Chosen Chapter 14: Past and Present Danger

Part 4

Xxx

As agent Murphy distracted the guard, Duncan astral projected behind him and leaped into his body, taking control of it. It felt weird possessing someone. He needed a moment to adjust to the strange sensation. It felt like he was drunk and his body was not cooperating with his mind. He also felt the consciousness of the guard pressing against his, trying to regain control and kick him out. Duncan realized he only had a couple of minutes.

"Come on, we don't have long." Murphy said impatiently. "Open the door so we can shut down the security system."

"I'm trying." Duncan said as he clumsily reached for the access card on his belt. "This isn't easy, you know. You try it."

"No thanks, I'm content with my own body." Murphy replied.

Duncan finally managed to get the card and headed to the door to open it. It took a few tries to get the card in the slide. Once the door opened, agent Murphy went inside first and Duncan followed. They walked through a long hallway until they reached an elevator. However, instead of going into the elevator, they stopped at door next to it.

"There will be another guard inside monitoring the system." Murphy said. "You need to go in and knock him out before he can raise the alarm."

"Got it." Duncan said.

Duncan grabbed the guard's keys and opened the door. Now that he had some time to adjust, it was getting easier to control the guard. He entered a small office filled with computer screens, each connected to one of the security cameras of the facility. Another guard was watching the screens while drinking a can of soda.

"What are you doing inside?" the guard asked surprised as he turned to Duncan.

"I thought the camera near the door was malfunctioning." Duncan quickly said. "I thought I'd come check it out."

"It's fine." The guard said.

"Can you just check to make sure?" Duncan asked.

"What's going on with you, Ray? You seem weird." The guard said.

"I'm fine." Duncan replied. "Just a little twitchy with everything going on downstairs, you know. This magic business creeps me out."

"I know what you mean." The guard said understandingly. "Let's hope the mayor's plans to cleanse this city works. Then we won't have to worry about those freaks."

"Right." Duncan said.

Duncan felt a slight tremble in his hand and realized time was running out. The consciousness of the guard was trying to push him out. He could lose control any minute now. He needed to act fast.

"What was that?!" Duncan called out as he pointed at one of the screens.

"What?" the guard said as he turned back to the screens. "I don't see anything."

"I thought I saw something moving." Duncan said as he slowly reached for the baton on his belt and moved closer. "It didn't look human."

"Maybe a magical freak looking for his friends." The guard said.

"Yeah." Duncan said as he swung the baton and hit the guard in the head, knocking him out. "Or I was just imaging things."

The guard fell out of his chair and hit the ground. His soda can rolled over the floor. At the same time, Murphy entered the office and headed straight to the computer. Duncan felt lightheaded and stumbled back. Time was up. The guard expelled his astral self and Duncan was forced to return to his own body. Once he was gone, the possessed guard fell to the ground.

With a gasp, Duncan returned to his own body in the alley. Billie, who had been watching over him, helped him to his feet. Duncan felt exhausted, similar to back when astral projecting was still new to him. He needed to be careful when he used this power, as it took a lot of energy. Besides, it felt good to be himself again. Taking over another body felt like a weird invasion of personal space.

"Did it work?" Billie asked. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, just tired." Duncan replied.

Billie's phone rang and she answered it. "Murphy, alright, be right there." She said before hanging up. "System is down, we can go inside."

A few moments later, Duncan and Billie entered the facility and found agent Murphy waiting for them by the elevator. Duncan looked inside the office and saw both guards had been tied up.

"In case they wake up." Murphy explained.

"So what can we expect down there?" Billie asked.

"A couple of more guards." Murphy replied. "The virus is probably in a vault, but the lead scientist should have access to it. I doubt he will pose a problem."

"So how do we destroy the virus?" Billie asked. "I bet we can't just flush it down the drain."

"There should be equipment in the lab to safely dispose of it." Murphy said. "Are you both ready?"

