A Charmed Story - Part Five:
20 Weddings And A Funeral?
Chapter 5

Chris wasn't surprise to see that the man, who had spoken to him, was dressed up as a bridegroom, and that he was actually another hologram.
"The question is... Who are you and what are you doing here? After so long, this is the first time that we got a new guest." Michael tried to smile mockingly, but he only achieved a very sad grimace.
Chris swallowed, as he looked into his eyes. "How many guests are there, in this place?" he asked then, afraid of the answer.
"Forty," the man replied, "forty-one with you."
Chris grinned, but then he shook his head: "No... still forty... we freed one of you this morning... That's why that freaky clown caught me, I think."
"You freed one?" Michael asked surprised.
Chris nodded: "But don't ask me how, I still don't know it." He made a short break, looking around again. "How long have you been here?" he asked then.
Michael shrugged: "I don't know... Sometimes I think time doesn't exist here... at least as long as you're alone. Anyway there is no day and night..." Chris nodded.
"Who was it? The person that you've freed?" Michael asked.
"A young woman, she was in the Haunted Mansion."
Michael sighed: "So it must be Jessica... What a pity, I hoped it would have been Angy, my fiancée."
Chris frowned: "Are all the people here engaged?"
Michael nodded: "You are not?"
"No, I'm married since... four d... days. He... He tired to get her too... but..." Chris said, but his voice broke.
"Hey, I'm sorry man," Michael said and put his arm around him. He knew how hard it was for him to accept that situation. And he couldn't even imagine what he had felt if his Angy wouldn't have been on his side. Even if he saw her not that often, he knew she was there. Anyway. It would have been better for her to stay outside in the real world.
"I wonder how she could escape the clown," he remarked then.
Chris smiled weakly: "Our unborn daughter saved her. That was the last thing I saw, that Hope pulled the forcefield up."
"What?" Michael exclaimed surprised without understanding.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Chris lowered his eyes. He knew he shouldn't tell those things but... in that case. "I'm a witch," he explained, "same as my daughter is."
Michael was speechless. He put a little space between them. 'A witch? that's crazy,' he thought, 'but... why not?' He had seen a lot of strange things since he had been imprisoned in that place.
Chris noticed that Michael's arm was surrounding him, as soon as he took it back. He frowned: "How could you touch me? I tried to beat that clown and just fell through him. I thought it was because we... we have no... substance...?"
Michael smiled: "That's just a matter of habit, you'll learn that soon." The man made a short break and then asked: "Would you now tell me your name?"
Chris smiled a bit: "Sorry... I'm..." he thought about that for a moment, "I'm Chris Perry." He thought it would be better not to tell his real familyname, maybe the clown knew the Halliwells. 'Or maybe Bianca?' he thought. 'Didn't she say that she knew that kind of music?'
"So welcome in the grey hell," Michael said, "and who knows, maybe you'll free us all someday."

°°°°°°°°°°

Tom had sat down on the floor. Cole was still shaking his head. "I knew it! Damn it!" he exclaimed.
"What?" Paige asked worried.
"What do you mean with 'you knew it'?" Piper asked in a more clearer way.
Cole sighed: "I had a kind of feeling that something was going on... Like intuition... I can't describe it."
Piper frowned. 'Could it be that there are still some demonic powers inside this man?' she thought. But that was impossible and she knew that.
She shook her head: "Alright, we..."
At that moment Leo returned. "Nothing," he said after finishing orbing. Then he noticed Cole and Tom: "What are you doing here?"
Cole was about to say something, but Paige interrupted him. "He had a feeling of intuition," she explained with a freaky grin. Leo raised his eyebrows but said nothing.
"They don't know anything about that clown?" Piper asked without paying attention to her sister.
"No," Leo said, "but, because of the fact that you believe it could be a witch..."
"You know that?" Paige interrupted him.
"Yeah I heard you up there," he said and turned to his wife again, "because of that, they will ask around if a witch is missing." Piper nodded.
At that moment another Elder orbed in, it was Odin.
"What are you doing here?" Leo asked with narrowing eyes.
Odin looked indignant: "What do you think? An Elder is missing, I want to help!"
"Thanks," Piper said. But Leo was still distrustful.
Suddenly Cole rose to speak: "I'll go downstairs to call Victor as I promised." Then he left the attic.
Odin followed him with his narrowed eyes. He had felt something... Was that possible? 'No...' he thought and turned to Piper again: "Any new clues?"

