Scratch Vol.1
Based on the characters created by Len Wein, George Perez, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Part.4 - Act 1
Nicky sat on the couch, a large checkered sherpa blanket draped over her shoulders. Using a hand propped against the armrest, she held her head upright, resisting the urge to curl up on the couch and fall asleep. The adrenaline rush she had escaping her nightmare had quickly worn off and, once again, she was exhausted, resulting in a lack of protest when Chester ushered her inside. Close by, her housemate paced across the living room, periodically peering out the window from behind the curtain between checking his phone and Nicky. She closed her eyes, her lids heavy.
"Hey!" Chester snapped at her, pausing his pacing to give her a firm nudge. Her head slipped out of her hand, causing her to jerk upright. "Stay awake."
"Why are you doing that? What are we waiting for?" She mumbled, annoyed and wary. They had barely been in the living room a few minutes since Chester had got home, her housemate urgently shuffling her back inside suddenly after receiving a text. Initially, she figured he would call a doctor or perhaps even Tony, but instead, he settled her on the couch, draped a blanket over her shoulders and began pacing.
A knock at the door made them both jump at the same time. Without hesitation, Chester raced to answer it. Looking over her shoulder as the door opened, Nicky felt her pulse quicken when she laid eyes on their visitor.
"Oh, fuck me, Ches," Nicky whined, suddenly feeling tense and alert. "What is she doing here?"
"You were expecting me, I see," Agatha smirked, giving Chester a sly look as she stepped in from outside. She removed the black double-breasted coat she had been wearing and hung it on the coat rack beside the door before moving to their dining setting, where she half sat on the tabletop. She smoothed out her plum-coloured skirt with her hands before crossing them across her chest.
"I didn't invite her, she just knew to come," Chester replied, flustered as he closed the door behind her. He gasped sharply then rolled his eyes exasperatedly as, right after he had locked the door, Ebony suddenly appeared at his feet. "No doubt thanks to her friend here," he added, following the cat with his eyes as she jumped onto the couch, settling across from Nicky.
"Just doing my part," she purred, sitting down lazily.
"But how did you…?" Nicky pointed at Chester.
"She texted me," he raised his phone, giving it a little wave.
"When…" Nicky rubbed her head, overwhelmed by it all.
"We swapped numbers at the hospital," Chester answered her before she finished her question.
"I said I needed help, Ches," Nicky continued to whine, spying on the cat from the corner of her eye. "Not, whatever this is." Frustrated, Chester walked over to her and kneeled to face her.
"Look. What do you want me to do?" He argued, looking at her directly in the eye. "Take you back to hospital? According to your doctor, there isn't anything wrong with you, remember? Not on paper at least. So it'll be more tests or they'll probably just commit you." Nicky winced at the thought. "And bear in mind," he continued, "you haven't even got the bill from your last visit. It won't be pleasant when you do by the way." Chester stood up, placing his hands on his hips. "Weird shit is going on here. Bloody spooky shit, like what happened last night, with doors locking and unlocking on their own and whatnot. I don't like it. And you can't keep pretending everything is fine." He added quotation marks to the word fine using his fingers.
"What? You think the place is haunted?" Nicky jabbed, looking up at him, her eyes narrowed and laced with contempt.
"I think YOU'RE haunted," he snapped back, frustratedly. "This stuff is happening to YOU." Nicky groaned and rubbed her head, more vigorously this time. He was right. "She knows something about this," he pointed at Agatha. "Why else would she be here? She knew to come before I even thought about calling the hospital."
"Mind explaining to me what happened?" Agatha interjected, still leaning on the table with her arms crossed.
"Didn't you get it all from your cat?" Nicky chided the woman before giving the cat another suspicious look.
"Ebony only saw what happened outside when you left the house. I'd like to know why you ran out of the house," Agatha asserted, cooly. Nicky clenched her jaw and turned her attention to the TV. She stared at her reflection in the black mirror, avoiding the woman's intense gaze. The witch rolled her eyes a little and clicked her tongue, recognising Nicky's stubbornness. "This isn't a haunting, kids. This is a possession," she posited, casually unbuttoning the cuffs on her white shirt to roll up the sleeves. Nicky and Chester shot Agatha an incredulous look only for her to chortle softly at their reaction. "Let's run through the symptoms, shall we," she straightened up and raised a clenched fist. "One," she lifted a finger. "Blackouts. Two," she raised a second finger. "Nightmares." Nicky's eyes grew wide. "Mm-hm," Agatha smirked, dropping her arm and burying her hands into the pockets of her skirt. "And I wager they've turned to waking nightmares too, hence the running out of the house like a lunatic tonight."
"Those are just a couple of things," Nicky mumbled. "Plus, you don't need to be possessed to have nightmares."
"Plus the fatigue," Agatha raised her voice. "Plus, being physically ill - I mean, we can smell the vomit on you, hun. Plus, I saw you," Agatha stood up from the table and stepped closer to Nicky. "I saw what you did the other day. How you acted when I tried to talk to you on the street. How you tried to hex me. Remember doing that?" She smirked, cunningly. "Are you going to admit you attacked Ebony and then blew up half of the old power plant all of your own volition too? Hm?" Tears threatened to spring in Nicky's eyes as she shook her head and looked down at her hands. Is that what happened? She thought to herself, feeling despondent.
"What is it? Like a demon or something?" Chester asked in a hushed tone. Agatha chuckled.
"Maybe. I mean that is what everyone assumes thanks to Hollywood and 50-something years of satanic panic," she tittered. "Regardless," Agatha's tone grew serious, as did her demeanour. "We must figure out who or what it is first and soon."
"How soon?" Chester sat down on the coffee table, stretching his legs outwards.
"Like now, soon. It's almost Sam Hain1. Or All Hallow Mas. The day the veil between the dead and the living is slimmest," her voice lowered as she explained. "It's why these things have been progressing as they have. As we get closer to the cross-quarter day, whatever this thing is gets stronger. And then…" Agatha's voice trailed off.
"And then?" Nicky whispered, nervously.
"I'm not sure," Agatha admitted, stone-faced. "Depends on whatever they want with you." She regarded Nicky. The young woman sat across from her statuesque, her eyes trained on the ground.
"All Hallow Has? Like the day after Halloween?" Chester mused aloud. "November 1st… Not exactly ideal if you had any birthday plans, hey, Nick?" Nicky remained still, appearing spaced out to the others. Suddenly she stood up, letting the blanket fall to the couch, and went over to the coat rack. Without paying much attention to what she was doing, she grabbed the first coat she got her hands on, slipped on some shoes and started walking towards the kitchen. "Nicky?" Chester asked, his voice thick with concern as both he and Agatha watched on.
