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𝐃𝐎 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐋𝐄𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐌

𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑 𝐘𝐎𝐔, 𝐒𝐈𝐑𝐄, 𝐅𝐎𝐑
𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐊𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐄
𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐍
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THE NEXT MORNING, CHARLIE HAD A HARD DECISION TO MAKE. She sat in the kitchen, watching as they all enjoyed their breakfast, having finished hers a while ago. The odd tug of her hair softly reminding her that Michael was placing her hair into a protective updo — she hoped he remembered her favourite. (He did. Michael swept some more hair up, ignoring Charlie's complaints that it was too tight, and tied another bun, finishing the fourth one to create a Mohawk effect. When she was younger, she liked to say how it made her look like a rockstar).

She tried to take in all their micro-expressions, their mannerisms — the way Jason had no control over his eyebrows, Piper's patchy voice that was somehow still pretty to listen to, and the way Leo waved his arms about, shoulders shaking as he spoke, as if he was constantly around a campfire, telling ghost stories to little children.

The quest they were on was a big one, she knew that, they knew that, everyone knew that. But no one knew if they would make it or not. And that was what worried her. She recorded their movements precisely, as to try and figure out what they were all thinking. It was one of the only things she was good at, having learnt from her mother.

Piper had something else on her mind, and it seemed like she considered it more upsetting than their actual quest. Leo was thinking about Festus, clearly, but also his eyes kept darting to Michael and her, he was trying to figure her out just as she was trying to figure them out. Jason, in the end, was the one who had made the decision for her. She had never seen anyone eat coco pops so gloomily before — he was the only one thinking about the mission.

If anything, his look should have given her a clear answer: 'ABORT! ABORT! ABORT!' but, Charlie had never been all that good at listening to instructions, even the ones made by her conscience, which was really struggling to keep her alive at this rate.

''Alright, you've convinced me,'' she announced and there was a pause in the soft murmur of chatter and the clanging of utensils. ''I'll go on the stupid quest with you.'' Rolling her eyes, she placed her bowl on the side and went to put her shoes back on.

''Err— No one's forcing you to—'' Piper was cut off by Charlie raising her hand.

''That's enough excuses, Pipes. I understand, I do, you need me, and that's okay. Everyone does really, I mean, c'mon, it's me.''

Jason continued stirring his cereal. ''We're all gonna die.''

''That's the spirit!'' Leo yelled, clamping him on the back as he grinned at Charlie. ''Welcome to the team, partner!''

Charlie raised a singular eyebrow, enjoying how he dead-panned at her once he spotted it. ''Partners? Let's be honest, Curls, you're just not on my level. You're a peasant, at the most.''

''Oh, well, now that's just rude.''

Michael placed their bags on the table. ''There's some food in there, 'fraid it's nothing too nice, but it'll keep you alive for now. Bandages too, now that Charlie's going with you, you'll need them.''

The trek back to the park was a lot more lighthearted than the walk away from it had been. Charlie walked along side Jason, watching him as she puffed out her chest and rose her chin, mimicking his walk. He glanced at her, deciding it best to just let her do her thing. She was already taller than him — than them all, actually — but she felt the need to establish herself as superior.

''Oi, Curls, come here, I need you for something.'' She called and the boy groaned before absentmindedly walking towards her, making sure to drag his feet. ''Get on my back.''

''What?''

She turned to Jason. ''I challenge you to a race — piggie style.''

''What?''

''Piper, you know what to do.''

Jason's eyes flew open as his ankles turned outwards, quickly steadying his stance as he felt Piper's arms loosely wrap around his neck and her legs around his waist. He grabbed her inner-knees, doing his best to support her as he tried to figure out what was going on. Finally getting the message, Leo took a few steps backwards, taking note of how Charlie bent down so he could jump on easier — why was she so tall?

Whooping loudly, he ran before jumping onto her back. He regretted it immediately, Charlie staggered forwards, ''Oof'', and he clung to her like a Koala, thinking he was going to die as the earth swayed underneath him without him getting any say in the matter.

Thankfully, Charlie managed to grab his legs, wrapping them around her waist for him and used his weight to gain momentum, her feet stomping in front of her before they became lighter.

''Charge!''

''Hey— wait a minute!'' Jason yelled after her, claiming she was cheating. Leo looked backwards, calling him a sore loser as he stuck his tongue out at them. Piper egged Jason on, demanding justice and Charlie's legs carried her as fast as they could.

