A.N. Here's Chapter Eight! I hope you guys like it! Oh, and I don't own Hocus Pocus! Enjoy!
OooOooOooOooO (Binx POV)
"Talking might make you feel better, but you don't have to tell me if you don't want to," I encouraged her. I could see her weighing her options for a moment before she continued.
"No, you deserve to know," she admitted. I clasped her hand tighter to assure her that I was there for her and ready to listen.
"A year after Dad died, she met a new guy. Things went okay at first, but it ended badly. She started… drinking," Lacy divulged. I listened closely as she continued her story.
"It wasn't so bad at first, but then she started staying out all night and coming home still trashed. After a while, she became an all-out alcoholic. A few months after that, I found out that she was doing drugs. She's shattered her life completely at this point. The only part of her that's left keeps her away from me. She figures that it's too late for her, but she can protect me from it. When she is home, she goes bar-hopping every night and sometimes doesn't come home until the next afternoon. A few times, she's gotten sauced at home and hit me."
I was appalled at the treatment that Lacy was receiving, and I was stunned that she wasn't more bitter about this. In her position, I didn't know what I would do, but I certainly wouldn't be this calm.
"I stay at Katie's most of the time, but I can handle myself at home if I can't take being around that girl anymore. The last time Mom was home, she brought a random man back. When he left, she drank herself into a stupor, knocked me around a little, and left. She hasn't been home since then, and that was two months ago. I don't know if she's even still alive."
I could see the tears forming in Lacy's eyes as she finished, but she didn't let them escape. She was too strong for that. After a moment of shock, a revelation hit me.
"So that's why you said you were on your own," I sighed. Without thinking, I swung her into my arms. I hugged her tightly and resisted the urge to tell her it was okay; I knew it wasn't. I chose to apologize for her pain instead. "I'm so sorry, Lacy."
"It's okay. I get by, and that's all I can ask for. Please don't act any differently around me because of this," she pleaded. I leaned back in surprise and confusion. 'What is she talking about?' I thought. She stared deeply into my eyes. "I liked the way you treated me before." That didn't clarify things at all.
"Lacy, why on earth would I treat you any differently?"
"Everyone else always acted like I was fragile after they found out. It made them think that I was weak and delicate," she explained. "I don't want you to think that I'm all frail and vulnerable." My anger flared again. 'Why does everyone treat her so badly? With all the strife in her life, it's a wonder she turned out as well as she did!'
"If anything, this makes you stronger, Lacy," I informed her. She didn't look convinced. "But of course I won't treat you differently."
"Thank you." She promptly changed gears. "Now can we please stop talking about this and move on? We still need to go get the book back," she reminded me.
"Yeah, sure. Let's go," I managed confusedly. She grabbed my hand, and I looked down at them in surprise. 'Where did this come from?' I wondered as I moved my gaze to her face. She grinned at me and starting walking with a gentle yank on my hand.
"C'mon!" She directed cheerily. I felt left in the dust for a moment before I shook of my paralysis. I chose to let go of my anger and sadness for a moment. 'Lacy could use some laughter,' I decided. I let go of her hand, caught up to her, and laughed lightly. Then I grabbed her from behind, lifted her up, and whirled around. Her red curls flew out, and she laughed loudly along with me. By the time I released her, we were panting from exertion and mirth.
Green eyes winked up at me, and they were joyful now. I was glad to have been the one to put that shimmer there. This thought stopped me for a moment, and something similar seemed to have frozen Lacy. Then a young, high, happy voice split the air.
"K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" A child dressed as a ghost was pointing at us and laughing, and there were many more little ones running around. 'Trick-or-treaters. Right. It's still Halloween,' I recalled. Lacy wrenched away from me and began hurrying down the street. I walked after her, but I couldn't catch up. Eventually, I gave up on looking normal and just ran. I caught up as she stopped in front of the open entrance. 'Guess Billy didn't feel like putting the cover back.'
