Chapter 10: Saving Chris
Wyatt was the first when to race to Piper's side, when he heard her.
"Mom, what's wrong with Chris?" he asked worriedly.
Piper looked at Wyatt blankly. "He's like asleep, but his eyes are open. But he isn't responding to my pleas. Leo tried healing, and it worked a little, except Chris was the same," she whispered slowly and painfully.
Without even hesitating, Wyatt orbed down to the basement, where Leo stood over Chris staring at him.
"Dad?"
Leo turned to face Wyatt, his face was pale. "Wyatt, son Chris…I don't know what's wrong with him…" he said.
Wyatt approached Chris. He stared at his brother intently. His eyes were wide open, but Chris was definitely not home. As Wyatt stared at Chris, he realized he had seen this before. But where?
"Dad, I think I know what's wrong with Chris," cried out Wyatt as he remembered how one of his low life demons had the power to trap a person inside their mind in a maze.
Leo looked at Wyatt hopefully. He waited for Wyatt to tell him.
Wyatt stared at Chris intently.
"Wyatt, son, do you know what we can do to help Chris?"
Wyatt looked at Leo blankly. "There was a demon under my command, that trapped people in their minds and they were in a maze. There are some challenges they must overcome in order to escape. If they don't, they…die," answered Wyatt scared for his brother's life.
Leo shook his head. "Chris, he..he..he's strong. He'll pull through," Leo said trying to reassure Wyatt..and himself.
Wyatt nodded bluntly. He stared at Chris intently.
"We have to help him, he might not be able to overcome it all. There are some challenges that hurt more than physical pain. We have to come up with a spell to enter the maze, to enter Chris's mind. Dad, tell mom, and the aunts that we need their help!"
Leo nodded and instantly orbed up to the kitchen.
"Piper, Phoebe, Paige, we need a potion or a spell…Wyatt..he figured out what's wrong with Chris. He's trapped inside this maze in his head. The only way he'll come out of it, is if he overcomes all the challenges. Wyatt's afraid he won't be able to, so we need something to get us in the maze, "Leo quickly told them.
Piper nodded, her hands trembling in fear of losing her son.
"A spell?"
Leo nodded. Piper turned to her sisters. She nodded to them, telling them they had to work fast to save her baby boy.
(Back to Chris)
Chris was tired, really tired. He had been walking for what seemed like forever. His entire body felt sore. He felt like he had been run over.
Chris turned a corner and to his surprise he was thrown backwards by an invisible force. Grunting he stood up, and made his way back towards the invisible field. He tried it again, and this time he managed to go threw it fighting the force field, using his telekinesis to hold it back.
Chris was very satisfied with his work.
This isn't so hard, thought Chris.
How wrong you are!
Chris stood very still, he had come to a stop. In front of him, he saw himself, only younger. He watched intently as if it were a television. He watched as his younger self walked into the Manor. It was decorated as if for a party.
Chris's insides trembled. This was his mother's death! No…no not again!
"No, stop this!" pleaded Chris. He fell to his knees, and covered his eyes. I can't see this again, not again!
But it didn't stop him from hearing it all. His pleas, his mother's last words. He heard himself calling for Leo. Wyatt's evil laughter.
Stop this , Chris, he tried to tell himself, stop cowering. It is but a memory. Only a memory….memory….memory.
Damn!
He opened his eyes, and forced himself to watch what remained. Leo came only to find, his wife death. An enraged and broken Chris, trying to tell his father what Wyatt had done. But as usual Leo didn't believe him, he would always prefer Wyatt.
No that's not true, a part of him said.
But it is, another said, you know it. Just admit it.
STOP!!!! Leo has changed. I know he has. Things won't be the same.
He stood up, brushing himself of his fears as best as he could. He had won this challenge, but would he be able to get out?
It was finished. Finally.
"Hurry, mom!"
Piper threw in the last words to the spell and they were instantly transported into Chris's mind. Piper, Paige, Phoebe, Leo, and adult Wyatt stumbled to the ground. (Baby Wyatt had been left 'up there')
"Where is he?" asked Piper confused.
Wyatt shrugged. Leo closed his eyes and tried to sense him.
"He's here, I can sense him. Let's get moving, maybe we can catch up with him," cried out Wyatt followed by Leo's approval. They moved quickly and with stealth through the maze. All their power combined was greater, so they quickly overcame all the challenges. They were stunned to see Piper's death.
Wyatt hated himself so much, as he saw how cruel he had been.
Leo held Piper as she cried quietly. Phoebe reassured Wyatt that it was not his fault.