Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

A door slam marked the moment it was certain Phoebe had woken up.

Trevor startled at first, nearly dropping his phone, before relaxing. It wasn't some mysterious entity wanting to ruin their days or just kill them. Just a harmless sound.

"Jesus, wonder what's got a twist in her toga?" His grandfather didn't break his gaze from the TV show he was watching. "That was a good door slam. Unnecessary as hell, but it was a good one."

Trevor didn't bother to respond verbally, just hummed in Peter's direction as he resumed his game. Moments later, he was forced to look up as Phoebe again slammed the living room door open with a stare that could kill an elephant. She had a book under her arm, and she stormed over to the couch, shoved her head in a pillow, and screamed.

Trevor raised an eyebrow. "Okay, what kind of dream did you have to get that reaction out of you? You haven't been this bad since-"

"Can it for a moment, Trev." Peter interrupted suddenly, and Trevor turned to him in surprise. "Pheebs, sweetheart, what's happening?"

"This stupid journal!" Phoebe nearly screamed it as she took her head out of the pillow and tossed- nearly throwing it down -the book she was holding onto the ground. "There's so many stupid ciphers and things that don't make sense and everything is so goddamn complicated! I've been up all night trying to piece it together, but nothing! Makes! Sense!"

Phoebe slammed her head back into the pillow, and Trevor strongly suspected that she had burst into frustrated tears. He was just about to say something comforting- he didn't know what, probably wouldn't have been much help- when he saw his grandfather out of the corner of his eye and stopped short.

Why is Grandpa looking at that book like that?

Peter was studying the journal on the ground with an... odd look in his eyes, and that was coming from Trevor. His mouth curved into a thin frown as he studied the page the journal had opened up to when it was thrown.

Whatever was going on with Peter, he snapped out of it quickly and leaned down to shut the journal, then went over to crouch down next to Phoebe and carefully put a hand on her back. "Hey hey, sweetheart, it's okay. You're stressed, happens to everyone. Tell ya what- the best thing for you right now would be to get out of the house. Stop thinking about silly ciphers for the moment, go have some fun. Be a teenager! Your mom tells me over the phone that you're not that good at that yet- no offense."

Phoebe looked up from the pillow, cheeks wet and glasses askew. "That's supposed to make me feel better right now?"

"Of course! Nothin' like a little distraction to cheer one up, take it from me." Peter chuckled. "Hey Trev, why don't you take your sister to Greasy's? It's not that far away, and th' food there's decent enough. Should get her mind off of all this."

"...Sure." Trevor studied his grandfather for a moment, then put his phone in his pocket. "I'm going to need money for that though, you realize that right?"

Peter's demeanor deflated for a moment, and he cleared his throat. "Course I do! What kinda grandfather would I be if I didn't spare a few dollars for a nice egg breakfast or two? Wait there, I'll getcha a few things." 

Peter left the room and returned shortly with a twenty-dollar bill, handing it to Trevor with a wink. "I am expecting this to be paid back."

"Better not be with interest this time." Trevor retorted, reluctantly taking the money. "C'mon, Pheebs. Let's get you something to eat. When's the last time that you've actually eaten anything?"

Phoebe shrugged, getting up and reaching for the journal on the ground, only for it to be snatched up by Peter. "Oooh no, kiddo. You're going to breakfast to get your mind off of this thing. Why would I let you take it with you?"

Phoebe glared up at him with the iciest stare she could muster. "...Give it back when I get home."

"Fine, fine." Peter made a shooing motion with his hands. "Get out of here."

Trevor grabbed Phoebe's arm before her glare at their grandfather could escalate. "Great idea. Off we go!"

The walk to Greasy's Diner was tense. 

Trevor had tried a few times to make conversation with his little sister, but she didn't seem to be in much of a conversing mood. She kept reaching for the journal, remembering she didn't have it, then folding her arms.

Trevor wondered what was so important about that journal for Phoebe to be this fascinated with it. She hadn't been like this since when she discovered how to fiddle with the electricity back at home.

