Aaron's P.O.V.-Thursday Evening
Sabrina and I walked down the street towards...somewhere, I didn't come up with a destination. Well, Sabrina walked with her head down, I stormed down the street.
"I can't believe Salem didn't try to say anything to us." Sabrina says sadly.
"I can. I still can't believe what I was thinking, trying to be his friend. To think he actually cared about us." I muttered darkly.
"Aaron, I know. But please don't let your hatred for Salem fuel your decisions. Look at what happened to Hilda and Zelda!" Sabrina pleaded.
"I noticed. And the thing is, I won't do the same thing as them. In fact, I'll do things differently." I told Sabrina.
"And that'll be?" Sabrina asked.
"Not making this feud last longer than it needs to be. We both know Salem believes he can get away with not caring about us because he's quote unquote 'older and wiser' than us. But I'll prove to him, no, to everyone who thinks age is what's important that experience is the true way to go." I say.
"Aaron, while you do have the right ideas, you have the wrong methods. Why can't you be the better man and patch things up with Salem?" Sabrina asked.
"Because Salem destroyed the bridge with a magical earthquake, and I'm done being the one to patch things between us. He should be the one doing the patching." I told Sabrina.
"Aaron, I get you're mad now, but I think once you've cooled off, you'll realize that you and Salem are being silly." Sabrina said gently, putting a hand on my shoulder.
"Sabreeny, I get you want Salem and me to try and get along, but it'll never happen. As long as Salem thinks he's in the right, he and I will never get along until he realizes that he's wrong." I told Sabrina as we continue walking
Sabrina sighed. "I know. I just don't want to see you two fight. I already see Hilda and Zelda fight on a daily basis, I don't want to see you and Salem do the same too." Sabrina says.
I was about to respond to that when we both felt a presence behind us. We turned around to see nothing except for falling leaves.
We walk again, only to feel the same presence. We looked back to, once again, see nothing except for a single leaf.
We walked a third time and felt the presence. On the silent count of three, we turned, our hands raised in a defensive pose. "Hi yah!" Sabrina exclaims.
However, we looked down to see a black dog that had some white in its fur and a blue collar.
"Oh, it's just a dog." Sabrina told me, relieved.
"Hi there," she says to the dog, who whimpers.
"Oh, don't be scared." Sabrina says as she and I knelt down, petting the dog.
"We won't hurt you." I assured as the dog started licking our faces. Suddenly, an idea went off in my head. Well, two.
"Sabrina, why don't you keep the dog?" I asked.
"What, why?" Sabrina asked.
"First of all, dogs are great for people. They help them get through the tough times, they are loyal, and they are the best bodyguards. As a bonus, I'm sure they can be friends with cats." I explain.
"This wouldn't happen to be a plan to get back at Salem, would it?" Sabrina asked.
"What, no. Sabrina, you're thinking of the short-term. Dogs are loyal, they tell you when little Timmy fell down the well, and better yet, they accept presents without throwing it back in your face and claim to have celebrity friends that want to kill you for mentioning their names!" I say.
"So, this is getting back at Salem?" Sabrina asked.
"Yes, but it's a minor thing. Sabrina, this dog can fill the role of the animal companion you need. Because Salem won't do that." I say.
"Okay, but if this backfires, this is on you." Sabrina told me.
"Fair enough." I say with a shrug as Sabrina checked the collar.
"Your name's Alvin?" Sabrina asked the dog, Alvin, who answered by barking.
"Are you lost? Don't worry, I'll take care of you. Mainly because Aaron suggested it," Sabrina says.
She then turned to me with a firm glance. "And if this doesn't work, Aaron, I get to say 'I told you so' with no complaints, got it?" Sabrina asked.
"Yes, Sabreeny." I say with another shrug.
"Good. Now, you go head home. I don't think I can sneak Alvin past Aunt Zelda, Hilda and Great-Uncle Quigley if you're gonna tell them I have him and the reason why." Sabrina told me.
"Okay, okay. I'll see you tomorrow?" I asked.
"Maybe, if things cool down a bit." Sabrina told me as we went our separate ways. Sabrina went back to her house, and I went to my house.
For some reason, I can't shake off the feeling that Sabrina wanted me to have Alvin, but that's ridiculous. Sabrina will see that getting Alvin will be the best thing in her life.
Sabrina's P.O.V.-Porch, Spellman's Residence
"Why can't Aaron see that I wanted him to have Alvin? I already got Salem, lazy and lousy as he is. And why can't Aaron just realize that the feud between him and Salem is stupid? Guess all men are stubborn. Either that or it must be their pride." Sabrina says as she walked up the porch, Alvin in her arms, and opened the front door.
Oh well, Aaron will realize his mistake and start patching things up with Salem soon. Yet, how soon will it happen? And, what more does life want to take away from me?
It killed my mom, it took away my dad's feelings for her, it caused Hilda and Zelda to fight more often and now Aaron and Salem? What more do you want from me?! Sabrina demanded in her head.
More than you can ever know. A small, dark thought of her replied as she entered the living room, which had been cleaned from Salem's birthday during the forty-five minutes Aaron and Sabrina were gone.
Salem was asleep on the floor, back in his bathrobe, as Hilda and Zelda were on the couches, reading magazines. Guess the opera marathon was over.
Alvin whimpered from the jacket Sabrina grabbed off the coat rack near the front door. Sabrina pushed his head back in and walked in.
"Hey, guys, I'll be in my room if anyone needs-" Sabrina began, only for Alvin to start squirming in her jacket, "-dance lessons, because sometimes I just gotta shake my jiggy groovy booty thing." Sabrina finished, pretending that the squirming was her dancing.
