Maisel’s Neighbourhood Watch Log: September 17th, 2023 – 12:25 PM – Murlocke’s House
Sasheen and I finally stood outside of Murlocke’s house. It was a two-storey light yellow house in desperate need of a new paint job. Not because the paint was chipping or peeling, but because the colour was so… yuck.1
| 1. It’s not that bad. – Murlocke2 |
| 2. It looks like butter that has been left out in the sun for days… days, Murlocke. – Maisel |
Come on, Murlocke…
I rang the doorbell over and over and over again. Behind me, Sasheen nervously glanced over her shoulder at the street every few seconds. The sheer number of butterflies now blocked our view of the street entirely.
They were also now all flying in the same direction, forming an almost river-like appearance. Which could be bad, but it could also be good.3
| 3. There is no world in which that could be a good thing. – Sasheen |
Fiiinnnnalllyyy, Murlocke opened the door, wearing sweatpants and an oversized hoodie. The second he saw me (or maybe Sasheen, but probably me), he slammed the door shut.
No, Maisel.
I could hear him through the shut door.
You didn’t even give me a chance to explain.
Murlocke cracked the door open an inch.
You’re going to get me grounded again.
I thought you didn’t care about getting in trouble.
That was before my mom started forcing me to babysit my nieces and nephews as punishment,” he said. “I can’t do that again.
| I looked away for one second and all four of my nieces and nephews disappeared … They were hiding in the closets, cupboards, under the floorboards, in the attic, while whispering at me. They would taunt me, daring me to come find them … I did not want to go looking. I did not want to find what was waiting. I will not go back there. – Murlocke’s Private Journal, February 18, 2023 |
But Murlocke—
The supernatural is back! We’re reforming the Neighbourhood Watch!
Murlocke raised an eyebrow and looked between Sasheen and me.
I also didn’t believe her at first, but I mean… just look.
Sasheen and I stepped aside to reveal the street behind us.
Uh-huh.
He was unimpressed.
Confused by his disinterest, we looked behind us to see that all the butterflies were gone.
They were just here…
Murlocke shut the door, and suddenly the street was full of thousands of butterflies again.
They’re back!
Murlocke sighed so loudly we could hear him through the shut door. He opened it slowly. As he did, the butterflies all fluttered out of sight again.
He rolled his eyes.
Bye, Maisel and Sasheen
He started to close the door.
We don’t have time for this.
I grabbed his arm and pulled him out to the street.
Hey! Watch it! Let go of me—
He protested, but I continued dragging him until we were in the middle of the street.
We were surrounded by every shade of blue and green, as butterflies flew past us. I felt like a rock at the bottom of a river, as the butterflies washed over us. There were so many now that we could feel their little wings brush us as they frantically flew by.
What did I tell you?
Incredible, they’re… everywhere.
He stared out in awe at the overwhelming number of insects. He stuck out his hand, and a butterfly landed on it.
Suddenly, a blaring honk came from behind us. We turned to see that the butterflies were parting to allow a car to drive through. It looked so out of place among all the butterflies. It turned to head into the driveway of Murlocke’s house.
As it was doing so, the driver rolled down the window, and we saw that it was Rush, Murlocke’s older brother. He always wears these old band t-shirts and ripped jeans. His hair reached his shoulders, but that day he was wearing it pulled up into a half ponytail.4
| 4. He’s soooo cool. One time, when Murlocke and I were at school late, working on a school project, Rush picked us up. He drove so fast with the windows down and the music blaring. I couldn’t hear anything for the rest of the night; my ears were ringing so badly. It was amazing. – Maisel |
Hey! You three! Get out of the middle of the road!
He pulled into Murlocke’s driveway.
Rush…
H-Hi, Rush…
Rush got out of his car and walked towards his house. As he walked in, he threw his coffee cup across the driveway and almost got it in the garbage can. He’s so athletic.
Sorry to interrupt, but do we have a plan for this?
He motioned to the seemingly endless swarm of butterflies flying past him.
Uh… Great question. We reformed the Neighbourhood Watch, so that’s step one complete. Now, I guess we just need to find out where the butterflies are going.
We think some of them are going towards the Haunted Forest.
We’re not completely sure of that.
What about all of these? If they were all going to the Haunted Forest, they would be flying in that direction instead of down this street.
Murlocke pointed in the direction of his house.
There are so many of them. I wish we could zoom out and see them all from a distance. Maybe we would see a pattern.
I might know just the place.
– Maisel
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