Roses and Thorns [An Ambrose Spellman Story]

C H A P T E R 2: WICCA

When I woke up, I was sweating buckets. My heartbeat was rapid like I had run a marathon. It was the same nightmare as the night before. My head was pounding, just like yesterday but it faded away later in the morning.

Surprisingly, Rin was home.

"So what was the nightmare about?" He gave me my glass of orange juice and settled down, across from me on the dining table.

"It was these 13 women hanging from a tree and it was so hot like I felt myself literally heating up" He grimaced at my words.

"Maybe you're watching too many movies or reading too much into the history"

"The history?"

"Yeah. There were thirteen women who were hung because they were accused of being witches right here in Greendale" He said casually as he put jam on his toast.

"Seriously? I thought the witch trials were held in Salem"

"Not just in Salem, Greendale as well" He repeated.

"Well whatever it is, I had that nightmare yesterday as well and I woke up with pounding headaches" I sighed as I drank my orange juice.

"That reminds me, we should probably go pick up Bruno from the sitter. Could you do that after school today? I'll text you the address and you can finally use the net for google maps if you get lost this time" This made me sigh in relief.

Rin dropped me off at school that morning. Roz and Sabrina met me on the way inside the school as they told me about wanting to open up a club for female empowerment which I thought was a great idea. It was surprising that the school didn't have a club like that in the first place but, Sabrina and Roz said they would get it approved today.

During lunch, they caught Susie and me and dragged us to the library.

"You guys, you aren't doing all this just for me, are you?" Susie asked once Sabrina explained the concept of the club: Women supporting women. I was guessing this was a part of the reason why Susie's lip was busted.

"For all of us. Fifty- three percent of Baxter High is female, Susie. This school needs a club like this." Sabrina explained.

"It's long overdue, girl. But, yes, if anyone messes with you again, you'll have a recognized, legitimate sisterhood backing you up," Roz explains.

"And the name, WICCA?"

"Rosalind came up with it" Sabrina smiled proudly.

"The Women's Intersectional Cultural and Creative Association: WICCA" Rosalind breaks down the acronym.

"I hope you don't mind me asking but, did something happen to you that inspired the initiation for the club? I mean you don't have to answer it if you don't want to" I said quickly, hoping to not ruin the exciting atmosphere.

The three girls exchanged glances before Susie sighed.

"The football guys like to mess around-"

"Bully" Sabrina corrected.

"Bully me" Susie corrected herself, "Because they're jerks". She didn't want to specify why, so I'll respect that. I placed my hand on her back.

"But the club is an amazing idea, I'm just shocked the school didn't have one before" I noted.

"Yeah well, Hawthorne is a misogynistic white male who doesn't like to see women rising and wants to keep them silenced," Roz said with much annoyance dripping from her voice.

"Then how'd you both get the club application approved?" Susie asked.

"Luck, I guess? He wasn't at school today" Sabrina grinned.