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“That may be…” Karloff hesitates. “Part of your condition.”

Toto frowns. “His condition?”

“Yes.” Karloff gestures awkwardly toward Granger. “His, ah… scarecrow condition.”

Granger stares at him. “Are you telling me I literally lost my fucking brain?”

“Not lost,” Karloff says quickly.

Granger frowns. “That pause was way too long.”

Toto immediately wraps an arm around Granger and gives him a reassuring squeeze.

The look of pure fucking joy that crosses the bastard’s face makes something ugly twist in my gut.

Interesting. I look from him to Toto. I definitely missed something in those woods, and I haven’t had five minutes alone with either Nick or Granger to find out what.

“I don’t know why this witch is after you.” Karloff glances at all four of us, before continuing. “But if Vera pulled the three of you into Fable Forest before midnight on the night of the party, your transformations have effectively been dormant ever since.”

Nick glances at him. “Waiting for us to come back.”

“Exactly.”

“Now.” Dr. Karloff hands Toto a slip of paper. “There may still be something that can help you.”

Granger peers over her shoulder.

“‘The Dark Forest and Other Spells,’” Toto reads.

Karloff nods. “Go to The Spellbound Shelf on Witchhazel Way. Ask for Alice. If there’s an answer to what Vera did to you, that book may help you find it.”

Granger takes the paper from Toto and starts toward the door.

“Wait.”

We all turn back to Karloff.

He rubs a hand over his mouth. “You said the detective in Oz believes this witch may have taken humans from around Screaming Woods before?”

I nod. “Yes.”

His expression turns thoughtful. “Then perhaps your transformations are the reason the three of you survived her.”

I frown. “What do you mean?”

“Well, she took you into Fable Forest before the magic could take effect. But that doesn't mean it wasn't already there, waiting.” He pauses, considering his next words. “If she's been taking humans for centuries, something must have made her treat you differently.”

“You think she knew what we'd become?”

“I think she may have sensed something unusual about you. Whether she understood what it was is another matter entirely.”

A chill works its way beneath my fur.

“Find the book,” he says. “And talk to Alice.”

Nick and Granger head for the door, with Toto following behind them.

I don’t move. I need one question answered before I can walk out of here. “Dr. Karloff. You’ve never found a way to reverse it? The Frankenpunch?”