Rated T for some nudity, or something like that. Please note that I'm not trying to be disrespectful towards religions, nations or races (or anything/anyone else).
I don't own WITCH
Ignorance is Bliss
Part 1.
The night shaded the vast Heatherfield Park as a dense, black drape, with only tiny gaps in its fabric allowing dim starlight to pierce through. The whole urban woodland was silent, thanks to the luxuriant foliage, which kept the racket of the still rather lively business district away, and, not to mention, reduced the noise of police sirens, which suggested that chaos had overcome the mentioned quarter of the city.
Nothing was moving in the deserted park, save some tiny, nocturnal creatures, and a small group of people sneaking towards their destination, as silently as possible. That should've been difficult, given their lack of experience in slinking, but one of them made it surprisingly easy, forcing branches of thick bushes to yield to her with mere will.
They are right ahead! told a voice in the head of each Guardian.
Okay, guys, stop! Hay Lin, would you please become visible again? I nearly ran into you two times already…, said a mental voice, by which they all recognized their redheaded leader.
Oops… sorry! the answer came, and suddenly yet another girl appeared among the other four.
So… there's a plan, right? Tell me there's a plan! thought one of them, a brunette, but all the others received it as a message as well. Whenever we decide to do something crazy without a plan, it takes incredibly long. And I'm desperate to catch this evening's Desperate Housewives episode!
You should be desperate to catch the Knights, Irma! answered their leader.
So… that's the plan? We'll… capture them? asked a blonde girl named Cornelia. I thought we want to track them right to Nerissa…
That was the original idea: the reason why the Guardians had sent Hay Lin, the only member of the team who could go invisible, after the fearsome Knights of Destruction, when the demons had fled from the battle with them, and, by the way, ruined half of downtown. Hay Lin had followed the Knights, only to find out they were heading here, to the very center of the dark and unwelcoming park.
Apparently, they don't want to go back to Nerissa for the time being… But maybe Nerissa will come here! You know that saying with Buddha...
Well, it's actually Mohammed, Will… If the mountain will not come to Mohammed…, a voice said, by which Cornelia recognized Taranee, the pedantic Fire Guardian.
And what if she doesn't? asked Cornelia, interrupting her friend.
Okay, let's get this straight. Our first priority is to find out what the Knights are up to, and then we'll see what to do. But one thing's for sure: we won't attack until Nerissa gets here, only if worst comes to worst! replied the redhead, and she pointed towards the clearing in front of them, currently occupied by the Knights of Destruction, with her index finger. We have to go as close as possible, without being seen, and encircle them, to be able to attack at once from all directions. This time, we will be the ones to ambush!
Aw, man! There goes my show…
We've already discussed, what would you have to do, if it comes to a fight… Do you remember your roles? inquired the leader, without being distracted by Irma, and all four nodded in unity, while sending positive replies through their mental link. Great, split up, then! Hay Lin, you should keep your ear open! We need all the information about their intentions!
Roger that! Cornelia, Taranee, this way! told Hay Lin, emphasizing her words with a raised thumb, and she disappeared in the undergrowth.
Cornelia! broadcasted the leader, before the blonde could've vanished as well. Please, keep in mind that your task will be the most important!
Oh, don't worry, I'm very good at handling impossible situations, damnit! thought Cornelia bitterly, completely forgetting that the others can hear her thoughts.
Huh? What's the matter? Is there something… asked Will surprisedly, but the Earth Guardian didn't let her finish the sentence.
Everything's fine, Will, don't worry! It will totally work out, I'm sure! replied Cornelia quickly, while she felt cold sweat gathering on her forehead. Especially if all of you will remember to concentrate on kicking their butts! No fury towards stupid parents or anxiousness about boyfriends in supposed trouble...
Yeah, thanks for reminding me, Corny...
The point is, that you must keep your emotions at bay! Our lives can depend on it! thought Cornelia, and she surmised that the other two Guardians around inclined their heads in acquiesence.
I'll try! But, you know, I'm not sure if it's even possible to throw Matt out of my mind. I envy you for being so focused... thought Will.
Yeah, well the only thing I can think of which could disrupt my concentration at the moment is all this talking. Taranee! Please, cut me off the telepathic link!
Uhm… The dark skinned Fire Guardian was not so sure if that was a good idea, but since their leader didn't bother to argue with Cornelia, she fulfilled the blonde's request.
„There you go," whispered Taranee. „Now let's go after Hay Lin! Maybe… we should crouch down now; we're getting really close…"
And that was very close as well! thought Cornelia, wiping the sweat away from her forehead. „Yeah, right, let's dive into this stupid jungle and ruin my hair!"
Well, I guess I really am good at repressing emotions, after all. Not as if I had any other choice, but to learn to do so, mused Cornelia, and a memory of previous week came to her mind:
There was a sharp crash to be heard, when the clumsy physician let go of one of his weird instruments accidentally, and it fell on the dirty floor tile. The sound sent shivers down Cornelia's spine. It was already pretty humiliating to perch on that stupid chair, used by loads of, well… not so fortunate women before, and now, to top it all, this dumb doctor almost made her pee her panties…
Well, not quite literally, given she didn't have on any undergarment at the moment.