Only for Alvin to pop his head out of the jacket and start barking before jumping out of the jacket and going to Salem's food bowl.
Speaking of Salem, the cat/warlock woke up, let out an exclamation once seeing Alvin, and passed out again as Alvin ate Salem's food.
"Dance lessons, huh?" Zelda asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Don't tell Great-Uncle Quigley." Sabrina pleaded.
"Don't tell him what? That you were starting a dog farm under your jacket?" Quigley asked.
"Actually, Aaron suggested it." Sabrina said.
"Oh, how come?" Quigley asked, crossing his arms.
Sabrina gulped nervously, realizing she needed to choose her words carefully. After all, it was only a short while ago Quigley apparently accused Aaron of being a bad influence to Sabrina and wanted them to not be friends.
Sure, Aaron suggested Alvin as payback towards Salem, but like he said, it wasn't a major point of him suggesting Alvin be with Sabrina...right?
"Because, he thought I would like a companion to help me through these tough times. His name is Alvin. Can I keep him?" Sabrina asked Quigley.
"Oh, brother, another one. And this time, it's because of Aaron." Quigley said.
"At least he's thinking of Sabrina. Unlike a couple of people right now." Zelda retorted.
Like you? Sabrina wanted to snap, but she didn't have the energy, nor the time, to do so. Instead, she glanced at Quigley. "What?" She asked, confused by his words.
"Sabrina, you don't have the best track record with pets. You may mean well, but as soon as you get bored, I always get left to take care of them." Quigley said.
"Not always." Sabrina argued.
"What about Pancreas?" Quigley asked, pointing at the fish bowl, which was resting on an end table. A goldfish was wearing a gas mask due to the water being dirty. "When was the last time you changed her water?" Quigley asked.
"Pancreas is Hilda's goldfish, and you told her to change the water, remember?" Sabrina retorted, knowing she never got the goldfish.
She even asked her mother when they called each other from time to time before her mother's death, and her mother confirmed it.
"Well, what about Hermes the hamster? Two weeks after you got him, you were bored and stopped playing with him." Quigley said, crossing his arm.
"Poor little guy, wonder what happened to him?" Hilda asked.
"Quigley and Hilda, Hermes is my hamster. And he's been in my room, not Sabrina's. So stop lying just to excuse the reason she shouldn't have a pet. After all, she does well with Salem, even when Salem's a liar." Zelda told Quigley.
Quigley knelt down and started petting Alvin. "But this is the first time I got a pet, Quigley. And who knows, maybe Aaron onto something with this one. Plus, if he isn't, I have the complete, total loneliness to keep me company." Sabrina said.
Behind Sabrina, Zelda raised an eyebrow at Quigley.
"Let her have the dog, Quigley. She already has a broken heart and a broken spirit. What else do you want to break?" Zelda mouthed to Quigley.
"Well, he is a cute little guy. But his owners are probably looking for him!" Quigley stated.
"We'll put up signs, but if no one comes looking for him, then can we keep him? Please? You'd be the best great-uncle in the nine NetherWorlds." Sabrina said as Hilda and Zelda were rubbing Alvin's belly.
"Look, you scratch his belly, and his leg twitches." Zelda said, pointing out the obvious.
"Just like Winston Churchill. Or so I'm told." Hilda said.
"Sabrina, pets require long-term, constant commitment." Quigley said.
"Please, Quigley? This'll teach me all about responsibility and all that other stuff you talk about. Unless you don't want me to be mature?" Sabrina asked.
"She got you there, Quigley." Zelda said.
Quigley looked thoughtful for a moment.
"I mean, one cooking day and the entire house could burn down and all because I didn't learn how to be responsible due to taking care of Alvin. Do you want that?" Sabrina pressed on.
"Okay then, but the minute you slack off, young lady, that dog goes to a shelter." Quigley cautioned.
"I won't let you down." Sabrina promised, putting her hand over her heart.
"Don't let the dog down. Because if you do, then it reflects on you, and Aaron. And we know how much of an influence Aaron is." Quigley stated.
At that moment, Salem woke up again and shook his head. "Ji-mi-nay, I just had the worst nightmare. Sabrina came home with an all awful thing: a disgusting, mangy dog." Salem said.
Alvin walked right up to Salem and licked him in the face in a friendly way. Though Salem panicked and passed out again. Alvin licked Salem, trying to wake him up.
Aaron's revenge plan is failing. Alvin is friendly with Salem. ...I think Aaron made the right call with Alvin being here with me. Sabrina mused in her thoughts, genuinely smiling about the prospect of Alvin living in the house for the first time in an hour since the plan was proposed.
Soon, Sabrina and Alvin walked all around Greendale, putting up posters of Alvin just in case Alvin's owners were looking for him.
"Hopefully nobody will call. Then you'll be mine, forever." Sabrina said to Alvin, who wagged his tail. "Come on, buddy, let's go." Sabrina said as they walked back to the house.
Montage of the hours leading to nighttime
Hour 0.5: Sabrina opened the back door for Alvin, so he can use the restroom.
Hour 1: Sabrina took Alvin on a walk. The two were all smiles with their heads held high.
As they passed by a lonely brown dog chained to a post, Alvin began barking at it in greeting. However, the dog lay down, sighing as it did so. Alvin whimpered in sadness.
Hour 1.5: Sabrina was playing ball with Alvin. Just as Alvin was about to grab the ball, he heard someone say, "Bad dog! Bad!" and looked to see a dog shaking as a random person with a newspaper in hand hit said dog with it, causing Alvin to wince in sympathy.
Alvin started to whimper until he heard Sabrina. "Alvin, where are you?" Sabrina asked in concern as Alvin grabbed the ball and walked to her.