They were seated quickly, with Phoebe barely glancing at the menu while Trevor took his time browsing. Every time he glanced upwards, Phoebe was staring off into space, fingers tapping on the table rapidly.

Trevor was just about to confront her when the waitress arrived, notepad and pen at the ready. "Sup, welcome to Greasy's Diner. What can I get ya?"

"Oh, hey. I'll have the breakfast special ya got here, and Phoebe will..." Trevor trailed off as he looked at Phoebe. "Pheebs?"

Phoebe had stopped staring at the window in favor of staring at the waitress. She was wide eyed with a faint blush coating her cheeks.

Trevor barely took a moment to realize what that meant before he smirked, leaning over to her. "You gonna order?"

Phoebe stammered, tearing her eyes away from the waitress and looking down at the menu. "Um- waffles? Fruit on the side?"

The waitress nodded coolly, and Trevor took the moment to peek at her nametag. Had to do his part in helping his sister with a crush. "I'll have that right out for you two."

As soon as she left, Trevor rounded on Phoebe. "Soooooo... all it takes is a pretty woman to get your mind off that book, huh?"

"Shut up!" Phoebe hissed back at him. "She'll hear you!"

"No, she won't. Her name's Melody, by the way. So you know who to ask for the next time you come here."

"Shut up! Shut up! I don't like her, I don't even know her!"

"Oh, I know. But love at first sight does indeed exist, doesn't it, Pheebs?"

"I know that- from watching you moon over Lucky!"

"Wh- hey, that is severely off topic right now!"

"It's really not- you're so obvious about it, even Lucky knows you crush on her so hard!"

"She does not! Don't change the subject!"

This went on until their food arrived (where Trevor had gotten another look at Phoebe's bright red face when that same waitress gave them the food), and by the time they had left the money on the table and finished, the conversation had nearly dropped.

At least until that waitress waved to Phoebe. "Hey, you're living at the Psychic Shack right now, yeah?" 

Trevor could physically see the gears working to catch Phoebe up on what was happening. "Yes?"

The waitress- Melody, Trevor remembered -winked at her. "That place is loads of fun on an off day. I'll see you around there, okay hot shot?" 

Trevor swore Phoebe nearly spontaneously combusted right then and there. "Yep! See you around! Okay, bye!"

Phoebe practically ran out of the diner then, and Trevor held in his laughter before turning to Melody. "Her name's Phoebe. She's free whenever you get off your shift."

"I should hope so." Melody smiled. "See you around too, I suppose."

Trevor raised his hand for a quick wave before exiting the diner, starting to laugh when he saw Phoebe peeking out from behind a nearby tree. "Real smooth, Pheebs! She's head over heels for you now!"

"Shut the hell up!" Phoebe was bright red, this time from embarrassment. "That never happened! We're going home!"

"It so did happen! Phoebe has a cruuu-uuusshh!"

Phoebe took a swing at Trevor then, who just barely managed to avoid her fist. "Okay, okay! Jeez, Phoebe! No need for violence!"

Phoebe didn't dignify him with a response, instead storming off with Trevor having to quickly run after her. At least her mind's off the journal now.

They had slowed down significantly on the rest of the way home, and Trevor wanted to say they were about halfway back to the Psychic Shack when they were interrupted by someone Trevor had never really liked.

Phoebe bent down as soon as he appeared, smiling slightly. "Hey, Slimer. How are you doing? You come looking for me? I'm sorry I left you alone- are you hungry?"

Slimer made a noise that sounded like a half-bark and half-snort as he climbed onto Phoebe, bonking her chin with his forehead. Trevor wrinkled his brow. He still didn't understand how Phoebe could like, let alone tolerate, that thing.

Phoebe dug into her pocket and took a piece of candy out and held it out, with Slimer devouring the entire thing. "There you go- I'll get you something better once we get home. I still need to take my daily notes on you- the fact that you came to find me is a very interesting development."

Slimer let out another one of his noises and climbed off of Phoebe, biting her sleeve and starting to pull.