"I need some air," Nicky sighed, listlessly, putting on the coat and stepping out the back door.
Leaning with her back against the wall, Nicky stood outside in quiet contemplation, running the events from the past two weeks back in her mind; at least everything she could remember. Despite wanting to reject what was said back inside, she couldn't shake the feeling that Agatha was right. Her nightmares, waking up in strange places, the so-called sleepwalking. It somehow made sense. She recalled the peculiar way Agatha looked at her when she had come to both at the plant and on her way home from college. How her demeanour had changed whenever she realised Nicky was present and aware.
What bothered Nicky further was the fact that the entire time Agatha spoke, she had the same feeling she had whenever she saw the ominous figure in her dreams. It was a sensation similar to being tethered or weighed down; perhaps even smothered in a way. As if this shadow that had been haunting her dreams was somehow affecting her waking life, clawing at her, dragging her down. The memory of it descending the stairs earlier flashed in her mind. What is that thing? She shuddered.
She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Something else about this situation, about Agatha, irked her. Something she couldn't quite put her finger on. A mild breeze gently bent the long tufts of grass and weeds that sprouted through cracks in the concrete of their dilapidated, claustrophobic excuse for a courtyard. Above her, the porch light shone brightly, attracting moths and other night insects.
Shivering slightly, she plunged her hands into the deep pockets of the jacket. Inside the right-hand pocket, her fingers grazed stiff plastic and cool metal. Curious, she grasped them tightly and fished them out, revealing a slightly crumpled packet of cigarettes and a chrome lighter. Surprised, she inspected the jacket sleeve briefly, feeling the thick grey wool with her fingertips, and it dawned on her; she had grabbed Chester's jacket. Her housemate still smoked on occasion, particularly when he went out clubbing. She hadn't since high school.
She flipped the crooked lid of the container open and spied two remaining cigarettes. Without much thought and a complete sense of apathy, she took what looked like the straightest one out and placed it between her lips. With a sharp snap, the lighter ignited and she brought the flame to the cigarette. While the first drag tasted terrible, she found it calming to watch the smoke escape her nostrils and get twisted in the breeze. The nicotine started taking effect immediately, a wave of relaxation washing over her as she took another drag.
"You smoke?" The voice surprised Nicky, causing her to head to dart towards the back door. Agatha stood at the top of the stoop looking down at Nicky curiously. Nicky took the cigarette from her mouth, pinching it tenderly between her index and middle finger.
"Not usually," she mumbled, avoiding eye contact. The older woman smiled and made her way down the stairs before settling on the bottom step.
"I never pictured you as one," she raised her hand, motioning towards the dart. "May I?" Nicky shrugged and handed her the cigarette.
"Disgusting habit," she coughed, rubbing her nose with the back of her index finger.
"Sure," Agatha smirked and took a drag. "I take it these are Chester's?" She took a seat on the bottom step. Nicky nodded before turning her gaze back to the weeds. The courtyard was quiet except for the subtle sound of the grass turning in the wind. "I get this is all… a lot to take in," Agatha started, smoke escaping through her mouth and nose as she spoke.
"So, it's just you then?" Nicky interjected. She stared at the woman blankly, shocked at her own question. The words just spilled out of their own volition. Agatha cocked her head. It took a beat for her to piece together what Nicky was asking. She smiled and nodded.
"Well, me and Ebony," she replied, somewhat smugly. Nicky frowned and the woman pursed her lips in acknowledgment. "You were four," she cleared her throat, all smugness dissolved, and handed back the cigarette. "It's just been me since you were four." Nicky took the cigarette and stared at it for a moment, watching the embers glow.
"Dare I ask what happened?" She asked before taking another slow, meditative drag. Agatha sucked in a deep breath and swatted her dark hair off of her face. A few seconds passed before she looked up at her daughter and spoke.
"It wasn't safe. We couldn't stay there any longer. It simply… wasn't safe." Nicky watched as Agatha brought her hand up to her mouth pensively. Her eyes stared forward as if searching for her next sentence.
"Are they even…" Nicky paused, shuffling awkwardly."Around anymore?" She cringed, unsure why she was even asking such a question. But then that little irksome feeling in the back of her brain stirred a little. Somehow, she still cared. Just a bit, she thought.
"No," Agatha chirped, snapping out of her trance."They're gone." The pair lingered in silence for a moment before Agatha continued. "I'm sorry.," she grimaced. "I didn't think it would be this awkward to talk about. Even after all this time." She laughed nervously. "After we left, they made every effort they could to make things… difficult for us. They're half the reason we're in this mess."
Nicky noticed Agatha wringing her hands as she spoke. Suddenly, Agatha was aware she was doing it also and stuck her hands under her armpits before flashing Nicky a reassuring smile. Returning her attention to the dart, Nicky stared as a long column of ash formed. She rolled the cigarette between her finger and thumb, her fleeting appetite for smoking dissipating. Relaxing her fingers, she let it fall to the ground before crushing it under her boot. She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but quickly shut it, realising she didn't know what to say or even how she felt. Instead, she pushed herself off the wall, stepped past her mother, and walked up the stairs.
"Nicky? I…" Agatha croaked turning towards Nicky who then stopped, her hand hovering over the doorknob. She kept her back facing the witch at the bottom of the stairs, unwilling to turn and face them. Assuming the rest of the sentence wasn't coming, Nicky twisted the knob and went inside.
Once inside, Nicky draped Chester's coat over one of the stools that stood by the kitchen bench and plopped back down on the couch, leaning her head on the armrest. She let out a long sigh as her eyes closed on their own.
"I know you probably don't need to hear this, but you look like shit," Chester's voice startled her. She opened her eyes and spotted the young man sitting at the dining table anxiously playing with his phone, spinning it between his finger and thumb. Behind her, she heard the back door shut, followed by the click-clack of Agatha's heels against the kitchen tiles. Together, she and Chester both turned their attention towards the kitchen.
"Brr," Agatha walked into the kitchen slowly, rubbing her arms while shivering a little. Noticing the pair of them staring in her direction, she stopped mid-step. "Yes?" She asked coyly. Nicky lifted her head off the armrest, sat upright, and breathed deeply.
"What do I have to do?" She mumbled wearily. Agatha clasped her hands.
"First thing's first," she announced, striding into the living room towards Nicky. "We need to figure out what this is."
"We know what this is," Chester scratched his head. "You said it was a possession."
"Yes," Agatha nodded at him. "But this isn't a movie. You don't just do an exorcism. And it probably isn't even a demon. This could be a ghost, fae, or who knows what else. Regardless, you don't use the same treatment for different diseases. The remedy needs to fit the illness. Therefore, an examination is in order. We'll do some poking and prodding, figuratively speaking, and then we'll go from there." She cracked her knuckles.
