Chapter 7 - The Walls Melting Down Making It Hotter

Binx ran upstairs and headed to where Craig was when he left. The teens drinking beer earlier had luckily for Binx, moved to another room.

Ugh! I've never smelled anything so foul before! He paused, thinking back to the lesson Mrs Johnson gave in that Friday's class :

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"Today we're continuing our lesson on crack and cocaine." Mrs Johnson turned on the slide projector, flashing a picture of the bong onto the screen. "Cocaine is snorted , while crack is made to be smoked in a pipe or bong like this. When smoked it smells like burning rubber or plastic."

Jocko leaned over his desk to Craig and whispered. "Trust me dude, it smells like pure heaven."

Craig laughed a bit. "I'll bet it does."

Binx felt his stomach churn. He wanted to tell Jocko to stop , but he knew that wasn't a good course of action. Craig had told him Jocko didn't believe in The Sanderson Sisters' curse, something that still baffled Binx himself. He also didn't know how the whole class , and Mrs Johnson would react to the Thackery Binx popping out of a random student's backpack to tell them the dangers of crack.

Instead he just burrowed deeper into Craig's backpack, feeling the burning of Hades swell inside him.

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So that means . … He decided to join them instead of stopping them! I guess I gotta stop this myself!

Binx pushed a step stool from the bathroom and put it in front of the door. He got on his hind legs and gripped the doorknob tightly between his paws. He twisted in as hard as he could. Come on! Come on! Open! Open! Come on! OPEN!

The door clicked open and Binx burst into the room.

The group of teens looked at Binx, wide eyed.

"Look a kitty! " The girl sitting next to Jocko exclaimed excitedly. "I love kitties!"

She pulled Binx into her lap and started petting him before coughing harshly.

Jocko squinted at the cat in her lap , in thought. "Wait .. … Craig was talking about that stupid Sanderson Sisters' curse the other day .. …" He started laughing a bit. "I wonder if this cat is Thackery Binx!" Then he burst out laughing.

That's it! I've had it with Jerko here!

"Yes, I am actually." Binx spoke calmly.

The room was silent before breaking out into screams.

I have to get out of here! Binx's eyes darted to the window, opened slightly to waft the smell out of the room. He pounced on the window sill and looked down into the yard down below that looked so far away. Well, I can't die anyway …

He jumped out of the window, landing on his feet, then running off as soon as he could. I've made a terrible mistake! A very terrible mistake! I can't go back to Craig's house, he probably knows by now!

Binx changed direction and headed to The Sanderson Sisters' cottage instead. I must go back and stay there!

Binx ran down the road leading to the cottage and hid in the rafters, breathing heavily. I'm okay now, I'm okay … .. Perhaps the message didn't spread beyond the party and even if it did, would they believe anyone who was obviously under the influence that they actually saw the Thackery Binx? No, no of course not …. .. Of course not … .. course … .. not … ..

You're pathetic Thackery Binx! Snarled a voice that he was now starting to recognize belonged to the lioness Zira. You're scared of a bunch of no good delinquents!

And what's worse, you didn't even try to fight back! Yzma added.

I didn't want to hurt them, I just wanted to get the hell out of there before I got hurt! Binx argued.

So you ran to the first place they'd look to find you? Ursula asked.

Binx hissed as his claws extended forcefully. A series of loud sounds outside made Binx's ears perk up. "Huh?"

"He's gotta be in here!"

"Come on!"

"Come out, come out wherever you are Thackery Binx!

Binx breathed heavily before rushing to the rafters again. Damn it!

The door of the cottage burst open as the kids from the party stormed in, talking loudly.

"Where is he?"

"Where did he go?"

"Ooooh Thackery Binx, where are you!?"

"Binx! Binx! Binxy boooooo where are you!?"

Crap, crap, crap…. … Binx's breath hitched. Perhaps if I just stay quiet I'll be all right … ..

Jocko smirked as he took out the lighter from his pocket. "Dudes, I think I got an idea of how to get him to show himself …"

He sauntered over to the black flame candle and held the lighter's flame above the wick. "We'll just have to smoke him out … "

Binx's eyes widened in horror. No! No!

Our time is coming!

Soon we will be free!

Our queens of sin will return!

We must prepare to serve them!

Yes, yes at once!

Our time has come!

Freedom is ours!

"Noooooooooooooooooo!" Binx yelled as he leapt down from the banisters. Jocko panicked and dropped the lighter. The flames nicked the wick, creating just one little spark.

However luckily for Binx, Jocko didn't fit the main part of the Sanderson Sister's criteria : A virgin will summon us from under the ground.

But that didn't mean that spark caused by the lighter was benign. A spark of energy burst through Binx, forcefully transforming him into a giant cat beast. His back was hunched, his teeth sharp as swords, and his pupils and irises pure red.