Trevor legitimately thought that Slimer was trying to eat Phoebe's sleeve and made a motion towards him, intending to grab him off of Phoebe, when Phoebe stood up and allowed Slimer to lead her away.

"Pheebs, what are you doing?" Trevor found no choice but to follow her. "Why are you doing what that thing wants?"

"He's not a thing." Phoebe frowned. "And he's agitated. I've never seen him like this before. Something's wrong, and I'm gonna find out what it is."

"Really? Has everything we've dealt with so far in this insane place not taught you to just investigate strange things?" Trevor responded. "This is not a good idea, Pheebs. Let's get back to the shack."

"I need to know, Trev. If something's upsetting Slimer, then it's dangerous."

"Then let's at least get back to the shack and grab something to defend ourselves- can't go into situations unarmed, remember?"

"You go- Slimer's not letting go of me now, and I need to-"

Phoebe broke off unexpectedly, and upon looking up, Trevor quickly realized why she had suddenly gone silent.

Everything was frozen. Literally everything- the trees, the ground, there were even frozen statues of squirrels and bugs littered around. Trevor and Phoebe stared in thinly veiled horror, and Slimer scurried into Phoebe's arms.

Phoebe was the one to break the silence. "Trevor. Go get the journal."

"What?! And leave you alone right here? You crazy?"

"I'm serious, Trevor. That journal is the only thing that could explain this. Go get it."

"I'm not leaving you here alone!"

"Go. Get. It. Slimer, lead Trevor back to the Psychic Shack, and then once he has the journal lead him back here. Okay? I'll give you extra treats if you do so."

Slimer jumped out of Phoebe's arms and immediately went to Trevor, tugging on his pant leg to lead him away.

Trevor barely spared Slimer a glance. "Pheebs, promise me that if I do this, you won't do anything stupid."

Phoebe let out a small sigh. "I promise. Okay?"

"...Okay. You better keep your word."

Forcing himself not to spare another glance back, Trevor turned and followed Slimer away.

Phoebe made sure that Trevor and Slimer were out of sight before she ventured into the winter wonderland.

She took her steps slowly, not wanting to slip on the ice, and she made sure to be as quiet as possible. Eventually, she had gone in long enough that she couldn't see anything besides the icy statues.

She tensed every time she passed a statue of something that had once been living- she passed multiple deer, a lot of birds, and a raccoon or two. Her heart sank. She couldn't help but mourn every once living creature she saw.

This is gonna happen to you if you're not careful.

Phoebe shook off the thought and continued walking, one step at a time.

A loud snarl eventually interrupted her.

Phoebe stumbled, nearly slipping backwards on the ice, and immediately reached for a frozen tree. By some miracle, she managed to grab a branch before she slipped and swung herself in, hiding behind the tree. 

One step followed another.

From behind her awful hiding place, Phoebe watched with wide eyes as a creature ventured forward, completely encased in shadow besides its piercing blue eyes that sent shivers down her spine.

The creature walked on all fours and was frightenly skinny, and the most notable thing about it were the horns. Its horns were huge, stretching out several feet, and that was while they were curled into spirals. 

Phoebe felt, ironically, frozen in fear.

The creature didn't seem to notice her, thankfully, as it patrolled around its territory. It looked up at the bright blue sky, and as Phoebe watched, its head split in half, revealing a mouth full of sharp teeth.

A barrage of icy breath shot from its mouth, and a bird fell from the sky, completely encased in ice.

Phoebe had all her answers now.

Shaking, she began making her way backwards, needing to at least get out of this creature's line of sight, when it happened. 

She must have been standing over a frozen lake, because the ice began to crack underneath her feet.

Phoebe watched in horror as the creature turned towards her. She needed to run, she needed to cry for help, she shouldn't have gone in all alone, why was she such an-

The ice cracked further.

Down she went.

Chapter Text

Trevor should have known that Phoebe would do something stupid.

He stared open-mouthed for a moment at the spot Phoebe had previously been in as he clutched the journal close (His grandfather thankfully hadn't noticed him, being too engrossed with that one duck show that he seemed to enjoy), momentarily snapping out of his stupor by Slimer making another one of his stupid barks. 

