"Nowhere, Kansas next stop! Nowhere, Kansas next stop!" shouted the driver of a dusty old bus.

Avery sighed in relief at the sound of the next stop. She HATED traveling on the bus, she did. She hated the smells that it gave off, like burning oil and garbage. She hated the sounds of the people as they murmured about and the aggression they expressed over any petty thing.

And the kids, oh the little kids. Don't even get her started on them. Even at the age of twenty-five, she had an ire towards kids.

She hated the noise of the kids as they jumped all about while their parents just sat there inattentive and kept their noses stuck in their books, magazines or simply just staring out the window at nothing in particular. Especially when one of the brats would run up to her and get in her face or try to take something that belonged to her.

Now she didn't hate kids per say, far from it. She just didn't like them either. She understood the appeal of kids, but decided a long time ago that it wasn't for her. She decided that the single life in Florida was good enough for her.

Sure she had still stayed with her parents, but managed to maintain a steady job while remaining close to them. That was until about two weeks ago, when she received a devastating phone call in the middle of her shift.

As the bus rattled along, she reached into the bag sitting next to her and pulled out a photo of her, a smiling middle aged man with similar hair to her and a smiling middle aged woman with a caring look on her face. All with their limbs wrapped around one another as if their very lives had depended on it.

Avery looked at the photo intently as a tear slid down from her eye and she ran one of her hands through her sandy blonde hair.

"I really miss you guys," she whispered to the picture and held it to her chest.

Some time passed and before too long, she saw the sign she'd been waiting so long for.

'Welcome to Nowhere'

She breathed a sigh of relief as the bus rattled along and shortly after, began to screech to a halt. As soon as the bus doors slid open, she stood up from her seat, making sure to grab her bags from the seat beside her and her guitar case from the rack above her.

Even though it had been years, she still vividly remembered her great-aunt teaching her to play some stringed instrument called a sitar from years before. It had gotten her interested and had been eager to learn it herself. But the price for a sitar had been too much for her parents at the time. So they had settled for her father's old guitar instead. He had even been the one to teach her to play it. Avery couldn't help but smile at those old memories.

With a deep breath, she stepped off of the bus and out into the warm sunlight of the town. Like many small mid-American towns, not much had changed in the years since she had last been there. It still had the same rustic small town feel that it had been since she was little. The same beat up old cars rumbling up and down the street, the same weird looking residents as any city in the world did, the pig running the supermarket.

Normal life for this town at least.

As soon as the bus had closed up and departed, she set off to look for the nearest telephone booth.

In the meantime in an old farmhouse some distance outside of the town, an elderly lady was busy cleaning the living room of the old house as a purple furred dog busied himself with the dusting as well. The only other occupant of the house, an old man, sat in an arm chair and was casually flipping the channels on the TV. Hardly anything was on and most of the time he had to adjust the volume on the set as the roar of his wife's vacuum constantly drowned out the noise from the TV.

Finally he set down the remote and said, "Muriel, turn down that racket."

His wife, Muriel, shut off the vacuum and said, "Sorry Eustace, but I need to get the house clean. We have family coming over soon."

Eustace grumbled and said, "Big deal."

"Now Eustace, you know how long it's been since we've had family here that didn't involve your mother. Please try to be nice to her while she's here," Muriel tried to scold her husband.

Eustace merely crossed his arms and said, "Blah blah blah!"

Muriel shook her head as the little dog let out a little whine.

Muriel merely patted the little dog on head and said, "Now Courage, there's no reason to be afraid. You'll like meeting Avery. It's been so long since we've seen her and I'm sure she'll love meeting you."

This made the little dog beam a little, but in his distraction, he had inadvertently dusted Eustace in the face, making the old man cry out. Courage looked up at the farmer's agitated face and he grimaced.

"Stupid dog!" the farmer growled out and reached into his back pocket.

Courage knew what was coming, but before he could do anything about it, out came the green tribal faced mask that Courage knew all too well.

Eustace popped it on his face, waved his arms and hollered out, "Ooga booga booga!"

Next thing he knew, Courage was screaming and running out of the room as Eustace laughed at the little dog's misfortune! He wasn't laughing for long however, as a rolling pin struck him on the back of his head, courtesy of his wife.

"OW! What did I do?"

Back in town, Avery walked out of the Nowhere bank in a huff as the pockets of her jeans jingled with coins.

"Stupid Nowhere bank," she muttered. "Just needed some change for the payphone. No, I gotta give them a twenty in exchange before they give me anything."

She reached into her pockets as she walked along the sidewalk and looked at the coins in her hand. At least she got the change she needed though, she just hated lugging around this large amount of quarters.

"Would have been much more convenient if I had just set up my guitar case and played it on the sidewalk. Oh well, live and learn Avery. Live and learn," she said.

