Gretel brushed her teeth as she walked through the penthouse room in the fancy pants Dallas hotel. She found her brother, Manfred, looking out at the view of the city. She poked her brother's bare back above the healed-up bullet wound before asking him with a mouthful of toothpaste, "How long until the next client?"

Manfred jerked a bit from her touch before answering. "She should be here soon."

Gretel went back to the bathroom for a rinse and spit before rejoining her brother who was pulling on his shirt. "Are you at least going to let me take lead this time?"

"They come to see me, not you," he countered, buttoning up his black dress shirt.

"Well that could change if you actually let me be a real part of this." Gretel crossed her arms a bit in annoyance.

"Can you fault me for wanting you to have a normal life?" Manfred kissed his younger sister's head and went to get things ready for the client.

Gretel wished that her brother saw her for the adult that she was. She wasn't a child anymore and hadn't been for a long time. They were the same in what they were but Manfred would never let her do anything with it. "Normal is but an illusion. What is normal for the spider is chaos for the fly," she pointed out as she followed him into the other room.

Manfred chuckled at her, "Whatever you say, Morticia."

Gretel rolled her eyes at that. "My point is, it's all a matter of perception. This…what we do – who we are – that is normal for me. Trying to make me into something else isn't going to work so you might as well get used to it." As she walked off to change her outfit for the client she said, "You act like I've never even been possessed before."

Manfred sighed heavily and went back to what he was doing. It wasn't long after that there was a knock at the door. Manfred rushed out to beat his sister there, but she answered the door before he could.

"Hello, Rachel, lovely to see you again. My, you are ravishing and looking younger every day." Gretel was really laying it on thick and Rachel ate up every bit of it.

Rachel laughed and primped her new pixie-cut hair. "Oh, Gretel, you are always such a sweet-talker. I love it." She giggled like a child – despite being well past middle-age – and walked into the penthouse where she saw Manfred standing off to the side there. "Manfred, there you are." She took his hands in hers and squeezed them. "I am so looking forward to this."

Manfred took Rachel's coat as he said, "I'm sorry, I should have told you on the phone when we set up the appointment – my fee has gone up."

Rachel wasn't bothered by this at all. "Well, after all this time, you should know that you're worth every penny. Your sister, too, if you'd ever give her the chance."

"See," Gretel said smugly and linked her arm with Rachel's, "I always knew I liked you." They both got a laugh out of that as they walked into the other room together.

Manfred rolled his eyes and followed them.

Gretel lit the candles on the table as Manfred and Rachel took their seats. Not about to miss being a part of this, she sat on the edge of the bed behind her brother.

"Ready?" Manfred asked and when Rachel nodded, he clasped his hands together over the wedding band Rachel provided and closed his eyes. "I want to see you…Show yourself…Harold, make yourself known. Rachel's here, she wants to talk to you." Manfred opened his eyes and looked at the ring in hand before looking to Rachel, "He's here."

Manfred was about to speak but Gretel beat him to it when she chuckled and said, "He wants you to know he thinks the new haircut is very sexy." Manfred turned around and glared at her in a way to tell her to shut up, which received a signature eyeroll in reply.

Rachel missed this exchange because she was laughing at what she was told. "Thirty-two years we're married. Now that you're dead, you like it short."

"Harold says he was stupid," Manfred replied. "He hated change."

Rachel sighed wistfully. "Oh, Harold. Not a day goes by that I don't miss you something awful."

Manfred shook his head. "He doesn't want you to grieve him forever. He wants you to be happy."

Rachel took in a breath of courage. "I – I need to tell you something. I'm seeing someone."

The flames flickered as soon as she said that and Gretel was getting a bad feeling about this. "Manfred…"

He ignored his sister's warning. "He's listening. Go on."

"We're taking it slow, but…" she smiled, "I'm happy."

Manfred paused a moment before informing her what Harold had said. "He wants to know who it is."

Gretel shot up from her seat and moved to the table. "Rachel, don't answer that."

The flames flickered even more so than the first time.

"Don't interfere, Gretel," Manfred warned. He knew that she was going to get too emotionally attached. That's partly why he never wanted her to be a part of this.

Rachel, needing Harold to know, said quickly, "It's Kevin."

The flames blew out completely as soon as she said that and ghostly whispers filled the room while the temperature dropped. Manfred realized he should have listened to his sister in that moment. "Perhaps we should take a break."

"Or stop all together," Gretel firmly suggested and in that moment the glass from the mirror in the corner of the room shattered and a foggy form started to take shape that only Manfred and Gretel could see.

Harold's ghost appeared – pasty white with foggy eyes, hotel gown and a cracked open chest from surgery. He growled at the siblings as he took a step forward.

Manfred, now on his feet, stepped protectively in front of his sister with his hand held out. "No. You are not to cross."

Rachel didn't understand what was happening because she couldn't see. "What's wrong?"

"Stay back," Manfred said firmly. "Stay back!" But Harold's ghost was far too angry to listen and lunged forward in is foggy form to take possession.

Gretel wasn't about to let her brother get used like this so she quickly stepped in front of Manfred before Harold could reach him.

"No!" Manfred exclaimed, not believing that his sister had just done that.

Gretel gasped as gagged as Harold's ghost entered her body through her mouth and eyes. She gulped and panted, trying to keep Harold at bay, but her eyes turned white and her head cocked to the side as Harold took over. With a dark and distorted voice, Harold spoke using her. "My partner? My friend? You had to go there?!" He picked up the wedding band from the table and threw it at her.

Manfred grabbed hold of Gretel's arms and demanded, "Harold, you let my sister go! Now!"

Harold answered this by using Gretel's body to grab hold of Manfred and throw him hard across the room. He now turned his attention to Rachel. Harold flipped the table over and charged towards her. "Since when! Did you wait until I…"

"It's nothing like that!" Rachel fearfully exclaimed.

"What's it like then?" Harold shouted back, grabbing Rachel by the hair, "Does he like your hair like that!"

Gretel's voice broke through as she started getting back control, "Get the hell out of my body, Harold!"