"Oh my god, Pheebs. You're supposed to be the smart sibling. Why are you such a dumbass." Trevor hissed, walking in circles. Stress began to fog his mind as he put a hand on his head. "I should have made you get this dumb journal, not the other way around."

Slimer barked again, attracting Trevor's attention. "What do you want, you mangy- jesus, what are you doing?"

Slimer had ventured out onto the ice, and the pug-pig creature stuck his tongue out at him before lowering his snout back to the ice. After a few sniffs, the puig continued on its way, waddling carefully in a seemingly random direction.

Trevor figured out what Slimer was doing pretty quickly.

Carefully, Trevor stepped out onto the ice, bracing himself, then relaxing as he steadied. He took another step, then one more- 

And fell flat on his back.

Trevor laid there for a solid minute as he listened to Slimer start to laugh- he hadn't even been aware Slimer could laugh, he probably should tell Phoebe that -before he got up, glaring daggers at the now-rolling puig. "You shut the hell up. Wait until you become bipedal, and we'll see who's laughing!"

Slimer shook himself off and stuck his tongue out at Trevor again before resuming on his way, with Trevor carefully following behind. He didn't want to make a bigger fool of himself than he already had.

As they continued on, Trevor wondered if he should really be trusting Slimer right now. The two of them didn't get along that well. Slimer had clearly picked up Phoebe's scent though, and as much as Trevor didn't like it, Slimer seemed to be the only option he had to tracking down his sister.

As long as he doesn't lead me into the lion's den, anyway.

A yelp sounded in front of him, and Slimer dashed behind Trevor, shaking and clawing at his leg. Trevor stared at him, flabbergasted, for a moment, then looked up.

Trevor heard it before he saw it.

When he did see it... 

It was like all of his bones had suddenly turned to ice.

The creature moved slowly, yet with purpose as it moved towards a specific spot on the ice. It didn't seem to have noticed Trevor and Slimer, and Trevor couldn't help but feel grateful for that.

It seemed much more interested in a hole in the ice.

The creature studied the hole with a piercing blue eye, and Trevor was unable to tell where it was looking due to a lack of pupil. He didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. 

A screech resounded through the air.

Heart pounding, Trevor watched as the creature's horns twisted into itself and its face split in half, revealing a gaping maw full of sharp teeth, before it plunged its head and shoulders into the hole.

One second.

Two seconds. 

Three seconds.

The head reemerged, horns popping out of its head again, as it held something limp in its jaw. With another screech, it tossed what it was holding onto the ice, and the thing left a small trail of blood as it hit and slid across the ice.

Wait.

Blood?

Trevor's heart stopped as he finally recognized the thing- no, the person -laying motionless on the icy ground. She was soaking wet and shivering, and as Trevor watched, her finger twitched and she began to shudder as she coughed. 

The creature approached Phoebe, clearly curious about what it had just pulled up, and it loomed over her as Phoebe struggled to get up. It drew back and its mouth opened, sucking in a breath.

Something hit the creature in the side of the head.

The creature staggered back, letting out an enraged and confused roar, before its eyes locked on the source of what had hit it.

Trevor didn't even register that he'd just thrown the journal at the creature before Slimer bonked his head against his leg, letting out an indignant bark. 

A wave of unimaginable fear consumed him as the creature stood over him, and he just barely had time to shout to Phoebe to grab the journal before he grabbed Slimer and ran.

At the same time, the creature opened its maw and breathed a cloud of light blue smoke.

It grazed Trevor slightly, and he gasped out loud at the sudden, piercing cold that took over for a brief second. Slimer whined, letting him know that he'd felt it too.

Trevor didn't know where his legs took him as he ran. 

He just knew that he nearly fell over multiple times, which was terrifying, he hid behind multiple trees as the creature slowly but surely pursue him, letting out long ranges of frost, and that eventually he made it to solid, unfrozen ground. 