"Oh. Is this a physical examination?" Chester folded his arms, questionably. "Or a Q and A form?"
"Um, magical of course," Agatha tittered, brushing off the young man. Chester pouted a little, clearly irked. "Before we start," Agatha's tone shifted and she knelt to look Nicky directly in the eye, "I need to know that you're going to work with me here," she said seriously.
"Just do the thing," Nicky replied, feeling tired and confused.
"It doesn't work like that," Agatha shook her head. "I need to know you're on board. If you're not, this isn't going to work. Any resistance from your end will just make this process harder. You need to be a willing participant." Nicky sighed and nodded. "Great!" With that, Agatha stood up and clicked her fingers. Purple sparks flew from her fingertips. As soon as the snap rang out in the room, the lights dimmed, the couch slid to the middle of the room, and the coffee table moved towards the kitchen. Nicky gasped as she was rocked backwards by the sudden movement and grabbed onto the armrest to steady herself. Agatha pointed her arm across the room and a glowing, purple pentagram appeared on the floor around the couch.
"Woah?" Chester and Nicky exclaimed in tandem, giving each other anxious looks.
"Chill," Agatha reassured them. "It's just a witch's circle." She raised her hands over the circle, and new symbols materialised at each point of the star. Ebony jumped off the couch and skittered over to Agatha's feet, skidding slightly on the floorboards. "Nicky," Agatha called out, gazing down at Nicky. Nicky stared back nervously. "Just focus on my voice, OK?" She said, smiling slightly and nodding her head. Nicky grimaced and sucked in a deep breath. With her eyes now closed, Agatha began chanting in some foreign language Nicky couldn't understand. She did so in a loud, powerful voice that echoed off the walls, resulting in what sounded like a chorus of chanters.
Despite trying to focus on Agatha's words, within seconds they seemed to drift away, becoming muffled, sounding as if she were talking underwater. Nicky's head quickly became light, and her vision blurred. Her breathing shallowed as she gripped onto the couch, weakly trying to stay upright. What is this? She thought groggily. The awful feeling of being smothered then enveloped her and she gripped the couch's fabric tighter.
Suddenly her senses sharpened, everything coming back into clear view. The chant had stopped and the room seemed to have returned to normal. Apprehensively Nicky released her grip on the couch and relaxed a little as her breathing returned to normal. She spied Ebony standing stiffly by Agatha's feet, the cat's eyes narrowed at her, staring intently. Looking upwards, she then saw that Agatha's face was grave. Confused, Nicky glanced at Chester next, who was now standing in the corner, phone in hand, looking pale.
"What?" Nicky asked wearily. "Is it over already?"
"Tell her," Ebony growled at her mistress, who in return eyed her familiar with a grave disposition.
"This is worse than I thought…" Agatha muttered sternly, avoiding eye contact with Nicky.
"What!?" Nicky yelped.
"This isn't some recently established possession," Agatha continued, her voice low. "This has been going on for who knows how long. It could be months. Years even." Nicky frowned.
"No, no. That's not right. This only started a week or so ago," she shook her head, breathily heavily now. "Two at the most!"
"It's not a demon…" Agatha mused, ignoring Nicky's protest. "It's something else." Placing her hands on her hips, she bit her lip and frowned. "Whatever it is, it's like a leech. No! A tick. Burrowed in there, deep."
"Then get rid of it," Chester exclaimed, visibly uncomfortable. "Tweeze it out or whatever the magical equivalent of that is!"
"Come now," Agatha snapped. "Pull out a tick haphazardly, you might paralyse the host. No, we have to be careful." She let out a long exhausted, exhale, blowing strands of hair off her face. "This calls for some digging."
Frustrated, Nicky stood up quickly only to feel her legs give. She fell back down onto the couch, her head spinning. Chester leapt towards the couch, grabbing her.
"Woah, woah! Are you OK?" he blurted, steadying her by holding onto her shoulder. Nicky felt a pair of fingers on her wrist. "Don't get up," Chester instructed. "Your blood pressure is really low."
"Like a tick, this thing is a parasite," Agatha breathed. "Feeding off your energy." She glanced towards the kitchen, checking the clock on the wall. "It's late. You need rest." She clapped, and a large purse appeared on the kitchen counter with a puff of smoke. Waving her finger, the plastic kettle that sat by the stove began boiling. As it did so, she rifled through the bag. From deep within the purse, she extracted a couple of vials of dried herbs, a jar of dried mushrooms, and another smaller jar of what appeared to be cloves. A mug flew up from the drying rack and landed softly on the counter. The kettle, now blowing out steam from its spout, hovered above the mug briefly, then tipped over, pouring boiling water into it. Agatha then fished out a brass, spherical tea infuser from the bag, which she filled with the ingredients she had laid out on the counter. Letting the tea steep for a moment, Agatha blew on her concoction gently before handing the mug to Nicky.
"Drink up," she ordered. "The whole thing. It'll help you recover." The steam rose to Nicky's nose, making her grimace. Taking a hesitant sip, she immediately gagged loudly. "Drink it," Agatha persisted. Nicky forced the disgusting tea down, fighting the urge to spit it back up. Warmth spread across her chest and up her neck, and in a moment the room seemed foggy. "Chester, help her up to bed," Agatha instructed as she packed up her purse.
The rest was a blur for Nicky. The next thing she knew, she was upstairs, Chester carefully lowering her into bed, sliding her arm off his shoulder. Her head hardly hit the pillow before the world went dark.
Part.4 - Act 2
It felt safe and warm under the covers, so much so Nicky was hesitant to open her eyes, especially after such a deep and dreamless sleep. Regardless, she let them open slowly, yawning quietly as she stirred under the heavy blanket and sheet. The shades in her bedroom were drawn, giving most of the room a monochrome appearance. However, the door across from her bed was wide open, framing the well-lit hallway, sunlight pouring in from the windows at the front of the house. Some light spilled into her room, painting part of her desk and floor in warm colours. A brief, quiet moment passed by when a black shape appeared in the doorway, slinking into view. Nicky froze under the covers, startled by its sudden appearance.
"You're awake," Ebony remarked, her husky voice brighter than usual. Nicky rubbed her eyes to better see the dark feline standing in her doorway. The sun shone brightly off of her jet-black coat and her green eyes looked like jade marbles, sparkling in the light. The cat blinked at her before dashing out of view, leaving Nicky on her own. How long have I been asleep? Nicky wondered, rolling onto her back. Her recollections of the night before were hazy, almost as if she had been drunk. Without looking, she reached for her phone on the nightstand. Still dead, she realised, tapping the black screen fruitlessly.
