everlong| hocus pocus

016. ding dong! the witches aren't dead!

"IM SO SORRY, MAX," Jasper apologized repeatedly. "That was so stupid! That was such a stupid, thoughtless decision." At the base of the stairs, Max gently restrained her as she continued her apology.
"Hey, it's okay." Max reassured, releasing her arms once her rambling subsided. He glanced around, checking if his parents had returned home. "Mom? Dad?" The silence that followed was unsettling. Turning back to Tatum, who was scanning the room with a distracted, almost childlike curiosity, Max tried to ease the tension. "Still not home. Weird," he said, forcing a grin. Tatum hadn't changed her facial expression as she continued looking around like she hadn't seen the downstairs yet. "must be having a great time." Max grinned, trying to make her smile. Nothing.
Jasper anxious expression remained unchanged. "Something's not right. I know it," she said, gripping her sweater tightly. "Maybe we should get some salt or something. Just to make sure Dani will be okay." Max was touched by her concern, though he thought to himself that the witches were gone, and her worry seemed excessive.
The two entered the pantry. Max dug through the clutter while Tatum sat there playing with the patterns knitted into her sweater, trying not to think about the past few hours and trying to regain her sense of self. "Salt." Max grinned, dropping it down only for Tatum to catch it.
They entered the pantry, where Max sifted through the clutter while Jasper fidgeted with the patterns in her sweater, trying to shake off the events of the past few hours. "Salt," Max declared triumphantly, dropping the container into Jasper's hands.
Max settled beside her, and Jasper examined the salt container, trying to ignore his comforting presence. "What's it say?" Max asked, his voice soft. Jasper hesitated before letting go of her tough exterior, recognizing that she didn't need to be guarded all the time if she wanted to protect these two Dennison's.
"It says...form a circle of salt to protect from zombies, witches, and old boyfriends." Jasper joked. Max gawked at Jasper; somehow getting closer to her without even knowing. He took in every detail—the way her curls bounced, her smile that left him momentarily speechless. He could go on forever about Jasper Weiss.
"Yeah? And what about new boyfriends?" The attraction was palpable, and as their gazes locked, an electric connection sparked between them. The two found themselves leaning in closer...their noses touched. Closer...their breath warming their upper lips. Closer...

CLANK!

