Chapter 9 - All Just A Bunch of Hocus Pocus
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October 31st 1993
"Hey Binx, you okay?" Craig asked.
"Yes I'm fine? Why wouldn't I be fine? It's just another day here guarding The Sanderson Sisters' Cottage … I .. I mean what is there to worry about? The full moon tonight? Nah! I .. I'm not worried about that, it will all be fine." Binx paced back and forth as he blabbered out his response. "I .. I'm fine really."
Craig leaned down and pet him on the head. "I'll be back tomorrow morning to check on you, okay?"
"Why can't you come back tonight?" Binx whined anxiously as he nuzzled into his hand.
Craig sighed. "I would, but the college halloween party runs pretty late and I'm gonna head to bed after."
"But this is a matter of life and death! Don't you see that!" Binx said, gripping the side of Craig's face in his paws.
Craig pulled back. "Relax Binx, it'll be all right. Besides, we've got Salem's best witch guard on the case, we'll be just fine."
Binx sighed. "Thanks … I just hope that's true."
Craig smiled. "Oh, I gotta head to class, see you tomorrow!"
"Goodbye." Binx said.
"Oh, I almost forgot! Here's today's newspaper." Craig dropped the paper in front of Binx. "See ya." Then he headed out the door and biked off.
Binx had decided he was going to keep up with current events so he wouldn't have as much of a culture shock as he did in 1987. There usually wasn't that interesting of headlines, but there were a few that caught his attention throughout the past few years :
Jamaican Bobsled Team wows Olympics fans!
Giant Toddler Roams Las Vegas!
Millionaire's Daughter Kidnapped in New York
He ignored it for now, then sighed and leaped onto the window sill to watch as Craig biked away. Tomorrow is going to feel like an eternity, isn't it?
….
Binx looked at the full moon shining above the sky, the stars twinkling alongside it. He sighed again, this time much deeper. Tonight may be the night ….
The day we are free! The day we will rise to serve our queens!
Can't say I missed you too much.
We have laid dormant for too long! Now is our time to be freed!
No! I would never allow such a thing!
The door to the cottage creaked open, followed by coughing
Are you sure?
Binx leaped onto the window sill to get a closer look. No, no. no! It … It must just be Craig … r .. right? Perhaps he decided to just check on me? Maybe he changed his mind about the party and wanted to join me just in case?
Binx watched as three people entered the cottage : The first was a blonde teenage girl wearing a grayish beige cardigan in blue jeans. Followed by a little girl with dirty blonde hair in a black and red witch's costume, holding a neon orange pumpkin candy basket. Finally a brown haired teenage boy with a green jacket pulled over a blue shirt.
"I can't … ... see … .. a thing …" The little girl said.
"Well there' a light switch around here somewhere." Said the teenage girl as she felt around the wall.
The teenage boy leaned in close to a dusty old display full of Sanderson Sisters lighters in the giftshop portion of the museum. He blew and scrapped the dust away before grabbing one of the silver lighters. He lit it, managing to get a bit of light from it.
The little girl shuddered and groaned in fear.
"Found a lighter." He put it close to the wall, allowing the other teenager to find the light switch and turn it on.
The room suddenly flooded with light. Signs and ropes were strewn about showing off things such as the Sanderson Sister's cauldron, and their spell book encased in glass.
"Whoa!" The boy said before noticing some cobwebs and pushing them out of the way.
Binx watched them closer, planning his next move.
Doesn't this just anger you Thackery Binx? Perhaps we can handle those intruders if you just let us ….
Quiet! I can handle this myself thank you very much! They might just be more nosy teenagers who are coming here for a cheap thrill.
You think they're on crack Thackery Binx?
Binx groaned and mentally rolled his eyes.
Can you stop bringing that awful night up!
Why? We find it rather amusing, it's not like you let us do many fun things otherwise …..
The teenage girl walked over to where the book was on display, gripping the sides of the display case. "This is the spellbook of Winifred Sanderson. It was given to her by the devil himself. The book is bound in human skin and contains the recipes for her most powerful and evil spells …"
"I get the picture." The little girl said bluntly. The older girl chuckled a bit at her response.
That's when the boy caught a glimpse of a white candle sitting in a rusty, cobweb ridden, metal candle holder. It looked partially chipped, but the red patterns all over still looked fancy and noble. "What's that?"
"Oh … it's the Black Flame Candle …" The older girl whispered.
The boy laughed a bit before going over. The older girl noticed the younger's anxiety and giggled while giving her a gentle nudge, hoping she'd relax a little bit.
The teenage boy gripped the sign in front of it and pulled it closer to read. "Hmmm … Black Flame Candle …. made from the fat of a hangman."