Hour 2: Alvin whimpered as he pushed his food bowl towards Sabrina, who walked in the kitchen.
"Getting it, Alvin," Sabrina said as she walked over to the bag of dog food, got a scoopful of it, and poured it in Alvin's bowl, much to Alvin's happiness.
Hour 2.5: Sabrina was writing something in her notebook when Alvin walked up to her with his ball in his mouth.
Sabrina, despite studying for her school work, rolled the ball across the room, giving Alvin some joy as he chased after it.
End of montage
Soon, in the kitchen, Sabrina was calling Harvey. Alvin was standing next to his empty food bowl, waiting for Sabrina to fill it.
"Hi, Harvey. What are you doing?" Sabrina asked Harvey over the phone, walking to the dog food bag and filling up Alvin's food bowl again, giving Alvin happiness.
"You got a Game Guru? Cool. Me? I'm doing stuff. Maybe next weekend when I'm back from a family road trip." Sabrina told Harvey as Alvin perked up, smelling the Spooky Jar's scent.
He was about to move the lid with his nose to open it when Sabrina noticed it. "Talk to you later, Harvey." Sabrina said, hanging up the phone as she ran to the table and grabbed Alvin's collar.
"No, not for you. That could do terrible things to you." Sabrina said as she opened one of the kitchen cabinet doors, where the safe for the Spooky Jar was, and was about to put said jar in there when she remembered something.
"Quigley has the combination for the safe. And if I ask him for it, he'll think I'm slacking off." Sabrina said, before putting the Spooky Jar on the counter.
"And Hilda and Zelda went away to the NetherWorld for the night. I'll just wait till Zelda gets back and ask her to help open the safe. Better yet, I'll call Zelda. Be right back, Alvin." Sabrina said as she left the kitchen to make the phone call, while Alvin ate his food.
However, after finishing eating it, Alvin was still hungry. He looked around until he spotted the Spooky Jar, hopped on the counter, moved the lid and put his face in the jar. His entire body was covered in a yellow glow as a beam of magic bounced around the kitchen.
Sabrina and Alvin's P.O.V.-Later, that night-Sabrina's Bedroom
Sabrina and Alvin were watching cheesy, black and white horror movies.
"Ah! You're a madman!" The female lead exclaimed, strapped to a table.
"Madness is as madness does, Miss Maruzen." The mad scientist said, flipping the switch, causing green light to appear from it.
"Alvin, I should probably put you in the kitchen, but, I think I want you to sleep in the room with me. Just...one..." Sabrina trailed off as she passed out.
Alvin glanced behind him, before turning around and smiling while the movie continued playing behind him.
"W-What's happening to him?" asked Miss Maruzen.
"He's alive." The mad scientist laughed maniacally as the monster in the film came alive. "He's alive, I tell you! Alive!" The mad scientist continued as Alvin's eye gave off yellow sparkles, marching like a zombie towards the book shelf, where he started to read.
"Aardvark. Allegory. Ambush." Alvin read the words in a British accent, before flipping the pages. The more pages he read, the more the magic's power on him grew, and so did his intelligence level.
The yellow glow from before surrounds him again, before blasting around the room. Alvin closed the book, and grinned evilly at the bed.
The next morning(Dawn)
Sabrina woke up and stretched her arms out, before noticing something. "Oh no! Where's Alvin?" Sabrina asked, worried.
"Maybe he's been kidnapped, or in this case, dognapped and spirited away to a doggy work farm in upstate New York." Salem snarked, jealous about how much attention Alvin had gotten from Sabrina.
Speaking of Sabrina, she gave him an unamused expression with crossed arms.
"Hey, a cat can dream, can't he?" Salem asked.
"I knew I should've done more to care for him. Quigley is gonna be so mad." Sabrina states.
"Sabrina, I need to talk to you about that pooch of yours." Quigley said, walking into the room.
This is the part where he rants about how I prove his point that I can't take care of pets. And that it's best if Aaron and I end our friendship. Sabrina said in her thoughts, as she prepared for the rant she's sure was coming.
"Great job." Quigley said, as Sabrina nervously gulped.
"I'm sorry. I know he's supposed to sleep in the kitchen. I just-great job?" Sabrina asked, Quigley's words finally processed in her brain.
"For all the work you've done with that little guy. Why, just this morning, I watched as he let himself in and out the back door with his little, tiny puppy wuppy paws. How'd you teach him that?" asked Quigley.
"Um," Sabrina was trying to figure out an answer. Salem was about to say something, probably the fact that Sabrina didn't do anything at all, only for Sabrina to cover the cat's mouth.
"Well, I don't need to know your secrets, just keep up the good work." Quigley praised.
Right at that moment, Alvin came into the room, bringing Quigley his slippers. "Amazing! Just amazing!" Quigley remarked as he petted Alvin's head before leaving the room.
"While that's impressive, I didn't teach him that. Maybe he just picked it up on his own," Sabrina reasoned.
"Or maybe Aaron came over in the middle of the night and taught the dog a few tricks." Salem accused.
"Salem, I'm disappointed in you. Thinking Aaron is trying to get back at you by teaching Alvin tricks." Sabrina said firmly.
"Face it, Sabrina. Dogs are idiot creatures that run around in circles for no apparent reason and munch grass till they vomit. And since you were asleep last night, who else would be awake to teach this mutt some tricks? Trust me, they don't just 'pick up' on things." Salem said.
Suddenly Alvin started growling, which surprised Sabrina and Salem. Once they turned towards Alvin, he stopped growling and went back to his normal attitude, even sitting down. Salem gave Alvin a sideway glance, suspicious of the dog.
Sabrina and Salem's P.O.V.-20 minutes later(5:25 A.M.)