Harold took over once more and grabbed hold of Rachel who tried to run away. He then reached out for a piece of glass and held it out to her. "Well, we can be together again. You can be with me."

"No!" Rachel whimpered in fear. "Please, Harold, no!"

Manfred grabbed a piece of glass of his own and wrapped his arms around Gretel, holding it to her throat. "My sister and I made a pact a long time ago, Harold. Whoever couldn't take control would be killed by the other before they hurt anyone innocent. I'd rather not lose my sister today."

"Ye of little faith," Gretel broke through before demanding, "Get out of me now!" She took complete control in that moment and forced Harold out of her. His smoky form shot out of her eyes and mouth before disappearing in the air. Once he was gone, she leaned back into her brother.

Manfred dropped the piece of glass and held onto his sister. "You're okay," he assured her, moving her dark locks away from her blue eyes – a feature they shared – and repeated, "You're okay."

When Gretel finally got her bearings back, she smiled at him, "Well of course I am. I'm not twelve anymore." She knew that he'd know what her words meant. After patting her brother's arm, she moved over to the closed window drapes and opened them.

"Well," Manfred sighed as he looked at the freaked-out Rachel, trying to make light of the situation, "I guess Harold still hates change."

When Rachel left, Manfred went over to Gretel who was laying back on the sofa there with her arm draped over her face. "Take this with this," he handed her over a pill and a bottle of vodka from the mini-bar. "Trust me."

Gretel willingly accepted and took them as directed. "Thanks."

"You're an idiot, you know that?" he asked, taking a seat on the edge of the cushion so he could use the keyed tablet on the coffee table.

"I hate seeing you possessed," Gretel replied, moving into more of a sitting position.

"It's not a walk in the park for me seeing you like that either, Gretel." Manfred turned to face her. "You almost died the last time you were unwillingly possessed."

"I was twelve when that happened. And in case you haven't noticed, I'm not twelve anymore," she reiterated.

"I know you're not but…" His response was cut short due to his phone buzzing.

Gretel looked over and saw that it was Hightower. "I can always give my tea party friends a call."

"Do not call your tea party friends," Manfred emphasized before answering his phone.

"You can't run from me, Manfred," the voice on the line greeted.

"I'm not running," Manfred countered. "I'm paying you back. I just need time."

"Too late. I will find you."

Upon hearing that, Manfred said, "Gotta go," and hung up. He turned to his sister to say the same thing but she didn't give him a chance.

Gretel was already off the couch, getting her things together. "I got the gist," she answered, then muttered, "Never a dull moment."

"Goodbye Dallas!" Gretel called out with a kiss she threw to the city as Manfred drove their RV onto the interstate.

"Must you do that every time we leave somewhere?" Manfred asked, looking over to his sister in the passenger seat at the front of the RV.

"I give a kiss hello and a kiss goodbye," Gretel stated obviously. "It keeps me on good terms with the place."

Manfred shook his head with a chuckle and kept on driving. "You feeling better?"

"Is that your way of saying that I look like crap?" Gretel replied. "If so, I don't appreciate the insinuation." She reached into her bag and pulled out the little mirror and cringed, "Even though you are correct."

"That's what happens when you get possessed," Manfred pointed out to her.

"Never happened at the tea parties," Gretel countered.

Manfred shot a look at her before saying, "That's because your guests care about you. Millie and the others would never willingly cause you harm so they'd take it easy on you. Others…not so much."

Gretel rolled her eyes and turned to look out the window and the passing Texas scenery.

She managed to fall asleep for awhile only to be jolted awake when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Gretel laughed when she saw her grandmother's ghost standing there. "Hey, Grandma."

"You're in my seat," she replied teasingly, but sat down in the one behind Manfred. "Good god, Gretel, you look terrible."

"Look who's talking," Manfred chimed in, shooting his Grandma a quick, teasing look.

"Don't tell me," Grandma Xylda said to her granddaughter, "You got hijacked?" She then turned her attention to Manfred, "She managed to step in front of you this time, eh?"

"That she did," Manfred replied, keeping his eyes on the road.

"It didn't last long, I ended it pretty quick." Okay, certainly not as quick as Gretel would have liked but far better than when she was twelve.

Xylda laughed at her. "I can tell. If you hadn't then Manfred would have killed you to keep that damned ghost from hurting anybody. Don't think I don't know about that stupid pact of yours." She sighed because of them. "How's your head, sweetie?"

"Manfred gave me a couple of pills, the headache's gone," she replied, not looking at her Grams.

Xylda looked at both her grandchildren. "This move will be good for you. Both of you. You need to settle down. You need a home."

"I need to disappear," Manfred retorted. "But you're right about Gretel. She needs to settle down."

Gretel smiled sweetly at her brother, "If you try to convince me that I need to meet a nice young man and make babies then I will take Grandma's peace-pipe and shove it up your ass."

"You will do no such thing," Xylda interjected, "the shit would ruin the flavor of the ganja forever."

Gretel and Manfred both burst out laughing because of that and it was much needed indeed – Something Xylda could tell, which was why she had said it.

Getting on a more serious note, Xylda placed her hand on Manfred's shoulder and reached out to take Gretel's hand. Once she had contact with them both, she said, "You will be safe in Midnight."

Gretel believed her and Manfred joked back with, "That would mean a whole lot more coming from someone who wasn't dead."

Gretel burst out laughing when he said that and Xylda laughed right along with her as Manfred grinned. He loved the way his sister laughed and wished that she would do it more often – wished that she had a reason to.

As Manfred drove into Midnight, Texas, Gretel kissed her hand and blew before saying, "Hello, Midnight." He shook his head at her little ritual and proceeded to drive into the town. If they didn't know any better, they'd swear it was abandoned. It certainly looked like a little ghost town.

There only seemed to be a handful of people as they drove towards the pawn shop where they were supposed to meet their new landlord, Bobo. Each person they passed, Gretel would swear had given them an evil eye.

Manfred looked at Gretel with a 'wtf' expression on her face because he was practically glued to the window. "What are you doing?"

"Looking for a tumbleweed," she partly joked and grinned at her brother.