A loud clatter echoed from upstairs, shattering the fragile moment of anticipation between Jasper and Max. They both jerked their heads up, eyes wide with alarm. But Dani was supposed to be asleep, wasn't she? They exchanged a breathless glance, mouths forming the word simultaneously: "Dani."
Panic surged as they sprinted up the stairs, calling the little girl's name. The upstairs hallway looked as it always did, almost untouched by the chaos unfolding. Almost. Jasper's eyes scanned the room with frantic precision. Dani was still in bed, thank goodness. But something was distinctly wrong.
     Max threw his jacket aside and hurried to Dani's bedside. "Max!" Jasper's voice was a desperate whisper, her hand gripping the edge of his blue crewneck. "The book is gone." Max's gaze flicked to Jasper waiting for her to make the call. "Go wake up Dani," she said, her voice tight with urgency. Her grip on the salt was vice-like, and Max silently hoped this was all just a cruel joke.
"Dani, wake up-" Max yanked the blanket off, only to reveal Sarah Sanderson, not in ashes but very much alive and grinning wickedly in the flesh.
"Trick or treat!" Sarah's shriek pierced the night as she leaped from the bed. Max stumbled backward, his face contorted with horror. The sight of the witch sent Jasper and Max into a frenzied scream. Max retreated, only to be met by the other two witches emerging from the closet, each holding something precious: Dani, the stolen book, and Binx.
"Looking for this?" Winifred taunted, holding the book aloft in triumph.
"Or this?" Mary's laughter was a sinister melody as Max, in a panic, turned to flee, screaming in horror. Winifred opened the book, and a bolt of magic surged forth, hitting Max square in the chest and sending him crashing into his drum set. The witches' laughter filled the room, a chilling symphony of satisfaction.
Jasper rushed to Max's side, but her concentration was short-lived as she saw Dani held captive. Desperation surged as Jasper grabbed the salt, waving it defensively. "Let her go! Let her go!" she demanded, her voice cracking with fear.
Winifred's eyes glinted with malevolence "Salt! Ha! What a clever little white witch." she sneered, pulling Dani closer by her costume collar, making Jasper drop the salt. "But it will not save thy friends."
"Let...her...go!" Jasper spat defiantly, her voice a strained whisper as she glared at Winifred. A wad of saliva landed on the witch's pale face, eliciting a shriek of outrage. The other witches moved to assist Winifred, leaving Jasper to feel the sting of defeat as she was tossed aside.
     The witch tossed Jasper away and watched the girl trip over her own feet, feeling so small, as if she had shrunk three sizes with the Witches all looking down at her like some peasant. Her gaze locked onto Dani's terrified blue eyes, which seemed to plead for help.
"Come, sisters. The candle's magic is almost spent. Dawn approaches." Winifred declared with a cruel smile, sassily turning away with her sisters in tow. As they left, Winifred spat contemptuously at Jasper, a final act of vengeance. They were more powerful this time. Dani's faint screams rung in Tatum's mind. She had to help no matter what. This night wasn't over until she said so.
Determined, Jasper tried to charge at Mary, but her limbs were leaden while Jasper was strength drained. She switched targets, aiming a kick at Winifred's shins, only to be met with a painful shove down the stairs. Sarah stood above her, sticking out her tongue mockingly. Jasper tried to scream, but her voice was lost amid Dani's distant cries.
Bruised and battered, Jasper slowly pulled herself up, inching towards the stairs. Her efforts were in vain as the witches broke through the ceiling. The force of their explosion hurled her down the stairs, slamming her against the cold floor. She groaned in agony as debris rained down, crushing her limbs. It felt as though the witches had stolen everything from her, leaving her with nothing but the pain and the silence of her lost voice, which the most precious to her of all.

_____

Jasper's body trembled as she finally found the strength to rise. Her knees wobbled, barely supporting her as she forced herself to stand. "Dani..." she whimpered, her voice barely more than a breath. The sound of the witches' cackles echoed in her ears as she climbed up the shattered stairs, each step a struggle against the pain. She reached the landing just in time to see the witches disappearing into the night sky, leaving her alone in the wreckage. "Dani!" she screamed, her voice raw and desperate, swallowed by the dark.

The watery-eyed Weiss turned around to see Max still draped on the floor, his body barely conscious, his breathing shallow and labored. Tears blurred her vision as she hurried to him, ripping away the broken pieces of his drum set that had been strewn over him. His face, bruised and bloodied, was a painful sight. She gently cupped his face in her hands, pleading silently for him to wake up. "Max...Max." His diamond-colored eyes flickered open, though they were clouded with pain. "Are you okay?" Jasper asked, her voice trembling with concern. All she received in response was a low groan. This wasn't good.
Desperately, Jasper squatted down and tried to lift Max, her efforts proving futile as she collapsed beside him. Max managed to muster enough strength to glance around, his gaze sweeping over the wrecked room, taking in the shattered furniture and the absence of his sister. "Where's Dani?" Max's voice was a raspy, urgent whisper.
The wave of guilt hit once more. She was overwhelmed by guilt and helplessness, unable to offer any comfort or explanation. At a loss for words, she took a deep breath and, with every ounce of remaining strength, helped Max to his feet. She guided him slowly up the crumbling stairs to the broken top floor, where they both could see the damage and despair wrought by the witches. The room was a chaotic mess, and Dani was nowhere to be found. As they reached the top, Tatum's heart sank further. The evidence of their struggle was all around them—the shattered remnants of the drum set , scattered pieces of wood, and the lingering echoes of the witches' taunts. Dani's absence felt like a gaping wound in the heart of the room.