"Is it alright if I come in?" Nicky glanced to her right to see Chester now standing where Ebony had been, a glass in one hand and a plate in the other. She nodded and gestured for him to come in, yawning again and then rubbing her eyes some more. As he entered the room, she tried to sit up in bed but felt wobbly as soon as she moved to lift herself upwards.
"Oh," she let out in surprise, sliding back onto her pillow. Her temples pulsed a little bit, feeling a rush of blood to her head.
"Woah, hang on," Chester said, placing the plate down on the desk and the glass on her bedside table before grabbing her arm. He carefully pulled her upright and then sat next to her on the bed. "She said you might still be a bit woozy. Take it slow," he handed her the glass of water, switching the bedside light on after he did so. "You're a bit dehydrated. And surely hungry." He pointed to the plate on her desk. "Peanut butter sandwiches," he smiled. "Afraid I don't have your cooking skills." Nicky drank from the glass greedily while he spoke. He was right. She was parched.
"What time is it?" She asked, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
"About three-thirty," Chester replied, checking his watch.
"That was a good freaking sleep," Nicky sighed, leaning back on the headboard. "I must have been out for, what? 14 -15 hours, huh?" Chester grimaced.
"Um," he bit his lip. "Closer to thirty."
"Thirty!?" Nicky cried. "I've been out for nearly two days!?"
"You needed the rest, apparently," Chester shifted on the bed, turning his head to face Nicky. "And Agatha said it would give you time to get some of your strength back while she did some digging. She had me checking on you regularly though. The cat too."
"A cat checking on me," she whispered in disbelief. "This is all so fucking weird," Nicky pinched her nose, squeezing her eyes shut. When she opened them again, she saw Chester looking back at her nervously. "What?"
"What do you remember? From the other night?" He asked, his voice slow and measured. Nicky squinted as if trying to see through the haze from the night before.
"Um… I remember sitting on the couch when she started chanting and stuff," Nicky laughed a little, rubbing her neck awkwardly. "Then she said things were worse than she thought and the next thing I knew I was in bed. Why?" Chester shied away guiltily before putting his hands in his pant pockets.
"I probably shouldn't have done this," he admitted, shaking his head. He then pulled his phone out from his right-hand pocket. Holding it in his hand for a second, the screen black, he glanced at Nicky, sheepishly. "And I probably shouldn't even be showing you now. But…" He unlocked the phone, revealing a video already loaded on the screen.
"What is it?" Nicky looked at him, puzzled. He winced and handed her the phone.
"Just watch," he tapped the screen, starting the video. Nicky leaned forward to better see herself on the small screen, sitting on the couch. Agatha stood across from her, raising her arms to perform the magic and, just as she remembered, the couch moved across the room. After that, the glowing pentagram appeared on the floor. It was strange to watch it happen on the phone like this, almost like she was detached from what happened.
"Right," Nicky remarked, surprisingly unfazed. "She started her chanting thing and I zoned out." She tried to catch Chester's eye, but he was glued to the screen. Nicky looked back down at the phone in time to see herself stand up and begin chanting. Words unknown to Nicky poured out her mouth in a timbre and tone unfamiliar to her. Alarming her the most was her eyes. In the video, they appeared to be dark, almost completely black. What's more, faint wisps of smoke appeared to emanate off her body from out of nowhere. The lights in the living room began to flicker wildly and Agatha raised her voice, her brow creasing with effort. Somewhere off camera, she could hear Ebony hiss loudly. And then, quite abruptly, the video stopped, ending with a blurry, unreadable freeze frame.
"I'm not sure what made me film it," Chester swiped the screen, removing the video, then locked it. "Guess I didn't know what else to do with myself while Agatha did her thing. But I thought you ought to see it." He returned the phone to his pocket and looked at her apologetically. "Maybe so you could see it for yourself. What she has been seeing." Nicky was speechless, processing what she had just watched. "Shit. I'm sorry," Chester said, flustered by Nicky's reaction."I shouldn't have done that."
"What was that?" Nicky croaked, finding her voice.
"She hasn't told me yet," Chester shook his head before giving Nicky a sympathetic glance. "To be honest, I'm not sure she knows exactly. She's been head down in books and whatnot the whole time. I think she wants to tell you first, directly. She's downstairs, whenever you're ready." He stood up and walked over to the desk, collecting the plate of sandwiches. "Before then, you better eat something. Take your time. Don't rush." He handed her the plate. On it, the sandwich was cut into four neat triangles. "Please, eat. All of it." He turned to leave but stopped at the door. "Oh," he continued, looking over his shoulder at her. "And maybe have a shower. It has been a couple of days."
Nicky sniffed her shirt as her housemate disappeared into the hallway. Resting the plate in her lap, she picked up one of the triangles and took a bite. She was never a big fan of peanut butter, but considering how empty her stomach felt, she was happy to eat just about anything. Glancing up from her plate, she had to double-take when she noticed the cat sitting on her desk.
"You're stealthy," Nicky mumbled, her mouth half full with peanut butter sandwich.
"Naturally," Ebony scoffed, raising her chin haughtily. After a few more bites Nicky placed the plate on her bedside table. Nicky then brushed her hands together, wiping the crumbs off of them, and stood up. A slight rush of blood to the head made her pause, the room spinning just a little before she took a deep breath and steadily walked over to her wardrobe. There, she picked out a fresh shirt, linen pants, underwear and socks, walked past the cat, and headed towards the bathroom. Reaching for the bathroom door, her ears pricked up to the faintest sound of tiny footsteps. She wheeled around to see Ebony standing close behind her.
"Um," Nicky hesitated, watching the familiar sit down, her tail wagging to its own rhythm. "I'm going to take a shower."
"And?" Ebony replied casually.
"Well, it's weird enough I'm talking to a cat who can talk back…" Nicky blurted out, shuffling uncomfortably. "You're not coming in the bathroom with me!"
"Someone has to keep an eye on you," Ebony rebutted. "Your mother and I insist."
"My mother…" the words rang in Nicky's ears. She had almost forgotten who Agatha was. Or at least claimed to be. Nicky still had her suspicions. Lost in thought for a moment, she stood in place, holding the doorknob.
"I'll stay by the door," Ebony sighed, brushing past Nicky's leg, snapping her out of it. The feline sat by the door and watched Nicky enter the bathroom. She closed the door leaving the cat outside, switched on the light and turned to face the mirror. Regarding her reflection, she noticed her ashen complexion and the dark circles under her eyes which remained visible.
"All that sleep and I look just as tired," she grumbled as she stepped into the shower and turned the faucet.
