The next morning was Friday. Six days until Hallie moved to the long-term facility. Maren had been up until nearly four a.m., mixing and boiling and microwaving her sinister ingredients, then measuring them out into her parents’ electric coffee grinder. She’d snuck it into the garage so the noise of the machine wouldn’t wake them. Now she was groggy and her head ached, but the nightmares were done. Hopefully they were scary enough to satisfy Obscura, but safe enough at the end to soothe the dreamers.

Sluggish and clumsy, Maren climbed aboard the starry starfish bus and dropped her quarters into the slot.

“Ahoy, Miss Partridge,” called a rusty old voice from the back. Captain Perry waved and patted the empty seat beside him, and Maren took it.

“Are you going to the hospital, too?” she asked, hoping he wouldn’t run into Obscura if he was.

“No, I’m headed to the hardware store,” said Captain Perry. “Boat needs a few minor repairs.”

Maren breathed a quiet sigh of relief. “Is your truck still in the shop?”

“I haven’t driven since the accident,” said Perry. “Figured it might be time for me to slow down a little.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Maren didn’t know why she was apologizing when he’d been the one to hit her, but she still felt bad for him.

“That’s all right.” Captain Perry gave her a wrinkly wink. “Gives me time to appreciate the lovely scenery. When you’re old like me, you’ll appreciate it, too.”

They sat, quietly appreciating the scenery together, as the bus groaned and strained down Main Street. Maisie Mae’s was still closed, and so was the grocery store.

“Haven’t they gotten rid of the wasps?” asked Maren, unzipping the EpiPen compartment of her backpack and running her finger over its plastic top.

Captain Perry shook his head. “They sprayed the rosebush with all kinds of stuff, but those blasted bugs won’t budge. The board of health told Ernesto he needs to cut down the whole bush if he wants to reopen, but he told ’em to get scuppered.”

Maren couldn’t begin to imagine the Green and Fresh without that beautiful bush and the sweet smell of roses. At least she couldn’t claim responsibility for the wasps, but it was sickening to watch her town slowly fall apart.

“Aye, it’s a shame,” said Captain Perry. “Things are changing around here.”

Maren shivered at the echo of the spindly man’s words outside the Monkey’s Paw.

“My daughter wants me to move down to Florida with her,” said Perry. “I keep saying no, but the cold nights are seeping into my bones. I’m hardly sleeping at all.”

Maren sat up in her seat. “Hardly sleeping how, exactly? Insomnia? Waking up a lot?”

She couldn’t bear to say the word, but Captain Perry said it for her: