September 24, Tuesday

The morning air was crisp as I biked into town, a container of eggs tucked in the basket. The interior of Coleman's Grocery was quiet, the only sound the gentle ping of the ancient cash register as he rang up my sale.

"Everything alright, Josephine?" Coleman asked, his bushy eyebrows furrowing. "You look a mite troubled."

I forced a smile. "Just writer's block."

He nodded sagely, as if he had any idea what it was like to stare at a blank page for hours. "Well, don't you worry. Inspiration'll strike when you least expect it."

If only he knew the kind of "inspiration" I was seeking.

The library was my next stop, its musty smell hitting me as soon as I pushed open the heavy oak door. Tilda sat behind the desk, her eyes narrowing as she spotted me.

"Josephine," she said, her tone neutral. "What can I do for you?"

I glanced around, making sure we were alone, then removed the vivianite crystal and pushed it across the counter. "I need to... increase the power of the spell."

Tilda's eyebrows shot up. "And what brought this on?"

Briefly, I explained about Curtis's demands, watching as Tilda's expression morphed from surprise to something like glee.

"Well, well," she murmured. "Seems like our little curse needs a boost. But to fight legal ills, we'll need a second vivianite crystal."

"And then what?"

Tilda's smile was all teeth. "Then your problem will go away."

A chill ran down my spine, but I pushed the feeling aside. This was what I wanted, wasn't it?

I left the library and race-walked to Sophia's Jewelry before I changed my mind. When I entered the store, Franny looked up from behind the counter.

"Josephine," she said cautiously. "What brings you back so soon?"

I cleared my throat. "I, uh, need another vivianite crystal."

Franny's eyes widened slightly. "Another one? That's... unusual."

"It's for my friend," I lied, the words tasting sour on my tongue.

Franny disappeared into the back room, returning moments later with a velvet box. As she opened it, revealing the deep blue-green crystal within, I could feel her eyes boring into me.

"I don't mean to pry," she said softly, "but are you sure you know what you're doing?"

I met her gaze, seeing the genuine concern there. For a moment, I was tempted to spill everything—about Curtis, about the curse, about how powerless I felt. But I swallowed the words.

"I'm sure," I said, my voice steadier than I felt. "How much do I owe you?"

As Franny rang up the sale, her disapproval was palpable. "Just be careful," she said as she handed me the wrapped crystal. "Some paths, once you start down them, are hard to turn back from."

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak, and hurried out of the store.