Old Friends Visit
It was now 11:00 PM. Phoebe and Piper had left the hospital
around 10:00 PM after a nurse finally chased they away from their bedside vigil.
Prior to leaving, Piper had grabbed Prue's personal belongings including the
sweater had been wearing when her sisters had found her. The same sweater that
had alerted the sisters to the trouble Prue would be encountering. Piper and
Phoebe had thought that maybe if Phoebe could touch the sweater, maybe she get
some idea what or who caused the severe burns on their sister's arms.
Back at the Halliwell Manor, Phoebe and Piper are sitting in the
living room. " Phoebe, here is Prue's sweater. Concentrate on what happened
before we found Prue." Piper coaxed.
Phoebe clutches Prue's sweater filled with the determination
when one's life depends on the answer. In a way, Phoebe thought, Prue's
did.
With her eyes tightly shut, Phoebe starts to fall into one of
her now famous premonitions. In a dark fog, she sees Andy. He is yelling at Prue
and he looks worried. Suddenly, from no where a fire ball hits Andy squarely in
the chest and he disappears. Phoebe's attention is drawn to Prue and a tall,
dark brooding figure that is advancing toward her. Concentrating, Phoebe feels
as if she knows this figure- that it is somehow familiar. She doesn't have much
time to think about it as she sees a fire ball hits Prue. She yells for Prue to
"Protect herself. Use her power." Then she fells Prue's pain and hears her
screams.
Phoebe is screaming and shaking. Scared for her sister, Piper
starts shaking Phoebe. "Come out of it Pheebes. Please break free, Pheebes,"
Piper pleads.
Phoebe slowly opens her eyes. Piper is leaning over her, gently
shaking her. Phoebe is clearly disturbed by what she saw and what she felt.
"What did you see Pheebes?" asks Piper.
"It was horrible. I saw Andy die. Then I saw Prue hit by fire. I
felt her pain and heard her screams. I couldn't stop any of it." Phoebe pauses
still shuddering from what she saw, what had happened to her sister – their
protector. Yet she couldn't protect Prue when she needed it. Phoebe continues "
I also saw who did it. I saw a dark tall figure. I thought I recognized him, but
I can't remember who he is or from where I saw him."
"Do you think it was someone we fought against ?" inquired
Piper
"Yes. No. I don't know." said an exasperated Phoebe. We need to
find an answer and I don't think I can do through that again.
"Okay sweetie. I won't ask you to." Piper softly stated. "We
will get an answer some other way."
Then almost on key, a strange light started to appear in the
room. It grew larger and larger. Slowly a figured appeared. They recognized in
an instant. It was…
"Andy" Piper finally sputtered out. "How, your dead. We seen you
die. Then in the Phoebe's dream you were killed again."
"Yes, I am still dead. But no, I wasn't destroyed." Andy
stated.
"But is was so real and Prue. Prue was really burned." Phoebe
answered sure of what she saw and felt.
"I know. I saw her." Andy looks terribly sad. "It's hard to
explain. What happened to Prue was real. And she is in real danger. I was with
her in spirit only, much like I am here with you both in spirit. Like a vision.
A vision can't be destroyed. But I couldn't really help her either. I was trying
to warn her, but I failed. I'm sorry."
"So what can we do?" Piper asks worriedly.
"I came back to help anyway I can. The worst is yet to come and
I want you to know that I am here for both of you and for Prue. I think in the
hours and days to come, you are going to need all the help you can get. I have
brought somebody, actually two others whom you might know," Andy stated
matter-of-factly.
Slowly two more life lights appeared. Instantly the girls
recognized them as Grams and Mom. Screaming "Mom" "Grams" the girls run to their
mother and beloved grandmother, reaching out to touch them, knowing that they
weren't physical beings. They couldn't be hugged or touched, no matter the
sisters' longing to do so.
Turning first to her mother, Piper stated "We missed you Mom, so
very much. Then slowly turning to Grams. "Thank you for all you need. We love
you both very much."
Piper asked, "Do you know about Prue, what was happened and
about Phoebe's premonition?"
"Yes, we know, dear," her Mom answered. "We are here to help you
and Phoebe."
Somehow, Phoebe was troubled by that comment. Mom didn't mention
Prue. It wasn't like her mother to make a mistake. However, Phoebe dismissed
that and started explaining their need. "Mom you would have been so proud of
Prue. How well she watched over us. How she also protected us and still does.
Now we have to protect her. We need your help."
"Phoebe, it's not that easy," her mother continued. When I said
we came to help Piper and you. I meant just you and Piper. We can't help Prue."
We don't have that kind of power."
"So there is nothing we can do and Prue is going die." Piper
said as tears welled up in her eyes and slowly started to stream down her
face."
" I won't accept that ever. I won't let her die. We will stop
whoever- whatever that is out to get her. The Charmed Ones must go on and the
Power of Three won't be defeated. You must help us try." Phoebe declared.
Grams couldn't help but smile. She had watched Prue and Phoebe
since her death. She knew how they sometimes disagreed. Despite their
differences Phoebe was so like Prue in so many ways. She knew that while both
sisters would feel Prue's death deeply, Prue's death could kill Phoebe's spirit.