The teenagers screamed as he striked his giant claws at them. "GET OUT!"

The voices of the villains didn't leave his head, it was like they were in control the whole time, piloting his body :

Now roar!

Now slash your claws!

Go left!

Go right!

Get them!

Kill them!

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Inside his emotions were in pure panic :

"What's happening?" Joy breathed out as Anger grabbed her forcefully and pushed her away. "What …what are you doing?"

"I'm in control now." He snarled.

All the emotions huddled in fear in the corner, not daring to fight back.

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Monster Binx chased them to several places in the cottage, until he had Jocko cornered. He raised his claws until he heard an echo of sirens in the distance. He pulled back and ran into the shadows to hide.

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Anger looked horrified as he looked over to the other emotions. Oh God …. ... What have I done?

The emotions were huddled together , shaking. When Anger tried to approach , they pulled back.

I'm a monster …..

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Police stormed in, demanding to know what was going on. While hiding, Binx had managed to relax himself enough to turn to his cat form. His eyes darted to the window and he made a run for it. I have to get out of here! But where? The only place I can think of is Craig's house .. … Oh, if he found out he'd never forgive me.. … but I have to try….

Binx ran until he reached Craig's house. He sat on the front steps and panted as he tried to catch his breath. A few moments later he heard footsteps and looked up, startled. Oh no! It's one of them isn't it? He extended his claws and prepared himself for another fight.

"Hey Binx!" Someone greeted.

He relaxed and pulled his claws back. "Oh Craig, it's just you." He sounded relieved.

"I'm sorry I left you at the party. I … … I just had so many things on my mind and I .. .. I .. ... I'm sorry." Craig sounded upset.

Binx went over and nuzzled his legs, purring contentedly. "It's quite all right, I found my way back just fine." He arched his back and spread his toes as he yawned. "I would however like to go to bed and forget anything that happened tonight."

Craig laughed a bit. "Me too." He opened the door and the two headed inside to the kitchen. "But first I need something to drink."

Craig went to the fridge and grabbed the orange juice, then drank it straight from the carton. The door of the fridge slowly closed. Surprised, he and Binx looked over to see Mr Binx standing there in his white and red bathrobe. "Little late, aren't ya Craig?"

"Uh .. …" Craig anxiously looked down at the carton in his hands before looking back at his dad. ".. ... Yeah I guess …. ..."

Mr Binx took the orange juice carton and started heading towards the cabinets.

"Well, goodnight." Craig said, hoping to avoid talking to his dad more.

"Good party?" His dad asked.

"Uh … .." Craig hesitated. ".. .. Average … ..."

Average is an overstatement. Binx thought Mainly for my night …..

"Listen Craig, uh, can you do me a favor?" His dad grabbed a glass and poured some orange juice into it. "There's a tournament at the club tomorrow and uh I could sure use a good caddy."

He handed the glass to Craig. "There's ten bucks in it for ya."

"Uhh, well, I'd like to dad, but I'm supposed to go over to this girl's house tomorrow .. …" Craig said,

He met a new friend at the party I presume ….

"Ahhh wow, I guess I can't compete with that." His dad teased.

"Good night dad." Craig laughed a bit.

"Night son." He looked at Binx and gave him a pet. "Night cat."

Mr Binx went off to bed and Craig and Binx headed to the upstairs bedroom. Binx got in first and laid on Craig's bed. "Your father doesn't seem to understand you very well, does he?"

Craig started putting a cassette tape into the radio and looked over. "Hey, at least he's trying." He grabbed his headphones and started the tape.

So hang on, it will be okay

He plugged in the headphones. "You know, maybe he'll turn out okay after all." He put them on and mimicked drumming while making the sounds with his mouth.

Binx smirked a bit. "Hey, you don't think I want to listen too?" It might be the only thing to ease my troubled mind right now ….

"Oh, sorry!" Craig said with a laugh as he took off the headphones and unplugged them. Then the sound of music blasted throughout the whole bedroom :

Oooooooh! We're dancing with the house on fire!

"Craig! Turn that music down !" His mom shouted from the other room.

The walls melting down making it hotter!

Dancing with the house on fire!

Burning down!

Oh yeah! We were dancing with the house on fire!

The walls melting down making it hotter!

Dancing with the house on fire!

Burning down!

"Craig!" She yelled again. "Turn it down !"

Craig turned it down and yelled back, "Sorry mom!"

He went over and sat beside Binx on the bed then began stroking his back gently. "I guess mom still doesn't "dig it", huh?" He laughed.

"Yet oddly I do, and I am hundreds of years older than her." Binx laughed.

Craig pulled Binx onto his chest and snuggled his face into his fur. Binx purred as he nuzzled his face gently. "Night Binx."

"Night Craig." Binx said as he slowly closed his eyes, letting the problems of that night slip away into his subconscious.