Fresh out of the shower, Nicky wandered downstairs, her feet padding against the floorboards softly in their thick cotton socks. With one hand, she attempted to slick her hair back, much of it still damp, but her still drying curls, particularly those around her fringe, bounced back in defiance, some falling over her eyes. As she rounded the bottom of the stairs, she spotted Agatha in the kitchen. She stopped in her tracks and studied the strange woman. Her hair was tied back in a messy bun, much like Nicky's usually was, with many loose curls springing out in different directions. She was biting her lip, appearing to be deep in concentration, when she glanced in Nicky's direction.
"You're up," Agatha smiled, looking up from the book she was reading while she leaned on the kitchen bench. Several thick, leather-bound tomes were stacked on the bench beside her alongside a teapot and mug. "How are you feeling?" She asked, her tone equal parts cheerful and concerned.
"Fine, I think," Nicky mumbled, shuffling towards the bench wearily. She grabbed a stool, which had been tucked under the bench and took a seat. Agatha slid the mug across the table in her direction. Dark fluid sloshed around inside.
"Keep your fluids up," she instructed. "You've been out for a while." Nicky spied the mug suspiciously, looking down at it while she sat on her hands. "It's not gonna taste like last time, I promise," Agatha laughed. Nicky turned her gaze towards Agatha, who grinned. "Some things don't change huh? This reminds me of when you got the pox. Don't ask how, I have no idea. Kids do the darnest things. But you wouldn't drink any of my potions then either. Do you remember that?" Nicky shook her head, unblinking. "Well, um yeah," Agatha gulped, looking visibly disappointed. "Anyway, you should drink it. You'll feel better for it." The front door opened with a loud click, creak, and the gangling of keys. Nicky swung around on the stool to see Chester entering the house carrying a large paper bag full of groceries. He kicked the door closed behind him and threw his keys on the dining table near where Ebony was sunning herself. She jostled a little when the keys landed on the table, let out an annoyed cry, and returned to her comfortable position in the sun.
"Hey!" Chester puffed, readjusting his grip on the bag as he walked over to the kitchen. "You're up and about," he gave Nicky a nod. Walking past Agatha, he set the bag by the stove and started unpacking, pulling out a loaf of fresh bread and cans of soup. "I figured you would need more sustenance than a peanut butter sandwich. Maybe in a minute, we'll heat something up and get you fed properly." Nicky shuffled in her seat uncomfortably as she watched him set the groceries aside, a faint drum began pulsing behind her ears. She placed her hands on the bench and stared down at the mysterious concoction in the mug, noticing her face mirrored in the still, black surface.
"Nice one, Ches," Agatha gave the young man a thumbs up. "Actually, if you wouldn't mind, I'm getting a bit peckish myself. You got any snacks?" Chester rolled his eyes and handed Agatha a bag of Tostitos, giving her a lopsided smile.
"Yes!" Agatha whooped and popped open the bag. She looked over at Nicky to see her unmoving and the mug untouched. "Nicky, please. I'm gonna need you to start drinking. It tastes like honey ginger tea, honest." She leaned across the bench and placed a hand over Nicky's. "If you don't, you may start feeling.."
"Don't touch me!" Nicky recoiled, snatching her hand away. The drumming in her head grew louder.
"Woah," Agatha exclaimed, clearly taken aback. "Ok, sorry but you…" she blurted out, raising her voice.
"What the hell are we doing!?" She yelled, slamming her fists on the bench, and knocking the mug over. Its contents spilled out across the kitchen bench, onto Agatha's books, dripping onto the floor. "I've been practically comatose for two days. Pretty sure that means today is the 30th." Nicky grabbed onto the top of her head, her breaths jagged. "And you two are what? Hanging out like best buds, eating snacks?" Chester stood back, shocked, while Agatha placed the Tostitos bag to the side looked down at Nicky gravely. Her head continued to throb, each pulse more intense than the last. "Please tell me you know what is doing this to me," she wheezed, tears threatening to spring up in her eyes. She took a couple of steadying breaths and lowered her hands.
"It's a lich," Agatha said flatly.
"A what?" Nicky and Chester responded in unison.
"A lich. An undead sorcerer," she continued. She waved a glowing hand over the bench causing the spilled potion to retreat into its mug, reversing the mess Nicky had made. "Typically, lichs are attached to their original body, dead of course, or some other soul artefact, which keeps them immortal and bound to this world. In this case, and it is an exceptional one, I believe the soul artefact is you." She moved the cup away from Nicky's immediate reach, with some reproach.
"This is a new lich," Agatha flipped the pages of her book and pointed to an illustration of a ghastly corpse with glowing eyes, its skeletal fingers clasped around a staff. Nicky grimaced at the image. "The soul attached to you seems newly corrupted. Perhaps they have not been dead very long, I'm not entirely sure. But whomever this sorcerer was before, they were not only well versed in dark magic but the Salemite arts as well. That is why they were able to counter my magic during the examination.
It is unconventional. I've never seen a lich attach itself to a living subject like this before. They are typically necromancers and therefore tend to deal with resurrected corpses. But given what I have seen and my research," she motioned to her books, "this seems like the most likely scenario. Someone found and attached themselves to you. And now, are likely looking for a way to use you to resurrect themselves."
"That's the working theory at least," Ebony purred, now lounging on the couch.
"You said they know your magic," Nicky frowned. "They're one of those unsavoury types you mentioned the other day, huh?"
"That wouldn't necessarily narrow it down," the cat behind her muttered. Agatha shot her familiar a scathing look.
"If that is the case then why would they summon you?" Chester asked, leaning on the sink, rubbing his chin.
"Good question," Agatha quipped back. "A trap probably. I dunno. Maybe…"
"How do we get rid of it?" Nicky interrupted, her patience wavering again as the pain in her head persisted.
"If I knew more about their magic style, I could better work around them," Agatha crossed her arms. "Counter their counters and so on. No point trying to exorcise them only to have them block me. That would only cause you more… pain." She paused for a moment to let her words sink in. "Where were you when you summoned me?" She stared at Nicky, her piercing blue eyes unblinking and intimidating. Nicky lowered her eyes. "Were you even awake?" Agatha persisted. Nicky nodded sheepishly.
"I woke up," she admitted. "But I guess it was after everything happened."
"Where was that?" The witch pressed on.
"Druid Hill," Nicky muttered.
"We were close!" Ebony exclaimed, climbing across the top of the couch to get closer to the conversation. "The park makes a lot of sense."
"Right," Agatha nodded at the cat and slammed her book shut. "If I could get a look at the site where the magic was conducted, I could get a really good idea of who is doing this. If we leave now we should be back before sundown."
