UnEnchanted (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale #1)(17)

“What about Charlie?” Mina asked worriedly. Her brother was back in the kitchen and this time he was putting on every single piece of costume he owned; layer after layer. A Spiderman suit, batman’s utility belt, and what looked to even be a Dr. Who scarf and hat.

“So far the story isn’t interested in Charlie, not when it has you.”

“So as long as I live, Charlie is protected?” Mina looked over at her brother and felt her heart grow strong with a single-minded determination to protect her brother.

“Yes..honey, look at Charlie. He’s not strong enough to protect himself from the fate of the Grimm Story. I can’t lose you and I can’t lose Charlie. He’s all I have left of your father.” Sara grabbed a few tissues from the box on the beat up coffee table. She picked at them tearing them apart.

“Mom, I want to try and stop it.” Mina didn’t know where the determination came from but she spoke the words out loud and as soon as she said it, she knew it was true.

“No! I forbid you. Nothing strange has happened since you saved that boy, right? This means we still have time to run.” Sara looked at Mina and she could see the sliver of hope in her mother’s eyes. Sara wanted to run, wanted this to be a huge coincidence.

“Mom.” Mina said one word and Sara could hear the undertone in Mina’s voice and knew what it meant.

“It’s too late isn’t it? What happened? What’s been happening?” she asked worriedly.

Mina mentioned practically riding over a dog and donkey and was shocked when Sara interrupted blurting out, “and a cat and rooster,” before Mina had even finished. Sara blushed, “I’ve made sure to try and read up on my tales. Anything else? Tell me exactly what happened on the tour.” Sara demanded and Mina did. “Oh, this sounds bad; it sounds like it could be another story, but I don’t know which one. It may already be too late. Well at least that stupid book hasn’t appeared, yet.”

“What’s going on, what happened at the bakery, what book?”

“Mina trust me, it’s better if we don’t discuss this anymore. Words have power and it makes it that much easier for the Story to find you. The less we talk about what happened at the Bakery, the safer we are.”

“What about the book?” Mina asked frustrated.

“Again, it’s better to not to mention it. The book is the final piece of the puzzle, if the book finds you than you know it’s too late and you are officially apart of the Story’s tales. Only problem is, other things are looking for the book as well. So it’s best we leave before either of them find us.” Sara stood up and wistfully looked around the small living room that only had room for a sofa and a small rocker. A fifteen inch TV was in the corner on the bookshelf, rarely used; a few tattered books and a quilt that was given to them by Mrs. Wong. There were hardly any personal items in the home, Mina finally understood why. It was easier to pack, if there were less sentimental items to slow you down.

“Mom, I’m not leaving.” Mina stated stubbornly.

“Yes, you are. Think of your brother.” Sara blinked at her daughter in disbelief.

“I am thinking of Charlie and that’s why I’m not leaving.” Mina could feel herself begin to cry and she pushed back at her tears angrily with the back of her sleeve. “I’m going to stop this. I can do this. I will do this, for him, for you.”

Sara started to shake her head in protest but Mina continued angrily. “Mom, you can either help me, or hinder me, but one way or another the Story is going to catch up to us.”

Sara sat down again and looked at her hands folded in her lap. Tears slowly slid down her cheeks to land in wet drops on her khaki pants. “I always knew it would, I was just hoping I could postpone it until you were older, stronger.”

“I’m both, Mom. You did great, but now it’s my turn to take care of the family. But I’m going to need your help.”

Sara nodded her head in understanding. “What do you want me to do?”





Chapter 6


Walking to school the next morning Mina felt like a completely different person. She felt as if all of the puzzle pieces finally fell into place. She had answers to questions that had been plaguing her for years, though not all of them. She knew why her family moved so much, why her mother discouraged her from trying out for sports, and clubs. It was to keep her out of the spotlight, from becoming a school sports hero or star. She felt as if her crazy teenage life now had meaning, had a purpose. She was a Grimm, and had a legacy to uphold. The fate of the future generations of Grimms depended on her to finish the Story and break the curse on her family.

Mina had plenty of time to think over everything as she walked to school. She told her mother about the mix-up at the Carmichael’s and the unfortunate accident that involved her bike. Sara was furious and it took every persuasive ounce that Mina had to convince her mother to not call up the Carmichael’s in a fit and to let it go.

“It’s just a bike and it was my fault I left the bike in the middle of the driveway, not theirs. Plus I wouldn’t have been there if your boss Terry hadn’t gotten the families mixed up,” Mina wheedled trying to change the direction in which the blame lay.

Sara looked thoughtful and her anger dissipated as she tried to contemplate how this all happened. “I don’t understand, there’s only one Carmichael family. And you said they weren’t expecting us? How strange.”