°°°°°°°°°°

Phoebe sighed. There was nothing, really nothing that could help them to find Chris. She was afraid, that she would never see him again, that he would never be able to be there, when she married... if she married. She dreamt of it, she saw him there with the rings for her and Cole... She smiled. She owed him so much, and now? Now she wasn't able to find something to help him.
"Hey, Phoebe what are you doing here, again?" a soft, friendly and well known female voice asked.
Phoebe looked up and smiled: "Nicki, hey..."
The girl frowned and sat down: "Alright... What's wrong?"
"Huh?" Phoebe asked confused.
"I know you Phoebe, and I know what you look like, when you're worried, so what's wrong?"
Phoebe sighed: "Chris has been caught."
"What? Who? How?" she asked disbelieving.
"We're not sure. There was this hologram that he and Bianca brought to our house from Diseny World. She is a bride missed for about twenty years... Chris and Bianca returned to their honeymoon, but then Bianca came back and told us, that a clown had caught him and disappeared with him." Nicki looked at her with a very confused look in her eyes. Phoebe smiled weakly: "I know... I know how that sounds, but... that's what happened."
The young woman frowned. "Maybe that isn't so crazy..."
"What?"
Nicki was still frowning as if she was thinking very hardly: "I'm not sure, but when I got here, there was rumour going around the upper classes."
Phoebe left all the books on a table, without taking her eyes away from Nicki, and invited her to sit down in a corner away from the curious ears and looks of the students and teachers.
"Ok... so tell me. Tell me everything you know," Phoebe whispered in a very excited tone.
Nicki sighed. "It isn't much, actually..." she said, regretting having suggested that there was some hope. Now that she thought about it calmly, she had realised how stupid it could sound. But it all fitted somehow, so...
"Hey, Nicki, whatever it is, it can help Chris, ok? We've got nothing, so however little the information is, that's something, and that's what really matters, right?" Phoebe insisted.
Nicki finally nodded: "Well, it was only an urban legend, you know? I mean... if it were something really important or something REAL, the Elders would have been interested. But it was another story, just like those of the demonic witch that lived, somewhere in the school and chased all the students if they dared to use their magic to get the answers for the exams."
Phoebe chuckled: "Yeah... that's funny, I wonder who invented it."
Nicki also smiled: "Well, Phoebe... the thing is that the students of the upper levels loved to scare us all. So they used these stories. This one was very popular... Some said that there was a clown who lived in some hidden parts of this school, and that he liked to kidnap children for his collection. In fact, they said he was a witch that had gone nuts."
Phoebe frowned: "I see... But this one, it seems, loves kidnapping couples just in the moment they're going to say the 'Yes I do'. Well, it seems he loved doing so 20 years ago. Maybe he completed his collection."
"I told you this was only an urban legend. But you know, legends have always a base. I didn't pay much attention to this, but Steve loved this stuff, and he used to gather the information about those legends, and try to find out what was true and what was invented... He told me once that the story of the clown might be based on a student, Peter... whatever, who was actually the son of two clowns in the circus that used to come every summer to San Francisco."
Phoebe was listening attentively as she went on: "Well, I'm not really sure, but I think he said that he wasn't their true son, that he had been kidnapped and his new parents, these clowns, discovered his magic and made him work in the circus. Until he finally escaped, and someone brought him to the school."
"And..." Phoebe was pensive "You say the Elders don't know anything?"
Nicki shook her head: "Well, he wasn't a clown, Phoebe. He was a just a tormented child. No one here knew anything about his past. That story was only on his profile, but these clowns were normal people, so nothing magical involved."
"And... You then mean that Steve thought this story could be based on this Peter? Because some trauma?"
Nicki nodded: "Well, he asked and found out that the legend could be traced back up to his days. He said that Peter was a bit… difficult; and maybe he was punished in those cells we found, remember? Those that Gideon had kept in secret. That would turn anyone crazy, let alone one who has already lost some marbles. The story says that this clown appeared during the nights."
"But if he had actually kidnapped someone, the Elders and teachers..."
Nicki shook her head again: "I think we should talk to Steve, you know? But I don't think the clown really kidnapped anyone at that time, here. It was a legend, I said. A legend that grew up and got fatter, and reached our days like that."
Phoebe bit her lower lip, thoughtful. "And what about the holograms?" she asked.
Nicki frowned: "As I said... let's find Steve. I think he's got a free hour now."

