of, and Stella was likely in the bathroom.
Without a word, someone sat down at the table with Lincoln, giving him a cold look. He was sixteen like Lincoln, though he had black hair and wore a vampire costume. Though frankly it looked more like a Count Chocula costume.
"You're Lincoln, right?" He said in a slightly demanding way. Just like when Lori wanted something without actually saying she wanted it.
"I am. And if I remember correctly, you're Blake?"
"I am. And I don't appreciate the way you've been looking at my woman."
Lincoln scoffed. "Sexist, how wonderful. Stella does not belong to you, creep."
"When she's eighteen, she will. Her family has basically sold her to me. So get over any fantasies you may have about getting in my way and claiming her for yourself."
"Or what? You gonna bite my neck and drink my blood Edward?"
"I just might." Blake replied, opening his mouth enough to show fangs.
"Oh I'm so scared. Good luck drinking a zombie's blood, Alucard."
"Just remember, I warned you." Blake claimed.
Having enough, Lincoln got up and walked away, with the vampire boy not bothering to follow him. When he saw Stella exit the restroom, Lincoln made it a point to walk up to her.
"Stella, are you actually enjoying being with that guy?"
Stella sighed. "Lincoln, there's more to it than you know."
"That's only because you never tell me anything. Do you know that Blake thinks he bought you? He actually said that. I don't think you can just wait until you're eighteen to tell your family to butt out of your lovelife."
"Lincoln, I appreciate your concern, but-"
"No buts Stella. What could possibly be so bad that you have to go along with this? Do your parents owe money to the mob or something? Unless you actually like him, why the hell are you letting him stay in your life?"
Stella frowned. "Lincoln Loud, you of all people know that other people are not entitled to your family's personal business. I said I appreciate your concern, but if I haven't told you anything you should trust that I have a good reason for it. Now please, until the day comes when I actually ask you for help, don't offer any."
The teen girl then walked away from the white-haired boy with a bit of a huff, leaving him to wonder what was going on in her family life.
"Everything alright son?" Rita asked, seeing Lincoln look a little peeved.
"Fine, I guess. I'm just… ugh. Why can't she just tell her parents no? If she doesn't like that creep, why go along with what they tell her to do?"
"Lincoln, parents don't make choices that they think will hurt their children."
"Mom, I've been on reddit. I know for a fact that there are parents that don't care about their kids and would happily burn them just to see them burn."
"Okay, fine, there are crappy parents out there, but do you think Stella's parents are?"
"I don't know anything about them anymore. I've been forbidden from her house or pretty much anywhere Stella is except school. I can't even hang out with her after school because of them 'forbidding' it. But Stella's not even trying to fight them on this. I thought our friendship meant more to her than that. It's like I was never anything other than just a boy she was being polite to all this time."
Rita said something, but Lincoln saw Blake leading Stella outside and got a bad feeling about that.
"Lincoln, did you hear what I just said?" Rita asked.
"Sorry, no, I got to check something out." He said before walking away.
Rita watched her son leave, not liking the feeling she was getting. "Ronnie Anne?" She asked when she got by the Hispanic girl.
"Yes Mrs. Loud?"
"Follow me. I think my son might be about to do something stupid."
Ronnie Anne nodded and she with Sid followed Rita, all three making sure to not be noticed.
Outside Lincoln saw Blake stand close by Stella, and while he couldn't hear what was being said, at least not clearly, she could tell from her body language that she was not enjoying this. She tried putting some distance between them, but he was declining, looking like he was trying to force a kiss on her. Stella loudly told him to stop and other things, but Blake pulled her in close, looking like he was about to force himself on her. Lincoln was about to shout at him, but then something happened that made him unable to speak.
Blake opened his mouth and chomped down on Stella's neckline like a real vampire. Stella screamed in agony and tried to get free, so it didn't look like this was being staged or anything.
"GET AWAY FROM HER!" Lincoln roared, charging at the creep who had made it a point to get between him and one of his friends. Blake let Stella go, blood dripping down his chin, and sent a red-eyed glare towards Lincoln.
All of a sudden, Lincoln felt his body slow down, like the air had become molasses or something. He could still move, but something was pushing back against him.
Stella meanwhile collapsed to her knees, panting heavily while trying to stop the bleeding. She could feel her hands covered, she was losing a lot of blood but fortunately there was no missing flesh. He hadn't taken a bite out of her like an animal, more like he had punctured a heavy blood vessel. She feared she was going to bleed to death within minutes unless someone did something.
Blake wiped his chin and walked up to the white-haired boy. "I warned you to stay away."
"BACK AWAY!" Rita shouted, walking up with righteous fury. Ronnie Anne and Sid stayed back, still processing what they had just seen.
Blake glared at the Loud matriarch. "Stay out of this!"
"RELEASE MY SON OR I SWEAR I WILL RIP YOU TO PIECES!" Rita warned, the air around her shimmering as if she was close to igniting it.
Blake actually hesitated for a moment before composing himself. "Try it, I dare you."
Then he rushed towards Lincoln, faster than anyone there anticipated, and he chomped down on Lincoln's neck too. Lincoln could feel the puncture of fangs, which apparently had not been decoration all this time, and could feel his blood being drained out of him. It hurt like hell, much worse than any other injury he had ever experienced before.