It didn't take her long at all to find a phone booth. The town was so old fashioned that the phone inside was even an old rotary phone. Thanks to the phone book inside the booth, she was able to find the phone number to her Aunt and Uncle's place easily and quickly dialed their number up. It rang for a good few seconds before someone picked up on the other end.

"Yeah? Who is this?" came the voice of a gruff old man.

"Hi Uncle Eu-," she said.

Before she could get any further, the voice on the other end cut her off and said, "We don't want any? Lousy telemarketers."

She was then greeted by the sound of the phone being slammed down on the receiver. Avery jerked her head away from the phone at the sound of it and merely rubbed her hazel eyes and groaned in exasperation.

"Typical Uncle Eustace. Always annoyed by everyone and everything in life," she said and chuckled. She couldn't blame him being annoyed by constant telemarketers having dealt with them herself many times during the day and night.

Still she needed a ride to the farm in this blistering summer heat and so she had to try again. She popped another quarter into the phone and waited through the ringing again. After a few seconds, it was picked up once more. This time, a kinder and more gentler voice picked up.

"Hello?" came the voice of a sweet old lady.

"Aunt Muriel, it's me," she said into the phone.

She could feel the older lady beaming on the other end as she said, "Oh Avery, how are you dear? How much longer until you get here?"

Avery smiled and said, "Hi Aunt Muriel. I'm doing alright and I'm actually in town right now."

"Oh that's marvelous. Where are you in town? We can come and get you right away," Muriel asked.

Avery smiled and looked to see that she was just yards away from the entrance to the town's bank.

"I'm right by the bank. You know, the one Uncle Eustace hates. One I can now understand why," she said.

She heard her aunt giggle on the other end and she said, "We'll be there soon. The grocery store is just down the street from there. Wait right there for us and I can get some shopping done too."

Avery chuckled and said, "Sounds like a plan. I'll meet you guys there."

And with that, both sides hung up their phones. And Avery picked up her bags and guitar case and proceeded towards the grocery store.

Halfway down the street, someone had set up a little trading stand. The counter of the stand was covered in several different kinds of mystical objects. Medallions, some little metal trinkets, charms, a dream catcher, a couple of books. Even a crystal ball was sitting on top of the display. Behind the counter stood the owner of the stand. A little yellow Chihuahua woman was busily sweeping the area behind the counter. She had been set up for over an hour now and hadn't yet had a single customer. Then again since she was considered sketchy by even this town's standards, she wasn't fully surprised by this.

Her name was Shirley. A medium whom had used to spend much time traveling Europe, telling fortunes and contacting the deceased loved ones of many clients. Now here she was, stuck peddling wares for the residents of some backwater mid-western town. A mid-western town that occasionally got visits from all sorts of frightening monstrosities that many locals seemed to forget about in short order.

Then again, she supposed it could be worse. She could be stuck in the middle of a large city. She was so focused on her cleaning that she didn't see the young woman standing in front of her stand, trying to get her attention.

Avery cleared her throat to get the little woman's attention, but to no avail. The chihuahua didn't even look up from her sweeping, so Avery decided to try again. Still no response from the little woman. Now Avery was starting to become a little frustrated. All she wanted was to get this little lady's attention so that she could see if she had any other wares besides what she had out in front of her.

"Excuses me, miss?" Avery exclaimed, but still didn't get an answer.

So she picked a book up off of the stand and slammed it back down on the counter top. Now THAT got her attention. She looked up to see this young woman with hazel eyes looking back down at her.

"Yes? Can I help you?" Shirley asked.

"Sorry for startling you ma'am, but I was looking at your display here and I was wondering if you have more than just this," Avery explained.

Shirley scratched her chin and said, "Perhaps I do. Do you have the money to pay?"

Avery nodded and pulled out a few bills to show her. Not to mention she had a pocket full of quarters.

Shirley caught sight of them, nodded and said, "Very well then. Follow me."

Shirley walked away from the stand and walked over to what appeared to be a wagon that no one around here seemed to be noticing. Shirley pulled the door to it open and beckoned Avery inside. Avery felt a little apprehensive, but complied regardless. She stepped into the cart, remaining behind Shirley and could see the various apparatus that Shirley utilized in her day to day work.

"Wow! This stuff looks amazing," Avery said.

"NO!" Shirley scoffed. "Most of this stuff is junk. All junk I have collected from all over the world. You are free to look around and if you find anything you like, feel free to let me know and I'll give you a price. IF I'm willing to sell it that is."

Avery nodded and began looking around. The cart wasn't very tall or wide, but that was alright for Avery. She wasn't very tall, only standing at five feet and two inches, and only had to kneel down just a little bit to browse. She saw all sorts of different trinkets. More medallions and books of course, but she also saw what looked like chemistry equipment (likely alchemy equipment) and a couple of boxes of vials filled with various powders. Since she had no idea what these powders could do, she decided to avoid them entirely.