Manfred rolled his eyes and pulled the RV on the side of the road to park it.

When Gretel's eyes went back to the window she caught sight of a tall guy with dark hair, a bit of scruff on his face, wearing all black walk down the street and disappear around a corner. She had only caught a glimpse of the guy but was already intrigued.

"You finally find that tumbleweed?" Manfred joked on his way to the door since she seemed to be staring at something.

"Yet to be determined," Gretel replied and followed him, only to stop quickly in her tracks because Manfred practically leaped back into the RV. "What the hell?"

"Some chick just almost ran her car into the door," Manfred explained then opened the door again – this time successfully getting out.

Gretel hopped out of the RV and walked with her brother towards the pawn shop. The woman in question got out of her Land Rover wearing a bright red wig and a case in her hand. "She's hot. But I already don't like her."

Manfred smirked at her and went to take a chance with the woman as Gretel went into the shop.

As soon as Gretel entered she could hear the whispers of the past. The elderly woman who owned the rocking chair complaining about how her children never come to see her, the little girl's voice screaming at her mother that she didn't want to die who owned the porcelain doll, even the soldiers from the antique weapons had voices screaming in her mind – just to name a few. "I hate pawn shops," she thought aloud and jumped when Manfred touched her arm.

"We don't have to be in here long," he quietly assured her. "I can hear them, too."

Thankfully the voices of the past ceased when one from the living joined them saying, "Hey. You must be Manfred and Gretel."

Gretel nodded, "Yeah, that's us."

The living voice, Bobo, cocked his head for them to follow him. "Come on. I'll show you the place." As he led them from the shop, he said, "You made good time coming from Dallas."

"No traffic the last five hours," Manfred replied.

Bobo chuckled lightly, "No. No there isn't." He stopped in front of a small shabby-looking house between two of the buildings on the main street. After giving them a second to look at it, he said, "Come on. I'll show you your new home."

"It's the RV in house form," Gretel joked as she and Manfred followed Bobo into the house.

Once inside, Bobo told them a bit about the place. "The last tenant left the furniture. If particle board bothers either of you, you're welcome to come by the shop."

"That's fine," Manfred answered for them as he looked around. "We like newer things." No voices were attached to newer things, something he and his sister both appreciated.

Bobo found amusement in that. "The RV parked out front says otherwise." At the looks on their faces from that, he added in, "I gotta come clean. I checked you guys out before renting the house."

Gretel gave Manfred a bit of a look before he answered, "I hope it's not a problem."

"That you're psychics?" Bobo made a 'pfft' sound because he didn't care. "No, just the opposite. I was actually gonna offer you a month's free rent if you could help me out."

Gretel was going to say something but Manfred placed the back of his hand on her arm to keep her from saying anything.

Bobo saw this but kept going anyway. "My fiancée, well…Aubrey, she – she walked out. And she's not returning my calls…"

Manfred cut Bobo off before he could say anything more. "I'm gonna stop you there. It's – it's not real. We tell people what they want to hear. My sister and I are really good at reading people. That's all it is."

Bobo accepted that answer. "Well, no harm in asking." He handed the keys over to Manfred. "You two got the place for a month. If you need it any longer…"

Manfred picked up from there, "We know where to find you."

"Thanks," Gretel said with a smile and Bobo simply answered with, "Mmhmm," and looked them over before taking his leave.

As soon as Bobo was out the door, Gretel backhanded Manfred's arm. "I could have easily done a reading for him."

"And draw attention to us?" he scoffed, "Not happening. We're here to keep a low profile, Gretel, not to shine a big spotlight on us." Manfred went into the kitchen and found a plate of cookies from their neighbor Fiji. He took a bite out of one and handed the plate out to his sister.

"Mystery cookies from a neighbor we haven't met yet? I'll pass." Gretel took the plate from her brother and set them on the far side of the counter since there wasn't a trash bin nearby. "For all we know, they could be roofied or something."

Manfred responded to that by pulling the plate closer to him and took another cookie before walking off with a smug look on his face.

"Don't come crying to me when you're dead!" she called after him and went out to get some of her things from the RV.

It was dark out while Gretel was sitting on the roof of the RV with a flashlight between her teeth shining down on the sketchbook in front of her. She was sketching the guy she had caught a glimpse of earlier but since she didn't get a good look of his face, it wasn't a very good one.

When Gretel heard someone tap the side of the RV, she shined the light to the source and found Manfred standing there.

"Trying to blind me with that?" Manfred asked, using his hand to block the light.

"Sorry," she replied and turned it off. "What's up?"

"Let's get something to eat. Come on," He waited for Gretel to climb down the ladder at the back of the old RV and led the way to the only restaurant in town.

When they entered the restaurant it seemed like a normal enough place at least from Gretel's experience of road-side cafes go. She knew this place didn't go under that category but it's the first thing she thought of.

Manfred led the way to the counter and spoke to the waitress who had their back turned to them. "We'd like to place an order to go."

The waitress turned around and smiled. "You must be Manfred and Gretel. Bobo said he had new tenants. I saw your RV. Nice ride."

"I know," Manfred joked, "a real chick magnet."

"I don't think your girlfriend – wife? – would appreciate comments like that," she replied, looking at Gretel.

Manfred and Gretel looked at each other like they were grossed out before trying to contain their laughter. It was Gretel who explained. "None of the above. I'm his sister."

The waitress was mighty embarrassed with herself then. "Oh, wow, I'm sorry. I just assumed."

"Assumptions can bite you in the ass sometimes," Gretel sweetly informed her, "so it's best not to make them."

"Be nice, Gretel," Manfred pleaded of his sister because he knew how she could get.

To change the subject, the waitress introduced herself. "I'm Creek. I live behind the Gas & Go with my father and little brother, Connor. Now, if you'll follow me."

"Where?" Manfred asked curiously.

"The Midnighter's Room," Creek replied. "It's where we sit. Except the Rev – he eats alone. Now that you two live here, you eat with us." She led the way, picking up some things as she went.

"If the locals eat there then who are the rest of them?" Gretel asked, gesturing behind her.