Rita screamed without making any words and crossed her arms before creating a circle of light in front of her. Ronnie Anne also screamed and ran towards Lincoln, shouting his name. Rita uncrossed her arms too late and couldn't stop what happened, gasping as she saw a lightning bolt she had manifested hurling towards her and her intended target. The bolt zigged towards Ronnie Anne since she was unintentionally closer, shocking her and making her collapse, but she wasn't dead.
Blake laughed, releasing Lincoln who collapsed just like Stella had. "Such a poor display of magic. Watch a real monster use it."
He clapped his hands and formed a ring of fire under Rita, with the flames dancing up bigger and stronger the closer she got to the edge. She tried to break through but the flames jumped at her no matter what. She even tried to conjure some water but that just made the ring shrink.
'I have to do something.' Sid thought, rushing around the corner to find a hose. She didn't know what was going on, but she couldn't just stand there and watch.
"While you're stuck, I could use a little more power." Blake commented, walking up to Ronnie Anne.
Rita focused her power and with a blast dispelled the ring of fire, though her skin was a little red in the process. At the same time, Blake clamped his jaws on Ronnie Anne's neck as well and sucked some blood. Rita charged over and threw a punch in his face, which he could not avoid. The force made him let her go, but unfortunately this meant his fangs tore at her flesh a little in the process.
Rita looked over the three victims and did some hand gestures before crossing her arms then uncrossing them. All three glowed yellow and were pulled in close to her. The glow turned white and their breathing normalized, with the wounds on their necks healing. Then the glow faded.
"What just happened?" Lincoln asked, checking his neck.
"Am I dead?" Stella asked, seeing blood all over her hands and the top of her chest.
"It's not over yet kids. Stay close to me." Rita told them.
"Mom?"
"Not is not the time son. Just do what I say."
Lincoln gulped but got on his feet, albeit shakenly. Stella and Ronnie Anne did the same, both getting close to him on either side.
Blake came up, looking scuffed but not beaten. And he was clearly not happy. "Stop this now witch, before you make an enemy you don't want."
"I have plenty of enemies, one more isn't anything to be afraid of." Rita replied, readying some unclear form of retaliation.
"So be it. I will kill you and take my bride."
Stella flinched, not liking the way he said that word.
Rita stomped the ground and from it emerged tree roots that moved to ensnare Blake. He transformed into a bat and evaded them before transforming back midair and throwing some fireballs at the roots and Rita before turning back into a bat. Rita manipulated the wind to shield her and the three teens from the fireballs.
"Your magic will not last, even on this night." Rita warned, throwing out another lightning bolt. This time with no one in the way, it went right for the bat. He turned into smoke, allowing it to just go right through him harmlessly before turning back to normal and landing on the ground.
"But you can't do too much without revealing yourself more than you already have. But I'm not afraid if a couple of humans see what I am."
"Then why did you wait until now to show yourself?" Stella asked.
Blake didn't respond, he merely looked ready to throw another spell their way. But before he could, he was blasted by a torrent of water from behind. He turned and saw Stella with a hose, who kept the attack going. He responded by setting the hose on fire, prompting her to drop it.
"One more blood donor. Perfect."
Blake came for her, and Rita took the opportunity to create another attack. However, she saw her son and his two friends wobble and fall to the ground, passing out. The surprise and fear canceled out her prep work, and she chose to kneel down and quickly inspect them.
Blake closed in on Sid, who pulled out a garbage can lid and blocked him. He ran face first into it like a cartoon character and rebounded away, clutching his face and wincing in pain. Sid also took the chance to kick him in the groin, making his pain so so much worse.
"Not so tough when your victim knows what to expect, are you?" She taunted, trying to hit him again with the lid.
Blake snarled and got up to attack her again, but this time the roots succeeded in ensnaring him. He turned into smoke and escaped, but as soon as he returned to flesh he felt himself pierced by something sharp and wooden. Sid felt some of his blood splash on her, but thankfully none got near her mouth or eyes.
"What the heck?"
She looked and saw Lucy Loud, breathing a little heavily, standing on the other side of Blake, holding a wooden spear that was going through his abdomen. She had missed his heart but surely she had gotten his stomach or liver with this one. He screamed in agony and tried to get off, but nothing was working. Not even his transformations.
"I'm sorry I'm too late." Lucy groaned, glancing towards her mother and brother.
"You-" Blake hissed but Lucy retracted the spear, transforming it into a stake and holding it against his neck, pressing the tip against his jugular.
"Be very careful what you say next."
Blake coughed but also tried to laugh. "If you were going to kill me kid, you wouldn't be standing there warning me about it."
"Lucy!" Rita called, going over to her daughter. "Be careful. As long as we don't kill him, we can demand repercussions from his family."
"We don't make deals with inferiors like you." Blake decreed.
"Oh you ignorant little boy, there's no clan in the world that would intentionally risk pissing off a witch like this. And I'm going to prove it to you. Lucy, gather those three. We need to go to you-know-where."