"Got anything... more appealing than this stuff?" she asked.

Shirley rolled her eyes, pointed at a particular shelf and said, "Look under the shelf there. You might find a box of collectibles."

Avery did just that and reached beneath the shelf that Shirley was pointing at. As she stuck her hand underneath the shelf and felt around, she felt her hand scrape against a small wooden trunk. She dragged it out and quickly opened it up. The box wasn't very big so she scanned the items of the box very quickly, mostly a bunch cheap little books that can be found at any dollar store, but then her eyes settled on a little velvet case that was tucked into one corner of the box. She picked it up and held it up to her eyes, she could swear that she even felt the case vibrating in her hands. She opened it and her eyes practically glowed as she beheld the contents inside.

Inside the case was a small silver bracelet, big enough to fit her wrist, that was embedded with little violet gems that she couldn't tell if they were real or not. Not that she cared that they were real or not, she loved how it shined in the light of the room and how it practically glowed in her eyes. Something like this must be valuable.

She turned back towards Shirley, who was back to going through her own items, deciding and what could be sold or what she'd want to keep.

"Excuse me ma'am? How much for this?" Avery asked as she turned back to Shirley and pointed at the bracelet in it's case.

Shirley turned towards Avery and got a good look at what the girl was holding. As Shirley laid her eyes on the bracelet, Avery could swear that Shirley's eyes widened a little bit, but went back to normal just a second later.

"Nothing," said Shirley.

"Excuse me?" Avery asked.

"Take it. No charge," Shirley answered.

"Are you sure? Because it looks val-," Avery started, but was cut off.

"No. Charge. Now please leave me be," Shirley responded.

Avery shrugged and began walking out with the bracelet and case in tow, but before she was all the way out she could hear Shirley calling out to her once more.

"Just one little condition. Never and I mean, NEVER wear that bracelet. If you do, I cannot be held responsible as i have warned you," Shirley called back to her.

Avery looked back and asked, "Why? What'll happen."

Shirley shook her head and said, "I do not know, nor do I wish to. Just take it and bury it somewhere. Bury it far away, where no one will find it."

Avery wasn't really buying into what Shirley was saying, but figured that it would best to humor her and not make herself look rude in the process.

"I'll give it some thought. Thanks for the bracelet though, I needed something to make me feel better right now," she said.

"Whatever. Now go away and take that thing with you," Shirley said and Avery complied.

Avery backed out of the wagon a little and said, "Alrighty then. Thanks again."

Shirley watched her go and then watched her walk away from the door and she said to herself, "That bracelet is your problem now girl. Good-bye and good riddance."

Avery walked down to the store and sat with her stuff on the sidewalk, since the manager of the store wouldn't let her sit inside and possibly disturbing the other customers since she wasn't a local.

"Stupid pompous manager. Oh if only I had the power to, I'd make him eat his own words. Can't trust non-locals," she mimicked as she fumed. "Can't believe that we have to shop here."

She felt her one of pockets vibrate, surprising her a little. She stuck her hand into said pocket, but felt nothing inside. Nothing, but the case for the bracelet she just bought. But if she were looking inside, she'd have seen the manager getting conked on the head by his 'Rules' sign. But instead, she just sat there to wait for her family to show up.

She didn't have to wait too much longer before she spotted a beat up old pick-up truck driving her way. She had to cover her eyes, but she could easily make out the older lankier man driving the truck and there was no mistaking the old hat on top of his head. Not to mention that anyone who knew her, could recognize the bigger older lady sitting with him.

Avery smiled, stood up and waved to them.

"Aunt Muriel! Uncle Eustace! Over here!" she called to them.

The occupants of the truck spotted her and stopped directly in front of her. Her aunt hopped out immediately and in a fraction of a second, had her arms wrapped around the smaller girl and Avery's arms did the same with her.

"Avery! How are ya? It's been too long since we've seen ya," she said happily as a smile spread across her face.

Avery hugged as tightly as she could and said, "I know. I just wish it were under better circumstances."

Muriel frowned and said, "I understand. How are you getting along?"

Avery picked up her bags and said, "Doing fine I guess. Taking it one day at a time."

Muriel placed a hand on her shoulder and said, "Well we're here for you if you need anything."

"Thanks Aunt Muriel," Avery said.

Avery heard an audible groan from the truck cab and looked at the old man inside.

"Can we hurry? This is taking too long," said the man.

Muriel wagged her finger at him and said, "Now Eustace please be patient. I still need to go in and pick up a few things. Avery will keep you company while you wait."

Eustace crossed his arms and said, "B'ah!"

Avery chuckled and said, "I missed you too Uncle Eustace."

It was here that her eyes were drawn to a purple dog that sat in the middle of the seat and he was looking up at her with a look of wonder plastered across his face.