"The rest of the folks are ranchers, folks from Davy." She continued to lead them into the back room.

"We don't want to be a bother," Manfred said as he followed.

"You're not," Creek assured as she showed them the practically empty room. "It's usually more crowded, but folks are getting ready for tomorrow. It's the annual fall picnic. You should come." When she realized she was speaking directly to Manfred, she made sure to add in, "Both of you."

"If you'll be there," he replied with a grin.

Creek smiled. "Have you met your neighbors yet?"

"Sort of," Manfred answered, looking at the blonde. "You're the non-musician."

"That's Olivia," the man at the table informed them and turned around to reveal his purple eyes. "Lemuel Bridger."

"Badass," Gretel said as she moved closer to get a better look at his eyes, missing the conversation Manfred was having with Creek. "I like you already."

"Just not too much," Olivia warned.

Gretel was about to say something about that but the 'tumbleweed' from earlier walked into the room. He was far more attractive than she had initially thought and had to look away to keep herself from staring.

Olivia caught the look and grinned in amusement. "Have you met Marcus yet? Marcus, these are our new neighbors – Manfred and Gretel."

Marcus just nodded at them in greeting before taking a seat.

Gretel sat down as well with Manfred following suite as he said, "We can leave if we're interrupting."

"You're not," Olivia replied and left the table, sliding her hand across Lemuel's shoulders as she went.

As Lemuel got up to sit closer to Manfred, Marcus asked, "Do you always speak for her?"

"Excuse me?" Manfred asked, wondering what this guy's problem was.

"You said 'we' many times. Makes me wonder if you ever let her speak for herself," Marcus replied, leaning back and taking a drink from his beer on the table.

"That's enough, Marcus," Lemuel warned before turning to the siblings. "You'll have to forgive Marcus. He likes to stick his nose in where it doesn't belong but he is the best mechanic you will find in the entire county."

Marcus raised his beer in cheers to that and grinned a bit when he caught a glimpse of a smile on Gretel's face.

"I live under the pawn shop," Lemuel continued, "work the night shift." He was about to say more but he caught sight of a possible problem in the dining area. "Apologies."

"For what?" Manfred asked and was answered by Lemuel pressing him onto the table and draining his energy.

"Oh hell no," Gretel shot at him and was about to do something about this but was held back by Marcus.

"He knows what he's doing," Marcus assured her but that didn't stop Gretel from cracking her head back into his face though it did little to deter him. "Ouch," was all he had to say about that before letting her go once Lemuel was done.

Gretel ignored Marcus' lack of reaction and rushed to her brother. "What the hell did you do to him?" she seethed at Lemuel.

"It's been awhile since I've eaten," Lemuel explained. "I'm weak and I was worried. They looked like they could be trouble, so I leeched energy."

"Are you a freaking vampire or something?" Gretel asked before looking her brother over to make sure he was okay.

"That's one word for it," Lemuel replied.

"Sit down, Gretel. I'm okay." Manfred felt weak as hell but other than that, alright.

As Gretel returned to her seat, she looked over at Marcus sitting in his. "And what does that make you?"

"A mystery," he answered with another one of his grins.

Manfred was starting to catch up on what was being discussed. "Wait, did you say vampire? What the hell?"

"I'm starting to take offense," Lemuel replied, his eyes out to the dining area where a group of leather jacket wearing men sat. "Frankly, I'm less frightening than those Sons of Lucifer." He picked up a drink from the table and handed it to Manfred, "Here. You'll feel better."

Manfred drank as much as he could in one gulp and found that he was right.

Lemuel knew this and almost looked smug because of it. "Told you."

Manfred chuckle once he had the strength, "Usually Gretel and I are the freaks in the room."

"Speak for yourself," Gretel replied then got to her feet. "I'm gonna step out real quick."

"Really?" Manfred asked as she left the table. "You still haven't kicked that habit?"

"So close, I swear," Gretel grinned, walking backwards, and headed outside.

Gretel walked around the building and leaned against the wall as she put a cigarette in her mouth. She was looking for her lighter but stopped when someone seemed to be holding out a flame for her. "Thanks," she said to whoever it was before lighting it and then she realized that they were holding the flame…literally.

Gretel's eyes widened when she saw the flame sitting in the palm of the hand and her eyes moved up to their face to see that it was Marcus, grinning yet again. "Told you I was a mystery. Clearly I'm not the only one." He closed his hand with a "Goodnight, Gretel," and went on his way.

Gretel was so stunned by this that she didn't even take a hit from her cigarette. In fact, she dropped it to the ground, stepped on it to make sure it was out, and went back to the Midnighter's Room for supper.

"I can't believe I let you talk me into going to this stupid picnic just because you have the hots for Creek," Gretel complained the following day as she laced up her black and white tennis shoes. Her attire that day was far from her more 'gothic' looks consisting of a pair of jean shorts and a black and red tank top. She had her black hair tied back into a ponytail even though she hated it like that.

"Fresh air will do you good," Manfred replied as he walked into the living room and had to do a double-take to make sure he was looking at his sister. "Who are you and what have you done with my fishnet wearing, black lipsticked, leather clad sister?"

"Ha. Ha. Ha," she sarcastically replied, getting to her feet since she was sitting on the coffee table.

As Gretel grabbed her bag, he asked, "Did that Marcus guy say anything to you last night? He left soon after you went out for a smoke."

"He said goodnight," Gretel answered, putting her black and blue tie-dyed bag across her shoulder. "Don't get all overprotective brother on me, now."

Manfred sighed as he put on his sunglasses. "I just don't have a good feeling about the guy."

"Freddie, I love you, but I'm a big girl who can take care of herself." She patted Manfred's chest and went outside to wait for Creek.

"You're also impulsive," Manfred thought aloud, "annoying, at times immature, and…" He stopped talking as soon as he heard Gretel's voice coming from the porch saying, "I can hear you!"

Manfred threw up his hands with an exasperated sigh. "Of course you can." He heard a car pull up then so he went outside to head off to the picnic.

Marcus was helping Bobo on the grill when he caught sight of Gretel arriving with Manfred, Creek, and Connor out of the corner of his eye. As soon as he turned his head to look at Gretel, the flames of the grill shot up making him and Bobo instantly jump back.

