everlong| hocus pocus

09. a bus, a cat, and a squish

IN A FRENZIED ESCAPE, the three kids dashed away from the zombie. Binx led them through winding corridors of the ancient cemetery, guiding them to a concealed opening in the stone walls. Jasper cautiously entered first, testing the safety of their new refuge. A sharp cry escaped her as she cleared the way for Dani to follow suit. Dani, too, let out a startled shriek before landing into the Weiss's arms. Bending down, Jasper inspected Dani's pale face with concern.
     "Are you okay, Dani are you okay?" Jasper's worry was evident in her voice.
"Yeah, yeah I'm okay." Dani stuttered, mirroring her brother's nervous cadence.
"We're gonna get you out of this. Okay?" Jasper assured her, receiving a quiet nod from Dani just as Max awkwardly descended into the hole, accidentally bumping into Jasper. Their momentary stumble prompted a giggle from Dani. Once the two regained their balance, they held each other for a moment, trying to catch their breath. "You okay?" Jasper asked, bringing her hand onto the Dennison's shoulders. Max nodded reassuringly. He wraps his arm over Jasper's shoulder, looking around.
     "You okay?"
"Ask me another time." Jasper quipped, patting his chest. Max turned his attention to their surroundings, his voice echoing through the musty crypt.
     "What is this place, Binx?" Max asked. His voice echoed though the old crypt.
"It's the old Salem crypt" Binx replied promptly. "It connects to the sewer and up to the street."
Jasper wrinkled her nose in distaste "Flattering." Jasper she muttered sarcastically, attempting to ignore the overpowering stench of decay and sewage. Max tried to illuminate their surroundings with his lighter to little effect. "I don't think a lighter is gonna work in here, Dennison." Jasper remarked, keeping a firm grip on Dani. Glancing up, they noticed skeletons draped in tattered clothing hanging from the ceiling.
     "Oh, don't look up, Dani." Max cautioned, his own red nose wrinkling in disgust.
"Don't worry. I won't." Dani replied shakily.
"Relax, I've hunted mice down here for years."
"Mice?" Dani exclaimed. "Oh god. Just great." Dani mumbled under her breath, Jasper nudged her forward as they continued on.

_____

"This way!" Binx's voice echoed ahead as he deftly navigated the narrow passages, the teenagers struggling to keep pace without catching their hair on the vines. Jasper locked eyes with Max, her expression more resolute than angry—not at him, but at the witches they were determined to kill then, just as resolute as Winifred was in hunting them down.
"Did you ever imagine you'd be in this situation?" Max asked, glancing at Jasper.
"Running away from crazy witches with a talking cat? Yeah, no."
     "I meant like. Running from zombies and witches with Jasper Weiss, the girl who punched Jay square in the face last week. Isn't it weird?"
     "How do you think I feel? Look at you." Max and Jasper shared a laugh, tucking their hands deep into their pockets, their laughs fading at the same time.
"Why, am I that bad?"
"No, no, no!" Max said repeatedly over. "I like running around with you." Max admitted. Jasper looked up at Max who contemplated his whole life after admitting to what he said. "I'd rather run with you than anyone else I mean you're..." Max looked down at Jasper, her brown eyes still managed to glimmer in the dark. Max tried not to look down at Jasper who was awaiting an answer. "I..."
Before Max could finish his thought, Binx interrupted, announcing their exit ticket from the crypt. With Binx's guidance, Max lifted the manhole cover, allowing the cat to slip out into the night. As Max turned back, a bus hurtled towards Binx. Max's bright eyes widened as his face turned a sickly shade of white. "Binx, watch out!" It was too late. With a sickening thud, the bus struck, the sound reverberating through the air.
Jasper sighed, furrowing her eyebrows with a feeling of anxiety, everyone knew something bad happened. Max exchanging a worried glade with Jasper. "Binx! No!" Dani whined in fear, prompting Jasper to shove Max aside and scramble up to the street, quickly prying open the grate. A gasp escaped her lips.
"Oh my god." Max choked, bringing his arm around Jasper who looked down with sorrow at the flattened form of Thackary Binx.bringing his arm around Jasper who looked down with sorrow at the flattened form of Thackary Binx.
    Dani sobbed softly, turning away from the grim sight. Jasper stroked Dani's auburn hair gently, trying to offer comfort amidst the distress. There the flat cat lay on the streets of Salem leaving the Dennison with even more guilt to carry around. "It's all my fault." Max shook his head. Bringing his veiny hands to his head.
"Max, don't say that." Jasper insisted, still holding onto Dani as Max had to walk away, pacing anxiously from further away. The Dennison girl on the other hand stopped her crying and yanked on the Weiss's sweater frantically. Jasper turned her head around; her eyes glimmering. Jasper reaches for Max, dragging back to their clump, bringing her hand down Max's chest and immediately dropping it in shock watching Binx miraculously reinflate. Max turned around to see Binx up and ready again. Jasper's sorrow turned to relief, and a smile tugged at her lips as Dani giggled with joy. Max, too, couldn't help but smile at the sight of their resilient feline companion.
     "I hate it when that happens." Binx grumbled as he hopped back up on his feet. A chuckle escaped from Jasper  as she looked down at Dani already smiling again. "I told you I can't die. Dani, you all right?" Dani nods repeatedly with her red lips revealing her toothy smile as the tears on her rosy cheeks faded.
"Okay, then lets go!" Binx declaimed. Jasper let Max keep his arm around her. She crossed her arms with a determined smile, hoping to lift Dani's spirits as they prepared for the challenges ahead. Mostly to cheer up Dani. This would be one of the few times she would smile that night.