Edd sat within the confines of his room, a desk lamp illuminating his latest project as he screwed in the last detail. Sleep had been hard to come by the previous night and it was clear to see by the bloodshot eyes that had spent much of the evening staring at the ceiling.

Looking over his shoulder at where the clock hung off the wall, with the estimated guess that it would take roughly fifteen minutes to reach his destination he would need to leave within the next ten minutes. Truly he was frightened beyond belief but he had sworn to himself that he would go through with this. Taking a moment to peer through his window, he could see the unmistakable figure of of Ed carting around several boxes, no doubt on the orders of Eddy.

An exasperated sigh escaped his lips as he closed the blinds, knowing that it would more likely than not be dark when he returned. Closing the casing on his device, Edd pushed himself up from his desk and braced himself for the barrage of questions he was going to have to answer.

Edd could feel the eyes of his peers pry into his soul as he stepped into the light. While he hadn't heard any in particular he was well aware that rumours were being spread after his confrontation with Marie. Closing the door behind him, Edd paid no attention to the scam that Eddy was concocting as he made his way to the road. Sadly though a peaceful exit was out of the question.

"Double D, you're alive," bellowed Ed as he dropped the boxes he had been carrying and Edd could make out the distinct sound of something shattering.

"Alive, you thought I was dead?" asked Edd wondering just what kind of rumours had been spread.

"We saw it yesterday, you offered your soul to the Kanker Succubus!" exclaimed Ed as a crowd began to form around them.

"Is this true?" asked Rolf. "Have you sacrificed yourself so that the corn fields may flourish?"

Edd couldn't help but feel that there was the smallest glimmer of truth hidden within these comments. "Gentlemen, please think somewhat rationally," said Edd as he tried to make them see that their claims were as farfetched as possible. "Ed, where did you even hear about Succubi?"

Reaching into his back pocket, Ed pulled a magazine out from the inner pocket of his jacket. "I read about them in 'The Hunt for the Horny Housewife' volume four," explained Ed as he showed off the magazine that clearly wasn't age appropriate.

"Heavens!" shouted Edd as he looked away from the cover.

"The udders this woman has put Beatrice to shame," said Rolf as he found himself mesmerized by the image in front of him. Eddy meanwhile having noticed that his stock wasn't being delivered had made his way over to where the three boys stood. Before saying anything however he took the opportunity to notice the rectangular bulge in Edd's pocket. With the boy clearly in momentary shock a sinister smile spread across his lips as he jumped into action.

"Where did you get such a book Ed?" asked Edd still refusing to look at the magazine.

"I found it," said Ed, the closest thing to an explanation as he was likely going to give.

"No kidding," said Edd as he composed himself. "Gentlemen, if you wouldn't mind I have some business to take care of."

Nobody said anything as Edd began his march away, everybody glancing in the boy's direction. Each of them had had their own theory as to what had happened the previous day and their curiosity only seemed to raise at the thought that Edd was going to meet with Marie once more. For what point and purpose, if it was true at all, was this act of stupidity. All of them knew that if you mingled with the Kankers then something terrible was to happen.

"Should we go after him?" asked Ed.

"Are you crazy?" asked Eddy in return.

"I feel that the smart Ed boy is going on a journey far too perilous for mortal men," added Rolf. "We must set up camp so that when he returns we will hear of his travels."

"If he returns at all," said Ed as he started biting at his fingernails.

"He won't even make it once he realises that I swiped this," said Eddy as he tossed a silver rectangular box in the air.

"What is that?" asked Ed not really caring that the scam artist had stolen from their friend.

"No clue," said Eddy before he spotted the red button that was begging to be pressed. A vicious smile spread across his face as he pushed in the button.

A crack of thunder exploded into existence despite there not being a cloud in the sky. "What witchcraft is this?" asked Rolf. "The sky gods roar out yet they do not weep so the crops may grow."

