2014.02.12-13; 2014.02.

26;

Monica kicks open the door and glares inside, clenching her fists and baring her teeth in a
grimace. She's covered in blood and monster slime, and has no more patience for these fucking mind
games.

She heads straight for the second floor bedroom, taking the stairs two at a time, not caring that
she's dripping all over the nice, expensive carpets. Behind her, Kaz follows at a more leisurely pace,
taking care not to step in any of the pools of slime Monica left in her wake. She hadn't done any of the
monster fighting this time, so thankfully her clothes are clean, and she'd like to keep them that way. No
point in having to burn two sets.

By the time she reaches the bedroom, Monica has already half-destroyed it looking for the
book. Overturn furniture and clothes everywhere. It doesn't much matter, it's not their house, they’ll
have to ditch it and this town anyway. But she still feels a little bit sad at the disarray. She'd liked living
here. What she could remember of it anyway. As insurance for the safe return of the book she'd had to
give up part of her recent memories. Not whole chunks, just bits and pieces, but enough that meeting
the stipulations of the bargain might prove more difficult than expected.

“It's not here.” Monica says when she notices Kaz's presence. “Are you sure you brought it up?”

Kaz just looks at her.

“Right.” Monica says, not meeting her eyes. She turns around and starts rummaging through the
left-side nightstand. “Look, just help me search.”

“No. You go wash up and change. We might have to leave tonight, and you're not getting into
the car like that.” Kaz says grabbing an armful of clothes from the floor and taking them to the
bathroom, she puts them in the sink. She grabs some towels from the rack and throws them over the
clothes, then turns on the shower. “I'll look in the rest of the rooms. We already searched the car, so it
has to be in the house.”

“Yeah, well,” Monica says as she begins peeling off the soaked clothes, “if it's not we're royally
screwed. That fucker is not playing around.”

“I know that.” Kaz snaps. “If I don't find it by the time you're done with the shower, we'll
leave.”

“Lot of good that will do.” Monica mumbles, stepping into the shower stall, not bothering to
close the door. Kaz turns away, and after a beat, heads out of the bathroom.

She rummages through the few pieces of furniture left unturned in the wake of hurricane
Monica, then she looks under the bed, in the now mostly empty closed, and in their duffel bags again
for good measure. Nothing. She goes downstairs.

When she hears the shower turn off, she refocuses from searching to packing. She goes again
through the house collecting gadgets and books, guns and assorted weaponry, some clothes and shoes,
and pilling them on the living room couch. She heads upstairs, where Monica's already dressed and
shoving clothes in a duffel bag. She looks up when Kaz enters.

“Well?” She asks impatiently.

Kaz just shakes her head, and grabs another duffel bag. She turns to go, but Monica stops her
with a hand on the wrist. “Kaz…” she whispers, but doesn't say anything else. She doesn't let go of her
wrist either.

“I know.” Kaz whispers back. “We'll figure it out. We always do.”

“Right.” Monica says, suddenly angry. She zips up the bag and heads downstairs. Kaz makes a
gesture of frustration and follows her, wondering what the fuck just happened.

Downstairs Monica is packing up her laptop and gadgets, and seems intent on ignoring Kaz's
presence. Kaz, getting kinda pissed off herself, begins stuffing things in to the duffel bag almost at
random. When the bag is full she zips it up, grabs the shotgun and the armful of clothes that's left, and
heads to the car. Monica's already there, in the driver's seat, engine running. Kaz throws the bag,
clothes and shotgun on the backseat, and get in after them. At that, Monica finally acknowledges her
existence by turning around and raising an eyebrow.

“Just drive.” Kaz says sullenly, resisting the urge to cross her arms over her chest and pout.
Monica rolls her eyes, turns back, and pulls out of the driveway.