"I know Possum Springs is a weird place. But even by our usual standards, this is weird."

Mae climbed out of Bea's car and joined her in staring at the unassuming red brick building. They had been asked by both their fathers to meet them at the Zubov House. That was pretty much all they had been told, but on the drive over, Bea got to work theorizing what this could possibly be about. In truth, Mae didn't fully understand all of it. But she managed to pick up on the gist of it. The Zubov house supposedly belonged to a dentist back in old-timey Possum Springs. Except the house was super fancy and didn't seem like the kind of thing an old-timey dentist could afford on old-timey dentist money. Bea also pointed out that the name had something to do with teeth, and that it would be super dumb if a kid grew up his whole life with the last name Tooth and then became a dentist.

The thing that managed to keep Mae's interest most was when Bea reminded her of the tooth that she had found, and the information they'd discovered during their library adventure. Not only did Possum Springs have its own death cult, there also appeared to be bits and pieces still around from a secret society. It was formed by a bunch of angry miners, and they used teeth from an actual dude's actual skull to signify membership. Mae had given the tooth to her father, knowing it might make him feel happy but without otherwise worrying about it too much. It seemed that tonight she would be finding out the consequences of that unthinking choice.

"Yeah... pretty dang weird... Weirdo meirdo. That's... That's not a saying. Why did I say that?" Mae sighed and started for the door.

She felt Bea's hand slip into her own, squeezing gently. "Because you babble when you're nervous, babe. It's okay. It's... cute." Dating or not, she still had trouble sometimes being open with affection. That was fine with Mae, she was learning to read her, learning to know what all her quirks really meant. "Go on, it's going to be fine."

Mae steeled herself and opened the door with her free hand. Driving home the suspicion that this wasn't actually a house, the first room inside was something of a lobby. There were chairs and tables scattered around, and the wall was covered in a long row of old pictures of men with funny hats on. At least some of them were smiling, so it was less creepy and more just silly.

But the important thing was the collection of other people standing around in the lobby looking as anxious as Mae was feeling. She noticed Germ, which was kind of weird since she couldn't imagine him being drawn into something that felt so mysterious and important. He was talking with Selmers, who seemed oddly into whatever he was saying. Toward the other side of the room was Lori, talking shop with the Thryy Wyrd Tyyns from the graveyard and/or woods and/or wherever else they liked to lurk.

It was... a strange collection of people, and the addition of Mae and Bea didn't really do anything to clarify what this could possibly be. They didn't have time to join in on the conversations and make assumptions, because the door to the next room was opened by Mae's dad. "Looks like everyone's here. Come on in, kids."

For some reason, she expected the place to be the kind where a shadowy cabal might meet, with torches and sigils and stuff. Instead it was just... another room, with a bunch of chairs and couches and stuff. Like it was a clubhouse. Equally surprising was the collection of people who were sitting there waiting for them. Along with Mae's parents and Bea's dad, there was also Mr. Chazakov, Pastor K, the musicians she'd met around town, and leaning against the far wall, that weird Janitor guy.

Each of them took a seat, looking around in a bit of a haze, unsure what to expect. Mae's father sat forward and glanced at each of them. "Well, no point in being all cloak and dagger about things. For a while now, people around town have been getting these little teeth with stuff etched on them. Back in the day, a bunch a' miners started... a kind of union, just with a bit of a morbid touch." He did his best to explain the history behind the teeth, and Mae and Bea offered supplementary info whenever they could.

But apparently since Mae gave him the little relic, her father had been doing even more research here in this... whatever the heck it was. "Over time, teeth ended up in more and more diverse hands, although pretty much always the lower and middle class. Working stiffs who fought together over and over on behalf of the little guy. Eventually they figured, hey, might as well make it official. So they got themselves a base of operations and a name – the Spring Dentists. No one said they were super clever, but they did the right thing. And now it looks like we're the new Dentists." He shrugged and sighed, leaning back and finally looking more like the man Mae was used to. "Let's be honest, Karen's the youngest of us, and we're not exactly in-touch with things. So it seemed like a good idea to bring in some youngins to help us get clued in. Help us figure out how to even go about making our town a decent place."

All of the 'youngins' shared a look, and Bea was naturally the first to speak up. "Well, that's... vague."

Her father smiled sadly, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, it ain't much to go off of. But that's because this isn't the government. We're not the mayor or the town council. We're just a couple concerned citizens who don't want to see our town die."

Now it was Mae and Bea's turn to share a much more private look. They'd heard all this before, and it was super terrifying to think that a new cult might form, this time out of their own parents and friends. "That line of thinking is what led to all those disappearances..." Mae muttered.

