FOUR
"Is it true?" Constance asked. "Are you really witches?"
Piper looked at her sisters.
"I guess there's no sense in denying it," she said finally. "Yes, we're witches. Is what Logan said true? Is everyone trapped in this town because of that barrier?"
"I'm so sorry," Constance said. "Yes, it's true. No one who lives here can ever leave. We encounter the barrier just as you apparently have. He won't let you leave, you know? He'll kill you just as he has all the others. And there's nothing you can do to stop him, I'm afraid."
"What others?" Paige asked.
"The other witches," Constance said. "Years ago, when the highway was put in, it caused traffic to bypass this small town. People began to leave for the big cities. Logan's grandfather found a witch who put a spell on the town, forcing people to remain here. Ever since then no one has been able to leave. Strangers can come and go as they please but those of us who live here can never leave. Every so often Mr. Logan finds a new witch to reinforce the spell, and then he kills the witch. I'm afraid that's what he has planned for you."
"Why?" Phoebe asked. "Why does he want people to stay here so badly?"
"No one knows," Constance replied. "We only know that he does. He owns a small factory near the outskirts of town so everyone has a job, even though he barely pays minimum wage. But other than that, all we know is that he won't let any of us leave."
"What is he?" Piper asked. "Is he a demon or a warlock?"
"I don't think so," Constance said. "As far as I know, he's just as human as the rest of us. He just doesn't want any of us to leave. Everyone is terrified of him. Anyone who disagrees with him or speaks out against him dies a horrible death. We've learned to just keep our mouths shut and do what he wants. It's best that way."
"This is no way for anyone to live," Piper said. "What was this business he mentioned?"
"He probably wants you to reinforce the barrier," Constance said. "It's been several years since the last witch came through here. We believe that it weakens over time and needs to be reinforced. Once you do, he'll kill you to prevent you from taking it down after you leave."
"Well we certainly aren't going to help him keep you people captive," Paige said. "If that's his plan he can forget it."
"Oh, you'll give in to him eventually," Constance said. "He'll keep you here until you do. And if you take too long, he'll start killing the townspeople indiscriminately until you do. In the end, you won't have a choice."
"We'll just see about that," Piper said. "Come on Phoebe and Paige. Let's go see what Mr. Logan has to say. Then we'll figure a way to put an end to him once and for all."
Constance just watched as the girls went out to Piper's car. It wasn't the first time she had seen that determination. She also knew that they would have no choice. They would have to accede to Logan's demands.
Piper followed Logan's directions to his home. It was a palatial place with high pillars and grand artwork on the exterior. The lush grounds were immaculately tended and the shrubs and bushes were carefully pruned and trimmed. As they pulled up in front of the mansion, a man came out to meet them.
"You must be the witches Mr. Logan mentioned," said the man, smiling an evil smile. "He's waiting for you in the library. It's the first door on your left just inside the house. I'll take care of your car. Please, go right in. He's expecting you."
Piper just glared at the man, knowing that without her powers, there was nothing she could do. That would change soon enough, she vowed silently to herself.
"Is it true?" Constance asked. "Are you really witches?"
Piper looked at her sisters.
"I guess there's no sense in denying it," she said finally. "Yes, we're witches. Is what Logan said true? Is everyone trapped in this town because of that barrier?"
"I'm so sorry," Constance said. "Yes, it's true. No one who lives here can ever leave. We encounter the barrier just as you apparently have. He won't let you leave, you know? He'll kill you just as he has all the others. And there's nothing you can do to stop him, I'm afraid."
"What others?" Paige asked.
"The other witches," Constance said. "Years ago, when the highway was put in, it caused traffic to bypass this small town. People began to leave for the big cities. Logan's grandfather found a witch who put a spell on the town, forcing people to remain here. Ever since then no one has been able to leave. Strangers can come and go as they please but those of us who live here can never leave. Every so often Mr. Logan finds a new witch to reinforce the spell, and then he kills the witch. I'm afraid that's what he has planned for you."
"Why?" Phoebe asked. "Why does he want people to stay here so badly?"
"No one knows," Constance replied. "We only know that he does. He owns a small factory near the outskirts of town so everyone has a job, even though he barely pays minimum wage. But other than that, all we know is that he won't let any of us leave."
"What is he?" Piper asked. "Is he a demon or a warlock?"
"I don't think so," Constance said. "As far as I know, he's just as human as the rest of us. He just doesn't want any of us to leave. Everyone is terrified of him. Anyone who disagrees with him or speaks out against him dies a horrible death. We've learned to just keep our mouths shut and do what he wants. It's best that way."
"This is no way for anyone to live," Piper said. "What was this business he mentioned?"
"He probably wants you to reinforce the barrier," Constance said. "It's been several years since the last witch came through here. We believe that it weakens over time and needs to be reinforced. Once you do, he'll kill you to prevent you from taking it down after you leave."
"Well we certainly aren't going to help him keep you people captive," Paige said. "If that's his plan he can forget it."
"Oh, you'll give in to him eventually," Constance said. "He'll keep you here until you do. And if you take too long, he'll start killing the townspeople indiscriminately until you do. In the end, you won't have a choice."
"We'll just see about that," Piper said. "Come on Phoebe and Paige. Let's go see what Mr. Logan has to say. Then we'll figure a way to put an end to him once and for all."
Constance just watched as the girls went out to Piper's car. It wasn't the first time she had seen that determination. She also knew that they would have no choice. They would have to accede to Logan's demands.
Piper followed Logan's directions to his home. It was a palatial place with high pillars and grand artwork on the exterior. The lush grounds were immaculately tended and the shrubs and bushes were carefully pruned and trimmed. As they pulled up in front of the mansion, a man came out to meet them.
"You must be the witches Mr. Logan mentioned," said the man, smiling an evil smile. "He's waiting for you in the library. It's the first door on your left just inside the house. I'll take care of your car. Please, go right in. He's expecting you."
Piper just glared at the man, knowing that without her powers, there was nothing she could do. That would change soon enough, she vowed silently to herself.
