Chapter 8 - Be Prepared
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The sound of Craig's alarm clock beeped loudly. Binx groaned as he grabbed his ears. "Ugh!"
"Yeah, I hate that sound too." Craig laughed as he turned it off. "Hey come on, I'm going to Brandy's today and I want you to come with."
"You …. You want me to come with?" Binx asked.
"Yeah of course!" Craig said.
The memories thoughts of last night flooded back. "Are ... are you sure this is a good idea."
"Yeah, why wouldn't it be?" Craig asked.
"N … ... nevermind … ..." Binx looked away.
Craig frowned and sat back down on the bed. "Binx, are you okay?"
"Y .. .. .. yes I'm fine .." He hopped off the bed. "Well, we shouldn't keep her waiting, come on, lets go!"
Craig decided to shrug it off and headed to the kitchen for breakfast. Afterwards he and Binx headed to Brandy's house.
Craig paused in front of her door and breathed, trying to ready himself. "Okay … here it goes …" He knocked on the door.
A few moments later the door opened and the girl from the party last night was standing there. "Hey Craig!" She smiled as she pulled him into a hug.
He smiled. "Hey Brandy." He pulled back. "This was the cat I was telling you about, Binx."
"Oh hello Binx!" Brandy giggled before kneeling down and petting him. Binx purred happily at her touch. She looked back at Craig. "It's cool you named him after one of the town's biggest legends."
"Yeah, but I didn't really think it through my last name being Binx and all … so his name is technically Binx Binx." Craig laughed a bit
"Oh, your last name is Binx? Are you .." Brandy trailed off, unsure exactly how to ask the question.
"Related to the family of the legend? Yes. After they lost Thackery and Emily they had another kid and I'm descended from her." Craig explained
I wonder what my second sibling was like. Who she was. I wish I had gone back at least once to see her … But I still love her … more than anything …
Brandy nodded in understanding. "Oh, I see." She paused for a moment. "Why don't you come in."
Brandy lead Craig to he living room then headed to the kitchen. "What do you want to drink? A water? Soda? Milk?"
"Uh, soda's fine with me." Craig said
She took two sodas out of the fridge and went back to the living room. "So, what do you wanna do?"
"Um I … .. I don't know, what do you wanna do?" Craig asked awkwardly.
Brandy paused and looked around the room. "You wanna play video games?"
"Video games? Yeah, sure!" He sat down on the couch while Brandy went over to turn the TV on. Before she could change it to channel three, the news got their attention :
The Sanderson Sisters Museum Closed Down!
"After fifteen years of service The Sanderson Sisters Museum is closing down. Last night a group of youth under the influence of cocaine broke in last night. When the police arrived they claimed they were attacked by a large cat like creature." The news reporter said.
Craig looked over to Binx who was sinking into the couch as much as he could. "Uh, Brandy? Where's your bathroom?"
"Oh, down the hall to the left." She said.
"Thanks." He looked at Binx , silently urging him to follow. Binx slowly got off the couch and followed him to the hallway just outside the bathroom.
"Binx … What … What happened last night?" Craig demanded.
"I uh … I …. I have n … no idea … " Binx said, trying to avoid making eye contact.
"Binx …" Craig sighed. "Come on, just tell me what happened!"
Binx broke down in tears. "It …it was simply horrible! It's not something I want you to get involved in!"
Craig frowned and leaned down to his level, petting his head. "We're family Binx, I care about you. Just tell me what's wrong."
Binx sighed. "I need to explain something to you first … I've … I've been cursed …"
Craig blinked. "Yeah, I know that. It's the biggest part of the legend..."
Binx shook his head. "No! … No .. I ... I've been cursed again !" He paused as he tried to gather this thoughts. "There were three witches … different ones than The Sanderson Sisters who came to the cottage mere days ago. They brewed a potion to create the ultimate minion for when … if .… The Sanderson Sisters return. They were mixing the spirits of great evils together and I couldn't just sit there and let it happen. So I sprung into action …. and got the potion all over myself. Then they had the bright idea of turning me into the monster when … if … The Black Flame Candle is lit … It was hell ..… until I met you. I was able to suppress my monsteristic urges around you … for the most part … When we went to that party I … I trusted you would do the right thing … but the villains did not. They forced me to check on you, and when I smelled burning rubber I .. I panicked. I got in and I ….. I told them who I was."