Was this a bad idea? Yes. Would it be better to conserve energy in case of an emergency? Yes. Did Charlie just try to run over an old lady before Leo hit her? Yes. But, Charlie could hear their laughs in the distance as it rang in her ears. That sound was rare, especially in their line of work, and Charlie would consider it her personal mission to ensure that the three newbies would never have to see the things that she did.

It was also another reason why she was doing this — Jason was the obvious leader of the bunch, and while Charlie was aware he was more of a natural born leader than she was, she needed him to refer to her, to respect her opinion. Granted, a piggie-back race was probably not the best way to go about it, but it was the least obvious and easiest one. She could build brownie points this way.

She needed influence over them in order to protect them.

The park was in sight, Jason was only a few meters behind her, Piper had grabbed a stick somehow and was trying to jam it into Leo playfully, and he evaded, threatening to summon Festus as he waved the huge whistle around. There was another cry of outrage at the idea of them cheating 'again' — Charlie didn't really see it as cheating, merely taking advantage of a situation.

The grey grass cracked under her footing, no matter how lightly she stepped to gain speed, and Leo's hold around her neck was beginning to hurt. ''Leo! Do you want to win or not?''

''Of course I do!''

''Then stop trying to cut off my circulation, dummy!''

The grip loosened and Leo went back to squirming, grabbing one end of the stick as he tried to push it back into Piper, it became like a tug of war. Piper used it to propel Jason forwards and Charlie yelped as she realised he was beside her now.

Not on her watch. ''Curls! Prepare for Low Air Resistance Setting!''

''Yes, ma'am!'' Leo released the stick, nearly sending Piper toppling over, as he saluted to the space in front of him and then proceeded to tap random places on Charlie's head. Her grip on him slackened and he shuffled down her back, doing his best to hide his head directly behind hers, lining up their body parts.

Charlie surged forwards with a burst of speed, hearing Jason and Piper cry out. She crossed the line where grass meets pavement and whooped loudly, jumping up and down. Leo gasped, having lent backwards too far and nearly falling into the fountain.

''Take that, losers!''

''Only because you cheated!'' Piper cried, leaning forward to jam a finger into their faces as Jason stumbled forwards because of it.

''Look out!''

''We're gonna go overboard!''

They cried out, limbs grabbing limbs as they became knotted together, doing their best to redirect everyone's weight away from the pool of water, the trickling fountain threatening to take away their warmth after only just getting it back.

They finally stumbled the other way, someone's leg catching onto a twig and they all fell onto the hard grass, groaning as they struggled to un-weave from each other.

''Y'know,'' Charlie said, rubbing the back of her head. ''Only losers call people cheaters.''

She got a face full of snow.

According to the plaque, they were at CROWN FOUNTAIN. A few chunks of sheets of ice floating around the surface of it.

''Damn, the water's back on. How do we get in now?''

''Okay, so, I'm a distressed mother,'' Charlie said and they all turned to face her, beyond confused and slightly amused as they watched her expression turn serious, a finger tapping her chin as she paced around the fountain, examining it. ''I'm a distressed mother. My child has just fallen in, the idiot doesn't know how to swim. Hmm. I cry for help. One or two people rush over. Uhh. Can't reach them, the fountain's fairly big, which means this has probably happened before... Emergency switch!''

Grinning, she spotted it, perched just underneath the ledge of the water, on the inside so kids could trigger it if needed but not if they weren't actually in there.

''Excuse me, people,'' she said, gently moving in between them as she leaned forwards. Piper gasped, grabbing the back of her shirt to stop her from toppling in. ''Gotchya.'' She flicked the switch and they all watched in amazement as the water slowed to a stop, going down the drain, leaving behind the small icecaps.

Piper pulled her back to her feet and they shared a smile. They all peered down to the centre of the pool, not knowing how long the water would stay off for. No spirits tried to attack them. The giant monitor walls stayed dark. The drain hole was easily big enough for a person, and a maintenance ladder led down into the gloom.

Jason tried to go first, but Charlie put a hand out over his chest, pushing him backwards. ''Ah ah, Blondie, winners first.'' As she climbed down, she braced herself for horrible sewer smells and perhaps a monster or two she would fight off before the others got down here. But nothing like that happened. The ladder dropped into a brickwork tunnel running north to south. The air was warm and dry, with only a trickle of water on the floor.

