HALLIWELL 2024 –Eppy 1

Chris Halliwell orbed into the dark basement of the Halliwell Manor Museum and looked around nervously. When it appeared as though the coast was clear, he began to fumble around in the darkness, looking for the chain he knew was hanging somewhere in the middle of the room. After a few moments of waving his hands around, he finally found what he was looking for and gave the chain a tug. Instantly, the room was illuminated, albeit dimly, from the single light bulb overhead.

Chris looked around and frowned.

The basement was a mess. While Wyatt went to great lengths to keep the upper floors of the Manor clean and orderly for the numerous guests who visited each day, he obviously cared little about the basement or what was stored there. There were boxes of old junk and personal items just thrown around in a disorderly manor. Chris just hoped that he would be able to find what he was looking for in the mess.

Chris sighed and started digging through some of the boxes. Most of them were filled with old toys and clothing belonging to the sisters. And while it was uncomfortable for him to see all these items again, he tried to put it of his mind as he focused on the task at hand. Finally, after several minutes of digging through his family memories, he found something that looked promising – a box filled with old photo albums and miscellaneous photos that belonged to his mother and aunts.

Chris grabbed the box and moved it under the light so he could see better. As he started to sift through some of the contents, he was startled by a voice from above.

"What are you doing here?"

Chris looked up and saw one of Wyatt's demon guards standing above him. When he didn't respond right away, the demon added…

"You don't belong here."

Chris tossed the pictures in his hand back into the box before rising to face the demon.

"I could say the same to you." Chris replied coolly.

"Don't get smart with me kid!" the demon snapped back furiously.

Chris just smirked.

"Oh, I wouldn't dream of doing that. I wouldn't want to confuse you."

"What did you say?" the demon asked, stepping toward him.

"You heard me." Chris replied, trying to sound braver than he was actually feeling.

"I could kill you right now. You know that?" the demon said menacingly, getting even closer.

"You could." Chris replied standing his ground. "But you won't."

The demon smiled.

"Oh really. And why is that?

Chris smiled back then leaned to the side, looking past the demon.

"Hello Wyatt." He said calmly.

The demon gasped - his face filled with terror. He quickly spun around to look where Chris was looking.

While the demon was momentarily distracted, Chris looked around and spotted an old iron fire poker leaning against the wall across the room. He quickly thrust out his hand and yelled "Poker". The iron tool disappeared in a swirl of orbs and re-materialized in Chris' hand just as the demon figured out Chris had been bluffing and whipped back around to face him.

"Made you look." Chris sneered and then thrust the poker through the demons chest.

The demon cried out in agony and then burst into flames as Chris brought his hands to his face and turned away to protect himself from the blast that followed. When the demon was gone, Chris turned back and stared at the pile of ash that remained on the floor.

"I told you 'you don't belong here'," he said, scattering the ashes with a kick of his foot.

Suddenly, he heard clapping coming from behind him followed by the familiar voice of his brother.

"Well done! Well done!" Wyatt proclaimed.

Chris turned around to face his brother, who surprisingly, looked thrilled to see him there.

"Hello Wyatt." Chris replied dully.

"Well done little brother." Wyatt continued with a shit ass grin on his face. "You know…with your brains and my power we could really do some damage. We could rule this city –together. The way it was meant to be."

"Thanks, but I'll pass." Chris said, kneeling down to collect some of the singed photos that had flown out his box when the demon exploded.

"Geez," Wyatt continued, walking past Chris to take a seat on the basement steps, "Why so bitter? I mean…if anyone should be pissed off right now it should be me. After all, you just vanquished on of my dearest friends," he said motioning toward the pile of ash of the floor between them.

Chris laughed.

"Oh really? Dearest friend huh? What was his name?" Chris challenged him.

Wyatt tilted his head and thought about this a moment before responding…

"How the hell should I know? But that's beside the point. What are you sneaking around down here for anyway?"

"That's none of your business." Chris replied bitterly.

"There is that attitude again!" Wyatt said. "There's no need for it. Really. I was just going to say that if you want to come to the manor, you don't have to sneak in. You're welcome here anytime."

"Right," Chris said, standing up and folding his arms across his chest. "Just as long as I pay my twenty five dollar admission fee and stay behind the velvet ropes."

"Don't be ridiculous!" Wyatt replied. "You don't have to pay to visit. But do stay behind the velvet ropes. We don't want to mess up the displays."

Chris rolled his eyes.

"You're a piece of work. You know that?"

"What?" Wyatt replied innocently. "I'm just trying to preserve our family memories."

"Yeah right." Chris responded.

"Speaking of which," Wyatt continued, "What have you got there?"

Chris quickly knelt down and closed up the box of pictures.

"Nothing."

"Doesn't look like nothing." Wyatt said. "In fact, it looks like a box of old family photos. Now Christopher…you weren't going to steal those from me. Where you?"

"Maybe." Chris replied. "What do you care anyway? You just tossed them down here like garbage."

"No." Wyatt corrected him. "They were being stored down here for future exhibits."

Chris rolled his eyes again and wrapped his arms more tightly around his box. Wyatt smirked at him.

"But hey, I am not an unreasonable guy. You want the damn pictures…take them." Wyatt said, not sounding nearly as cordial anymore.

"Gee thanks." Chris said sarcastically. "You're all heart."

"What do you want them for anyway?"

"Once again…that's none of your business." Chris replied. "Now if you don't mind, I think I've had enough of this place for one day."

He started to orb out.

"Hey wait a sec!" Wyatt yelled out.

Chris stopped and reappeared-looking annoyed.

"What?"

"Why did you run away from Victor and Sheila last night?" Wyatt asked.

"How did you know that I ran away?"

"Because…Victor showed up on my doorstep this morning and read me the riot act for kidnapping you!" Wyatt replied.

Chris smiled, taking some pleasure in the thought of Wyatt getting blamed for something he actually didn't do for a change.

"Wow, that's a darn shame." Chris said making no attempt to hide his sarcasm.

"So…," Wyatt continued-losing his patience. "What happened?"

"I told you before." Chris began…

"I know. I know. It's none of your business." he said, mimicking Chris.

"That's right." Chris replied. "See, that information might be something I would share with my brother. The only problem is…the brother I loved and trusted died a long time ago."

Wyatt said nothing this time. He had nothing to say. He was clearly hurt by Chris' declaration. But Chris either didn't notice or didn't care. He orbed out of the basement with his box memories, leaving Wyatt alone.

To be continued…