She wouldn't let that spirit die. Giving into the youngest, most determined
Halliwell, Grams finally said. "Yes, Phoebe, we will try to save Prue." The
clock struck midnight. "I think you girls should get some sleep." Grams
stated.
A few minutes later, lying in their beds Piper and Phoebe slowly
drifted off to sleep. Their last thought before the tiredness from the days
events took hold was that despite all that they had seen and all that was to
come, they knew that the ones who loved them were there for them.
At Night Dreams Come True
Through the window, the full moon shone bright. Its rays slowly
drifted onto Prue's tormented face. Slowly the light hit her eyes. In the dark
of her hospital room, Prue slowly opened her eyes. First she peered through them
like slits, fighting the pain as the day's events came rushing back to her. Out
of the corner of her eyes, she saw a shadow, bringing back the realization that
it was not a dream. Her nightmare had returned and it was in her room at this
moment. Defiantly Prue demanded, "Who are you? What do you want?"
A rumble crackling came through it voice. "Who do you want me to
be Prue?" Its face turned to the Woogyman and then to Jeremy. Its changed from
visage to visage through all sorts of demons, warlocks, and monsters that she
had seen, fought and defeated along the way. "Maybe this one suits you best?" He
slowly turned into a dark slender man who looked as dark as the night and as
cold as the grave. Slowly his face turned crimson and grotesque.
"You're him," Prue stated off. Although not a deeply religious
person, Prue knew that there was an ultimate evil that ruled. Although given
many names, Satan was the one that came through her childhood memories. She
never believed she was important enough to warrant such a visit.
Knowing the reference being made, he interrupted her, "No, I am
not. However, I am flattered that you thought so."
"Then who, what are you? Prue stuttered.
"I am the most powerful evil you have ever encountered. I would
say that the rest is irrelevant, but that would be a lie. Soon you will know who
and what I am," he stated matter-of-factly. "However, to use an overused cliché,
I am your worst nightmare." Quickly his eyes changed into a deep coal black and
he continued, "Now Prue, I need you to help me with my plan."
Using all her strength, Prue sat up. "I will never help you,"
Prue vehemently spit out. Gazing at him intently she tried to throw him
backwards into the wall. It backfired, as he turned her power against her,
throwing her violently onto her bed.
That is what I like about you Prue- your stubbornness. I see
this may take some convincing," he taunted. Reaching down he lightly touched her
temples. Her head pounded and her body reeked with pain. Instinctively like a
beat animal, Prue curled up into the fetal position. Peering through pain struck
eyes, tears started to stream down her face.
"You may have noticed how easily I can hurt. The pain will come
greater each time you test me. It will become so unbearable you will have no
choice to do as I say or to die," he sneered.
"Why don't you kill me and get it over with?" Prue
yelled.
" I have a plan for you Prue. A great and wonderful plan, one
involving you and your sisters. Oh, but we get ahead of ourselves. I think there
are some secrets that I will keep from you for a little while longer," his voice
trailed off.
"Why do you need me?" asked a wearied Prue.
"Need? No I don't need you Prue. I admit I find you a challenge
and how I love a good challenge. But I digress, back to the matter at hand.
Prue, you are to visit your sisters today," he continued to slowly deliberately
lay what he expected.
"Why, what are you planning to do to my sisters," Prue asked
worriedly.
His eyes changed to fiery red and voice crackled. "That is not
for you to concern yourself about. Just go to your sisters. That is what I
command you to do," he shot back angrily.
"I won't go. I won't help you with your plan. You will just have
to kill me, " Prue started to sob. Prue was scared, really scared. She had seen
his power. She would not let this beast use that power on her sisters.
"I thought you might need a little more convincing. I can see
that the way to heart is through your sisters," he continued calmly.
With a wave of his arms, a picture of her sisters appeared on
her hospital wall. She could see both of them lying in their beds sleeping
peacefully. Slowly, this being so horribly evil walked to and into the wall. She
could see him bending over Piper, laughing.
His fingers lightly brushed her hair and she screamed. Prue
could see her sister was terrified and she was helpless to help her, even though
her mind screamed out to her.
Hello Ms. Piper Halliwell. I am glad we finally meet. Did you
enjoy my little awakening?" his voice sneered. Prue watched helplessly, yearning
to get to her sister.
In the other room, Phoebe woke with a start. She felt her
sister's pain. Running into Piper's room, she saw the thing that was lurking
around in her premonitions.
"Oh, Phoebe, it is glad to see you have stopped hiding behind
you premonitions. Premonitions do diminish the how awesome my power truly is, as
you shall see," he laughed sarcastically. With a flash of his eyes, a ray of
light hit Phoebe; she fell forward rolling up into tight ball to protect her
from its effect. She was too late; the light hit her squarely, striking her
blind.
Phoebe started to whimper "Piper, Piper, I can't see. What can I
do?
"The effect is temporary Ms. Halliwell. That is if your sister
Prue does what she is told." "If not…" his words trailed off. With those
telltale words, he vanished from all three sisters sight.
In her hospital room, Prue knew what she must do. She would not
let her sisters down. It was for her to protect them. There was no time to
waste. Her sisters needed her.
Prue slowly got out of her bed and begin searching for her
clothes. Carefully, she put them on over her bandaged covered arms, careful not
to open wounds not yet starting to heal. She opened her hospital room and slowly
walked down the corridor and out of the hospital.