The older girl laughed.
"Legend says that on a full moon it will raise spirits of the dead, when lit by a virgin on halloween night. Hmm .." He walked to the other side of the candle and pulled out his lighter. "So let's light this sucker and meet the old broads …"
Oh really? Just some nosy teenagers looking for some cheap thrills?
Binx panicked. No! No! He knows the legend why is he doing this!?
'No.' The young girl mouthed, panicked.
"Wanna do the honors?" He asked, holding out the lighter to the older girl.
"No thanks." She replied, rolling her eyes slightly at him
With a frantic meow, Binx burst through the window and grabbed onto the boy's neck. He screamed as he tried to get him off.
Stop it you fool! Do you want to doom all of Salem!?
Don't worry you foolish child, we will tell our queens of sin to take your youth last, as a thank you gift for their revival …. That is if this dumb feline lets you progress ….
Quiet!
The teenager fell to the floor and Binx let go. "Stupid cat!"
Oh, so you're the one trying to bring back a trio of evil witches and I'm the stupid one?
The younger girl clung to the older one in fear. "Okay Max, you've had your fun. It's time to go."
Yes! Get out, now!
No! Stay! You are the chosen one! The virgin to light the black flame candle!
Max groaned and gripped his neck where Binx's claws had just been embedded as he staggered up.
"Come on Allison." The younger girl said, grabbing her hand and leading her towards the exit.
"Max, she's right, lets go."
Yes! Runaway you trio of trespassers, runaway and never return! … Ugh where did that even come from it felt so ... natural ….
"Oh come on! It's just a bunch of hocus pocus!" Max argued.
"Max I'm not kidding this time!" The little girl yelled. "It's time to go."
Max wasn't having it and put the lighter near the wick again.
"Max no!" She yelped
The flame touched the wick, lighting it. The flame burned from a bright orange to a dark black in an instant.
Max looked shocked, and the little girl gasped as she shielded her eyes. "Uh oh …"
All the lightbulbs burst and shattered.
Yes! Yes! We're free! We're free!
Binx bit his bottom lip as he sunk his claws into the wooden floorboards. No! Not on my watch you … you vile villains!
He grunted and groaned as the spirits of the dead villains tried to take over. He had to put all the training he did with Craig and Brandy into use now. He couldn't let them take over … he couldn't be a minion for evil.
A strong wind started blowing throughout the cottage. The floor shook and rattled.
Conceal …. don't feel ….
Don't deny this Thackery Binx! We're back and you can do nothing about it!
The screams of the three were drowned out by the battle in Binx's mind.
Eventually the rattling settled and everything was still once again.
"What happened?" Max asked, wide eyed.
"A virgin … lit the candle …" Said the younger girl as she put her black witch hat back on her head.
In various puffs of magic, all the old candles strewn around the cottage lit, illuminating brilliantly it once more. The fireplace and the twig under the cauldron sprung to life as well.
Don't fight us … We are you … we are you … we are you!
Enough! Binx forced his claws back in and pressed himself firmly against the floorboards, breathing heavily, managing to suppress them …. For the time being ...
The three witches cackles were heard before they entered their old home.
"We are home!" Spoke their orange haired leader Winifred.
Binx managed to sit up and look at the sisters, his eyes widened in fear.
Our queens!
No! Stop it!
"Oh sweet revenge!" Winifred said, rubbing her hands together while the other two celebrated by twirling in circles. "You see sisters! My curse worked perfectly!"
The little girl peaked out from her hiding spot to get a glimpse of the sisters : Winifred had permanent blush upon her cheeks , her hair up, and around her a green cape. The blonde one , Sarah wore a red dress that formed well on her body.
Finally there was Mary who also wore a dress of red, her black hair up, almost in a point. "That's because thou are perfect, Winnie!"
Mary and Winifred cackled as they headed towards the cauldron, but Sarah hesitated at the door, lost in thought.
"I knew I left this cauldron on!" Said Mary. "Didn't I tell you? Oh, I knew it!"
Sarah reached into a pocket in her dress and pulled something out from it"My lucky rat tail!" she exclaimed, holding it out in front of her. "Just where I left it!"
"Ah ...But who lit the black flame candle?" Winifred asked as she approached it. "Hmm?"
Winifred saw her book in it's glass confides and gasped in delight. She tapped her long fingernails against the glass. "Wake up! Wake up sleepy head!"
The eye on the book slowly opened, awaking to the sound of it's mistress' voice.
"Did you miss me too?" Winifred babytalked the book.
Yes! Yes our queen we missed you!
I didn't!