"Whoa," Bobo laughed nervously. "Probably used too much lighter fluid or something."

"Or something," Marcus replied. "You got this?"

Bobo looked over at Gretel then turned back to Marcus. "Like the new girl, eh?"

"Something like that," was all Marcus said before walking towards her.

"Still can't believe you talked me into this," Gretel sighed as she pulled her sunglasses off the top of her head and put them on.

Creek saw Marcus heading towards them and smiled at her, "Maybe it won't be too bad after all."

Manfred looked over to the approaching Marcus as he said, "Don't give her any ideas."

"Marcus is a good guy," Creek defended. "He's a bit odd, but who isn't?"

"All the best people are odd." Gretel smiled at Marcus when he finally reached them. "Afternoon, stranger."

Marcus cocked his head to the side a little. "Would you like to go for a walk, Gretel?"

"Sure," she answered then turned to her brother to tease, "Don't worry, I'll stay where you can see me."

Manfred was completely serious when he answered with, "Yeah, you better."

As Gretel walked off with Marcus she gave her brother a thumbs-up then turned her attention to her walking companion. "So, magic-man, care to tell me the secret of that parlor trick last night?"

"Mysteries are harder to solve than that," he replied with a half smirk upon his face. Marcus wasn't going to make it that easy for her.

"Playing hard to get, I like it," Gretel answered lightly, returning her sunglasses to the top of her head.

Marcus didn't look at her as he answered with, "Figured as much."

"If I'm that easy to read then I'm doing something wrong," she replied, meaning every word of it.

Marcus was about to answer that but realized that Gretel had stopped walking and looked very pale. "You alright?"

"Something's wrong," Gretel replied and a moment later Fiji started screaming from the riverbank. Gretel and Marcus took off running towards the screams where the crowd had gathered. Upon seeing the woman's body washed up from the river, Gretel took in a sharp breath when she saw the girl's head turn to look at her.

Manfred went right to his sister and pulled her away from Marcus, knowing what was going to happen to her next. "Breathe, Gretel. Fight it."

Gretel tried to do what her brother asked of her, but she couldn't. She darted from the group and once she was far enough away out of sight, she started throwing up water. The water gushed out of her and it seemed never-ending.

Manfred held onto Gretel to steady her as he repeated, "Fight it, Gretel."

She was trying, she really was, but the water just kept coming.

Manfred saw Marcus coming towards them and he held a firm hand out to stop him. "Stay back."

Marcus ignored the warning and went right to Gretel. "Let her go," he said to Manfred. "Do it. I can help her."

Manfred wasn't sure how much longer Gretel would last because the water kept coming so he removed his hand and hoped he was making the right choice.

Marcus placed his hands on Gretel's back and a moment later, all at once, water fell from Gretel's entire body and fell to the ground. Once this was done, a weak and soaked Gretel leaned into Marcus as she coughed and gagged to catch her breath.

Manfred went straight to his sister then and scooped her up in his arms. "Thanks," he said to Marcus – who didn't try to keep him from taking Gretel – then carried her to the truck with the intention of taking her home.

"Why doesn't that ever happen to you?" Gretel weakly asked as she leaned into her brother.

Manfred answered honestly. "I don't know." He had no idea why every time Gretel saw a dead body their cause of death, in a way, projected into her. Manfred himself had never experienced that but it happened to Gretel every time.

He changed the subject as he put Gretel into the truck. "The cops will be coming soon. Stay here and if anyone happens to ask, you fell in the river."

"Feels like I almost drowned in it," Gretel made it sound like she was joking but it was far from it.

"I bet." He gave his sister a kiss on the forehead before going back to the group.

On the way there, Marcus approached him. "She alright?"

Manfred stopped to answer that. "Yeah, she'll be fine. Look, I don't know how you did that but thank you."

"We all have our oddities," was all Marcus had to say about that before going on his way.

That night, Manfred was worried about Gretel so he pulled the recliner into her room and slept there. He hadn't felt the need to do that in a long time and Gretel, she hadn't wanted him to for just as long. Neither of them acknowledged this and just settled down for the night.

It was pretty late when the temperature in the room grew cold – grew unnaturally cold. Because of this, Gretel rolled over and woke up to the sight of the dead girl – who Gretel was told was Bobo's fiancée Aubrey – lying beside her with water gurgling from her mouth.

Gretel jumped out of bed with a gasp and almost ran into Manfred who had woken up from the cold as well. The cold wasn't all that Aubrey's ghost had brought with her for the floor was covered with water as well.

Manfred stood protectively in front of Gretel as he said, "Aubrey, you don't belong here." When she moved closer he held up his hands to block her and made it clear, "We don't give you permission. Go away!" Aubrey still moved closer so he grabbed onto Gretel's hand and they pair darted across the bed to the other side of the room to get away from her.

Aubrey's decayed and bloated ghost moved to the frosted windows and wrote the word 'Help'.

"Okay," Gretel answered, finding that she wanted to help her.

Manfred didn't like this idea. "Gretel…"

"I'm going to help her with or without you." Gretel took a firm stance this time.

Manfred saw the seriousness in his sister's eyes and caved. "Fine," he turned to Aubrey. "If it means that you'll go away, but my way. Precautions in place." Manfred looked at Gretel, "Alright?"

"Alright," she answered and left the bedroom with him to get started.

Gretel walked out of the RV now dressed in all black – black jeans, knee high boots, a vintage tee, and a black denim jacket in her hands. She didn't bother with her hair so it was a frazzled mess hanging down her shoulders.

"Who's getting the holy water?" Gretel asked as she pulled on her jacket.

"I think you've had enough water for awhile," Manfred lightly replied, "I'll get it."

"What am I to do then?" Gretel wasn't too keen on just sitting by and doing nothing.

Manfred could easily tell that's what she was thinking. "I know you hate this, but just wait here. I won't be too long and then we'll both take part in helping her." He didn't give her a chance to argue about it and headed down the street towards the church.