Duncan and Billie both nodded and agent Murphy pressed the elevator button. As they got in, Duncan felt a little uneasy. One mistake and the virus could be released, which would probably kill them and cause the virus to be spread across the entire magical community. When the elevator door closed, he realized it was too late to back down now.

Xxx

In the past, Violet and the twins arrived in Boston through the swirling orbs of a teleportation spell. As they had discussed before, they had changed their own clothes to go undercover in the eighties. Much to Violet's dismay, the fashion sense this decade meant lots of denim, flashing colors and really unfortunate hairstyles. As bad Violet found it, she could not help but smirk at the thought of how horrible Billie would find it. However, fashion was the least of their problems right now. According to the twins, their parents would disappear today. That meant they only had a couple of hours to find out what happened.

"Do you know where to go next?" Violet asked.

"I think we're close." Nathan said. "I vaguely recognize this neighborhood."

"Yeah, we're close. See that church over there?" Nick added as he pointed in a direction, where a church towered over some rooftops. "I remember that."

"Are you sure?" Violet asked. "You were really young."

"It looks familiar, so it's our best lead." Nathan said.

"Alright." Violet said.

The three of them started heading for the church. As they walked, Violet could sense that both of the twins were tense. She would feel the same if she was this close to answers. She had not given up hope completely that she would find some answers herself.

"So how much do you remember of your parents?" Violet asked.

"Not much." Nathan replied. "I mean, we just turned three. I have fragments of memories. Like the sound of my mom's voice. Her smell."

"What about you, Nick?" Violet asked.

"I don't want to talk about this." Nick replied.

"You never talk about our parents." Nathan said. "Every time I try to bring it up you change the subject."

"Because it doesn't matter." Nick replied annoyed as he stopped and turned to his brother. "They're not here anymore, so what's the point in talking about them?"

"If you feel that way, then why did you even come?" Nathan asked angrily.

"Look, I want answers as much as you do." Nick said. "But this isn't some happy family reunion. We can't change the past, so there is no point in getting emotional over it."

"Yeah, because imagine actually talking about your emotions." Nathan remarked as he rolled his eyes.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Nick asked.

"You know exactly what I mean." Nathan replied. "You avoid dealing with your emotions. The moment things get too intense, you either bail or push people away."

"That's not true." Nick said.

"Really, then how are things with Billie?" Nathan asked.

"Wait, what about Billie?" Violet asked confused.

"Nick is in love with her." Nathan said. "They've been hooking up in secret."

"What?" Violet called out. "Why wouldn't she tell me?"

"How did you know?" Nick asked with a frown.

"I'm your brother." Nathan replied. "I'm also not an idiot. I've seen the way you look at her. Why haven't you told her how you really feel?"

"I did, but she is not interested in me that way." Nick said. "She told me repeatedly."

"Yeah, because you're still dating Darcy." Nathan replied. "You keep stringing her on because you're afraid Billie will reject you if you admit your true feelings. You don't want to be vulnerable."

"Shut up." Nick snapped at him.

"You know I'm right." Nathan replied. "Billie is never going to take you seriously until you do."

"You should talk to her." Violet added. "If you really care about her, you should break up with Darcy and admit the truth to Billie."

"And if she turns me down?" Nick asked.

"Then you will have tried." Violet replied. "If you don't, you'll never know what could have happened."

"I'll think about it." Nick said reluctantly. "Now can we get back to the real crisis here? We're almost at the church."

"Okay." Nathan said.

"I do remember something about our parents." Nick said after a moment. "I remember them fighting a lot. I don't think they were happy. I just didn't want to tell you."

"Thanks for telling me now." Nathan replied somberly.

They continued walking in silence until they reached the church. Violet waited as the twins looked around, hoping that one of them would remember something. She sat down on the steps and looked at the street. Suddenly she saw something that could help. Across the street, she saw a young woman pushing a double stroller with two toddlers in it. The woman was pale and thin, barely in her twenties, with long dark blonde hair.

"Guys." Violet called out as she pointed at the woman. "Look."