Trevor's heart had never beat so fast as he nearly collapsed onto a nearby, unfrozen tree, loud gasps for breath escaping his mouth as he gathered himself. Slimer let out a snort and a whimper, bonking his head into his chest.

Trevor nearly fell asleep out of pure exhaustion before he remembered.

Phoebe.

Oh god. Oh god, Phoebe. He didn't know if she had gotten his message, or if she was alive.

But he couldn't go back. The creature would spot him as soon as he went back. He'd be dead.

Phoebe could be dead right now.

Trevor sucked in a breath at the thought, the two sides tearing him apart, before Slimer pawed at his shorts.

Trevor looked down numbly, momentarily confused, before realizing that Slimer was trying to pull his phone out of his pocket.

"Oh my god- thanks, actually. Thank you." Trevor barely knew what he was saying as he picked up his phone and found Phoebe's contact. 

A thought occurred to him. "Hey- how did you know I needed this? I wasn't talking out loud..."

Slimer just looked at him, tongue sticking out.

"Al- alright then." Trevor swallowed and pressed on Phoebe's contact information.

The phone began to ring.

One second. 

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

A click.

"Phoebe? Phoebe, that's you, right? Are you okay? Are you alive? What's going on right now-"

"Trevor, you need to find copper right now."

Trevor was caught off guard with how intense Phoebe whispered. "What? Copper?"

"Or brass. Whichever works. Either one will do the trick."

"Phoebe, what are you talking about?"

"It's the only way to defeat Garraka."

"Gar-a what?"

"That's what the journal says that big creature's name is. It'll turn everything it sees into ice, but it can be contained through copper or brass. If we get our hands on some, it'll retreat and go into hiding."

"Oh- oh, alright. Brass and copper. Got it. Where the hell can we get that?"

"You think I know? I'm doing my best not to freeze to death right now- you know what, just find something and I'll meet you on the forest's edge. Got it?"

"Got it." Trevor stared as his phone as Phoebe hung up. "I think."

He shakily stood up. Copper or brass. He needed to find copper or brass right now. Where the hell could he find copper or brass?

Frantically he became brainstorming before it hit him. The Psychic Shack. There had to be something at the Psychic Shack.

Trevor scrambled up and ran as fast as his legs could carry him, and Slimer yelped as he ran after him. He reached the Shack in a matter of minutes, nearly slamming the door open.

"Alright, Slimer. Find anything copper or brass and grab it. Grandpa won't care- I hope."

Slimer raised a paw in what could almost have been mistaken for a salute before he took off, jumping up to examine different objects, and Trevor began tearing through the shelves.

Old parts of ship hulls? Snatched.

Cartridge shells? In his pockets.

An old french horn hanging on the wall? Trevor had already grabbed it.

Trevor's hands were full by the time he figured he had enough, and Slimer had grabbed quite a lot too- some things were physically sticking to his back. Trevor had just enough time to wonder how Peter hadn't noticed all the noise down here before he and Slimer shared a nod and they ran.

They made it back to where Phoebe said to meet in a matter of minutes, ignoring the strange looks they got from townspeople.

Phoebe wasn't there.

Trevor felt the panic he had felt during the phone call spike up again. He knew Slimer felt it too, based on the whimpers he was letting out.

Impulsively, Trevor turned towards the frozen forest. 

"PHOEBE?!" 

One second. 

Two seconds. 

Three seconds. 

Footsteps.

Trevor could have sobbed in relief when Phoebe ran out of the forest, still soaking wet and shaking like mad. "Phoebe! Thank god you're-"

"We need to get out of here."

Phoebe began gathering up all the brass she could carry while still holding onto the journal, and Trevor's mind blanked. "Wait, why-"

Phoebe fixed Trevor with a serious stare.

"It's right behind me."

At that moment, another screech sounded from the forest, and two bright blue eyes shone from the forest.

Trevor could have just been frozen with fear then, but an elbow jab from Phoebe got him and Slimer moving.

They ran for their lives, Phoebe taking charge. "This way! Come on!"

Trevor didn't know what was going on anymore, but Phoebe had a plan, and like hell he was going to interrupt it. He just told himself to keep moving, don't look back.