„You can put on your clothes now, Miss…"
„H… Johansson," said Cornelia, making every effort to get down from the chair. She was not sure, though, if she had used the same fake name, when she had arrived there. Too many things had happened ever since.
The blonde walked over to the unsteady metal stand by the wall, on which she had deposited her pants and underwear. She kept an eye on the chubby physician, who was wiping his thick glasses on his white coat.
„Yes, Miss… Johansson. Sure," said the man, letting out a disgusting little chuckle of disbelief. „Well, you must be curious about the results. I don't know whether it is good news or not, but…"
Thus he told her. Cornelia didn't answer; she hid behind the portable partition standing in the corner of the room instead, with her clothes in hand, and tried to resist the urge to collapse on the stool placed there. The Earth Guardian wanted to keep her cool; no matter it was a total stranger she had to talk to, who probably wasn't so eager to learn how she felt anyway.
Cornelia tried to pull herself together, by taking a few deep breaths, and forcing her emotions in the back of her mind. She dressed, and took an envelope, which contained a significant amount of cash (though only a small portion of her savings), out of her fine leather handbag.
The blonde had never been to a clinic like this, but she knew she won't be asked too many questions here. She didn't even know the exact price of a simple examination, but was quite positive she'd brought enough.
As Cornelia came forth from the other side of the partition, she saw the doctor writing something on a small piece of paper. The usual, cold confidence had already gained dominion over her face. She coughed, to catch the man's attention.
„Thank you for your services, Dr. Prichard!" she said, handing him the envelope.
„My pleasure, dear," the man replied, taking a look at the money in the envelope, and sticking a smile, which he preserved only for rich idiots, on his face. „Thank you for your generous donation! Oh, before I forget!"
Prichard gave her the sheet he wrote on. It was a prescription, with the name of a medicine unknown to Cornelia, and some other meaningless data.
„Some pills, to handle your disorders! You should come back if you'd run out, so I can prescribe more. And make sure you'll be more… careful next time!" the physician said, while shoving the envelope greedily into his pocket.
„Uhm, thanks again!" said Cornelia, and she started to feel more and more uncomfortable at that filthy place. She had been an Earth Guardian for nearly two years, so she had gotten used to dirt. But this was a different kind of dirt. „I have to go now! Good bye!"
The girl ran off, leaving the little room, unaware that the gynecologist didn't bother to return her gesture, because he was already in search for his cigarettes beneath a thick pile of medical records, while mumbling under his breath:
„Kids today… Shame not only those gross Mexicans are starting it that soon!"
Cornelia longed for fresh air like never before… She didn't notice the battered walls, partly covered with low-quality graffitti, like she hadn't noticed them when she had arrived, frightened beyond words by the possible outcome of the examination.
Neither did the girl take note of the regular patients of the free clinic: the stinking homeless; the uneducated members of the working class, who had lost their jobs recently; not even the thin and broken women, with their always hungry children, who were crying out occasionally. Each person looked bewildered, as the tall girl with golden locks passed them by, her head lowered, in order to hide her spotless face which was pale as ivory.
So different from them — and yet so similar under her current circumstances.
Once Cornelia crossed the threshold of the exit, and walked down the pavement leading to the entrance gate, she shredded the paper the doctor had given her. There was no way she'd leave any traces of her… crime behind!
Her legs only gave in, when she was already on the street. The girl fell onto her knees, and buried her face in her hands, as if she wanted to capture her tears and drink them.
„Thank God!" Cornelia spoke out loud, not as if she had the habit of pleading to him. Facing deities on a daily basis had weakened her trust in their almightiness, but in a situation like this, words are coming automatically.
„It's over now, it's all over!" the blonde whispered to herself, in order to calm her tortured nerves. „And no one's going to learn about this! Not Mom, not Dad, not the girls… And most of all, not Caleb! Never!"
She was not pregnant. She had made a horrible mistake… but it seemed fate has favored her, and she could get away with it this time.
The girl, of course, swore on everything which was sacred to her, that she won't be unfaithful again.
Hello there! Hopefully you've found part one of this short story exciting, and not too confusing :) Maybe it's not quite clear yet, but there is a theme which kinda sorta connects the scenes… It will be clear after the next update, promise :) I'm planning to do at least one more "chapter", from Will's pov (and maybe a third one from Irma's, I'm not sure yet).
It was kinda hard to do this, I'd re-written it a few (er, rather lots of) times, but I really wanted to do a story using the Shagon-plotline of the original cartoon (part two will focus on that). I always thought it was really good (way better than how they did in the comic book), save the quite stupid conclusion of it…
Also, I figured while writing that this should be connected to my CalebxWill one-shot. But I planned to write only one sentence (or so) referring to that other story, and I think I'll give you info about that part when we get there, so you don't really have to read that other story of mine :)
Nah, enough of rambling! Reviews are welcome, as always!
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