Jason was next, then Piper and Leo.

''Are all sewers this nice?'' Piper wondered.

''No,'' Leo said. ''Trust me.''

Jason frowned. ''How do you know—''

''Hey, man, I ran away six times. I've slept in some weird places okay?'' They all turned to Charlie, knowing she had ran away and was probably in a similar situation.

She put her hands up in mock surrender. ''Not me. I broke into people's houses.'' For some reason, none of them were surprised by the answer. ''Now, which way do we go?''

Jason tilted his head, listening, then pointed south. ''That way.''

''How can you be sure?'' Piper asked.

''There's a draft blowing south,'' Jason said. ''Maybe the venti went with the flow.''

''I do that too, they're not that special,'' Charlie said, marching into the south tunnel. It wasn't much of a lead, but nobody protested and followed after her. Unfortunately, a few miles in, Piper stumbled and Jason had to catch her.

''Stupid fucking ankle,'' she cursed.

''Looks like we're making another pit stop,'' Jason decided. ''We could all use it. We've been going nonstop for a good couple of hours, I'd wager it's already fallen dark above ground. Leo, can you pull any food from that tool belt besides mints? Charlie, you okay to check the bag Michael gave us?''

Piper and Jason went to sit on a brick ledge while Leo and Charlie shuffled towards the bags.

Charlie sighed as she pulled out another can. Leo's ears picked up at the noise, ''What ya got?''

''Another tin of beans.'' She let it drop from her hand, rolling back into the bag as she shuffled its contains around some more. ''Guess he really meant it when he said it wasn't 'owt special.''

Leo hummed, reaching into his own pack. ''Lucky for you, Commander Tool Belt is on duty.'' He sent her a glare when she snickered. ''If you really want to live in a hut of empty bean cans, go ahead and continue to insult me.''

Charlie gasped, a hand on her chest as if she couldn't believe what he had accused her off. ''Me? Insult the great and powerful Commander Tool Belt? I'm afraid you've got me mixed up with someone else, Sire.''

''Really?'' He raised both his eyebrows and Charlie bit her lip to hold back any remark on it. ''So you're not Charlie?''

''Ark! Alas, I am her twin sister.''

''What's your name?''

''... Charlie.''

''Wow. You've got some creative parents.''

Charlie fumbled over to him, clasping a hand over his mouth as she looked to the ceiling. ''Do not let them hear you, Sire, for they will strike thee down.''

Leo laughed behind her hand, shaking so much she eventually had to release him. He straightened up. ''Anyway, please resume your grovelling, peasant.''

Charlie's mouth twitched. ''Ahem. Perhaps your Commander'ness would like to rephrase that sentence — I suggest the last word in particular.''

Leo sucked in his cheek, trying not to laugh at how easily that one word annoyed her. ''Perhaps you're correct, twin sister Charlie. Might I suggest that you continue kissing the boots of your Commander. Peasant.''

''That's it!'' She lunged.

They went down and Charlie was glad it was a nice sewer as they landed harshly on the ground. Leo laughed and wiggled underneath her as Charlie shook his shoulders, his head whipping back and forth uncontrolably as he grew dizzy.

''Alright! Desist! Desist! I am but a humble man in your company!''

''Boy, more like.''

Leo narrowed his eyes at her.

''Oohw, did that push a button?'' She cocked her head to the side, pouting down at him.

He rolled his eyes, pushing her off of him and they laid there, staring at the ceiling, a comfortable silence settling over them. Charlie frowned slightly, it was a shame there were no stars.

''Y'know, I feel like we're forgetting something?''

''Like what?''

Jason's voice disrupted their moment. ''Hows dinner coming along, you two?''

Cursing under their breaths, the two scrambled to their feet. ''Absolutely fine, Mr. Superman, Sir!''

Leo went back to his belt, shuffling through it urgently. ''Okay, Charlie, you start the fire—''

''You literally have the power to start fires whenever you feel like it but you want me to sit here and hit two stones together as if we're living in the dark ages. Are you serious?''

''Fine! Move aside.'' He looked at where they had piled sticks together earlier, crouching down as he lit his finger, smiling slightly as it illuminated Charlie's face — she was so close to him, leaning dangerously close to the flame as she watched it dance with wide eyes. ''What are you, a pyromaniac?''