If Trevor had looked back, he would have seen Garraka's every step turn the ground into solid ice, casually crushing structures without even glancing down.

What finally made Trevor pause was the location Phoebe had led him and Slimer to.

"Gre- Pheebs, what are we doing back here at Greasy's?!"

"I have a plan. Don't worry."

"Kinda hard not to worry right now, Pheebs-!"

Phoebe didn't listen and turned to Slimer. "Slimer, be a good boy and stay as lookout, okay? If the big scary monster approaches, run into the restaurant barking like crazy."

Slimer nodded, turning to face the opposite direction of the diner, although Trevor could see he was trembling. Before Trevor could bring this up, Phoebe was already inside the diner.

Trevor entered behind her and forced himself to ignore the curious and judgmental stares all around him as he scanned for Phoebe, who had located an employee.

"Please, please let us back into the kitchen! You don't understand how important this is! Everyone here is going to die if we don't get back there!"

"Sorry, no can do, little lady. Do you realize how many health code violations you'll bring us if you get back there with all that?"

"I'm sure it's just a few more on top of the numerous ones you already have! You don't understand! Let us back there, please!"

"For the last time, girl-"

"Yes, you can come back there."

Everyone there looked in shock to the employee who had just joined the conversation.

"What? Mel, they can't go back there, just look at them-" the first employee started.

Melody fixed the employee with a hard stare. "Listen, do you not see how she's acting? Something serious is going on, and if she's that distressed, then least we can do is help out." She gestured to Phoebe and Trevor. "Follow me."

"Oh, thank you so much," Phoebe gasped out, although Trevor couldn't tell if her tone of voice was from the current deadly situation or the fact that her crush had just stood up for her. "You just saved everyone's lives. Now, I need a few giant pots, a blowtorch, and the biggest stove you have."

Melody slammed the doors to the kitchen open just as Phoebe was saying what she needed and glared at the staff there. "You heard the lady! Get her what she needs!"

There was a sudden rustling, and Phoebe was ushered to her now-workstation. She dumped all the brass she had into one pot and instructed Trevor to do the same in the other.

"Pheebs, what's this plan you've got?" Trevor asked after he did so.

"If I can melt down this brass into a liquid form, it'll become extra lethal to Garraka." Phoebe answered as she turned the stove on and put the pots on top, grabbing a chair to stand on top of. "It should be enough to send him reeling."

"Garraka? Who the hell is Garraka?"

As if on cue, they heard little footsteps rush into the dinner and barking begin. 

"You're about to find out." Trevor said nervously to Melody, who could only look at him in an intense confusion.

"Mother- we're not ready." Phoebe groaned, then whirled around to Melody and Trevor. "Distract it! Get everyone out of here! Do something to keep it occupied!"

"What?! Why me?!"

"Wh- Do you see anyone else who at least has an iota of how to deal with that thing?! Get out there!"

Trevor swallowed and turned to Melody. "We need to get everyone out."

"Okay, but why-"

Screaming suddenly broke out from the dining room, and from the windows they could see people scurry from the dinner, fleeing for their lives as a foot slammed through the roof of the diner.

Melody broke the silence. "Oh."

"Yeah, oh. Come on!" 

When Trevor and Melody exited the kitchen, they immediately spotted Slimer barking furiously at the leg despite trembling. 

"What is that thing-!?"

"I don't know who you're referring to right now but it doesn't matter!" Trevor grabbed a salt and pepper shaker off of a nearby table and jumped out an open window, with Melody doing the same with a barstool.

Garraka towered over the diner, its mouth fully open and ice breath extending from it, freezing everything in sight as it roared. Trevor heard Melody's breath catch in her throat as she looked up, and he nudged her. "Be prepared to run."

With that, Trevor aimed and launched the saltshaker he was holding.

As his target hit, Trevor couldn't help but wonder when he got so good at aiming.

Garraka choked on the saltshaker as it stumbled backwards, legs tearing through the roof of Greasy's, before it finally gouged the now frozen saltshaker out of its mouth and onto the ground. Its gaze fixed onto Trevor, seemingly recognizing him as its eyes widened, then narrowed.