"Binx …." Craig frowned deeper.
He put his paw up to silence him. "I know, I know I messed up all right! I'll admit to that! But I had nowhere else to go. I … didn't want them to come to your house, and I .. I sure as hell didn't want them near Emily's grave … they could have defaced it! So I headed to the Sanderson Sisters' house … Foolishly I thought I had out ran them, but … I was wrong. Your friend Jocko hit he the Black Flame Candle and ..."
"Wait .. Jocko was there?" Craig asked, eyes widening.
"Yes. If anything I'd say he lead the manhunt against me." Binx explained
Craig put his head in his hands and exhaled sharply. "Oh Jocko …. Jocko … Jocko …"
"When the flame was lit it didn't stay lit but it sparked." Binx explained "That spark seemed to give enough energy to transform me into that horrible creature for a short while … When the law came and I was able to regain this form, I ran off, back to your house." Binx sniffled as more tears came. "I .. I'm sorry Craig … I messed up …"
Craig pulled him into a hug. "You really did."
Binx winced and pulled back.
"But we'll get through it together." Craig said. "You're safe now and that's all that matters.
"But .. but … th … the museum and ... and your friend I .. I don't know what happened to him." Binx whimpered out.
Craig bit his bottom lip. "We'll … we'll worry about that later, okay?"
Binx nodded once. "All right."
"Come on, let's get back to … Brandy!"
There she stood, leaning against the wall, her arms crossed yet a worried look on her face.
"Uh h .. hi … how … how long have you been standing there?" Craig gulped.
Instead of answering the question directly, she approached Binx. "Are you really the Thackery Binx?"
Binx hesitated. He looked at Craig, wide eyed and worried.
"Go on, what's the point of lying to her if she's already figured it out." Craig said.
".. .. Yes … I am Thackery Binx …" He admitted
"I had a feeling." She said, smirking a bit. "Even before I heard your story."
Binx laid down on his paws and exhaled harshly. "I messed up Brandy … ... I messed up "
Brandy joined Craig on the floor, sitting next to Binx.
"I don't ever want to become that monster again." Binx said.
"Do you have any control over it at all?" Brandy asked.
"Slight control." Binx said. "But not much."
"Well, then why don't you practice controlling it?" Brandy suggested.
"Practice controlling it?" Binx tilted his head a bit.
"Well, you said the spark was enough to turn you into the monster, right?" Brandy asked.
"Right .." Binx said, hesitantly.
"Well what if we got a non virgin to keep re lighting it until you're able to control the monster taking over your body." Brandy suggested.
Binx sat up. "That's a brilliant idea!" He looked at both of them. "Are either of you a non virgin? We don't want to risk The Sanderson Sisters returning during this whole thing."
Brandy and Binx both silently stared at Binx.
"Oh." Binx said. "It's all right." He gave them a reassuring smile so they didn't think there was anything wrong with being a virgin.
"Maybe we can take the candle and find someone who …" Craig started, but Binx shook his head.
"The candle can't be removed from the cottage, it's magically bound to it." Binx explained. "The only way we could do that is if we brought a non virgin there to light it …. We should just forget it."
"No, we'll figure something out Binx." Craig reassured him.
Brandy frowned. "Don't worry Binx we'll help you."
"I'm surprised you're taking this so well honestly." Binx said.
Brandy smirked a bit. "Well I moved here from Briarville, Missouri … So small towns with weird curses are kind of my thing I guess?" She shrugged.
Brandy's dad came into the room, pulling the cord of the phone as far as it would stretch, covering the receiver with his palm. "Craig? Your dad's on the phone, he needs to talk to you."
