A warm summer breeze rustled the verdant trees lining the road as the yellow taxi wove through the idyllic streets.

“What brings you to Willow Creek?” the taxi driver asked in a jovial tone, glancing in his rearview mirror at Petunia and Zinnia.

“Our house blew up,” Zinnia blurted, throwing her hands in the air for emphasis.

“Zinnia!” Petunia scolded, hushing her and lowering the girl’s hands back around her doll. “Kids,” she said as she gave the driver a playful chuckle when he cocked a brow at her. “We’re visiting family.”

“That’s always fun,” the driver replied.

“Not if you knew my family,” Petunia muttered under her breath.

“What’s that?”

“It should be interesting,” she said, forcing a smile, her eyes revealing a subtle hint of apprehension.

The taxi curved into a cul-de-sac driveway that led to the street’s sole house. The cabbie checked the address on his navigation system and then marveled at the imposing structure before them. The house’s exterior boasted intricate stone and brickwork, adorned with delicate carvings and elaborate patterns hinting at the creators’ masterful craftsmanship and artistic vision. The sprawling estate was an exquisite marriage of gothic and Victorian elements, demanding attention. Various turrets of different heights and sizes graced the architecture, their tapering roofs piercing the skies.

Stain-glass windows, adorned in vibrant purples, greens, blues, reds, and gold, splashed a kaleidoscope of colors across the sloped lawn. At several corners, lifelike statues exuded an aura of both whimsy and sagacity. High above, grand spires and ornate towers stretched skyward, draped in a veil of ivy and vines.

The cabbie gawked at the estate, dumbfounded. “You live there?”

“Used to,” Petunia replied, digging through her new purse. Her fingers trembled slightly as she rifled through the bag, her fingertips grazing the lining as they searched in vain for cash, a growing confusion entering her thoughts. She’d withdrawn more than enough cash for a replacement license so they could fly there. A frown creased her forehead, the stark realization hitting her—she'd used her last bill for Zinny’s doll. “Great.”

“Thirty-four eighty-six,” the driver stated, eyeing her expectantly.

“Right. Let me just go inside and get some cash—”

“Sure, and then not come back? Nobody gets a free ride through the city, lady.”

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“I’m not asking for a free ride,” Petunia said, her brows furrowing. This was the last thing she needed at the moment. “I’m asking to go get money.”

“What kind of scam are you trying to pull here?” the driver asked, his suspicion rising as he narrowed his gaze. “I bet you don’t even live here. What? Are you casing the place?”

“Yeah,” Petunia scoffed at the accusation. “In broad daylight. By taxi. You got me. Lock me up.”

“I’ll pay,” a gentle female voice said through the open window.

Petunia turned to a woman on a bicycle, extending a card to the taxi driver. Her delicate features and kind eyes were unmistakable, and Petunia's heart swelled with a mixture of relief and guilt. She gave a tentative smile to her little sister, and Briar-Rose returned the gesture.

The driver scowled, swiping the card through his machine. It beeped, and his scowl deepened. “Declined.”

Briar-Rose’s cheeks flushed a deep scarlet. She pulled out another card and handed it to him. Petunia’s brows furrowed as the new card was met with the same fate.

Frustration coated Briar’s voice as she said, “Okay, hold on.” She rummaged through her bag, pulling out a wad of single dollar bills and scraping together the change from her wallet’s zipper pocket. She dropped it into the driver’s hands as Petunia and Zinny slid out of the car.

He counted it and grumbled. “No tip?”

Briar-Rose turned to Petunia with a playful grin and said, “I see you got a comedian for a cabby.”

Petunia slammed the door closed. “Thanks for the ride,” she said as the taxi sped off, not bothering to make sure they were safely on the cul-de-sac island.

Petunia sighed, brushing her fingers through her hair as she glanced at the house with an instant pang of regret. This was the last place she wanted to be. Memories tugged at the edges of her thoughts, reminding her of all the good and bad time she shared with her sister there before everything fell apart.

“You too?” Briar asked, her gaze drifting across the driveway to the iron-fenced property.

“She’s a hard woman to ignore,” Petunia shrugged, her eyes flickering over the imposing house with a grimace. Her gaze never shifted as she spoke to Briar-Rose. "How have you been?"

“Can’t complain,” Briar said, her tone light and casual. “You?”

“Same.”

An awkward silence fell between the sisters. They stood rooted to the circular patch of grass, unable to make the great pilgrimage to the house. It was as if it were some terrible beast waiting to swallow them whole.

Petunia shifted uncomfortably, crossing her arms as she cast a glance at the towering spires. She bit her lower lip and rubbed her forearm before finally looking at Briar, her expression somber. “Hey…”

“Huh?”

“You’re not a prostitute, right?” Petunia asked, her serious expression breaking into a small grin. “I mean, you are twenty-three.”

Briar laughed, and the tension instantly dissipated — Petunia could always lighten up a situation. “Right, these are my prime lady of the night years.”

“My point exactly.”

Briar mustered a smile as silence crept back in, settling between them. “Well… I guess we should go in.”

“Yep.”

Seeing Petunia's hesitation, Briar took it upon herself to lead the way. The gate creaked open as she approached, as if sensing her presence, revealing a cobblestone path and steps lined with vibrant flowerbeds.

With a resigned sigh, Petunia fought the urge to walk in the opposite direction. She took Zinnia's hand and trailed Briar towards the house. The air around them grew heavy, laden with their collective anticipation.

“Mommy, who’s that?” Zinny whispered, her eyes wide with curiosity as she stared at Briar’s back.

“Your aunt,” Petunia said quickly, her voice strained with emotion. She quickened her pace to join Briar-Rose on the veranda.