"HELP!" Salem exclaimed from outside. Sabrina walked up to the kitchen window and opened it.
"Salem?" Sabrina asked in concern. She went to the backyard, where Alvin was barking near the water well.
"Alvin!" She said, walking over to the well. Alvin barked in reply.
"What's going on, boy? Are you trying to tell me something?" asked Sabrina, as Alvin barked.
"What's that? Timmy's in the well? Normally, Aaron makes that type of comment." Sabrina said.
"No, it's actually Salem in the well. And he could use a little bit of help here, please!" Salem's voice echoed from the well.
Sabrina looked down to see Salem halfway down the well, holding on to the rope. "What are you, a guppy? Pull me out of here!" Salem demanded.
Sabrina turned the lever on the side of the well, pulling the rope up, along with Salem.
"Good boy, Alvin, you saved Salem!" Sabrina praised Alvin.
"Saved me? He tried to drown me, and I know this has Aaron written all over it." Salem stated.
"What?" Sabrina asked.
"How do you think I got in there? He picked me up and threw me in!" Salem declared.
Sabrina chuckled at that. "He, uh, picked you up?" She asked.
"Well, yeah." Salem answered.
Sabrina looked down at Alvin, who looked innocent, and then back at Salem. "Shame on you, Salem. Trying to frame poor, little Alvin. And Aaron too." Sabrina said.
"What? That dog's not normal. I'm telling you, he's possessed, and Aaron's behind it!" Salem shouted.
"Possessed? Don't be ridiculous. You're just jealous." Sabrina told Salem, putting him on the ground.
"Jealous of a dog? Yeah, right after I staple roller skates to my paws and scoot around, making choo-choo noises!" Salem retorted.
However, Sabrina and Alvin walked towards the back door, ignoring Salem.
"You don't fool me, pal." Salem warned.
Only for Alvin to blow a raspberry at Salem.
"Did you see that? Look what he's doing!" Salem persisted.
"I'm ignoring you, Salem." Sabrina responded as she had her eyes closed and accidentally closed the door in Alvin's face, causing the latter to yelp.
"Ha ha, busted, stupid mutt." Salem mocked.
"Don't ever laugh at me." Alvin threatened, dropping the British accent he had the night prior.
"You can talk?" Salem asked before screaming in fear.
Salem's P.O.V.-Ten minutes later(5:40 A.M.)
Salem was sitting on the kitchen counter, looking out of the window through binoculars. He saw one neighbor dancing, another doing sawing, and a third looking through their own window through binoculars due to a broken leg.
Said neighbor looked at Salem, getting a surprise.
"Ah!" Salem exclaimed, before putting the binoculars down. "Rats, no Alvin. Don't believe me, do they? Think I'm just jealous, huh? Don't believe that the precious little dog is possessed by the best friend in the whole wide world? Well, I'll prove it to them." Salem stated as he looked through the binoculars once again.
This time, he saw a huge group of dogs start to group around Alvin, who was on his hind legs, wearing a green army hat, and was holding a bone while appearing to talk to the dogs who came. The dogs soon left towards somewhere.
Salem tip-toed after them, making sure to keep them in his line of sight while keeping out of their line of sights. They soon arrived at the rundown place.
Salem ran up to the front to check the sign. "Greendale Junkyard? What would they be doing-" He suddenly heard something and jumped into a tire stack next to him.
Good thing too, because a couple of dogs arrived. "Who's speaking?" One dog asked. "His name's Alvin, and he got some radical ideas, I hear." said another as they walked past Salem.
"More dogs that can talk? This is my worst nightmare." Salem whined as he went into the junkyard, climbed on top of a car that was near the gathering of dogs, and hid out of sight to eavesdrop on the whole thing.
"You know why I gathered you here, brothers. Who in this crowd has been mistreated by the humans?" Alvin asked as the dogs in the crowd answered.
Alvin walked towards a random dog and tapped its head with his bone, which was glowing with the same yellow glow he had around him.
"You, Bosley, tell us what they did to you." Alvin ordered.
"My name's Bosley. My humans go off to work all day and leave me locked indoors. And if I have an accident, they'd, *sniffles* they'd yell at me." Bosley sobbed. The other dogs howled in sympathy for Bosley.
"You, Emma," Alvin said, pointing his bone at a Scottish Terrier.
"My humans never brush me. They never bathe me. I am constantly bitten by the fleas! I feel dirty and unloved." Emma complained in a Scottish accent as the dogs howled in sympathy again.
"You, Ling-Ling?" asked Alvin, pointing his bone at the pit.
"Yeah, they dressed me up in these humiliating little outfits. They stick me in front of a T.V. camera, and they make me sell fast-food egg rolls!" Ling-Ling ranted as the dogs howled in sympathy once again.
"And what of me, you ask? The worst offense of all, a boy told his female friend to take me home when I was lost, all just to," Alvin began, starting to tear up, "all just to get payback. He's used me as a method for revenge. And used his friend's emotions just to get her to keep me. In fact, she's the one who took care of me, and is the reason we're able to hold this meeting." Alvin said, wiping those tears away.
"Well, that ends today! The canine race is no longer subject to the cruel whims of humankind! I will lead you, my four-legged brethren, to the mountains, where dogs run free and hunting is good!" Alvin proclaims.
"Down with humans!" The dogs chanted.
"But our powers are fleeting. Our power of speech derives from a magical totem." Alvin explained, showing the dogs the drawing of the Spooky Jar in the safe.
"Its power will make us strong! Soon, we strike! The Spooky Jar is going to the dogs!" Alvin declared, holding up his magical bone as the other dogs cheered.