Gretel didn't seem to have much choice in the matter. Yeah, she could have followed him to the church but that'd might draw attention so she just went back into the RV to get her bag and then climbed up the ladder at the back to get to the roof. She'd be fine waiting there until Manfred returned.

Gretel was sketching away again when she felt like she was being watched. She raised her eyes to see if anyone was there but couldn't see anyone. And yet, she couldn't shake the feeling. It wasn't until Gretel looked up across the street that she saw Marcus standing on the roof of the building with what looked like a cup of coffee in his hand, looking down at her.

Marcus raised the mug in greeting before taking a drink and turning around, walking away out of sight.

Gretel was reminded of a conversation she had with her grandmother when she was younger in that moment:

Xylda was reading Gretel's tarot and gushed, "When you need them the most, you will meet a tall, dark stranger who will need and mean as much to you as you need and mean to them."

Gretel laughed at that. "That's what you always say when you're putting on a show."

Xylda couldn't argue with her there, "True." She then leaned across the table and took Gretel's hands in hers. "But in your case, child, it's true."

Gretel was pulled from her memory when she heard a tapping on the side of the RV. She looked down to see her brother standing there with a flask of Holy Water in his hands.

"You ready to do this?" Manfred asked, all the while wondering what she was just thinking about.

Gretel nodded and climbed down the ladder with her bag. "Let's boogie."

The siblings walked into the house and decided to set up in the spare room that, luckily for them, was empty of furniture. While Manfred set up the protective circle around them, Gretel opened up the box containing their family's Spirit Board. "I haven't used this in a long time."

"You remember how?" Manfred wasn't trying to be condescending or anything, he just wanted to make sure that she was prepared.

"I could never forget," Gretel replied, placing her hand on the pointer as he sat down beside her within the protective circle with a pen and paper in his hands. "Let's do this, shall we?" Gretel took a deep breath and said, "Aubrey…show yourself." She then turned to her brother, "That sounded lame."

Manfred scoffed a chuckle at that before saying to get Aubrey's attention, "Don't be coy."

Aubrey's ghost fogged into the room with the sound of bubbling water accompanying her. She reached out to them as she approached, needing to contact them.

"Stay on that side, Aubrey," Gretel said to her clearly. "I don't like asking twice."

Aubrey sat down on her side of the barrier in front of them.

"What is it that you need to tell us?" Manfred asked and Aubrey answered by holding her hand out and moving it to move Gretel's hands on the board.

"Whoa, slower," Gretel exclaimed because Aubrey was moving her hand so fast that she couldn't even see what letters they landed on.

Aubrey listened and started moving more slowly to spell out the message.

Gretel let out a breath, "There we go," and read off the letter. "P. E. C. A. D. O. S."

Manfred wrote that down and voiced, "Pecados?"

Aubrey nodded as water gurgled from her mouth when she tried to speak. A moment later, another ghost appeared of a screaming woman, making Manfred ask, "A friend of yours?"

"I don't think we took enough precautions," Gretel pointed out when the room started to fill with various ghosts – each one appearing worse than the previous one.

Manfred slowly rose to his feet as he pulled Gretel up along with him. "No. You are not welcome here. We called for Aubrey, not the rest of you. You are not welcome in our…" He was cut off when a sinister growling came from beneath the floor followed by a red glow.

"This is our home!" Gretel shouted at them. "You have no right!"

She was answered by the glowing beneath the floorboards pushing them upwards to the ceiling and then out of their protective circle.

"I made a mistake!" one of the ghosts growled at them. "I don't want to die!" he lunged at them but they were out the door before he could possess either of them.

Manfred quickly wrapped a pendant around the doorknob to keep the ghosts locked in there…hopefully.

"That…that's never happened before. And what the hell was that thing under the floor!" Gretel wasn't freaking out exactly but she was a little shook.

"More intense than your usual tea party, huh?" Manfred joked, trying to ease the air about but the glowing from beneath the door and the sinister growls that accompanied pretty much nulled out any progress he made with it.

Gretel threw her hand out towards the door saying, "Ya think?" She pressed her hands together and rubbed them while walking to the window. "Ah, hell."

Manfred went to see why Gretel said that and saw one of the Sheriff's deputies making their way towards the house. "Damn it." He quickly grabbed his coat from the back of the chair and put it at the bottom of the door to block out the light and the flies that came with Aubrey.

"Grab your bag and go out the back," Manfred quickly asked of his sister. "It's better if I just deal with them."

Gretel wanted to put up a fight about that but there wasn't time so she just grumbled, grabbed her bag as requested, and quickly went out the back while Manfred was going to answer the front door.

Gretel knew not to question her brother's 'sixth sense' but sometimes she'd swear that he'd only claim it was that just to get her to do what he wanted. This thought was in her mind as she turned her corner to head into the alleyway and almost walked right into Marcus. "If this town wasn't so small I'd think you were stalking me," she joked in greeting.

"How are you feeling?" He hadn't seen her since the picnic and wanted to be sure she was alright.

"Fit as a fiddle. I'm not gonna question your mysterious way of helping me, but I am going to say thank you." An awkward silence fell between them in that moment. "So…thank you."

Marcus didn't answer that right off. Instead, he picked a nearby dead weed and held out to her. As he did this, the dead weed turned into a beautiful life rose in full bloom. Marcus answered her then, "You're welcome."

If Gretel didn't know any better she'd thought she was seeing things or this was some sleight of hand trick but she did know better and whatever mystery Marcus was…she wanted to solve it. Gretel reached out and took the rose from him with a smile upon her face. "If you're trying to charm your way into my pants, you're going to have to work harder than that."

Marcus grinned upon hearing that. "Challenge accepted." With that said, he started to back away. "Until next time." Another one of his grins graced his expression before he turned around and headed back the way he came.

Gretel put the flower in her bag and went the other direction, looking back from time to time until Marcus was out of sight. When the Deputy was gone she knew Manfred would call her so all she had to do was fill in the time until then.

Gretel was at the restaurant when Manfred called to tell her what had happened. To keep the Deputy from digging up their secret he told her about Pecados and how that was a waterway where a gun was found. Presently he had her on speakerphone in the RV while he was also talking to their grandmother so Gretel could hear as well.