°°°°°°°°°°

Chris and Michael walked side by side, in silence. It was really sad... Chris felt very upset because now Michael knew he was a witch, he thought there was some hope in that, and there wasn't actually. What if he couldn't actually save them? Something he really doubted.
Then he smiled sadly, with his eyes glassy. Hope... There's always hope... Hope must be reborn. His 'little Hope'.
"Why don't you tell me something about you?" Michael asked suddenly. Chris turned to him in surprise, which made the man blush.
"I'm sorry, I've been too much time here, I guess. I've forgotten all the good manners. But I'm excited, I've met a true witch... Are you good, by the way? You must, because you saved Jessica… Where are your hat and broom? And... shouldn't you be a woman?" Michael was frowning, and seemed so confused, that Chris had to laugh in spite of himself.
"You read many tales when you were a child, didn't you? No... Men are also witches, and we don't wear hats or brooms. Well, I hate hats, although some like using bonnets," he laughed again. "Look..." he said turning serious, "we witches are like normal people, we try to have normal lives. We have families, children, we marry, we divorce... we go to school and to the University, if there's time, and we work. And we also suffer, and cry..."
"And die?" asked Michael, somber.
Chris took his time to answer, feeling like a gulp had formed in his throat. Then he nodded slowly: "And die..." He sighed.
There was a pause again, that Michael broke after a while: "So, I guess your lives are really hard..."
Chris nodded: "Yes, they are... But there's the reward then. We save so many people, that it's really worth the pain, the fear, and everything. It's even worth your death, if you get something for those you love..."
Michael nodded, moved by his words. Then he looked him in the eyes.
"You've lived through much, man... I can see that in your eyes. You're young... But your eyes tell many stories."
Chris felt a bit uncomfortable with that conversation. It was bringing back too many sad memories, to bear at that moment, in that situation.
So he coughed to clear his voice and changed the topic: "The music… What is it?"
Michael stared at him without understanding. "A popular tune in this kind of carrousels... A bit sinister, if you ask so..."
Chris nodded: "Yeah... I just thought it could help... somehow."
Michael frowned: "We can talk to someone else, let's see if we can find them.. Maybe any of the other people here knows something."

°°°°°°°°°°

Piper shook her head: "There is nothing inside the book... nothing about holograms or clowns..."
"If it's a witch... could it be one of the dark witches from the underworld?" Bianca suggested suddenly.
"You know about the dark witches?" Odin asked surprised.
Bianca nodded: "Met them once."
Odin nodded, then he added: "No... they are not involved... because even those witches have whitelighters."
"WHAT?" Bianca exclaimed, Paige and Piper at the same time.
"Calm down, please..." Leo said and explained, "they have them, but... they don't want them... They even killed one of their whitelighters... But there is a whitelighter for each of them, and those knew where the witches are, ok?" The witches nodded. Only Bianca was still doubtful about that. But they had other problems now.
"If we would knew how that girl got free..." Odin remarked pointing at Jessica.
The girl was about to answer, but Leo was faster: "But we DO NOT know!"
Piper looked at her husband frowning, but said nothing. Paige looked at the girl, telling her with her eyes to keep silence. None of the two witches knew what was going on, but they knew that Leo must had a good reason to lie to Odin.
At that time Cole returned: "He sends you greetings! He said I shall call him as soon as we have something new... Do we have something new?"
Tom, who was sitting in a corner, observing the others the whole time, now rose to speak: "I think we should split up in teams."
The other looked at him waiting for more. He felt their eyes placed on him. "We should try to make some potions, just in case... and Leo and Odin, you could try to sense him... And Paige could go to Darryl again..."
No one answered. Then Piper broke the silence: "Ok Leo, Odin you can go downstairs, there you will not be disturbed. Paige, you go to Darryl and ask him if he found something new, and we'll stay here. Me and Tom make some potions and Cole take care of Jessica and Bianca."
Leo nodded and led Odin to the door. Paige was already orbing away.
"Again the babysitter-job," Cole muttered but did as they asked him to.