Salem began to leave the junkyard silently. "I've got to warn Sabrina. After getting back at Aaron. Because I was right. He is behind this." Salem whispered to himself, only for the hood of the car he was on to slam shut, causing a random can to fall down loudly.
"Eep!" Salem exclaimed through clenched teeth.
All of the dogs turned towards Salem. "Get that cat!" Alvin barked(A/N:I don't regret writing that) as all the dogs ran towards Salem.
Salem attempted to jump away, only to trip and hit his head on the radiator of a car, holding his head in pain.
Alvin, Bosley and two other dogs towered over a shaking Salem. One of the two grabbed Salem and lifted him towards Alvin.
"It's appear we have a spy in our midst." Alvin said.
"Get your hands off me, you darn, dirty dogs!" Salem snapped, unsheathing his claws.
He scratched at every single dog holding him captive, freeing himself. All the dogs ran out of the junkyard as Salem dusted himself.
"Now, to get payback at the kid. And since he did something I've never done, used Sabrina's emotions in an obvious way, I'm gonna top him by doing in a discreet way." Salem said, rubbing his paws with a smirk.
Aaron's P.O.V.-Somewhere between the Dimension's Residence and the Spellman's Residence(6:15 A.M.)
"Why is it always when I cool off that I realize how much of a terrible person I am?" I asked myself, sprinting over to Sabrina's house.
Like she said, I took the time to cool off. And once I did, I had a huge amount of guilt in my gut. I had emotionally manipulated Sabrina just to get back at Salem. What kind of friend does that?
And what's worse, she's right. I should've taken Alvin with me, instead of trying to get payback at Salem.
Sure, Salem lied about having friends, and he didn't apologize about the fact we almost died when said 'friends' were pissed with us. But at the end of the day, all Salem does to us is mock and taunt us.
What I did, though, is worse. And I need to get over there and convince Sabrina to let Alvin go before she gets in the middle of this.
Just as I was cutting through an alley next to the junkyard, a note flew into my hands.
I opened it to see it was from Salem.
It states,
Kid, I know what you did.
If you don't want Sabrina to find out, stay in this alley. I'll be there soon.
I leaned against the wall, before covering my face with my hands.
Something tells me I'm screwed no matter what I do.
Sabrina and Salem's P.O.V.-Outside the alley(6:20 A.M.)
"Are you sure we'll find Alvin in this alley?" Sabrina asked Salem, as the two walked towards the alley. Sabrina had just left the town hall, where a crowd of dog owners were protesting that their dogs were missing and the police weren't doing anything.
"I'm positive. And if not, at least you found a new shortcut for school. But, let me go in first." Salem said.
"Wow, that's nice of you, Salem." Sabrina said.
"Hey, I realize I was rude to Alvin, and therefore Aaron. So, let me be the better man and go through to see if it's safe." Salem said as he walked in the alley, barely resisting the urge to smirk.
I've tricked Sabrina, and I lied to the kid. Double emotional manipulation in one go! Salem gloated in his thoughts as he walked into the alleyway, where Aaron was leaning against the wall halfway through.
"So, you actually stayed? Surprise." Salem taunted, walking up to Aaron.
"Look, I don't have time, so what do you want?" Aaron asked.
"I want to know the truth about something, and you know it!" Salem demanded.
"What's taking Salem so long?" Sabrina asked, near the entrance to the alleyway, before gasping.
"What if someone took him and Alvin, and I wouldn't know because I right here? I'm gonna go in there, just to make sure Salem's fine." Sabrina said, as she went in the alleyway. She crept right up to some trash cans and hid behind them.
Salem glanced at Sabrina and smirked. Right on schedule. Salem said in his thoughts, knowing Aaron would read them.
Just as Aaron was about to question Salem, the latter frown and point an accusing finger at Aaron.
"Admit it! You tricked Sabrina into getting Alvin just to get revenge on someone, didn't you?! Answer truthfully or I'll use my claws on you!" Salem threatened, unsheathing his claws again and cornering Aaron towards the wall.
"Isn't this a bit extreme?" asked Aaron.
"Answer!" demanded Salem, as one of his claws was near Aaron's neck.
"Fine! Yes, I did! I emotionally manipulated Sabrina to get Alvin just to get back at you!" Aaron admitted, which caused Sabrina to gasp softly.
Salem...was right? Aaron used me and Alvin as an attempt to get payback on him? Sabrina asked in her thoughts.
"Now, why are you asking if you already know? And what'd you mean, 'Right on schedule'?" Aaron asked.
"Oh, I brought Sabrina here just to hear this." Salem said, as Sabrina felt like she was betrayed times two.
Aaron had a look of horror as he slowly looked away from Salem towards Sabrina, who had a single tear streaming down her face.
"You said you were leaving her out of this." Aaron said, his voice shaky.
"Yeah, I lied. It was easy tricking her, using her emotions again-" was all Salem got out before Sabrina exploded, her hair and eyes had flames erupting from it.
Aaron and Salem were blown back and when they looked up, Sabrina loomed over them, pissed.
"How could you?!" She demanded.
"Sabreeny, I-" Aaron began.
"I get Salem had done a lot of bad stuff, but you literally manipulated my emotions just to get a dog I wanted you to have! Sure, I grew accustomed to having Alvin, but I wanted it to come naturally, not part of a revenge plan!" Sabrina shouted, as Aaron hung his head low.
"And you! You lied to me just to get me to hear this! And you admitted it!" Sabrina turned towards Salem.
"Guilty as charged." Salem said with a smirk, not ashamed at all.
"Sabrina, I'm sorry." Aaron tried to apologize.
"Sorry doesn't cut it, Aaron." Sabrina snapped.
"I'm tr-" Aaron began.