"Oh my God." Nathan said. "It's her, right? I'm not sure."

"I think so." Nick replied. "She looks familiar."

"What should we do?" Violet asked.

"Let's follow her. Nick said.

The three of them followed the woman with the stroller, making sure to keep a safe distance. After following her for about a block, the woman stopped in front of a house and started searching for her keys. Violet and the twins stopped and hid behind a car.

"That's our house." Nathan said. "There was a picture of it in the map Leo handed up."

"What now?" Nick asked. "We can't just wait around."

"Maybe I can get a premonition off her." Violet suggested. "I'll go talk to her or something."

"Be careful." Nathan said.

Violet nodded and headed to the woman. She had no idea what to say, though luckily, the woman dropped her purse while searching for her keys. Violet rushed over and helped her gather her things. Unfortunately, none of the objects gave her a premonition.

"I'm such a klutz." The woman said. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Violet said. "Are these your kids?"

Violet kneeled down and looked in the stroller. Two identical boys of three years old were sleeping peacefully. Violet smiled, thinking how strange it was to see the twins like this. They were really cute back then.

"Yes, these are my sons." The woman said. "They look sweet now, but only because they are asleep. They are quite a handful when they're awake."

"I have no doubt." Violet said as she got up. "I'm Violet Morgan, by the way. I just moved into the neighborhood."

"Nice to meet you." The woman said. "I'm Erin Ross and my sons are Nick and Nathan."

"And your husband?" Violet asked.

"No husband." Erin replied reluctantly. "It's complicated."

"Sorry." Violet said. "I don't want to be intrusive. I'm just new and I don't know anyone."

"No problem, so are you married?" Erin asked suspiciously. "I don't see a ring."

"No, not married." Violet replied. She was getting nervous, and wanted to get out of there before she slipped up. "So I have to get going. It was nice meeting you. Hope to see you around."

Violet held out her hand in a final attempt to get a premonition. Erin frowned, but extended her hand. The moment their hands touched, Violet gasped and was sucked into a premonition. She was in a dark room and heard children crying. Erin was standing in front of a crib with her arms spread to defend it. She was screaming. A demon raised a hand and formed a fireball. The premonition ended and Violet withdrew her hand.

"What just happened?" Erin asked suspiciously.

"Nothing, just a chill." Violet lied.

"Okay. Well, it was nice meeting you." Erin said. "I need to put these little guys to bed."

Violet smiled and walked away as Erin went into her house with her kids. When Violet reached the twins, they were eager to hear what she had learned.

"I had a premonition." Violet quickly said. "Tonight a demon is going to attack."

"A demon attack?" Nick asked. "There has to be more to it. If demons killed our mother, then why did we survive? And what about our father?"

"I agree." Nathan replied. "There has to be more."

"Then I guess we'll have to wait and see." Violet said.

Xxx

Inside the house, Erin Ross peeked through the window to see if the redhead was still around. There was something odd about her. When their hands touched, something happened, like she had a premonition. It was obvious she was a good witch trying to get information. But why was a good witch suddenly showing up? Good witches never got involved with her family, as they believed they had given into evil by not following the Wiccan Rede. And then there were her children. Was she after the twins, thinking their warlock blood was a threat? Or was she after their father? Either way, she could not take any chances. She headed to the phone.

"It's me." Erin said as someone picked up on the other side. "We need to talk."

"I thought you never wanted to see me again." A voice replied.

"I didn't." Erin replied. "But I think I need your help. Your children might be in danger. There is a good witch lurking around."

"Is she after me?" the voice asked.

"Probably." Erin replied. "But I can't risk her coming after the twins. If you care about them at all, you will come and help."

"I will be there." The voice said and hung up.

Erin sighed as she put down the phone. She hated having to call him. She should have never fallen in love with a warlock. She had foolishly believed he could change, but after the twins were born, she found out he was still hunting witches. She tried to kick him out various times, but he kept coming back and she let him. Part of her would always love him, although she hoped her sons would never become like him.

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