Oh, wonderful. This thing's got a grudge.

Trevor backed up out of instinct, and from the corner of his eye he saw Melody ready her barstool and fling it. 

She didn't have the same bullseye luck that Trevor had, but it hit Garraka square in the chest, causing it to look down and open its mouth again. 

Trevor grabbed Melody's arm, and they ran.

Garraka's leg slammed behind them, causing them both to yelp out, and Melody was the one to spot the fallen wooden planks from the roof. Without hesitation, she began picking them up and flinging them. 

Trevor followed her example, hurling the pepper shaker he still had before picking up the planks.

Trevor didn't know how long this all went on for as he and Melody turned to a cycle of flinging things and running, with Slimer occasionally being heard in the background, when disaster struck. 

Garraka pried its mouth open and froze the ground underneath their feet.

Trevor let out a cry as he felt his feet become part of the ground, and while Melody didn't make a sound, he knew she was feeling the same way. The two tried desperately to get their feet out, but their feet were part of the ice now.

Garraka stared at them, eyes gleaming, and opened its mouth again.

Trevor exchanged a glance at Melody and shut his eyes.

I wonder what death's gonna feel like?

.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

A terrible screech rang through the air.

Trevor pried his eyes open, hardly believing the sight that was in front of his eyes.

Garraka had fallen over, bony limbs lashing out into the air as it screeched in pain, trying desperately to claw something shiny and metallic off of it.

"Phoebe!"

Melody's yell tore Trevor's gaze away from the thrashing monster and onto his sister.

She was panting heavily, holding one now-empty pot as Slimer dragged the second behind her. Without hesitation, she took the second pot from the faithful puig and threw its contents onto Garraka.

Garraka shrieked again, clawing itself to its feet.

That was the first time Trevor had seen Garraka run.

It sprinted away into the forest, crying out in agony as the brass bore holes in its body. 

The silence that followed afterwards could have been cut with a knife.

It was only broken by Phoebe, who rushed over to the two of them. "Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere? Did it get you? Oh, I'm so sorry, I should have fought Grandpa to let me bring the journal with me, we could have avoided all this-"

"Pheebs." Trevor cut her off. "We're fine. Although..."

He gestured to their feet. Phoebe got it immediately, bending down to take a look. After a few seconds, she looked up.

"Neither of you two are actually stuck. It froze your shoes to the ground. Just take off your shoes."

Melody and Trevor shared a dumbfounded silence before Melody lifted her leg up, taking off her shoe in the process.

"Are you actually kidding me?!" She yelled, starling everyone there. "I nearly died to some weird ice demon and I could have survived that?! What am I, the stupid white girl that always dies first in horror movies?!"

"I know!" Trevor eagerly joined in as he hopped out of his shoes. "I was scared for my life there and all this time- I'm never wearing shoes again oh my god-"

Phoebe started to laugh, a high pitched sound as she doubled over in hysterical laughter, and before long Trevor and Melody had joined in too. They laughed because of what they had just been through, they laughed because of the irony of the situation.

They laughed because they were alive.

As the laughter subsided, Slimer went up and bonked Phoebe on the forehead, and Phoebe smiled up at him. "Good work, Slimer. You're getting so many treats when we get home."

Slimer sat down and puffed out his chest in pride, tongue sticking out, and Phoebe let out another involuntary giggle. Melody got up and brushed herself off.

"Well, I need to head off." She sighed affectionately. "Gotta explain to my boss why the diner's destroyed, and gotta organize everything its reconstruction." She nodded at the two of them. "It's been fun."

"I know I just met you today, but you're fun. We gotta hang out sometime." Trevor nodded back at her.

"Oh, definitely. This is the kind of insanity I need in my life." Melody joked, then turned to Phoebe. "See you around then, gotcha Pheebs? I'm looking forward to seeing you most of all."

Phoebe could do nothing but stare for a brief moment, then stammered "Oh! Of course! Yeah, see you around!"

