Dead Boy Detectives |The Endless Case|

Part 11 |The Case of Tragic Micks Magic Shop|

A worried Edwin sat on my bed, holding me tightly in his arms. I could've swore he had been crying too. We sat there together for a few moments more before Charles burst into the room.

    Immediately we pushed off of each other. Don't know why, just an instinctive reaction. Maybe it was because Charles was here now, or maybe it was because Charles being there made me realize just how close I was too Edwin.

    "We going to that magic shop, or what?" Charles didn't seem to notice what had gone on second before he entered, or maybe he just didn't care.

    "Magic shop?" I beamed, "you mean Tragic Micks? I love Tragic Micks!" I shot up off the bed, Edwin look a bit puzzled. "Well?" I offered a hand to help him up. He thought for a moment before taking my hand.

    Charles was already out of the room, "that cheered you up." Edwin's eyes studied me.

    "Like I said, I love Tragic Micks magic shop!" I skipped out the door after Charles, Edwin hastily followed.

    "So, why is he called Tragic Mick?" Charles asked.

    "Oh, he'll tell you." I snickered

~~~~

    "You know, this shop is really aces, Tragic Mick," I heard Charles chime as I browsed Micks collection of doohickeys and doodads.

    "Ayup," Mick sighed, "not a bad showing for a cursed walrus who's trapped on land looking like a man." He spoke while examining Edwin's new jewelry, "and that's not coming off."

    I came around the corner just as Edwin let out a big sigh.

    "Right, you're a cursed walrus? That's cool," Charles smiled.

    "With shelves full of magical trinkets, and not one of them will work?" Edwin was frustrated. Which was fair. He looked at me as if I had an answer.

    I shrugged, "I mean I could try, but I can't guarantee I won't take your hand off with it."

    "Ayup. That there's one of them spells that can only be undone by the caster." Mick confirmed.

    Edwin sighed again, "great."

    "Well, no luck here. So that bracelet is staying on. So let's start counting cats." Charles looked at his unimpressed best friend, who also seemed to be zoned out.

    "Um... Edwin?" I waved a hand in front of his face, he didn't even react.

    "Uh, you ok mate?" Charles questioned.

    "This is such a mess." Edwin stated after a beat of tense silence.

    Tragic Mick chuckled, "a real mess is one day finding out that your life's been taken away. I was once a mighty walrus."

    "Here we go," I said under my breath with a giggle. I think Edwin heard me. I could see the confusion rise in his eyes as looked at me.

    "Free in the ocean," Mick continued, "a proud king of the deep blue."

    "If you don't stop him, he's just gonna keep going," I quickly whispered to Edwin. Though I appreciated Micks need to tell his story, we probably didn't have time for this, judging by just how much Edwin wanted that bracelet off.

    As expected, Mick kept going, "It all started one night-"

    "We... are in a bit of a time crunch," Edwin cut him off.

    "No, what he means is, um... there must be something else that can help us," Charles clarified, trying to make Edwin seem less rude by cutting him off like that.