Winifred sighed happily. "Come on now, we've got work to do!" She cackled.
"Winnie?" Mary interrupted.
"Yes?" She asked
"I … smell … children ..." She whispered.
Allison, Max, and the little girl curled deeper into their hiding places.
Oh no .. They're goners!
Good riddance!
"Sick 'em!" Winifred commanded as she and her sisters scouted the cottage for the source of the scent.
"It's a little girl ..." Mary said.
The young girl sat upright, gripping her knees tightly.
Mary inhaled again. "Seven?" She sniffed again. "Maybe eight … and half."
Sarah was thrilled. "Ooooh, let's play with her!"
Winifred shushed them.
"Come little children …" Sarah started her siren song. "I'll take thee away …"
Mary lead the two to where she had caught the scent.
"In .. " Sarah tried to continue, until Winifred covered her mouth with her hand.
"Come out my dear!" Winifred urged. "We will not harm thee!"
Yet ….
"We love children!" Mary proclaimed, hitting her palm against a wooden crate. The little girl yelped in fear as she stood up. There she was, face to face with The Sanderson Sisters.
The witches looked at her oddly, dressed in her witches' outfit and all that.
"I thought thou'd never come, sisters." She said, trying to muster a fake olden voice.
"Greetings little one." Winnifred said, intrigued.
"'Twas I who brought you back." The little girl continued.
Winifred's eyes widened in surprise. "Imagine …"
She glanced at Sarah before looking back at the girl. "Such a pretty little …" She choked on her words for a moment. ".. .. child …"
Sarah giggled in glee.
"Look at her." Mary said, getting closer to the little girl. "She's so well fed, isn't she?"
The girl yelped and screamed as Mary tried to touch her. "Plump. Plump!"
Max stood up from his hiding place, trying to keep a close eye on the girl.
That must be her brother.
That idiot? Wouldn't surprise us …
"Shis-ka-baby!" Mary laughed.
The little girl screamed as she pulled back more. Winifred stood beside her and put her hands on her arm. "Tell me, dumpling,what is the year?
"Nineteen … Ninety ...Three." She managed to say.
The sisters gasped. Winifred pulled away from the little girl. "Sisters, we have been gone three hundred years!"
"Well Winnie, how time flies huh?" Mary asked as they lead the girl to a chair. "When you're dead!"
The three witches and the little girl burst out into laughter. The girl stopped suddenly when she saw Mary staring down at her with hungry eyes and a snarl on her lips. She growled slightly and the girl let out an anxious laugh in reply. "It's been great fun, but I … I guess I'd better be going."
"Oh, stay for supper." Winifred said as she pushed the little girl back into the chair. Sarah looked at her hungrily.
"Oh I'm … . I'm … I'm not hungry." The girl said, anxious as Winifred grazed her fingers against her throat.
"Oh, but we are!" Mary proclaimed as she leaned closer.
The little girl tried to run away as the witches grabbed her and headed towards their cauldron.
Max popped out from his hiding spot. "Hey!"
The sisters stopped and looked over at the boy.
"Let go of my little sister …" Max warned.
I guess I was right …
That doesn't make him any less stupid!
"Roast him Winnie!" Mary urged in excitement.
"No, let me .. play with him …" Sarah chimed in.
Winifred gathered blue electric magic in her fingers and shot it at Max. He yelped as he hit the ground.
"Max!" His little sister yelled as the witches cheered. Winifred kissed her fingers and went over to him. Using green magic this time, she scooted him closer to the cauldron.
"You." She pointed at him as more magic formed. "There!"
She lifted him, pressing his stomach against the wall as her sisters giggled with glee.
Winifred clapped. "I haven't lost my touch, sisters! See!?"
"Max!" The little girl yelled, reaching out towards him.
"Whooo!" Mary said excitedly as she spun her around.
From the floor Binx breathed heavily as he watched the scene unfold. Is … is this what they did to Emily before I arrived? I … I can't let this happen!
Of course you can! Let our mistresses do as they please! We are to serve them!
Never!
He wanted to run over, he wanted to save her, to be the hero he couldn't be for Emily. But the searing pain in his head was too much, he could barely breathe let alone move. Damn it! Why am I so weak?
Winifred used her electric magic again on Max, making him turn around to face her.
"Hello." She said, smirking. "Goodbye."
Max's eyes widened in fear as Winifred levitated him off of the ground.
"Max!" His little sister yelled as Winnie cackled loudly.
Allison's eyes darted over to Mary and the little girl. The witch was grabbing onto her arm tightly, ignoring her squeals and whines. She panicked as she looked around the room.