Melody nodded and as she began to walk away, Phoebe called after her. "Wait!"

Melody turned, confused.

"Wh- What do you call an ice monster that's fallen on hard times? An iceberg-ler."

A beat of silence passed before Melody let out a loud laugh. "Now I'm definitely looking forward to hanging out with you!"

Phoebe beamed at Melody, raising her hand in a wave. "Cool! Cool, bye!"

Trevor snickered, then nudged Phoebe. "Only you would use a joke as a pickup line."

"That wasn't a pickup- oh, whatever, let's just go home. Please?"

"Pheebs, you don't even have to ask twice. Let's hope Grandpa is still watching that duck show of his when we get home..."

Peter was not watching that duck show of his when they got home.

Rather, they could hear his voice a mile away, coupled with a voice they could barely recognize.

Confused, the siblings opened the door, only to see Peter in a shouting match with someone about Phoebe's age. 

Phoebe was the first one to recognize him, and she audibly groaned, attracting both people's attention. "What are you doing here, Lawrence?"

"Oh, Phoebe!" Lawrence seemed to blush upon seeing her. "Fancy meeting you here! You see, uh, I was just-"

"I'll tell you what he was doing!" Peter shouted. "This little prick broke in here and is trying to rob us! Just look at the little twerp! Did that father of yours teach you how to be a thief in addition to a little snob?"

"Excuse you, if my father were to teach me to do that, he'd do it perfectly!" Lawrence immediately defended himself. "In fact, he's-"

"Yeah, yeah, I know all about your daddy. Walter was always a real pain in the-" He stopped talking as he remembered the kids were around. "-In the word I legally cannot say."

"Wait, wait, wait. Rob?" Trevor asked, bewildered. In Phoebe's arms, Slimer began to growl at the scene unfolding in front of them.

"Yes! Rob!" Peter returned to his angry self at the mere mention of what Lawrence must have done. "He was trying to steal the hidden codes!"

"Codes- you don't mean the code to the-" Phoebe's eyes widened in realization. 

"Yes! That code!" Peter bristled. "How dare you, I oughta kick you out right here and now! Serves you right!"

"Do it then! You won't!" Lawrence challenged him.

Trevor and Phoebe could immediately see the glint in Peter's eyes. "You're right. I'll do worse."

Peter reached out and grabbed Lawrence by the collar. Lawrence shouted and immediately began to struggle and protest, but Peter simply carried him to an open window and tossed him outside.

All three of the Spenglers watched as Lawrence landed pretty far away from the Psychic Shack, rolled for a moment, then got up. "You'll pay for this!" He was yelling. "I swear you will!"

Peter scoffed. "Yeah, I'll be getting another nonsense phone call from Mr. Walter Peck soon." he informed the kids. "Anyway, how was Greasy's? I was thinking of going there for lunch tomorrow, I love their Wednesday special- hang on!"

Before Phoebe, Trevor or Slimer could make a sound, Peter ran to the wall. "My french horn! My prized french horn! I got that years ago, I won a competition with the pep band with my french horn! Oh, that rotten kid must have stolen that too! He'll pay for that, I swear he will!"

Phoebe, Trevor and Slimer all exchanged glances. 

Trevor cleared his throat. "Yeah, about all that..."

"Ooohhh, those Spenglers! Those rotten, rotten Spenglers!" Lawrence moaned as he stomped along, hiding in the forest and slumping down. "I'll make them pay for this! They're gonna pay, pay, pay!"

As he spoke, Lawrence dug into the inside part of his jacket, pulling out a very similar journal to what Phoebe had on her at that very moment.

It had the same golden hand on the cover, with the only difference being the number two displayed on that hand.

Lawrence began flipping through the journal before smiling and letting out an "ah-ha!" noise at the page he landed on.

He laid it open.

An image of a grey diamond was etched on the page, only having a single, red eye. On another page, that same diamond was present, just in a humanoid form.

The red eye seemed to glow as Lawrence performed everything necessary for the ritual.

"Those Spenglers are going to pay for what they've done!"