Laura knew she had to get to the shop quickly and the only way to do that was alone. Her pets, no, wait, her friends were only going to slow her down. Lucy and Sophie were particularly unruly. She might have to pay an animal trainer to straighten them out she figured, before remembering once again they were human and this might be her last chance of keeping them that way.
To her relief, the shop was still open as she arrived there. Unlike before there was someone behind the counter, a creepy looking older man who smiled at her in a way that made her feel strangely vulnerable as he walked past her. She smiled back as quickly and politely as she could before making her way towards the crystal. There it was still in the centre of the room, the cause of all of her problems.
"Excuse me, can I help you madam" a polite but authoritively toned voice spoke from behind her. Laura spun around to find herself face to face with the sinister looking store owner.