"Just you and Ebony, right?" Chester stressed, stepping around Agatha to stand closer to Nicky. He leaned onto the short side of the bench with his hands gripping each side of the counter tightly.
"No. Nicky, you're coming," Agatha announced, soberly. Nicky looked up at the woman in surprise. "You're going to show me where it happened."
"You sure that's wise?" Chester protested. "I mean given everything…" He gestured at Nicky who was now rubbing her temples.
"She knows where the site is," Agatha interjected. "Ebony and I haven't been able to find it. The magic there has since faded and is harder to detect. Having her with us will speed up the process. Chester, you might as well tag along. An extra pair of eyes on the possessed one won't go amiss."
"What if… what if it… if I…" Nicky stammered. She gave up on trying to speak and glanced at Agatha. The witch looked back at her, stony-faced.
"Then I'll be right there to put it back in its place," Agatha slid the mug back over to Nicky. "If you want that headache to stop, you best drink up."
Part.4 - Act 3
The sky had already begun to change when they arrived at Druid Hill, thanks to a storm rolling in slowly from the east. Indigo clouds covered much of the sky, casting a long shadow over the city. Despite the threatening rain, the air was still and there was a hint of heat rising from the ground. Street lamps began switching on early as they exited the car Chester had booked for the trip. Ebony leapt out first, narrowly dodging pedestrians as she scampered across the pavement towards the park entrance.
"It would have been quicker if you had let me portal us here," Agatha complained, brushing some of Ebony's fur off her lap.
"I don't know how many times we have to say no," Chester sighed, stepping onto the pavement. He held the door open for Nicky as she slowly exited the car. Neither he nor Nicky was particularly enthusiastic about the portal idea. Particularly Nicky, who'd been vocal about how she felt she'd had her fill when it came to magic. "Besides, given what happened in New York back in 2012, most people aren't keen on seeing portals pop up in random places." Agatha rolled her eyes dramatically.
"That was four years ago," she moaned. "Aren't people over it by now? Those were aliens anyway, big difference." Chester stared at her, his eyes wide with disbelief, as he shut the door of the Uber. "Besides, I know how to be discreet."
"Let's go!" Nicky heard Ebony call. "I can smell rain."
"Ebony's right, the faster we do this, the faster we can go home and avoid the rain," Agatha gestured towards the park entrance. Chester turned towards Nicky.
"Did she say actually that?" He asked her, raising an eyebrow. Nicky shrugged.
"More or less, I guess," she mumbled. Anxiety over returning to the hill had crept in over the ride and she tried to focus as much of her energy on simply keeping it together as she could. Keeping her trembling hands in her coat pockets, hidden away from the others, she took a deep breath and started walking up along the sidewalk.
"Lead the way, Nicole," Agatha ushered them towards the entrance. Together, they climbed the stairs up from the street and made their way along the gravel path, Nicky directing them as they walked. Ebony wandered off ahead, surveying the area with intense curiosity, often disappearing, blending into the shade cast by the old trees that lined the pathway, only to reappear wherever weak beams of light broke through.
"Why the park?" Chester wondered aloud, taking in the scenery. The perennial trees cast dark shadows with their thick foliage. Other trees were showing their autumnal colours, their dead leaves were scattered on the ground and crunching underfoot.
"It's convenient. Grounded. Plenty of access to different elements," Agatha explained, plainly, as a teacher would to a student. "Like the woods, they're full of life and death, just on a smaller scale. I mean, I doubt the lich was going to take Nicky out to the sticks to perform its rituals. Probably took a lot of juice just to get her here." She mindfully glanced sideways at Nicky, who shuddered slightly at the thought of waking up somewhere in the Patapsco Valley, lost and all alone.
"But why this park?" He asked. "I mean there are plenty of parks in Baltimore."
"I couldn't tell you," Agatha replied. "Not until I see the site. Might be on a ley line or perhaps a gravesite. I don't know."
"You reckon it's like an Indian burial ground?" He continued his line of questioning with a hint of excitement in his voice. "Like in Poltergeist?" Nicky tapped him on the shoulder.
"Hey," she griped, shoving her hand back in her pocket. "Seriously? What's with all the questions?" Chester frowned.
"How are you not the least bit curious?" He chided her, stopping mid-stride and placing his hands on his hips. "I'm just trying to understand what's going on here."
"I just want to get this over with," she sighed, stopping beside him. "So that everything can go back to normal."
"Wow," Chester chuckled sardonically. "You must be mental if you think your life's going back to normal after this." He shook his head and continued walking, following Agatha who was now a few paces ahead.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Nicky snapped as she watched him walk away. He turned on his heel.
"I mean," he stepped in close, lowering his voice. "You, Nicole Scratch, who we all thought was an orphan, have just been reunited with your mum, who just happens to be a witch, making you one too. How on Earth does anyone's life go back to normal after that?" Nicky felt her face turn red with anger as opened her mouth to speak.
"Come on, you two! Sun's getting low," Agatha called out impatiently, interrupting them. The dapper witch now stood stationary a yard or two ahead of them, tapping her foot. "Nicky, directions please."
"It's just a little further," she called back, frowning at Chester. She brushed past him, her feet crunching against the gravel noisily as she trudged hurriedly along the path. Walking ahead for a short while, she slowed down when she recognised the point where the path curved near the crest of the hill. "It's here," she puffed, slightly out of breath. The tea had perked her up earlier, alleviating her headache, but she still seemed to tire easily.
"Gosh, it's getting really dark," Chester muttered, pulling out his phone. "And it's still early!" He switched the torch on to better light his way.
"It's that storm," Agatha gestured eastward. While the sky was turning orange westward, it was black and starless in the east. A quick flash of lightning tore across the dark clouds, turning them violet for a second, followed by a faint rumble of thunder a few seconds later. "It's a little ways away from here yet. Nice view of it from up here, though." She came to a stop behind Nicky. "Ok, which way now?"
"Down there," Nicky nodded towards the bottom of the hill. "There's some broken edging where I…" She trailed off when she turned around and found herself to be alone. "Guys?" She called out, glancing around either side of her. "Ches? Agatha? What…" The hairs on the back of her neck stood up as that familiar feeling of dread crept up her spine. "No, no, no…not now," she whimpered, placing a hand on the nape of her neck. Breathing heavily, she looked out over the hill. The storm had moved in closer, as more lightning danced across the sky. Trees at the bottom of the hill and across the park had become silhouettes, swaying noiselessly. All was quiet, except for the sound of footsteps crunching behind her.
Steeling herself, Nicky slowly turned around in the direction of the sound. Out from the darkness of the tree line emerged the figure from her nightmares. Unlike her previous day-mare, it was completely opaque. It no longer had the appearance of a ghost or shadow, nor did it move like one. Its movements seemed to have weight and influenced the world around it. Thick, hazy smoke emanated off of its blackened skin as it lunged towards her with speed, reaching out with jangly arms and long, bony fingers.