"It doesn't matter how many times you say it, Aaron! You used my emotions for your intentions! I don't want to see you right now." Sabrina said.
"...I guess I messed up big time. See you...if you still want to be friends." Aaron said, his hat covering his eyes as he ran out of the alley.
Salem smirked as he saw hints of tears falling down as Aaron ran out of the alley.
"And now you," Sabrina said, glaring at Salem and stepping on his tail.
Ha ha. Suckers don't know my plan continues. Salem gloated in his thoughts as he executed the next part, ignoring the pain coming from his tail.
"Hey, I may have lied to you. But you heard him. He emotionally manipulated you first and hurt poor, little Alvin. Now, is that the sign of a good friend?" Salem asked.
"...As soon as this is done, you're getting a scolding for lying to me and bringing me here under false pretenses." Sabrina said coldly, turning away from Salem.
"Okay, okay. Just know I have your best interest at heart." Salem claimed.
And best of all, I'll be your only friend. Plus, as an added bonus, you'll want to be with me all the time. That's what I call a win-win. Salem gloats in his thoughts as he follows Sabrina to the house.
Aaron's P.O.V.-?(6:30 A.M.)
I ran in a random direction until I finally collapsed onto the ground, exhausted. I finally let the tears stream down my face as I caught my breath.
STUPID! I scolded myself as I punched the ground. How could I believe Salem when it comes to Sabrina?
He'll do anything it takes to win anything, even if it means dragging down everyone he cares about. And yet, the way Sabrina wouldn't look at me. The way she looked at Salem and me.
I don't blame her. I dug my grave, and now I was buried in it.
I just wish I can take back the past ten minutes so that she wouldn't have to go through the pain of Salem and me breaking her trust.
...No, I wish I could take back the past 16 hours so that I can stop myself from ever coming up with this plan in the first place. Maybe then, Sabrina wouldn't look so hurt because of my actions.
Suddenly, I felt multiple presences. Not with ki-sensing, those senses aren't developed yet. Nope, it's via aura sensing.
And they're all...dogs?
"There he is! That's the one who emotionally manipulated his friend, our savior, Sabrina Spellman, the one who allowed us access the the very object that let us speak!" One of them cried out from the shadows.
I realized by looking up that not only was I near the Tasty-Bone factory, but there were a lot of dogs.
And then the dogs pounced towards their target: me.
Sabrina's P.O.V.-Spellman's Residence(6:35 A.M.)
Sabrina and Salem walked in the house and into the kitchen, both of them silent. It had been fifteen minutes since the whole event in the alley and Sabrina still feels like she got slapped in the face.
Maybe because it was due to Aaron admitting he used her emotions against her. She wonders if he even cares about her problems.
"Hey, when did we change the wallpaper in the kitchen?" Salem asked.
Sabrina looked up to see the pawprints all over the kitchen and the safe for the Spooky Jar was open, fortunately the Spooky Jar wasn't in there. In fact, Zelda moved it to a different safe this morning, due to being fed up with Quigley's 'protection' of it not working well.
"Sabrina, there's a note in the food bowl." Salem said, pointing at Alvin's food bowl.
Sabrina bent down to grab the note and read it.
"Whoever wrote this wants us to meet him at the Tasty-Bone factory with the Spooky Jar. If we don't, we won't see Quigley, Hilda and Zelda again!" Sabrina exclaimed, realizing the stakes.
But wait a minute, whoever wrote this knows about the Spooky Jar. How? Did Hilda and Zelda tell him/her/it when they were taken, or did this person already know the whole time? Sabrina asked in her head.
Sabrina's Bedroom(6:42 A.M.)
Sabrina slam opened her bedroom door and went to her closet. There was some cheap knock-off version of SWAT equipment Aaron gave her on her birthday a couple months back.
Funny how Aaron made me mad, and yet he's still helping in a way. I just wish it didn't come to this. Then he would be the one helping me with all of this. Sabrina mused in her thoughts as she put on the gear.
"I should've done more to avoid this whole situation! I should've try hard to convince Aaron to take Alvin with him, or take the Spooky Jar with me when I was calling Zelda about the safe combination or anything!" Sabrina said, packing all the stuff she's gonna need.
"I hate to say it," Salem began.
"Then don't say it, because you like to say it! You're at fault here, too! You lied to me and admitted to hurting me! Which is why you're staying here!" Sabrina said.
"What?! But, you need me more than you need the brat that claims to be your friend!" Salem protested.
"And that's why you're staying here. Because you don't have a noble cause. Unless you're admitting to something else I don't know about?" Sabrina asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Um, no. Of course not." Salem said nervously.
"I don't believe you, but I don't have time to deal with you. You're staying here and that's final." Sabrina snapped, grabbing the backpack full of stuff.
"Bring it on!" Sabrina exclaimed, closing the face shield on the helmet and swinging the backpack over her shoulder.
"Now, stay here or else, Salem." Sabrina said firmly.
"Or else what?" Salem asked, only for the flames to reappear in Sabrina's eyes and hair.
Twenty minutes later-Tasty-Bone Factory(7:09 A.M.)
Sabrina peeked out of some bushes, looking through binoculars. To her shock, she saw a pair of dogs on their hind legs, guarding the entrance.
"That explains all the missing dogs. But why are they guarding the factory? Wait, what if the person who took all the dogs, Quigley, Hilda and Zelda is actually a magical person? That explains the reason they want the Spooky Jar and know about it." Sabrina said to herself as she pulled out a dog treat.
"This will buy me some time," she said as she crawled silently towards the door and the two dogs.
"I gotta say, is sniffing each other really the best method of saying hello?" One of the dogs asked the second dog.