On one of the walls a plaque read Witch's Broom and sure enough sitting on two rusted hooks was a dusty old broom. Allison grabbed it quickly.
"Mary!" She snarled through gritted teeth.
Mary turned around to greet her. "Well, hello!"
Allison smacked Mary with the broom, causing her to topple over. As she fell, Allison rushed over to the other side and a picked up a frying pan, smacking it on her head.
"Ow!" Mary cried in pain.
A frying pan as a weapon? What a clever girl!
Not as original as you might think … Mother Gothel said. Binx could even feel her roll her eyes.
Free from the grasp of Mary, Max's sister ran over to the other two.
"You leave my brother alone!" The little girl shouted at Winifred. She smacked Winifred with her candy bag, causing her to fall and release Max. She then turned around and did the same to Sarah.
"Max!" She shouted as she tried to run to him, but she was grabbed from behind by a very enraged Winifred. "I'll get you!"
Emily …
No! She's not h …. !
Binx meowed threateningly as he hopped onto Winifred's back and dug his claws in.
"Get him!" Winifred cried as she attempted to pry the cat off her back. "Get this ani ..."
Using his powers to his advantage, Binx switched his claws to those of a lion.
"Get this beast off me!" Winifred finished
I know beasts and we are no beast! Forte protested. We are here to serve you my queen!
Max's sister ran to his side and grabbed his arm. "Max, come on! Let's go!"
Max staggered up, holding onto her for the support. They ran to the door as the sisters tried to get Binx off.
"Get out!" Max urged the other two. "Go, go, go!"
He looked over at the cat who had saved his sister's life. He tried to hurt me earlier … Why is he doing this? Maybe he just attacks all intruders and didn't know what he was doing ... it is a cat after all … a black cat … .. a black cat that just happened to be at the cottage. Wait .. does that mean he's … No … he can't be! This .. .this is all just a bunch of hocus pocus! … Right?
He glanced around and caught sight of the sprinkler system. Perfect!
"Get it off me!" Winifred screamed.
Max climbed onto some old cylinder box, onto the ceiling banisters and yelled down, "Hey!"
"Hmm?" The sisters looked up at Max.
"You've messed with the great and powerful Max!" He warned. "And now must suffer the consequences!"
The sister's eyed the boy curiously, wondering if he were some kind of wizard.
Max pulled out the silver lighter. "I summon the burning rain of death!"
"The burning rain of death?" The Sisters repeated to each other in confusion.
The burning rain of death?
The burning rain of death?
Max lit the lighter and they gasped.
"He makes fire in his hand …" Winifred whispered in shock.
Max held the flame up to one of the sprinklers, causing them all to activate. The sisters panicked as the water poured out.
The sisters screamed. "Oh, the burning rain of death!"
The burning rain of death!
Relax you fools, it's just water!
"Come on you idiots! Get under the shelter!" Winifred commanded. She grabbed Sarah's hand to lead her and Mary there. "Come on, you fools!"
Max leaped down and headed to the door. A puddle had formed near the door, causing him to slip onto his back.
Ooooh … Ooooh! I'm gonna give that little termite a piece of mind! Nuka snarled as he managed to take control and hop onto Max's chest.
"Nice going, Max. " He said, sarcastically.
Really? That's giving him a piece of your mind?
Max's eyes widened. "You can talk …"
"Yeah no kidding." Binx said, managing to retake control. "Now, get the spell book!"
Max just sat there for a moment. While Binx's defences were down The Horned King managed to take control. He let out a harsh meow as he smacked Max in this face, claws and all.
Stop that!
Binx took control again. "Come on! Move it!" then he hopped off of his chest. I don't know how long I can keep these monsters off until they try to attack you again!
" No it's not! It's the burning rain of death!" The sisters cried. "It's the burning rain of death!"
Max looked around for a strong enough object and found one of the red velour rope poles. So he picked it up.
"Shut up!" Winifred demanded in a panic as she kept her eyes on Max.
Max thrust the pole into the glass case the spell book was in.
"My book!" Winifred screamed. She tried to run over to get it, but Mary and Sarah held her back, still fearing the wrath of the burning rain of death. "Don't! He's going for my book! Stop!"
Max reached into the broken glass, barely caring about the scratches he would get, and pulled out the skin bound book, before running to the door.
"My book!" Winifred yelled again.
"The book …" Mary's voice trembled.
"The book!" Winifred continued.
The book!
The Book … Thank goodness ..
Max rushed out of the cottage and looked around for any sign of his little sister Dani or Allison
"Max! Max over here!" Allison called.
Max turned around and rushed over to where they were.
"Come on! This way!"
The cat hopped out of the window and followed close behind him. Oh no you don't you little pest!