Surprisingly, it was Molly who addressed her complaint, even though it hadn't really been meant for anyone but Bea. "We're not sacrificing anybody Mae." She looked across the room at her aunt, unable to hide her shock. The woman chuckled softly and shook her head. Even when she wasn't in her uniform, she still had a habit of carrying herself like an officer of the law. "It's my job to know things, Mae. And I learned all about those boys and their little club out in the woods. They were more worried about some magic creature inside the ground, as if that was what made a town live. We're gonna focus on community building, commerce, real stuff."

Mae wanted to argue that there very much was a dead god under the earth, but it seemed pointless and it would only make her look crazy. But a tight squeeze around her hand reminded her that she wasn't crazy, that Bea had been there too, and that even if she didn't understand, she tried mega hard to believe her anyway. That was good enough. Most days anyway.

"Still not sure I understand why we're the ones you brought in. We're not the most exemplary members of the community..." mused Selmers. "No offense to anyone, I'm included in that list. But why are you so certain we're gonna be any help."

It was Sadie, the woman who Mae found playing saxophone, that answered the question. "There's no point in pouring energy into people that want to get out of Dodge the first chance they get. You're locals. You know Possum Springs backwards and forwards. And we know that each of you doesn't yet have plans to move away."

Mae's father chuckled softly. "Come on, give them a little more credit than that. After all, Bea and Mae have breathed some real life into the Ol' Pickaxe, and helping with those community plays."

Pastor K nodded happily and looked over at Germ Warfare. "Jeremy has the makings of a saint in there somewhere. He happily befriends all the drifters who pass through the area, and he's become close with no less than three wild animals. Not unlike St. Giovanni."

"Ms. Forrester is a staple in the community, fast becoming known for her poetry and her observations about everyday life. She could be the Poet Laureate of Possum Springs someday!" Mr. Chazakov was probably laying it on a little bit thick there, but then again, Mae couldn't really disagree. Selmers had dang potential.

Saleem, the other musician, smiled and motioned to the little mouse in the leather jacket. "Lori's already made a few films with her friends, legitimately spooky stuff. And she's only fifteen!"

"Despite being a couple delinquent hooligans with a record of trespassing and loitering... Well, Britt, Karla, and Pam really know their lore and history about this place. Even if they are just a little too obsessed with the occult." Molly laughed softly, crossing her arms.

It was... weird to have all the adults around them lavishing all their praise onto them. Or at least it sure did to Mae. After all, there were still a lot of days where she felt like nothing but a no-good trash mammal. And more often than not, when she looked in the mirror, all she saw was those nightmare eyes. But it was true that lately she actually felt that she was actually turning her life around. This all should have been amazing news. So why did it feel like... not... that?

It should have come as no surprise that Bea was on the same wavelength as her. Almost without missing a beat she spoke out soft and sure. "No... I'm sorry, I can't. This is... entirely unfair. I'm leaving."

Bea's hand left Mae's as she stood and headed for the door. No one stopped her, and since Mae really didn't want to get left behind – not to mention grateful for the chance to duck out – she hurried after her. She rushed up to her car where Bea was already getting a cigarette lit up. "W-Wait up! I'm coming with you!" She saw the corners of Bea's mouth curl up, and instantly knew she'd done the right thing. You could always depend on her to do the right thing.

"Didn't sit right with you either?"

Mae shrugged and joined her in leaning up against the vehicle. "Kinda? Ugh, you know me, I don't know how to put words to anything. What about you?"

"It's like... y'know, I just kinda got used to the idea of staying in Possum Springs for a while. And somehow, some way, just as I do that, the universe decides to take me and throw me to the other end of the spectrum where it's just as terrifying. Even if they weren't saying it outright, they want us to be heroes. You could see it in their faces. Instead of chucking us into a pit, they're putting us on a pedestal, and that's just as bad." She huffed, and took the cigarette she'd barely smoked, tossing it angrily to the ground and stomping it out. "Cults and secret societies and city councils and... and dead moms and... god dammit, can't we just live for five minutes?"

Mae knew she couldn't really offer anything extra to that sentiment. It was a subject that might not be closed for a while. But she could at least make Bea feel better. That was something. And since she had just tossed away her cigarette, she was free to whirl around and lean up into a quick kiss. "Hey, you're looking at the Grand Mistress of Not Doing Stuff. Follow my lead, and soon you will be an expert in avoiding responsibility too!"

Bea laughed, that wonderful amazing laugh that Mae loved because it was so natural and deep. "What did I just say about putting us on pedestals."

"I can't help it when you're so awesome. Now, let's go to the Click Clack and get disgusting pizza and then binge-watch a television show all night and never once feel guilty about it."