"Oh, hello you," she said to the dog with a little wave.

The dog let out a little whine, but waved back anyway. Avery smiled at him and patted the top of his head.

"Not fond of strangers are you?" she asked and the dog shook his head.

Muriel smiled and said, "Ah so you've met Courage. I found him as a wee little pup in an alley in town a few years back. He's been living with us ever since."

Eusatce groaned and said, "He's just a stupid dog that got lost. Had to spend more money on dog food once he came around."

"Now Eustace, you know how helpful Courage has been around the house. He's earned himself a nice home with us," Muriel scolded Eustace who merely groaned once more. "Keep an eye on the both of them please. Your uncle likes to tease Courage. I just need to run in and grab a few things and then I'll be right back."

With that, Muriel walked into the store, leaving Avery alone with Courage and Eustace.

Avery waved at her uncle and said, "Hey!"

Eustace softened his expression a little and said, "Well, it's good to see some family every now and then. One who won't mock you for everything."

Avery frowned a little and said, "Still having issues with great-great?"

Eustace didn't respond and just sat there with his arms still crossed as he looked away.

"I'll take that as a yes then," she said and then turned back to her bags.

She grabbed the one containing her day clothes and her guitar case, but then she noticed something was off. She should have two bags and her guitar case. She remembered grabbing all of them off of them from the bus and carrying them with her. But now there was just the one bag and her guitar case sitting with her. Her bag containing her nightclothes was gone.

"Oh no! Where is it?" she said as she searched around.

"What is it now?" Eustace said as he and Courage turned in her direction.

"One of my bags is missing," she said.

"Big deal," Eusatce said and Courage looked worriedly at her.

Courage hopped out of the truck and sniffed at her remaining bag. Courage smiled a bit at the smell. Not surprising as Avery always kept it clean.

"What are yo-," she started, but then Courage went off, sniffing along the ground as he went.

He trekked away from the curb in front of the store and into the alley beside it. He followed the scent he had gotten off of Avery's bag and felt a little uneasiness sink in. The alleys around the town of Nowhere always made him felt a little uncomfortable as there could be anything hiding among the buildings and sometimes, he swore, he could see things moving around in the dark alleys. Not that he dared follow them any further in.

In mere moments, he came across a bag that looked similar to the one that Avery had had sitting on the curb. The difference is that it was laying on the ground, wide open with all of it's contents missing. Courage let out small groan, knowing that he had failed to get the new girl's belongings back. He merely closed it and carried it back to the truck.

Avery spotted her bag as Courage returned, checked it and was saddened to see that all of her nightclothes were missing.

"Oh no! Now I have nothing to sleep in," Avery said, yet took the time to pet Courage on the top of his head and hug the dog. "Thanks anyway little guy. It was nice of you to look for me."

Even Courage had to melt into the girl's embrace.

It was here that Muriel walked out of the market with a bag full of groceries. She noticed the case still sitting on the ground, Avery hugging Courage and and Avery's disappointed face.

"Oh my! What's going on here?" Muriel asked.

Avery looked up and said, "My bag of nightclothes went missing. Your dog here found it, but the clothes are all gone."

Muriel gave Avery a look of pity and said, "I'm sorry to hear that dear. Maybe I can loan you some of the old ones we have at home. You should be the right size for them."

Avery wasn't sure about this. She was flattered that her aunt was willing to help her with this problem, but she didn't want to impose either. She knew how kindhearted her Aunt Muriel was and was happy that she wanted to help out. But she wasn't sure if she was willing to take that much from her.

Muriel could see the uncertainty on Avery's face and said, "It'll be no problem Avery. We're family, it's our duty to help each other out."

"So long as she doesn't go begging us for money," Eustace said as he started up his truck when Avery got all of her belongings into the bed of the truck.

Avery climbed in beside him and said, "You won't have to worry about that Uncle Eustace. I like to get it my own way."

Courage climbed in after her as well and climbed into her lap. Muriel set the groceries into the bed of the truck too and the truck that drove off, rattling out of town the entire way.

As they left the town and started heading for the farmhouse, Avery reached back into her jean pocket. She could still feel the little case she had gotten just a little while earlier. She began to wonder just what the chihuahua woman had meant when she said to never wear it and to just bury it.

'What is she hiding with this thing? Why was she frightened by this? Do I even want to know? I'll have to think on this,' she thought to herself as the truck rattled back to the farm.

So yeah, I know this chapter was very OC centric and I am going to warn you now that the next chapter is going to be as well. I just wanted to spend the first couple of chapters getting to know our OC before getting into the real meat of the story and getting things really started. I know some questions remain and I will try to answer them in the next chapter.

Avery belongs to my friend, xXBalorBabeXx as she is the one who came up with her name and description. I'm merely the one putting the story into words.