"No!" Nicky rasped, recoiling in terror. Underneath her, she felt her heel slip against the slick grass as she stepped off the path, and gravity jerked her backwards. The next thing she knew, the world was spinning. Her body ricocheted off the ground repeatedly as she tumbled down the hill like a rag-doll. All she could do was grit her teeth and clench her fists as she felt herself being battered against the earth. Eventually, she came to an abrupt stop, colliding with garden edging and shrubbery at the bottom.
Dead leaves and soil clung to her clothes and hair as an uncontainable groan escaped her lips. She laid in the dirt for a moment, every inch of her body aching in pain. "Ah!"Gingerly, she sat up, her back smarting from the movement. The world still seemed off-kilter, her vision blurry, so she held her head and closed her eyes, waiting for the spinning to stop.
"Nicky!" She heard Agatha cry. The sound of footsteps, this time against grass followed, growing close and stopping right next to her.
"Holy shit?!" Chester cried out in astonishment, his breathing ragged from running down the hill. "Are you OK?"
"Where did you go?!" She sputtered, dropping her hands and opening her eyes to see Chester leaning in to grab her by her arms. Behind him Agatha looked on anxiously.
"Huh?" Chester frowned, confused. "We were right there. You spaced out and fell down the hill." He grasped onto her forearms and helped her to her feet. She wobbled slightly, still off balance, and grabbed hold of Chester's shirt for support. "Hang on, you hit the ground hard there," Chester brought his phone up to her face and shone the light in her eyes. "You might be concussed." Nicky swatted the phone away.
"No, no…" she stammered, breathing heavily, taking half a step away from Chester. He kept a hold of her with one hand, his fingers now wrapped around her wrist."I was trying to show you where it happened. Where I woke up. And when I turned around you were gone!"
"We didn't go anywhere," Agatha protested moving closer towards her. "We've been with you the whole time!" She let out a little huff in frustration. "The potions must be wearing off. Given the timing that makes some sense, though I thought I had compensated for this…" She trailed off, seemingly distracted by something in the bushes.
"Fuck this," Nicky pulled away, ripping herself away from Chester's grasp. "You said…" she jabbed a finger at Agatha. "You said this wouldn't happen!" Agatha bit her lip, and a guilty look swept across her face.
"Hang on a minute!" Chester cried out, tripping over slightly as Nicky pulled away from him. His grip slipped, releasing Nicky and she stumbled against the slope of the hillside. She began making her way up the hill, doing so in such a hurry she slipped, landing on her knees. Half crawling her way upwards, she was at the top before she knew it, trudging back the way they had come. All she could think of doing was getting as far away from the park as possible.
"Nicky!" Chester shouted, chasing after her. He was halfway up the hill when turned to see Agatha wandering into the bushes. "What are you doing?" He stopped and waved at her. "She's leaving! Shouldn't we go after her?"
"Ebony, go," Agatha snapped and the cat, who had been camouflaged in the dark shadows of the bushes the whole time, bolted up the hill. Chester watched as the familiar moved preternaturally fast, losing sight of her as she rose over the crest of the hill.
"You're sending the cat?" He exclaimed.
"Ebony can handle it," Agatha said, clearly still distracted. "We'll catch up. Just give me a minute."
"What is it?" Chester took a few steps closer towards the witch.
"Shh!" Agatha raised a hand to silence him. She strained her ears, focusing on the faint sound of chanting emanating from deep within the bushes. Following the whispers, she quickly found herself in a clearing. It appeared unassuming, but the veteran witch knew better. A faint residue of power lingered here. Straining her eyes, she then noticed the animal bones scattered in the soil. Taking a deep, measured breath, she knelt on the ground, pressing a palm into the earth. At her touch, the symbols that had been swept away by the elements reignited and glowed a sickly yellow.
Suddenly she was overcome with a vision. A blade. Blood. And ghastly red eyes which were perturbingly familiar. She jerked her hand away and quickly stood up. "Get after her," she snapped as she hastily exited the bushes. Chester stood there, looking at her, gobsmacked. "Now!"
Nicky followed the lamps lining the pathway as she ardently made her way back towards the park exit. The crunching of gravel underfoot and her ragged breathing filled her ears and she soon felt herself begin to break out in a sweat. Taking one swift step after the other, she desperately tried to focus on getting back to the main street. The temperature dropped as the sky grew darker and the wind, which had picked up, brought with it a chill that bit at her fingers, making them ache. She shoved her hands into her pockets, rubbing them against the fabric in an effort to keep them warm. And then it occurred to her - she hadn't brought her phone or wallet. Damn it! She almost cursed aloud. I'm gonna have to think of another way of getting home.
But is it safe at home? The question sprung in her mind followed by the terrible vision from two nights before. Nicky gritted her teeth and picked up the pace. Where else could I go when this thing is following me? She let out a frustrated grunt and shook her head. Just get to the street and then figure it out from there.
Finally, the stairs leading to the exit came into view. As she got closer, the lamps lighting the path flicked off all at once, plunging the park into darkness. Now blind, Nicky immediately came to a halt, her boots grinding loudly against the gravel. The wind brushed against her cheeks while rustling the trees on either side of her; the only noise she could hear now besides the blood steadily pumping in her ears. Small, cold droplets began peppering her face and a low, ominous roll of thunder reverberated above her, reminding her that the storm was surely closing in.
One by one, the lights switched back on, their warm incandesce restoring Nicky's vision of the path ahead. With a spark of relief flickering in her chest, she quickly made her way towards the stairs. She had just laid a hand on the banister, ready to descend, when the hairs on her neck stood up yet again. Oh no. She felt its presence and with it came the same familiar sense of dread, that smothering sensation that had plagued her for days now. Working up the nerve, she looked up and along the pathway.
There, standing under the next lamp ahead, statuesque, was the figure. It stared at her, its eyes two red pins, shining dully. This time, it wasn't just fear enveloping Nicky. It was anger. All the pain and fear she had been feeling congealed into a viscous mass of rage clinging to her chest. This fucking thing, she thought, feeling her face grow hot despite the chilly wind. Haunting me… using me! She clenched her fists as she glowered at the creature. Bile rose in her throat, bringing with it a sour, acidic taste that burned her tongue a little. She wanted to spit. To cry. To run. To fight. To slam her fists into this thing as hard as she could. She wanted this to end. A raindrop hit her eye, forcing her to blink. As she did so, the figure appeared to move ever so slightly.