"You told us we'd be safe," Manfred said to his grandmother as he popped a pill. "Don't forget your pill, Gretel."

"Already took it," she replied, glad that the restaurant was pretty much empty.

"I thought you two would lay low," Xylda interjected, "not conjure up angry ghosts."

"Hey," Gretel defended with a mouthful of food, "It was only one not a crowd of them."

"And we certainly didn't conjure up whatever that was under that floor," Manfred added in.

"Midnight's not the same as most places," Xylda informed her grandchildren.

"Which is why we need to get the hell out of here as soon as…" Manfred was cut off by a knock at the door. Because of this he said, "See you soon, Gretel," and ended the call.

Gretel just shrugged and turned her phone off to finish her meal.

By the time Gretel got back to the RV, Manfred was gone. "Freddie?" she asked, going into the RV slowly because the door was left open. Manfred wasn't there but her grandmother's ghost was.

"A loony blonde socked him good," Xylda informed her. "I didn't see after that." Her ghost disappeared then because there was nothing more for he to say.

"I knew I didn't like her!" Gretel exclaimed and since she had no idea what she was getting herself into, she was going to call in some backup. Gretel opened the locket around her neck, releasing a ghost within.

The ghost took form in front of her – a strongly built woman standing about six feet in height wearing a tattered prison uniform from where she had been stabbed. "Hello, Gretel," she greeted with an almost motherly air. "What do you need?"

"Millie, Manfred's been taken and I have no idea what Olivia really is so I need your help," Gretel quickly answered.

An 'ohhhh boy' expression spread across the ghost's face. "Time for tea?"

Gretel nodded. "Time for tea. You have my permission."

Millie's ghost form turned to fog and she entered Gretel's body. Once in possession, she cracked her knuckles and went on her way to find Manfred.

Gretel knew where Olivia lived so Millie went straight there. She knocked on the door and when a voice called out, "What!" from the other side, she said sweetly, "I'm here for the tea party," before kicking the door down.

Manfred, only in his boxers and tied to a chair, exclaimed, "Don't do anything!" that was not only directed to Olivia, Fiji, and Lemuel in the room but to Gretel and Millie as well. "She's possessed, don't hurt her!"

Millie was ready for a rumble and even with knowing what Lemuel was, she felt she could take him. "These people took you, Manfred. They need to pay for that."

"It's nothing, Millie," Manfred quickly replied, needing her to understand that before a fight broke out. "Gretel, listen to me, I'm fine. Okay? Send Millie back, you don't need her."

Gretel took control and looked at her brother, seeing the sincerity in his eyes. With a heaved sigh, she said, "Get out, Millie," and without fuss Millie left Gretel's body and went back into the locket. Gretel coughed a bit then closed the locket once Millie's ghost was inside.

Olivia pointed at Gretel with wide eyes, "What the hell was that?"

"Someone who would have killed you if she'd been allowed," Gretel shot back. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to untie my brother."

Lemuel spoke up then. "I apologize for the misunderstanding, Manfred…and Gretel.

"I really wish people would stop putting our names together like that," Gretel muttered to herself because every time it came out like the title of the fairy tale Hansel and Gretel. Once she untied Manfred, she turned around to ask, "Why is my brother practically naked?"

"I was looking for GPS trackers, wires and such," Olivia answered, crossing her arms. "But since you two are the grandchildren of Gypsy Xylda, apparently you both get a free pass. She didn't sound too pleased about that.

Lemuel calmly interjected there. "Your brother was just telling us why you came to Midnight."

"Like I said," Manfred answered, rubbing his wrists, "After a run in with someone who tried to kill me, Xylda said we should hide out here."

"Who are they and why do they want you dead?" Olivia asked, stepping forward with a set of metal knuckles on her hand.

Gretel stepped in front of her brother and stared Olivia down. "Hit my brother again and I will unleash hell on earth on you. Don't think that I can't…or won't."

Manfred answered the question in hopes of keeping things calm. "To answer your question, Olivia, he really wants Xylda dead but it's too late for that. Gretel and I are the only ones left to get payback from." He left out the part that Hightower was only going after him and not Gretel.

Lemuel didn't understand something. "Who'd want to hurt Xylda?"

Manfred was getting his clothes back on as he answered, "She ran scams, removed fakes hexes, curses…"

Gretel picked up from there, "Stole and spent more than two million dollars."

"None of this explains why he's so chummy with the Sheriff," Olivia pointed out.

"They showed up at my door," Manfred explained. "I didn't want to give them any of my or Gretel's secrets so I gave them Aubrey's. Now, I'm done with the questions."

Gretel made it seem like she was turning around but quickly turned back and punched Olivia right in the face. Lemuel was surprised, Fiji gasped loudly, and Olivia was pissed. "You mess with my brother and you mess with me. Don't ever do that again."

When Gretel walked off to go over to Manfred, Olivia was about to charge after her but was stopped when Lemuel grabbed hold of her arm and quietly said to her, "Don't. She's Marcus'."

Olivia stopped dead in her tracks upon hear that. "Seriously? Her?" A heavily incredulous scoffed escaped Olivia as soon as Lemuel nodded in confirmation.

Meanwhile, Manfred was buttoning up his shirt as he spoke to Gretel. "I thought I said no tea party guests."

"Grandma said the loony blonde socked you and you were gone," Gretel reasoned. "I didn't know what I was walking into so I asked Millie for help. Out of all my tea party guests, I think Millie was the best one."

"You're badass when you get all protective," Manfred grinned, actually a little impressed of his sister.

"Yeah, well, you just get annoying when you are." Gretel grinned. "I must have gotten all the good genes."

Presently rejoining the little group, Lemuel spoke. "Midnight has been a haven for people like us for centuries. Some, like Xylda, stop for a bit and move on. Others, like us, make this home."

"Wait, everyone here is…" Manfred stopped his question to ask Olivia, "What are you?"

"None of your business," she replied, spinning the metal knuckles around her finger.

"Olivia's a friend," Lemuel explained. "Her, Bobo, human but open-minded.