"Why would sock head make this?" asked Eddy knowing full well that the sound had come from the box in his hand. That question though was immediately forgotten as he spotted Kevin and knew that a prank was about to happen that would scare the boy right off his bike.

...

Edd sat on the couch within the small building as perspiration formed on his brow. It was understandable though, with the threat of being in a small confined area with a member of the opposite gender would make any hormonal teen nervous.

With a Kanker though it was likely for a different reason.

Checking his watch for the eighth time in the span of a minute, Edd saw that it was indeed time for he and Marie to meet yet the blue haired vixen had yet to show herself. On many occasions Eddy had spoke of being fashionably late but how did one measure 'fashionably' as a unit of time?

Would it be a matter of minutes, hours even?

Shaking his head from side to side, Edd did his best to calm his nerves. Just like how he had had to get away from his peers Marie would have to get away from her sisters. From experience he knew that this was no easy feat but he had faith that the automotive lover would be here soon.

...

"Let me out of this!" screamed Marie in a fit of rage as she struggled against the ropes which bound both her wrists and ankles together.

"Not until you tell us where you've been going these past couple of days," said May, sporting a number of scratches and bruises for her efforts in capturing Marie.

"What's it matter to you, I'm free to do what I want when I want," retaliated Marie.

"We're a family Marie, family keep no secrets from each other," stated Lee as she continued her work in the kitchen. "And if you ain't willing to tell us where you were going then I guess I'm going to have to make you tell us."

Marie's eyes widened and her attempts to escape doubled in effort as May and Lee placed clothespins on their noses. With bright yellow safety gloves, Lee reached into the pot and pulled out something so foul that you could see the stench surrounding it.

Goosebumps immediately became visible across Marie's skin as Lee brought the disgusting concoction closer to where she sat. With every step Lee got closer the stench only intensified and Marie struggled with every inch of her being against her bonds. It was to no effect however as May sat on top of her, the extra weight making her struggles futile.

"So are ya gonna talk Marie?" asked Lee as she placed the abomination right in front of her sister's face.

Sweat poured down Marie's face as she desperately tried not to inhale the stench that wafted in front of her. Her efforts were in vain however as her system gave out and she took a deep breath in, almost emptying the contents of her stomach as she did so. "I think she needs a taste of it," said May menacingly.

"I'll talk, I'll talk,, just get that crap away from me," screeched Marie knowing that a single taste of Lee's 'delicacy' could send her to the afterlife.

"Alrighty then," said Lee as she picked up her masterpiece and tossed it over her shoulder and out the window. "So squeal, where's ya headin'?"

"I was gonna meet Double D," said Marie knowing that lying in this situation would more than likely lead into a much more troublesome scenario.

"Oh really?" said May. "Was he bringing his friends along?"

"He's not that kinda guy," said Lee as she started taking off her gloves.

"So you're gonna let me go," said Marie as May got off her back, relieving much of the pain.

"No way sis," said Lee as she took off the clothespin that had been blocking her sense of smell. "This is for ya own good."

"WHAT!?"

"C'mon May, I feels like going for a walk," said Lee as she headed towards the front door.

"You can't leave me here!" yelled an outraged Marie but her pleas fell on deaf ears as both her sisters left, the teenage girl left alone to struggle against her bonds knowing that there was somewhere important she was meant to be.

...

For the second time in as many days, the peace of the cul de sac was destroyed by, what Rolf would call, 'primeval she-devils.' This time however the numbers were doubled and it only made the situation that more terrifying. Jonny was the unfortunate one to suffer at the fate of the sisters as he was taken off guard, his arm held tightly behind his back as Lee grabbed hold of the boy's best friend, bending the piece of two by four in her arms. "You willing to tell us what you know kid?" asked May as the first splinters began to crack.

"Stop it, please, you're breaking him!" shouted Jonny as his friend's torture continued.

"Then tell us what we want kid," said Lee, her fingernails digging into the back of Jonny's skull. "Where's Double D?"

...