Page 127 of Death and Do-Overs

“Everyone is here for a show. We have to give them a show,” the fox said. “First, I’ll have one of you stab another. Poke out a few eyes, make it grand. Maybe the shark will eat you all. That could be fun.”

As he was wrapping up with big threats of impending murders, Greta flicked her wrist.

The potion hurtled through the air.

I held my breath, praying this would work. It was our final chance, our only hope.

The tiny glass bottle hit the fox’s shoulder.

The bottle fell to the ground and shattered. The fox looked down as a cloud of green gas burst from the shards.

This was it. Greta did it. Any moment now and the kitsune’s control would falter and we’d all be released. Except I still couldn’t move.

He blinked. “Was that supposed to do something to me?”

I caught a flash of reddish orange—Noodles.

Noodles popped into a person with cat ears and a tiara on top of a full head of red hair. She wore a lavender dress like some sort of fairytale princess.

In one quick movement, Noodles snapped a set of handcuffs around the fox’s neck. Then she flashed a smile at me. “This isgood, yes?”

All at once, the grip of the kitsune’s control released. I was in charge of my own body. So was everyone else, including the shark man.

The spell was broken, but one final threat remained.

“If he’s caught, does that mean it’s over?” Shark Man asked, looking around the room.

“Yes,” I said.

“Totally.” Imogen nodded emphatically.

“The Competition is a draw,” Otis said.

“No need for any murder,” Imogen said.

“Thank goodness,” Shark Man said, and then he left.

Well, that was unexpected.

“Are those magical handcuffs?” Greta asked Noodles.

“Yes,” the now-human Noodles said. “He’s magically neutered now, hahahaha.”

“You look like a person,” I said.

“Thank you.” Noodles beamed.

“Are we sure the curse is lifted?” Otis asked.

I shined the black light on his face. There were no vines.

“Curse is lifted,” I said.

A silhouette appeared in the doorway—a vision of all white, with golden hair and the world’s brightest green eyes.

There wasn’t a mark on him, no stain on his clothes, no sign that he’d been injured at all. Though he did look a little pale. A wave of relief washed over me, light and soft as a feather drifting down from the sky.

I ran over and wrapped my arms around him. He squeezed me back.

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