Page 92 of Death and Do-Overs

I punched his kneecap. He hissed. I guessed I was okay with some level of violence at this time.

The Marnie to my left pulled his ear.

The Marnie to my right did the same to his other side.

His eyes flew open and flicked right past me.

“Whoa,” Imogen said.

Relief flooded my veins. She was all right. I guessed all we needed was a little violence.

“There are three of you,” Imogen said.

“And here I thought he was going to make us stab him before he complied,” the Marnie to my left said.

“I didn’t comply,” the guy said before snapping his mouth shut again.

Was he being obstinate simply for the sake of obstinance?

“Who are we torturing and why don’t I remember there being three of you?” Imogen asked.

“He froze you,” I told her.

“And tried to kill Greta,” the Marnie to my right said.

“Ooh exciting. I’m pretty sure Andrew makes potions that can freeze people. Remember that story about how he froze Wendy when they talked at a bar to make sure Rose was cool with Wendy knowing her secrets?”

I did not remember that story. I was fairly certain I hadn’t heard it before.

But, I considered the petrification potions Mar had in her possession, the ones that Rose had given her. I’d assumed petrification meant the potions would turn the target to stone, but perhaps what had just happened to Imogen was their true purpose.

“So this guy is an alchemist,” the Marnie to my right said.

“Maybe. If so, the potion doesn’t last for long,” Imogen said. “He probably tried to freeze me so he could kill you. And he expected to be long gone when the potion wore off. Just a guess. Only one way we can find out for sure!”

Imogen looked to me for permission. There was no need.

“I trust you,” I told her.

“He deserves it,” the Marnie to my right said.

Imogen rubbed her hands together, knelt on the ground, and glared at the bad guy the other two Marnies had pinned.

Imogen crumpled as her consciousness traded hosts. I caught her and eased her body to the ground.

“Okay, let’s take a look around,” Imogen said in the man’s voice, with his mouth.

It was unsettling to watch, and likely would be every time she bodysnatched anyone in the foreseeable future.

The other two Marnies released the Imogen-controlled bad guy.

“His name is Alden,” Imogen-controlled Alden said. “He’s an alchemist. He came to Nevermore for their supernatural Halloween celebration, which apparently is a big thing. And then he got cursed?”

I reached for my phone and messenger bag, but I didn’t have either one. Mar did.

“I’m going to take your phone, Imogen, all right?” one of the other Marnies said.

“Sure,” Imogen-controlled Alden said, with a very Imogen-esque grin. “Have at it.”

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