May 9, 2017
Abigail Ryder sits across from Mel and flips through a legal pad of notes.
ABBY: Sorry. Just trying to make sure I’ve got everything fresh in my mind.
She rolls her neck and rubs one shoulder.
MEL: We’ve been at this awhile.
ABBY: Yup. We don’t know how much time we’ll have, so we want to get everything out of the way all at once. Are you holding up?
MEL: Yeah, I’m okay. I mean. Not really. I still feel like I’m going insane half the time.
ABBY: You’re keeping it together pretty well. From everything I’ve seen, you were pretty much rock stars on the road. Most people fall apart when supernatural stuff starts happening. I did.
MEL: I was wondering how you ended up . . .
She waves a hand vaguely.
ABBY: It’s kind of a long story.
MEL: I’m not going anywhere.
ABBY: The short version? Ashford saved my life. He saved both of us.
MEL: Us?
ABBY: Me and my sister. Something was after us. It killed our parents, but Professor Ashford helped us get away. For a while, at least. I’ve been traveling with him ever since.
MEL: What about your sister?
ABBY: She was with us for a while, too.
MEL: Where is she now?
ABBY: You saw her more recently than I did.
MEL: I did?
ABBY: Miranda. She’s my sister. Or she was.
MEL: I—oh.
Abby nods, tries for a smile. It fractures.
ABBY: That’s her. The thing that was hunting us caught up with us. I tried to protect her, but I couldn’t. Not even Ashford could . . .
She stops and looks away for a moment to compose herself.
ABBY: I guess she decided to keep up the work, even after . . .
MEL: So that’s why you’re here.
ABBY: No. Or only sort of.
MEL: But you are trying to find her.
ABBY: Of course.
MEL: And what happens if you do?
ABBY: I have no idea. But I think that Sara knows something that can help. And I think it might be the key to helping Sara, too.
MEL: You think she needs help?
ABBY: You don’t?
MEL: I don’t know. I haven’t been around her like Becca has. If she knows something about your sister, why wouldn’t she just tell you?
ABBY: That’s another question we’re trying to answer.
MEL: Got a theory?
ABBY: Yeah.
MEL: But you’re not going to tell me.
ABBY: Not until we know for sure. I think that we have everything we need from you.
MEL: Does that mean I can go?
ABBY: Not yet. We’d rather keep everyone until everything is settled.
MEL: That sounds ominous.
ABBY: Yeah. I guess it is pretty ominous, isn’t it?
MEL: Has anyone ever told you that you need to work on your people skills?
ABBY: Probably.