"Interesting point. Interesting. I mean, yeah, why couldn't we shake hands or something?" asked the second.
"Really makes you wonder, Fluffy." The first dog said.
"That it does, Scraps. That it does." Fluffy agreed as Sabrina tossed the first dog treat near a barrel.
Fluffy smelt it and ran towards it. "Hey, where are you going?" Scraps asked. Sabrina tossed the second treat towards the opposite side, which Scraps went after.
"Oh man, beef and liver flavor." Fluffy said as Sabrina snuck past him into the factory. She hid behind some barrels just as a dog passed by, a bone in his mouth and a plunger in hand, er, paws.
After he left, Sabrina ran behind a pillar before making her way to the corner where Hilda, Zelda and Quigley were tied up, bone in their mouths like gags.
Sabrina ran towards them and knelt down. Hilda tried to talk, but it came out muffled due to the bone. "What?" asked Sabrina, as she pulled out the bones from Hilda and Zelda's mouth.
"Behind you!" Hilda warned as Sabrina looked up to see...Alvin on top of a pile of dog stuff.
"Hello, Sabrina. The Kind One. I've been expecting you." Alvin said.
"A-A-Alvin, what are you doing? And what do you, I'm the kind one? That spot normally goes to-" Sabrina began, before remembering what Aaron admitted to.
"Your friend? No, he's just like all the other humans. You, on the other hand, actually cared about me and my kind, therefore you're the only one who will be spared from our plans." Alvin explained.
"Plans? What plans?" Sabrina asked, not liking the sound of that at all.
"Allowing canines to take their proper place as the ruler of this world! Humans have proven they don't care about anyone but themselves! Especially your 'friend'." Alvin said.
"Alvin, what are you getting at?" Sabrina asked, slowly connecting the dots.
"Bosley, Teto, show The Kind One her ex-friend. Maybe that'll show her we're on her side." Alvin said as Bosley and Teto nodded before leaving them for a moment.
When they came back, Sabrina felt like she was gonna be sick. They toss a battered body onto the ground, right next to Alvin's pile of stuff.
However, it wasn't just any body, but Aaron's! His entire torso was covered in bruises and cuts that were not only fresh, but still bleeding.
What makes it worse though...Sabrina can tell that's not the worst of the damage. Normally, she made fun of Aaron for wearing a hat. But this time she was glad for it, because it cast a shadow across half his face and she's not sure she wants to see the damage.
Suddenly, Aaron let out a weak groan, which gave Sabrina a small bit of relief. Aaron was still alive. The question is, how long will he last?
"As you can see, we gave him his proper punishment. Unfortunately, this is a small taste of how much we'll give back to all of humanity, excluding you." Alvin said, putting one of his hind legs on Aaron's head and started applying pressure to it.
Luckily, Aaron seems to have been knocked out. If he was still awake, it would've caused him pain.
"Why are you doing this?" Sabrina asked, horrified by Alvin's actions.
"We're sick of the way people treat dogs! The way they take us for granted, forget to feed us, treat us like objects! We have feelings too!" Alvin explained.
"But Alvin-" Sabrina began.
"And he's no better! Getting so caught up in his own revenge plan that he ignored me, attempted to use me as part of his plan, and worse of all, manipulated your emotions!" Alvin continued before turning away.
"Just like my original owners, leaving me at the park! All I just wanted was someone to love me, and he didn't think to do that! Instead, he used me and he manipulated you! Why do you care about him? Wouldn't you want to see him pay for what he's done?" Alvin asked.
"I get it. Aaron had hurt both of us. And it hurts so badly. And sure, I'm mad at him, but that doesn't mean I want this!" Sabrina said, indicating Aaron's injured body.
"Just because I'm mad at Aaron doesn't mean he's not my friend! And just cause he's still my friend doesn't mean I'm not mad at him! And Alvin, I get he hurted you, too! But this isn't right!" Sabrina said.
"Yes, it is!" Alvin defended.
"No, it's not! Let's say you manage to use the Spooky Jar! All you do is hurt yourself and all the dogs just to get revenge on all humans! And what about the humans who are like me, the humans who care about their dogs? You're hurting them too by separating a bond between them!" Sabrina said, before walking over to Alvin.
"Alvin, there's a reason why people like dogs so much. You're forgiving, kind, loyal, loving and our best friends. Please, don't throw it all away for some misguided revenge that's gonna hurt everyone." Sabrina said.
Alvin stood there, not doing anything for a moment. Suddenly, he licked Sabrina as the magic glowed around him, wearing off.
"What's going on?" Zelda asked, confused.
"The magic must be fueled by Alvin's feelings. If she makes him remember what it feels like being a dog, it'll go away." Hilda said as Alvin started to shake his head, trying to get rid of said feelings.
"Sabrina, it's working. Keep it up." Zelda encouraged.
"But what about him?" Alvin asked, his leg still on Aaron's head. "He still hurt us both." Alvin said.
"I know. And he has a lot to do to make up for it. But if you kill him, he won't have that chance to apologize to us. Please, Alvin. I love you." Sabrina said, hugging Alvin.
"Really? You do? This isn't because of him?" Alvin asked.
"Nope. It's sincere." Sabrina said as the magic glow came back and bounced around, hitting all the dogs, returning them back to normal.
The blast even hit Hilda, Zelda and Quigley, freeing them from the ropes. All of the dogs ran into the corner of the factory, licking Quigley, Hilda, Zelda and Sabrina.
While it would be a joyous occasion, it was cut short when a whimper came from Alvin. Sabrina looked to see Alvin whimpering, trying to wake up Aaron by licking him.
"Aunt Zelda, please tell me you have your phone." Sabrina pleaded.
"Sorry, they took it." Zelda said.