Lucy nodded and went over to Lincoln, Ronnie Anne, and Stella while Rita fitted Blake with more wooden bindings. Lucy checked their pulses, finding them normal but all three had cold skin and shallow breathing.
"What's going on? Was that guy really a vampire? Did you really use magic?" Sid asked, coming up beside Lucy since she didn't want to be too close to their captive right now.
"Yes, and yes."
"What's going to happen to them?" Sid asked, looking at Ronnie Anne and fearing her waking up a monster.
"If we can make it so, they'll be completely normal. But if not…" Lucy said, trailing off.
Rita came up to her daughter. "We have to go."
"Where are you going?" Sid asked.
"To get them proper help and this jerk proper consequences. I trust you can keep your mouth shut about this?"
Sid nodded. "It's Halloween. Who'd believe me if I told them a real vampire attacked my friend?"
"Thank you." Rita said before taking out a coin that looked gold on one side and silver on the other and held it to her lips. "In opus tutus."
She then flipped the coin into the air, with it spinning a lot more than it should have. In fact, it looked like it burned for a moment, like a meteor entering the atmosphere, and then planting in the ground on its side. Smoke billowed and a weird popping, almost chirping sound was heard, and then the coin sunk into the ground completely. A horse could be heard in the distance, and from out of nowhere a carriage rode into being before stopping before the assembled group.
"Your ride?" Sid asked.
"It'll get us where we need to go fast enough. Wish us luck." Lucy said while Rita made Lincoln, Stella, and Ronnie Anne hover and be put inside. Once inside, Rita and Lucy went in as well.
Sid stood by, part of her wanting to accompany them but at the same time she felt like she was uninvited.
"Please let me know how it turns out." She requested.
Rita nodded and the door closed. The carriage was pulled away by the horses and seemingly disappeared just like how it had appeared in the first place.
Unsure what else to do, Sid went back to the party, hoping no one had noticed.
"I hope everything works out." She muttered, trying to act natural and keep any suspicion off of her.
"Hey, where are Lincoln and Ronnie-?" Clyde started to ask.
"Family emergency!" Sid answered, much too quickly and forcefully. Clyde jumped back and spilled his drink all over his own costume.
"Geez, did someone die?" Clyde asked, wiping off the excess soda.
"If we're lucky, no one will."
"Say what?"
"Nothing!"
Clyde grabbed Sid's shoulders. "No, it's not nothing! What happened? Tell me!"
Others nearby stopped to stare thanks to Clyde shouting. Knowing she couldn't get away with saying nothing, Sid had to think fast.
"I'll tell you outside. We don't want to cause a panic." She whispered.
"A panic? Seriously, what happened?" Clyde insisted, though he did follow her outside. A few others kept eyeing them while most lost interest and went back to the party.
Once outside, Sid looked around and took a deep breath. "This has to be kept a secret. I mean it, no one can know."
"Why?"
"Because no one you tell would believe you."
Far off, outside of the town of Salem, Massachusetts, a horse drawn wagon pulled up in front of a hospital. Once it came to a stop, Rita emerged from the wagon and went to the reception desk, where a woman was doing a crossword puzzle.
"My son and his friends were just attacked by a vampire."
The receptionist put down the crossword puzzle and pushed a button on the intercom. "We need doctors to the front immediately. Code Stoker. Repeat, Code Stoker."
A few moments later, three men and one woman all in white and blue uniforms came out with Rita leading them to the wagon. Though these people didn't look like ordinary humans. For example, one was green and covered in stitches and another looked like a humanoid cat. They opened the wagon and with some effort put the three unconscious teens onto gurneys and wheeled them inside.
"Are they Normals or Nevermores?" The catlike doctor asked Rita and Lucy.
"Normals. But the boy is my son."
"And all three were bitten by a vampire?"
"Yes. One of the girls was bitten first. I think he intended to mate with her tonight, but my son got in his way."
The cat doctor sighed. "Damn, are they still alive?"
"Yes." Rita said, nodding. "Please tell me you have the cure."
The cat doctor hesitated. "I'm sorry, we just used the last of it."
Rita sighed and shedded a tear.
"Can you order some from another hospital?" Lucy asked.
"It's Samhain. These three won't be the only victims tonight, and sadly you're in the best hospital for our kind in the country. Unless you can get to Bermuda or Transylvania, I'm afraid you'll have no choice but to wait for us to get our next shipment. Which won't be until close to Imbolc. I'm very sorry."
"Just… just do what you can." Rita surrendered.
The cat doctor nodded and left to go help. Rita slumped into a chair in the waiting room, noticing the other people there, waiting on their own injured or sickly loved ones in the back.
"I failed Lincoln, Lucy." She muttered as her daughter sat beside her.
"Mom, there is… another way."
Confused, Rita looked to Lucy. "What do you mean?"
"There's another place we know that we can get to, and should have the cure."
Rita raised an eyebrow, still confused. "Where?"
Lucy sighed. "Grimswood."
"Grimswood? But Lucy, I thought-"
"I know, and I still don't. But if it will save Lincoln's life, what other choice do I have?"
Rita patted her daughter on the back. "Let's talk to him about it first. Then we can decide what to do."