Hatchetfield.

That Name

When Pete, Steph and Grace had been given the Black Book, Solomon Lauter had told the three teens quite clearly:

"There is a sixth name in that book, but you must not invoke that deity under any circumstances."

Before they could ask more about that, Max had killed the Mayor and the Nerdy Prudes were being put into a cop car. By the time the trio were at Hatchetfield High, ready to summon dark gods to take care of their ghost problem, they'd forgotten that there was a deity whose name they could not utter. So in addition to the five Lords in Black, Steph, Grace and Pete invoked the name:

"Webbine Y'Weave."

Nothing happened for a moment. There were some flashing lights - green, blue, yellow, purple and pink - and laughter, then it stopped. A bright white light washed over the auditorium, causing the voices which were once laughing to scream in slight terror. A British-accented voice could be heard cursing:

"Damn it, Webby! This timeline was ours!"

Silence. Before the three of them could call out into the void to ask if someone was there, the lights turned on again, and they were staring at an ethereal woman who was standing shyly in front of them, with long white hair. At first she could have appeared human, but even to a bystander it was quickly obvious that this woman had no idea how to properly carry herself - she looked very unsteady on her feet, and she was self-consciously tugging at her bangs as if trying to cover a third eye. Then, she spoke.

"Hello, I'm Webby. I'm quite certain that you didn't intend to summon me - in fact, I know you didn't intend to summon me because the ritual you attempted to perform is typically performed to reach my brothers. However, I am grateful that I was able to come to you in their stead."

It was Peter who blurted out:

"What the fuck is happening right now?"

Steph clutched his arm protectively, fully prepared to shield him with her body if Webby happened to lash out - she didn't seem the cruel type but it was best to be prepared - and Grace was crossing herself nervously, reciting the Lord's Prayer. Luckily, Webby smiled at the teens, friendly and reassuring, before explaining softly:

"I'd like to help you if I can, no strings attached, no bargains necessary."

This time, Steph, ever the negotiator, asked politely:

"How could you help us, my... Lady?"

Webby chuckled and clarified 'It's just Webby, Steph' before continuing her explanation.

"How would you like it if, upon waking up tomorrow, your friends Ruth and Richie - yes, Peter, fully alive and well - texted you to tell you that Max Jägernan passed away painlessly in his sleep of an unknown cause?"

Pete was choked up as he nodded and replied:

"I think we'd all like that very much, thank you."

Webby nodded kindly before concluding:

"Then it is done."

Steph and Pete were perfectly happy to leave the negotiations at that, but due to her immensely chaotic nature, Grace Chastity chose this moment to ask quite bluntly:

"Why are you helping us free of charge? Aren't you evil?"

Webby winced and hung her head, almost in shame before whispering under her breath:

"I haven't always been a good person, but I wouldn't call myself evil..."

Grace's questions had seemingly reopened an old wound, and it took quite a while for Webby to collect herself. Finally, she made hesitant eye contact with the group and said:

"I have watched every single timeline, and every time my heart breaks for your fates. Peter, in every timeline you lose your older brother due to my own brothers' evil machinations. Steph, you lose your mother to my brother Nibbly. Gracie, you're normally such a sweet girl, but if you're given a small hint of power you go insane... I can only witness so much suffering before intervening to make sure that just one timeline turns out alright."

It was strange for the Nerdy Prudes to think that, in a town of such hardship, they had now been blessed by a benevolent goddess. But if Webby truly wanted to make their lives better, then who were they to argue? So the three went to their respective homes again, with the lurking sense that good things were around the corner.

Just as Webby said, Grace Steph and Pete woke up the next day to a new group chat on their phones, made by Ruth and Richie. The title was:

"Ding Dong, the dick is dead!"