POV: Finn’s Breakfast Run

The sun’s barely up, but I’m already starving.

I’ve got one goal this morning: food. Maybe some bacon, definitely coffee, and if Melody’s made those weird faerie scones again, I’ll choke one down just to be polite. Except when I walk into Rosie’s Diner, the first thing I see is Zoe, staring at her coffee like it holds the meaning of life.

“Morning,” I say, sliding into the booth across from her. She doesn’t look up, just mutters something like “What’s good about it?” under her breath.

I glance at her cup, then at her. “Rough night?”

“Rough week,” she says. Her light flickers faintly in her hands, a sure sign she’s overthinking again.

I lean back, scratching at the back of my neck. “Yeah, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that. The whole town feels... off. Even the squirrels are acting weird. I saw one carrying a wrench yesterday. A wrench, Zoe.”

She finally looks up, and I’m relieved to see her smile, even if it’s just a little. “Finn, I don’t think the ley lines are messing with the squirrels.”

“Maybe not yet,” I say, holding up a finger. “But mark my words—when we’re hip-deep in squirrel overlords, you’re going to wish you’d listened to me.”

Her laugh is short, but it’s there. Mission accomplished.

Then Melody walks in, her faerie energy practically glowing as she plunks a tray of food down on the table. “Morning, you two! I made muffins!”

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

I grab one without hesitation. They’re green. Not just, like, earthy green—bright, suspiciously magical green. I take a bite anyway.

It’s... crunchy. Why is it crunchy?

“What’s in this?” I ask, my mouth half full.

Melody beams at me. “I used a faerie recipe! Those are mossberries. They’re great for grounding your energy!”

I swallow, mostly because spitting it out feels rude, and I’m not trying to die this early in the day. “Uh-huh. Tastes like dirt.”

“Finn,” Zoe says, shaking her head, but I swear she’s hiding a laugh.

“You’ll thank me later,” Melody insists, sitting down beside us. “When your energy is perfectly balanced.”

I shove the rest of the muffin into my mouth, hoping the coffee will wash it down. But before I can pour myself a cup, the diner starts acting... strange.

The sugar packets on the counter rearrange themselves into a perfect pyramid. The jukebox plays half a song before cutting off with an electric screech. Then Mrs. Abernathy’s teacup floats into the air and disappears completely.

“Did that just—” I start, but Zoe’s already standing, her light flaring in her hands.

“This isn’t good,” she says.

“Yeah, no kidding,” I mutter, moving to follow her. “You think the squirrels are behind this?”