Craig went to the other room with the phone. "Hi dad."
"Craig we need to talk, it's about Jeff." His dad sighed.
Craig's blood went cold. "Wh .. what happened?"
"Just come home now, I'd rather not talk about it over the phone." He said, voice a bit shaky.
"Just tell me what happened!" Craig demanded.
His dad was silent for a moment. "He … he was caught last night with drugs in the old Sanderson Sister's house."
"Wh … ... what!?" Craig felt shiver up his spine.
Binx and Brandy looked up, alarmed by his yelling.
"But he's getting treated now at that drug treatment center." He paused. "You … you weren't involved this those drugs, were you?"
"No of course not." Craig said, a bit hurt by the question, despite the argument they just had the other day about drugs.
"All right … I trust you … I'll see you at home. Bye. I love you." His dad said.
"Love you too dad, bye." Craig put the receiver back on the wall, and went back to Brandy and Binx.
"What's wrong?" Brandy asked. "What happened?"
Craig leaned against the wall, putting his hands in his pocket, and looking away solemnly. "Jeff is at the drug treatment center …."
Brandy frowned and stood up. She went over and put her hand on his shoulder. "Oh Craig, I'm so sorry."
Binx felt the heat in his spine again. No no no….I did this! This is my fault and ... and Craig … He looked over at him and Brandy. I hurt them both …. But … What if they were in there? Ugh! Why didn't they stop smoking it? Why did he do it in the first place? Why am I upset? He's getting help … right? Ugh! My head ….
He held his head tightly as his claws extended.
It's your fault!
You made him upset!
You are the one who caused his pain!
It's all your fault Thackery Binx!
So why don't you just accept you're just a villain like us ….
Just. Like. Us.
And just let us take over already!
Come on Thackery Binx, come on!
Give in!
I … .. I can fight you … I … I … I can't let you out … no .. no …
Binx ran outside.
Craig and Brandy watched in a worried confusion. "Binx?"
They hurried after him.
Binx's back arched and contorted, his claws and teeth growing sharper as he let out an ungodly howl.
"B .. Binx …" Craig breathed out in fear.
Get him! Kill him! You already hurt him, just finish him off!
And the girl! Get the girl too!
Kill them, kill them both!
"N .. no .." Binx whimpered out in a demonic voice.
"Binx!" Craig ran over. "Come on, I know you're in there!"
"C .. Craig … Brandy …" Binx roared and gripped the side of his head again. He roared before digging his claws into a nearby tree and hissing loudly. "I … I .. I can't … I .. I …"
He looked back at them, his eyes watering. When he made eye contact with Craig his heart shattered.
"Hey we're family, aren't we? Don't worry about it."
"Binx, I care about you. Just tell me what's wrong."
No! No! Don't feel love for this fool! Kill him! Kill the girl! Kill him and the girl!
"N … no I .. I can't!" He shivered and quaked as he fell to the ground.
"You don't have to be lonely anymore. You can have a family again."
Conceal! Don't feel!
Emily… ..
"S .. stop …" Binx's form slowly went from being monstrous back to being a cat. He laid on his side, breathing heavily.
"Binx!" Craig and Brandy rushed over to his side.
Binx groaned as he lifted his head slightly and groaned.
"Was .. was that the monster?" Brandy asked.
Binx sat up. "Yes. It's the most terrible thing I have ever felt in my immortal life!"
"Wait … ... I thought you said only the candle could do this to you." Brandy said,
"Hardly." Binx replied. "Sometimes just excess emotion seems to cause it."
"How'd you stop it?" She asked.
"I … I foused really hard on things that were important to me …" He explained, glancing at Craig for a second.
"Do you think you could train to suppress it?" Brandy asked.
Binx's eyes widened. "That's a brilliant idea! Those monsters won't stand a chance if I can mentally fight them off!"
Craig pulled him into a tight hug. "Are you sure you're all right with this?"
Binx smiled as he nuzzled close. "Of course.I have nothing to worry about … We are family after all."