Outside, across the street from the Madison residence, Zoe was on her way to school when she spotted Athena heading toward her. The two met in front of Mrs. Wilson's house. The old woman was on the far side of her garden, as she often was, tending to it.
They usually met at school. "What's up?" Zoe asked her.
"Something's wrong," she said. "I was on my way to school, when I sensed something...coming from this direction. I'm not sure what."
Zoe didn't always understand Athena's feelings. Sure, she believed in the occult, but Athena's feelings never seemed to amount to much. The owner of the town's one Occult shop believed they might someday, but that was someday. For now, it was just a heightened sense of awareness for certain things.
Athena, meanwhile, was on edge, fingering the necklace around her neck. She always did that when she was upset. It was supposed to protect her from magic, but she never knew if what she sensed was magic or not. It made her feel safer though, having it on. She gazed across the street and spotted Zoe's mother walking off.
"Can we talk about this on the way? Zoe said.
Both picked up their pace. "Is there something wrong with your mom?" Athena asked.
"Why?"
"I just saw her walking...she looked odd."
Zoe hadn't noticed her. "No."
Athena shrugged. Hopefully it was just nothing, as it usually was.
Meanwhile, Jon started out the door, going down to the corner to wait for the school bus. His mom was acting sort of weird this morning.
Mikey, looked right and left, trying to figure out where his mother went to. She was nowhere to be seen.