Fiji walked in with a bag of ice for Manfred then, "Your grandma wasn't wrong. If you can stand the summers and the neighbors, Midnight is pretty safe."

"As long as we're quiet," Lemuel added in, "cops and regular folks tolerate us, but..."

Olivia cut him off, "The bitch dying isn't quiet."

Lemuel calmly picked up from there, "And with the police and media digging, torches and pitchforks aren't far behind."

"You said that people like us are drawn here," Gretel interjected. "So, question – what's so special about this place?"

Fiji smiled as she answered. "Oh, well, Midnight sits on powerful mystical energy. The veil between the living and the dead is awful thin here."

Gretel and Manfred thought the same thing as they looked at each other, simultaneously saying, "Oh."

Olivia didn't like the sound of that. "Oh, what?"

Manfred was quick to answer. "Oh, we get why Xylda liked this place so much."

"Do you want me to get you some salve for your face?" Fiji offered.

"No," Manfred replied, "I just want to get home."

Lemuel spoke to both Manfred and Gretel before they left, "Again, apologies for the little misunderstanding. This is usually a quiet and peaceful town."

Gretel just glared at the group as she led the way out with Manfred right behind it.

Once they were gone, Olivia exclaimed, "Her!"

"I saw Marcus' flame myself," Lemuel affirmatively replied. "It's her."

The next day, Gretel was walking through town when she felt like she was being watched again. She looked up and saw Marcus standing on the roof of his apartment building again with a beer bottle in his hand. Curiosity and perhaps something more was eating away at Gretel so she crossed the street with the intent of speaking with him.

Since he was still up on the roof, Gretel climbed up the fire escape on the outside of the building and went right up there. "I'd make a joke that you're my guardian angel or something but I doubt you're very angelic."

"Do you ever simply say hello?" Marcus asked, handing a beer out to her.

Gretel made a 'pfft' sound as she opened the bottle. "Now where's the fun in that?" After taking a sip, she set it down and sat, patting the spot in front of her to do the same. "I'm going to give you a reading. Free of charge, of course."

Marcus took another drink before sitting across from her. As he offered his hand he said, "I would rather not have my cards read."

Gretel, mid motion of pulling her tarot out of her bag, put the cards back in. "Suit yourself." She took Marcus' hand in hers and started reading the lines there. "You have a long life ahead of you, a very interesting one indeed. It's not one that you'd expect." Her thumb moved across his palm as she continued to read his lines. "You're going to meet your soulmate soon, if you haven't already. Again, not one you'd expect."

Gretel was going to read more but Marcus' hand ignited, burning hers. She hissed from the pain and recoiled. "What the hell was that for!"

Marcus' face filled with dread when he realized what had happened. "I'm so sorry. That was not my intention, Gretel, believe me. I'm having trouble controlling it." He reached out to offer her help, "Here, let me see."

"I'm fine," Gretel answered, and picked up her bag to go. "I'll see you around, Marcus."

Marcus didn't try stopping her and dropped his head as she descended the fire escape, hating himself for what had just happened. Yes, it was an accident, but something he'd never want to do would be to cause her harm and that's exactly what he just did.

Gretel, once on the pavement, crossed the street and headed back home. She went right into the RV and interrupted a kiss between Manfred and Creek. "Put a sock next time," was her greeting as she started rummaging around looking for some ointment.

Manfred was about to make a crack but saw the burn on her hand which stopped him from doing so. "Gretel, what happened?" He moved from the little sofa and went over to his sister to inspect the damage.

Gretel stated the obvious. "Burned it. I just need some cream and I'll be fine."

"Take your pill while you're at it," Manfred reminded her and opened a draw to pull out the burn cream she was looking for.

"Can I do anything to help?" Creek asked, feeling weird just sitting there.

"If you could grab the bandages, they're in the cupboard there," Manfred answered as he pulled Gretel's pill bottle from her bag and handed her one. "Take."

Gretel took it with a sigh and held out her hand since he seemed so adamant to play nursemaid. "I can take care of myself, you know."

"I know," Manfred answered as he applied the ointment then thanked Creek for the bandage wrap before continuing his thought to Gretel, "I just want to make sure that you know you don't have to."

Once the wrap was in place, blue and red light shone in the RV indicating that there was a cop car outside. "I wasn't there, I didn't do it, and you can't prove it anyway," Gretel joked, though she sounded serious.

Creek was actually a little worried until Gretel grinned and then she just chuckled nervously in reply.

The trio wanted to see what was up so they all went outside to find out why the cops were there. They weren't the only ones either. It seemed the entire town came out to see what was going on and came to find Bobo getting arrested for the murder of his fiancée, Aubrey.

The Sherriff shouted to the group that they identified the murder weapon and it belonged to Bobo. He proceeded to tell them all to clear the road and go home but no one moved to do so.

Marcus joined the group and stood with Lemuel as Lemuel said, "You have already decided that he's guilty. I don't trust you with our friend."

Marcus firmly added in, "You do not want to start a war."

"Go home!" the sheriff shouted again, not about to give any more of those 'Midnighters' another moment of his time.

Fiji raised her hands and as her eyes started to glow, the police car started to dent into itself before rising up from the ground.

The Rev placed his hand on her arm, saying, "Fiji, this is not the way. This won't help him. And tomorrow's a full moon, I'll be unavailable for a few days."

"We have got to be smart about this, Fij," Olivia added in. "Not angry."

Manfred and Gretel exchanged a look with each other before Manfred said, "We'll help. However we can."

"And we're pretty sure we can," Gretel assured. "We can."

Fiji stopped what she was doing with a little cry and released her magic from the car, making it drop back to the road and return to normal.

This time when the Sheriff started to drive the car, no one got in their way.

Once the cruiser was out of sight, Manfred and Gretel walked home and stood in front of the house that was glowing red and clearly filled with more ghosts than had been there before.

Gretel crossed her arms at the sight of this and took a deep breath. "We're gonna need more holy water."

Manfred looked to his sister with a look on his face that said they were going to need a lot more than that.

End Season 1 Episode 1