Charlie's eyes flickered from the campfire to him. ''Kleptomaniac, actually.'' She held up a coin and Leo's eyes widened, almost giving himself whiplash as he turned to look as Jason so quickly, falling from his crouched position and onto his backside.

''Charlie, why—''

''Zip it, Curls,'' she said, and despite the harsh words, her small smile let him know she was joking with him. ''I'm just looking. I'll give it back to him later.''

Leo hummed, eyeing the coin before shaking his head and pulling supplies out of his belt. ''Still doesn't know how to keep his pockets guarded, huh?'' He asked absentmindedly, not really expecting an answer. Charlie's hum was more than enough to show he was being listened to.

Charlie smiled to herself, her fingers tracing across the indents. There was something about it that bothered her. At first, she had figured it was because it turned into a weapon when he flipped it, but there was something more there that needed to be uncovered.

''Yeah, baby! Almost there,'' he cheered, watching the bell peppers and meat sizzle. ''Do you think anyone wants any salad?''

''Not sure, Piper might, considering she can't have the meat.''

''Nah, I got her some tofu.''

Charlie hummed again, not really paying attention to him. 'IVLVIS', what an odd encryption, but what did it mean. ''Actually, Curls, I think I might have some.''

''Sure. What type?''

Charlie paused, brow furrowing. ''What?''

''Yeah, like, green salad, fruit salad, ceasar salad, de—''

''Holy shit, Curls, that's it!'' Charlie was on her feet, and Leo was the same — he wasn't sure how it happened though, all he knew was that Charlie was holding his shoulders with a face-splitting grin on her face and he was worried she was gonna start shaking him again. ''You're a genius!''

She pulled him in for a hug. He awkwardly placed his arms around her as she squealed, rocking them from side to side quickly. Just as he was about to relax and sway with her, she released and turned away, sitting back down on her rock as she pulled out the coin again.

He shook his head, trying to brush it off. Another Charlie moment, he told himself as he pulled out some plates.

''Caesar, huh,'' Charlie mumbled under her breath, thumb tracing over the numbering one more time before putting it back in her pocket.

''And... Bingo!'' Leo yelled, whooping loudly and Charlie looked around quickly, making sure it hadn't drawn any unwanted spirit attention. It hadn't, only Jason and Piper seemed to have heard as they walked over, Piper hobbling ever so slightly. Charlie frowned again. That would make her self-inflicted mission a lot harder.

She turned away, not wanting them to see her reaction. Leo had four plates stacked on his arms like a waiter. Charlie had no idea how he had cooked and assembled it all so fast, but it looked amazing: pepper and beef tacos with chips and salsa.

''Leo,'' Piper said in amazement. ''How did you—''

''Chef Leo's Taco Garage is fixing you up!'' He said proudly. ''And, by the way, it's tofu, not beef, Beauty Queen, so don't freak. Just dig in!''

Everything tasted as good as it smelled. While they ate, Leo tried to lighten the mood and joke around. After Piper ate, Charlie was surprisingly the one to encourage her to sleep and rest her ankle. It didn't take much encouraging as, without another word, she curled up and put her head in her lap. Within two seconds she was snoring.

''Didn't mean on me,'' Charlie sighed, shaking her head, but to be honest she was just glad Piper had listened to her advice.

They sat in silence for a while, drinking lemonade Leo had made from carbonated water and powdered mix.

''Good, huh?'' He grinned.

''You should start a stand,'' Jason said. ''Make some serious coin.'' Charlie tensed slightly at the word, but shook it off. This was Jason she was worried about, what would he do, brood her to death? There was no way he could be secretly evil, the coin couldn't possibly mean anything like that. Besides, she had a lead now, she could stop worrying about it for a while.

''Make sure you have a bowl of grapes, though.''

Leo and Charlie got a good laugh at that, whilst Jason looked between them both, trying to figure out the joke. It only made them laugh harder. Charlie had to bit her lip and force herself to calm down when Piper started stirring.

Silence settled over them again, but just like the last few times, Jason broke it before it had properly lulled them to sleep. ''Leo... about this fire stuff you can do — is it true?''

Leo's smile faltered. ''Yeah, well...'' He opened his hand. A small ball of flame burst to life, dancing across his palm. Charlie wondered what it felt like.

''That is so cool,'' Jason announced. ''Why didn't you