1 Stop being such a p*ssy!

"Are you sure this is the place?" Monty Belinsky meekly asks.

The blond boy searches the dark woods from left to right several times to calm his nerves. His teeth chatters loudly against the blowing wind. Monty hugs himself, bracing the wind as he sinks his head into his ugly neon orange sweatshirt. He follows after his daring, yet obnoxious step-sister through the muddy terrain with only torn clothes and apprehension squeezing his bladder.

A loud crow leaps from a branch and caws, frightening Monty. He shrinks down and yips, closing his eyes tightly. "Ahh!" Monty shrieks.

Dark hair was tossed from Rue Stonewell's shoulder as she stopped and turned. A scowl mars her face as she spots the scared dweeb trying to curl into a fetal position. "C'mon, you big baby! We have to do this for mom, and your dad," she scoffs. Her gaze pierces into the petrified eyes of Monty, practically forcing him to continue on.

An owl hoos from somewhere near, causing a girly shriek from the only boy in the forest. "I know.." Monty licks his lips, "but why'd we have to do it at night? Why can't we just find this silly old hag in the day... Ya know, with light?" Monty whines. He sighs, defeated, when he notices Rue has already walked away. Trudging on, Monty begins to regret following the rude, older girl into the forest in search of some witch.

Rue rolls her eyes hatefully, starting to regret bringing the nerd with her. Her soft knit sweater was torn here and there, but one of the sleeves were ripped down the side as she absentmindedly plays with the scorched strands. "Because this witch is nocturnal, and I rather not piss her off when I'm asking for a favor, thank you very much!" She battles her way through the long branches with her snarky reply. Rue curses under her breath when she cuts her hand.

A groan leaves the brunette's mouth before she darkens her expression and with new determination, she marches on. She doesn't bother looking behind because Monty's cries of trepidation only alert her of his presence. Rue pushes away a few more tree limbs when she spots a small cottage with smoke coming from its chimney. With a grand smile, Rue rushes towards the peaceful home with hope filling her heart once again.

Monty, on the other hand, was trying to keep up with Rue. He saw her bright pink sweater disappear through the leaves, faulting him with his anxiety shaking every bone in his body. Monty's heart begins to race as he jerked free from the old vines surrounding him. His legs begin to slip, then he falls. His blond hair is caked with mud and so is the rest of his back side.

Monty groans, "Rue..."

Slowly, he lifts himself up and breaths deeply. Monty slowly blinks as he begins to recall his sight. In the distance, the annoyed call of Rue reaches his ears. "Hurry up, Monty! We haven't got all night." He could tell she was pissed, and was growing angrier by the second.

Monty rolls his eyes at the spoiled little brat before gently rising from the ground. He brushes off as much mud as he could. He sighs again, knowing he has no where to go but forwards, before he continues his trek through the nasty forest. When he broke free of the tree limbs, Monty finds Rue walking up the steps of an old, dark cottage. With panic in his step, he races towards her to stop her idiotic quest.

"Rue! What are you doing?" Monty whispers pertubately.

Rue only turns to glare at him. Her eyes were glaring fire and Monty trembled beneath her. "We are doing this, Monty. No ifs, ands, or buts!" declares Rue. She was determined to find her mother, and the dweeb's dad. They were all It was when she noticed the pure terror in the younger boy's eyes that she softens her gaze.

"Look," she sighs, "I have no idea what the hell just happened back there, but I rather not relive it.. and I know you don't want to either, Monty." Rue reaches out to grab onto Monty's shoulder, trying to draw some trust from their complex relationship as step siblings.

Monty hesitates a moment before speaking. He hesitates because he wants to save his parents, but he's not so sure he should follow Rue's route with the witch. His eyebrows narrow in concentration as he picks his poison. Finally, the boy sighs in defeat.

"Let's go save mom and dad, I guess." Monty shrugs. He already knew that whatever lay ahead now, there was no turning back.

Rue gives her step-sibling a gracious smile and Monty tries to smile happily in return, but it looks more of a sad grimace. Rue holds out her hand for Monty to take, and he does so reluctantly. They share another smile before the door to the cottage opens slowly with a loud creak of the wood. Both kids stop and turn, watching the door knock open with a sudden wind.

"Come in, children..." an old, eerie voice of an elderly woman swiftly touches their ears, beckoning them inside.

Monty noticeably gulps, blinking rapidly at the call. Rue hesitantly steps forward, walking up the ancient wooden steps. Monty draws in a sharp breath with the first creak in the wood. He follows after the hard-headed girl, tip-toeing right behind her. After Monty walks through the door, and it slams shut as if it never opened in the first place.

"We're gonna die!" Monty exclaims, fear evident in his voice.

Rue narrows her eyes at the scaredy cat before prying his claws off of her arm. She scoffs at his words, glaring at him for even speaking. "Stop being such a pussy, Monty." Throwing him a dirty look, Rue ventures farther into the house.

A scowl from Monty is all she misses. He scrounged up the rest of his wits and dignity before trudging after Rue. He stops when both of them are standing in a room—one that looks to be the dining room—and marvels at the sight before him.