Julie had been worried about her big brother ever since he went off to the Magic Shop. She had heard from her friends at school that that place was bad news. Her brother had always been nice to her, nicer than her parents ever were. So, with a determined expression, she snuck out of the house and headed downtown on her own to find her brother and check on him.
***
The bell chimed as she opened the door to the store, and she saw a red-haired woman at the counter. She didn't see her brother anywhere.
"Well, hello there, sweetheart," said the woman at the counter. ""What brings you here?"
"I...um..." Julie stammered. "I'm looking for my big brother. He said he was coming here to look for a job. H-have you seen him?"
The woman's lips curled into a smile. So, this was Lucas's sister, huh? Looks like she just missed him. But...maybe she could make things better for the both of them.
"Lucas? Hmm...don't think I have. Sorry," she lied. "But if you say he was coming here, maybe he just hasn't arrived yet."
"I...guess that makes sense," Julie nodded hesitantly.
The woman smiled, analyzing the girl. Her My Little Pony dress gave her an idea. "So, you like that show, huh?"
Julie instantly perked up and nodded. "It's my favorite!"
Hook, line, and sinker. "Well then, there's a pretty nice plushie of one of the characters in that box over there. Why don't you take it? I won't charge you."
"Really, miss? Are you sure?" Julie asked.
"Positive. Go on. It's all yours," she replied, eliciting a happy squeal from Julie.
The young girl walked over to the box, and after much decisive thinking, picked up the plushie of her favorite character. Once she touched it, though, something started to happen to her.