°°°°°°°°°°

Leo and Odin went down the stairs.
"I don't understand, why don't we orb down there?" Odin asked.
"Because it's not necessary," Leo answered.
They went into the living room and Odin sat down on the sofa. Leo placed himself at the edge of the table. He closed his eyes trying to sense Chris.
But Odin interrupted him: "Leo there is something we have to talk about."
Leo sighed and opened his eyes again: "Do you really think that this is the right moment to talk about Chris and..."
"No not Chris... I'm, talking about the ex-demon!"
"Cole?" Leo frowned "What's wrong with him?"
Odin sighed: "Didn't you feel it?"
Leo narrowed his eyes: "What?"
Odin shook his head: "When I was up there with him, I felt a kind of... like a little piece of magic inside him... Didn't you feel that, too?"
"No," Leo answered thoughtful. He had thought about something like that, when Cole told them about his intuition... but... "Do you believe he has still demonic powers? That's impossible...!"
"No, no..." Odin raised his hands in defense, "that man is good I'm sure... but... Maybe..."
"Maybe what?" Leo asked.
"Maybe WE did something wrong..."
"We?" Leo asked surprised, not knowing about anything he could be guilty for... But then he remembered and his face turned a little angry: "No... IF it's like that... then YOU did wrong...You send them there!"
Odin sighed: "I know."
"I told you from the beginning that this was completely crazy! But you did it..." Leo's anger rose.
"I know," Odin muttered.
"If he is now... Do you know what you've done to him? He has just managed to deal with having NO powers!"
"I know," Odin answered, "but it was our only chance, and you know that!"
"Keep it... Don't waste your words..." Leo said, now calmed again. "We have more important things to do. We can discuss that later."

°°°°°°°°°°

Tom took a big bottle from the shelf.
"Be careful," Piper remarked.
"I know... a little piece of that can let explode the whole house!" he said before she could go on teaching him. "You know, I have my exam," he added while placing the bottle on the table.
"Sorry," Piper said, "but... I even tell that to my sisters everytime they need to use it, and so they remind it to me."
Tom nodded. Then he leant a bit forward and whispered: "Do you know how they freed that girl?"
Piper looked at him and then she nodded weakly.
"Chris?" he whispered, knowing that he was more powerful than an Elder. Piper shook her head.
Tom frowned, then he turned around to watch the others. Jessica was sitting on a chair in the corner of the attic. She wanted to be alone. Cole sat on the old sofa. Bianca was lying there too, with her head on his lap. Cole caressed her hair. She was crying again.
Then Tom turned to Piper again, knowing that there was only one person maybe more powerful than Chris. "Hope?" he whispered. Now Piper nodded slowly.
The young man sighed. "That girl will be really huge... Does Bianca know that?"
Piper shook her head again and added: "Concentrate on the potion or..."
"... the whole house will be blown up, I know," he ended that advice on his own.
All kept now silent for a while. Then suddenly something was moving through the air.
"The shadow," Jessica muttered. She was about to panic.
Piper looked up trying to see something, but she couldn't. She just thought the girl had dreamt, but suddenly there was the shield around Bianca.
"Wow," Tom muttered impressed by that.
Piper pushed him from the back: "Go and shimmer Jessica downstairs."
Tom nodded and went over, but then there was the shadow again.
"Oops," the young man exclaimed and stepped backwards again.
"Piper do something!" Cole yelled.
The shadow was surrounding the girl. It was waving around her.
"No, you could maybe hurt Jessica!" That was Tom.
Piper sighed then she blew up a vase that stood next to the girl. Jessica screamed. The shadow was leaving here as soon as the explosion took place. It was moving through the attic again. Piper wanted to blow it up now, but suddenly someone grasped her hands.
It was Jassica. "No," she pledged, "don't hurt him, it's Jason... my fiancé!"

(Chapter 5 written by Belén and Chrissy.W.x)