Wow, this was awkward. How was he supposed to explain this? "My name's Kurt." He replied. "And I know this'll sound really weird, but I'm not from...around here, and my, er, traveling device seemed to think it was a good idea to land in your basement."

The man gave him an odd look but then burst out laughing. "Weird. What sort of traveling device is that? It looks like a huge gray box."

"To be honest I have no idea." Kurt replied, glad the man wasn't threatening to kick him out or anything yet. "Um...so I can't leave again because it only works when it wants to and that's going to be a while. I don't suppose you would mind me leaving it in your basement for a while?"

"Eh, go ahead. Not much I can do about it." The man laughed. "I'm Crab, by the way; known around these parts as Dr. Knowall. I've seen weirder things so a kid showing up in my basement by way of gray box isn't the weirdest thing. Why don't you stay upstairs though until it's ready to leave again? My wife, Gretel, won't mind."

Kurt had to question this guy's smarts for a second. If he were in Crab's spot he would have been really wary about some kid just showing up in his basement. Either way, it would be nice to not have to stay in the gray room until he had to leave again, plus obviously something was going to happen if the Tor had had him stop here.

They went upstairs and the doctor explained things to his wife. She seemed somewhat confused still, but just shrugged and made up the guest room for Kurt. Over the next couple of days Kurt watched as the doctor took care of his patients. Some times Kurt had to wonder if the guy even knew what he was doing. One day a nobleman showed up in a fancy carriage and explained that he had had a great deal of money stolen from him. Someone had informed him that a Doctor Knowall from this village would know what had become of his money. Once the nobleman knew Crab was the doctor, he asked him to come back to his castle. The doctor agreed but only on the condition that his wife and his nephew, Kurt, would come along with. Crab and Gretel had been telling people that Kurt was their nephew who had come to live with them after the death of his parents. The story had helped explained Kurt's sudden appearance. The nobleman agreed and so the four of them went off to the castle.

When they arrived a great dinner was laid out and the doctor was invited to sit to it. He replied that he would only do so if Gretel and Kurt could as well. So the three of them sat at the table and when the first servant arrived with their food, the doctor told them that 'this is the first' meaning the first course. The servant was afraid though; because he was the first thief, and went back to tell the other servants that the doctor indeed knew everything and that they were in quite a bit of trouble. The second servant was scared to go in but he had to, so he went in to set down more food. The doctor informed his wife and Kurt that 'this is the second' and the servant grew even more terrified and hurriedly left the room. The third servant fared no better. When the fourth servant went in the nobleman asked the doctor to show off his skill and guess what was under the covered dish. The doctor had no clue and, feeling quite distressed, shook his head saying 'poor Crab, poor Crab', meaning himself. Ironically, the food under the dish was indeed crab, much to both the doctor and Kurt's surprise. The nobleman was quite impressed and even surer now that the doctor would be able to know who had stolen the money. Kurt was feeling a little bad for the doctor now because surely he could not know who had stolen the money. It had to have just been a lucky guess about the crab.

Then the doctor was summoned from the room and Kurt and Gretel were left to wonder what was going on. When Crab returned however he looked quite pleased with himself. He informed the nobleman that he would consult his book and then reveal where the money was hidden. As he was looking through the book however he seemed to look somewhat confused and at one point muttered quite loudly 'I know you're here; so you better come out of hiding." To everyone's surprise a fifth servant, looking absolutely terrified, popped out from behind a stove and cried out that the doctor 'certainly knew everything'. Kurt now really wondered if the doctor was just having lucky guesses or if he really did have ways of knowing things.

The doctor then showed them all where the real money was hidden. The only problem was that the thieves had lost the key to the lock for the chest they had hidden the money in. While they all tried to find a solution, Kurt placed his hand in his pocket and felt the silver key that was still there. Not entirely sure if this key was meant for the chest or not, Kurt tried it in the lock. Surprisingly the key fit and the chest was unlocked. He hid the key again and then told the doctor to try the lock again. The doctor was pleasantly surprised, although confused, when the lock opened and they could finally get the money out. The nobleman was pleased and gave the doctor a great reward. Afterward, Crab, Gretel, and Kurt returned to their home. Only a day later the doctor received even more money though it was not from the king. Confused, Kurt asked him where the extra money had come from. The doctor happily explained that when he had been summoned from the dinner at the castle the servants had told him they were the ones to have stolen the money and that if he did not turn them in they would give him a nice reward. Kurt was impressed, though he probably would have, if it was his decision, turned the thieves in anyway. Now the doctor and his wife were extremely rich and famous though so they were not going to complain.

That night, Kurt was asleep in the guest room when he felt the house starting to shake violently. The sky outside seemed darker than ever and an odd breeze blew through the open window. It was just like when he had been with the two old brothers. They had said it was the Witch. Maybe she had found him again? She wanted his key...maybe because he had used it she found him. He had to get out of here. Running down the stairs, intent upon heading for the basement, Kurt ran into Crab and his wife who were trying to get out of the house to keep from getting hurt by falling objects or possibly even the roof. They told him he had to get out too but he explained that he had to get to the basement and to his gray box. Crab tried to stop him but just then the front door flew off its hinges and the tall form of the Witch appeared in the doorway. Kurt made a run for it and fled down the basement steps. Horrible screams could be heard coming from the upstairs and when Gretel's scream was cut off with a loud choking sound Kurt knew the Witch was not being merciful. Tears sprang to his eyes as he paused and turned, briefly considering going back up to help his friends. By this point though he could no longer hear their screaming and he knew it was too late. The house was still shaking quite a bit and groaning loudly. It was only a matter of time before it collapsed. Kurt ran to the Tor and threw open the door, jumping inside and slamming it shut behind him. Then he collapsed and leaned with his back against the door, hoping it would lock and stay closed so the Witch could not get in. Something heavy hit the door but the thumping noise was swallowed by the deafening silence that lived in the gray room. Again something heavy hit the door and Kurt shut his eyes tightly. Most people probably would have been praying to God by this point, but Kurt was not really a believer so he just hoped to Gaga that he would remain safe in this room.

He stayed sitting against the door for over an hour or two at the least. Nothing else had hit the door since the last thump. Kurt wondered if it was safe to go out, but he was exhausted and instead just lay down and closed his eyes. At least he was safe in here. Now that he could think about things more with a less panicked mind, he was kind of surprised to realize that Blaine had not been in the last world. There had not even been a look-a-like from his world there. Ah well. Moments later he was drifting off to sleep, figuring he could see where he was later after some rest.