Blake had already taken out his gun filled with Celestial bronze bullets, and Denise was grabbing her silver knife. Sophie’s hand gripped the hilt of her dagger, and Poena advanced.
“You must be punished.” Poena growled. Sophie backed up and Blake aimed for her. He shot, and it hit the wall, leaving a bullet mark in the wall. Denise slashed her knife and it missed. Sophie’s back was against the wall. She jabbed her dagger, and Poena evaporated into a golden dust.
All three of them were breathing heavily from adrenalin. Denise put away her weapon and sighed in relief. They all pocketed their weapons, and Sophie led them outside. They shook from the weather.
“Let’s find a ride to California.” Blake suggested.
Sophie rolled her eyes. “You think?” She muttered sarcastically. Denise shot her a glare, and Sophie felt tension between the three. This was going to take a while.
“I have an idea. Let’s find a bus that goes across country.” Denise suggested.
Blake’s shoulders slumped. “We have only twenty dollars in mortal money.” He whined.
Sophie snapped her fingers. “I think I might have an idea.” Half an hour later they were standing outside the ticket booth for a bus that went all the way to Nevada. “You know what to do.” Sophie handed Denise all their mortal money, and her and Blake prayed to Fortuna that her plan would work.

Denise sautered up to the booth counter, and politely nodded to the woman behind the glass, only studying her for a moment. “Hello.” She greeted the woman.
The woman nodded back. “Would you like a ticket for the bus?” Denise slowly closed her eyes and concentrated, shifting the Mist to create an illusion. “Marylynn?” The woman stammered. Denise felt guilty for conning her, but she had no choice. “They...they said you were dead. I...I miss you.” Tears streamed down her face.
“It’s alright. I need three tickets for a full trip.” The worker nodded, and when she exchanged the cash for tickets, she didn’t count the amount due to her blurred vision.
“Marylynn…” She stuttered as Denise turned to leave. “Please visit again. Your father and I miss you. I love you…” Denise swiftly sprinted away before the woman could see the tears spilling out of her eyes.
Her stepmother was feeling the same way. Denise just knew it. She had dreamt of her pacing, waiting for her or her father to call and reassure that they were alive. But her father wasn’t. He had been killed. By Lycaon.
Denise had snagged a silver knife, so that when she met the first werewolf again, he would pay. It wasn’t fair. Her dad’s last words had been to find Caldecott Tunnel. Denise had, and now she was on her first quest. Her mother had said her and her father were now closer, since he was a ghost, but now Denise had to live with one more guilty spirit. Denise shook all her jumbled thoughts away, and rushed up to Blake and Sophie.
“Got them.” She shook the three strips of paper in the air, blinking away her tears. Sophie’s grin was wide, and Blake nodded in approval. They ran together to the bus as it was about to pull away.
“Tickets?” The driver asked. Denise handed him the three, and they sat in the back row, Denise and Sophie on the left, and Blake had his own seat.
Blake fell asleep on the spot, and Sophie turned to face Denise completely. "What's up? I can tell something’s wrong." She asked Denise, probably sensing her emotions.
Denise was stunned. “How’d you know?”
“Let’s just say, girls’ intuition.” Sophie smirked, and settled into her seat. “Spill.” Denise glanced to the right at her slumbering friend. “He sleeps like a rock.” Sophie assured her.
Denise took in a deep breath. “Alright.” She slowly blinked and mentally prepared herself to speak. “It all began when I was five…”

Notes

Thank you so much for your encouragement. I really appreciate everyone who commented. Merry Christmas eve!

Though, right now I'm sick in bed, but at least I can rest!