"Stay the fuck away from me!" she screamed at the figure, all her fear and rage boiling over. Her cry echoed through the park, carried on the wind which was beginning to grow turbulent. The rain too, had started to fall heavily, pitter-pattering noisily against the leaves in the trees and the ground. A thunderclap cracked above their heads and then the lights flickered wildly. When they returned to normal the figure was gone. Nicky's mouth fell open, shocked at its sudden disappearance. She quickly glanced around her, searching for the creature, which seemingly had vanished without a trace.
Seizing the moment as an opportunity to escape, Nicky quickly motioned to go down the stairs. However, as she did so, the figure materialised directly beside her, catching her by surprise. In one deft movement, it lunged at her, grabbing at her shoulders. Through the fabric of her coat, she could feel its rough, bony fingers curl and dig into her. Gasping in pain, Nicky flailed, trying to tear herself away. However, she couldn't shake herself off from its alarmingly tight grasp. Shutting her eyes in exertion, she attempted to wrench her aggressor's hands away but she felt her fingers slip against its wet yet papery skin.
Realising that wasn't going to work, she then opted to raise her leg, summoning as much strength as she could, and kick. Her foot connected with its torso and, from under her boot, she could feel weak rib bones bow from the force of her kick. The grip on her shoulders loosened and she jerked backwards, pushing herself away from the figure. She almost continued her backward retreat when she felt her heel slide over the edge of the top step. Immediately she froze, vigilant of the wet concrete staircase. Crap, she thought, taking a quick look down the stairs, almost fell again.
She reached out to grab onto the banister when she felt a pair of palms slam into her chest, sending her over the edge. Fuck, was the last thing she thought as she watched the figure grow further away and the ground came rushing up from behind to meet her.
"Stay the fuck away from me!" Ebony heard Nicky cry ahead of her.
"Nicole!" The cat howled, her voice getting lost in the rain. "I'm coming. Hang on!"
"Aspellens…daemonium…" Ebony skidded to a halt. Damn it, she cursed, not again. She winced in pain as the words echoed in her head. The lich is growing stronger. The thought set her hair on end. Since giving chase Ebony could feel its presence; a dark aura that carried with it the stench of death and smoke. The familiar was no stranger to such oppressive and hateful energy, however, this one was different. It filled her with a mixture of anxiety and awe. A formidable foe, she reminded herself.
Making matters worse was the hex it was reciting. It knows how to fuck with familiars, she growled. Each time she had gotten close to Nicky, the words would reach her ears, wreaking havoc on her senses. Nevertheless, she persisted, determined to reach the girl.
"Depello… familiaritatem… inimici"
"Bastard!" Ebony hissed, feeling her muscles seize. Fighting the urge to retreat, she dug her paws into the gravel, rooting herself in place. I can't go back. She willed herself to take a step forward despite the hex compelling her to do the opposite. The rain began to fall heavily, soaking her through her fur to her skin, making it crawl. A clap of thunder above made her flinch slightly and then she saw the park lights begin to flicker wildly. The tension in her muscles relaxed and it occurred to her that the lich had stopped reciting the hex. Now is my chance, she sprinted up the path. It wasn't long before she came upon Nicky, standing by the stairwell, shock plastered on her face.
"Nicole!" Ebony called out. But then, she spotted the lich, materialising beside Nicky. "No!" She hissed, bounding up the pathway. It seized Nicky and she watched as the young woman struggled, fighting against its grip. Ebony leapt at the creature, clawing at its back. When she landed and turned to face the lich again she realised she hadn't even grabbed its attention. The lich continued its attack on Nicky, who then kicked at it loosening its grip only to have it shove her down the stairs. "NO!" Ebony cried before launching another attack on the lich. This time, she passed right through it and collided with the stair banister. The lich faced Ebony, its red eyes pointing directly at her while its shoulders shook, almost as if it was laughing at her.
"Aspellens…daemonium…" It whispered before dematerialising. Ebony hissed, the hex piercing her ears again. As soon as the hex wore off, she shook herself off before peering down the stairs. Near the bottom step, Nicky lay motionless, bathed in a red, ominous-looking light which shone from across the street. Oh no. Ebony descended the stairs. Once she was at the bottom, by Nicky's side, Ebony could hear a thumping noise from afar. Seeing as she didn't reach the street, Nicky was out of view of the remaining pedestrians who were braving the storm. Getting close to her face, Ebony could see Nicky's breath fog slightly in the cold. "Nicole," she placed a paw on Nicky's shoulder. "Can you hear me?" The bass thumping continued.
"Ebony!" Agatha's voice cut through the noise. Ebony looked up to see her mistress standing at the top of the stairs, drenched from the rain. Her face was pale and sullen. Ebony's insides went cold.
"What happened!?" Agatha ran down the stairs and fell to her knees. Gently placing a hand under Nicky's head, she slowly lifted her daughter up. "Nicky," she said in a half-whisper.
"Wait!" Chester cried, now kneeling behind Agatha, having followed her. "She just fell down a flight of stairs. She may have broken something or worse. Let's just…"
"Don't tell me what to do with her," Agatha barked at him. "Ebony, now!" Ebony flinched.
"The lich, it's getting stronger," she explained. "I tried to intervene, but it hexed me. It knows -"
"It knows who we are," Agatha cut her off. "This is personal."
"Agatha," Chester begged. "We can't know for sure if Nicky is injured, we should take her to a hospital -"
"Don't you know who I am! I'll heal her myself if she is injured," She yelled. With her free hand she drew a circle in the air, whispering under her breath, creating a portal leading back to Nicky's room. "We have to get her out of the rain, now. Cmon." Following Agatha's lead, Chester hesitantly helped her pick Nicky off of the ground, slinging her limp arms over their shoulders. Nearby, the thumping sound grew louder.
"The hell is that noise?" Agatha wondered out loud, panting slightly in frustration.
"It's the club," Chester replied.
"Club?"
"The Inferno Club," Chester grunted, shifting under Nicky's weight. "The nightclub," he continued when Agatha gave him some side-eye. "It used to be some old hotel until it burned down, hence the name…"
"Hang on…" Agatha froze. "Hotel?"
"Yeah…" Chester stammered, confused.
"Wait a second…" Agatha started walking towards the street, dragging Nicky and Chester along with her. Once they were out on the pavement, back on the main strip, Agatha scanned the street and let out a little gasp when she spotted the bright lights of the club.
"How did I not see it before?" She croaked.
"Um, we were facing the other side of the street when we got here," Chester rationalised, adjusting Nicky's arm as he tried to keep her upright. "What does this have to do with this?"
"Everything," Agatha breathed, still staring coldly at the neon sign that glowed in an ominous shade of red across the street.
1 pronounced Sow-wen