As Lacy bent over the hole, I heard her whisper, "Geronimo." Then she leapt into the abyss. My heart stopped, but no cry of pain followed her rapid descent.
"Lacy?" I called. She didn't reply, and after a moment, I took things into my own hands. "If you're down there, get out of the way!" I yelled as I jumped in after her. So that I wouldn't jar my ankles, I rolled when my feet struck the ground. As I landed on my feet, I began searching for my redheaded friend.
"Lacy?" I repeated. "Where are you? Are you okay?" I didn't see her anywhere, and thoughts of her bleeding, captured, or lifeless flew through my mind.
"I'm right here," came a voice from behind me. "I'm fine; why wouldn't I be?" I spun around. She was directly behind me, and we almost smacked heads.
I took hold of her shoulders. "You just dove down a hole into a crypt! You could have broken an ankle, hit your head, or anything! And then you wouldn't answer, so for all I knew, you had been caught!" I resisted the urge to bellow in her face as I shook her.
"Binx!" She practically shrieked. "I'm fine! Calm down! Why a-are you s-s-so freaked out-t-t?" Her voice vibrated as I rattled her. "And s-stop shak-king m-me!"
"Sorry." I halted, but then I hugged her tightly to me. "I just got so worried. I know I was being a bit ridiculous, but you should be more careful."
She glared at me as she pushed me away and crossed her arms. "This is because of my mom, isn't it? You're trying to be there for me because no one else has been, aren't you? I told you not to treat me differently!" I barely stopped myself from rolling my eyes at her as she turned away.
"No! That's not why I'm doing this, Lacy. I would have done this before I knew about your mom. Like I said, it just makes you stronger. But that doesn't matter; I just don't want you to get hurt. I promise," I pledged fervently as I twirled her back to face me. 'Well, there's that bitterness about her mom,' I thought ironically. 'I have to make her understand that I won't use this against her. She has to trust me if we're going to make it through tonight alive.'
She looked taken aback by my declaration. "I- sorry. I've just never had anyone to trust before. No one's ever believed in me like you. And I'm not going to get hurt; I'll be careful. I promise," she echoed me.
OooOooOooOooO (Lacia POV)
He wrapped his arms around me. "I just got so worried. I know I was being a bit ridiculous, but you should be more careful," he told me. I shoved him away and crossed my arms angrily.
"This is because of my mom, isn't it? You're trying to be there for me because no one else has been, aren't you? I told you not to treat me differently!" I snapped as I turned my back on him. 'I can't believe him! He's just like everyone else I've ever trusted,' I thought resentfully.
"No! That's not why I'm doing this, Lacy. I would have done this before I knew about your mom. Like I said, it just makes you stronger. But that doesn't matter; I just don't want you to get hurt. I promise." He grabbed my shoulder and spun me back around.
I saw the glints of truth and commitment in his eyes as he stared me down. "I-" I began. Then I gave in. "Sorry. I've just never had anyone to trust before. No one's ever believed in me like you. And I'm not going to get hurt; I'll be careful. I promise."
He nodded. "Now let's go get that book and get out of here," he instructed. I followed him down the dim tunnel.
"Does you immortality curse give the ability to see in the dark, or are we walking blind?" I asked.
"Nope. We're just running on instinct here," he retorted. I sped up, and I felt the heat as I walked past him.
"Well then, I'm going first," I said back to him. He didn't answer, and I took it as an okay. To keep from running into a wall, I placed a hand on the wall and slid it along. Unfortunately, I couldn't see where I was placing my feet. After about thirty yards, I tripped over something. I slammed into the ground hard, and Binx stumbled over me. He landed on top of me, and I let out a groan.
"Sorry!" He grunted.
"S'okay, Binx. Not your fault. By the way, think I found the book. It's currently digging into my shin."
OooOooOooOooO
A.N. So, did you like it? I hope so! Whether you did or didn't, you should review. Let me know what you think!