Sabrina groaned, only to see the shine of Aaron's iPod, which surprised her that Alvin and his dog army hadn't taken it away. Good thing, as Sabrina tosses it to Zelda.
"Call the paramedics and Aaron's parents, please!" Sabrina said as she knelt down to check if Aaron was still breathing, just as all the dog owners came into the factory.
While waiting for the ambulance, and Aaron's parents, all the dogs were reunited with their owners. Said owners didn't even show concern for Aaron at all. During all that, Zelda called Aaron's parents and shortly afterwards the paramedics.
"Good work, Quigley. You, uh, wanna ride in the police car and make the siren go 'woo'?" The police chief asked.
"Really? Y-You're not toying with me like last time?" Quigley asked.
"No, I'm in a generous mood today." The police chief said, petting his dog.
"Yee ha!" Quigley shouted joyfully as he ran to the police car. The police chief shrugged before he and his dog followed Quigley.
Alvin waited for his original owners to reunite with him, but they never did, causing him to be sad.
"Sabrina, you go home with Alvin. I'll stay here with Aaron." Zelda said.
"You're sure?" Sabrina asked.
"I'm sure." Zelda said, sitting next to Aaron.
"Well, can you give his parents this card to give to him when he wakes up?" Sabrina asked, handing Zelda a card she wrote.
"Sure." Zelda said, taking it.
"Okay." Sabrina said, before turning to Alvin. "Come on, Alvin. Let's go home." Sabrina said, making Alvin happy.
Backyard-Spellman's Residence(7:40 A.M.)
Sabrina was throwing the ball for Alvin, getting in some time to play with him before she heads off to school. Sabrina clapped for Alvin when he got the ball.
"Come on, you flea barge. Throw me the stinking ball." Salem said, getting a face full of ball covered in dog saliva.
He took the ball off, only to get tackled by Alvin, who proceeded to lick the cat.
"Is this over?" Salem asked.
"Nope. Your punishment just began." Sabrina said, deciding earlier that Salem's punishment for hurting her was for him to spend time with Alvin.
"Alvin!" A random female voice called out. A voice Sabrina doesn't know. However, Alvin knows who it is, given how he ran to the voice's owner, an adult female wearing a blue hairband, blue tank top and skinny jeans.
"I found your flyer, thank you so much! My husband and I have been looking for him ever since he got lost in the woods." The female asked.
"So, you didn't just leave him?" Sabrina asked, curious.
"No. Never. We searched everywhere. I loved him more than you can imagine." The female said.
"I know how you feel." Sabrina said.
Minutes later, Alvin and his owner were leaving, as Sabrina waved goodbye to them.
"I'm gonna miss him." Sabrina admitted sadly.
"Yeah, you know, I will too." Salem lied.
"But, it's the right thing to do. And, despite the fact I'm mad at Aaron for the methods he used, I'm glad he allowed me the chance to be with Alvin. And, thanks to this experience, I'm thinking about getting another dog." Sabrina told Salem.
"Over my dead, festering body!" Salem shot back.
"I can make sure of that. Besides, you lost the right to decide when you hurt me too!" Sabrina said, running inside to get her school stuff.
Aaron's P.O.V.-?(?)
All the dogs pounced on me, scratching me, biting me, hitting me with blunt objects. Their ringleader, Alvin, glared at me.
"This is for hurting Sabrina Spellman, The Kind One." Alvin spatted. Those words took the fight out of me, which was why I didn't fight back.
An unknown amount of time later, I was tied up to a pillar, hanging limply. At times, when the dogs walk by, they piss on me or just occasionally bite me.
Suddenly, I'm on the ground, a pressure is pressed painfully on my head. Just before I pass out, I hear someone, the very person who I hurted, say, "Just because I'm mad at Aaron doesn't mean he's not my friend! And just cause he's still my friend doesn't mean I'm not mad at him! And Alvin, I get he hurted you, too! But this isn't right!"
Suddenly, I wake up in a bed, white blankets on my body. I turned slowly to my right to see a IV machine, which I was hooked up to.
Soon, my parents came into the room, tears down their faces. A complete difference than last night and this morning, where they had disappointment etched on their face due to what I did.
"Aaron, you're awake!" My mom said with relief, clutching my hand.
"W-Why does everything hurt? Where am I, anyways?" I asked, as pain finally took hold.
"You're at the hospital, Aaron. And...do you remember what happened at the factory?" My dad asked, taking my other hand.
"Only getting beaten up by Alvin and the other dogs. Other than that, not really." I admitted.
"Aaron, you had lost a lot of blood, some bruising a bunch of broken or fractured bones and tons of infection from dogs pissing on you. You're alive because Zelda called the paramedics, and that was only because Sabrina convinced Alvin to give up." My mom said, wiping her tears.
"By the way, Sabrina wanted me to give this to you." My dad said, handing me a card.
"We'll be outside, talking to the doctors. See if you're stable enough to bring back to the house and keep from the house." My mom added.
"Mom, Dad? I'm truly sorry about what I did." I told them.
"We know. But that still doesn't excuse it. And we hope you learn something from this. We don't mean we endorse dogs beating you up, of course. We mean your actions having consequences" My mom said as she and my dad left the room.
I looked down and opened Sabrina's card.
Aaron, I may save you from both Alvin and Quigley's beliefs. We may still be friends, but you have a lot to make up for emotionally manipulating me. And I don't mean a basic apology. I mean something that proves you're truly sorry.
Get better soon-Sabrina Spellman.
P.S. I told you I'm gonna say this without any complaints...I told you so!
I just put my face in my hands and took a shaky sigh. I had truly destroyed everything in one day, all just to get back at Salem. And I don't think anything will fix this.