Lying there in the gloom, hand on her father's mouth, already Jess knew that he hadn't been affected yet. The look of confusion, rather than surprise, or shame, was a dead giveaway.
A baffled shake of her father's dead confirmed what she already knew. She could spare her dad now. Finding the journal wasn't totally wasted.
Henry, unamused, pulled his daughter's hand from his mouth and started. "Jess! What in all God's nmmmmm". His eyes narrowed as she slapped her hand back over his mouth, shutting him up.
"Listen carefully Dad. There's a reason yo can't find the path back to the car. This forest, this cabin, is cursed. Like real life cursed, like actual magic cursed. And it's super dangerous".
"Huh?" Henry managed through his daughters fingers. He tried to wriggle out, holding his daughter by both sides, intending to lift her off him. His hands unexpectedly contacted soft pillowy tissue. His eyes widened and made contact with his little girl. She looked deathly ashamed.
"The curse got me already Dad, but you don't have it, and if you don't speak, I can make sure you don't get it either." Her voice brooked no dissension. Henry nodded in understanding.
Jess lifted her hand from his mouth, then slowly got off him and stood up. Henry gasped at the sight of his daughter. His little girl, his little princess, enormous chest straining behind a blouse and dungarees. What had happened to her.
His mouth opened in reflex, but Jess ssh'd him before he could say anything.
"It's best if we go into the living room dad. There's pen and paper. You can ask whatever you want with that."
She turned to lead him to the sitting room as he stood up, her tail flicking out behind her. Henry took one look, recognised the tail, and felt instantly ill. Nauseous. Light headed.
*Crump*
Jess spun, breasts jiggling and heaving under her top. Henry, her father, had fainted, now lying on a heap on the floor.
Jess sighed.
"Probably should gag him while he's out."